According to the Pattern
Grace Livingston Hill
1903
3/5 stars
Miriam discovers that her husband, Claude, has become infatuated with a glamourous society woman, Mrs. Sylvester. In fear of what might happen to her and her three children if her marriage should fail, Miriam decides to fight back by becoming as elegant and sophisticated as Mrs. Sylvester. In the meantime, Claude regrets his association with Mrs. Sylvester, but. aware that Miriam knows, is uncertain if she can ever forgive him and love him again. When serious illness strikes, Miriam and Claude, with the help of a young seminary student, find peace and hope through a new-found faith.
This early twentieth-century novel is a gentle read though often tense, with an overt Christian message. While not a first-class writer, Hill was an extremely popular author, and, as with this book, her plots are easy to follow, mostly realistic, and inspirational. The reader expects the happy outcome, but the journey there is filled with enough crises, both emotional and actual, to keep the story interesting. Of course, the mores and values will seem odd to some twenty-first century readers, but I enjoyed the flavor of genuine turn-of-the-century American melodrama.
