Peyton Place by Grace Metallious
Review by Elleanore G Vance Content Warning: This book contains situations of sexual assault, sexual shaming, sexual abuse of a minor, parental abuse of a minor, racial slurs, abortion, alcoholism, and drunk driving. Bear this in mind should you pick up a copy from your local library Beginning in a New England "Indian summer", we are introduced to the isolated community of Peyton Place. Its school teachers, drunks, merchants, business moguls and its one doctor. There are three nuclei to this story, and they are all interconnected. They are "widow" Constance MacKenzie, her daughter Allison, and Allison's school friend, Selina Cross. Each woman's story and arc is different, yet they weave and intersect with each other and the larger story of the town. Constance Mackenzie owns Thrifty Threads, a discount clothing store. Her reputation in town is solid as a block of ice, but all that could melt away if anyone found out the truth about her and Allison's pas