Arcadia

Arcadia (2012) by Lauren Groff. Arcadia is a commune, apparently started in the '60s or '70s, where the leading family of this book resides for the first half of the book. Bit -- that's his nickname -- is the protagonist, and he is born and raised in the commune, so that he knows no other way of life. The book follows him as he grows up and becomes middle-aged, and as the commune eventually topples under its own weight. He falls in love with Helle, a girl from Arcadia, and she is in and out of his life from then on. Bit successfully makes the transition from the commune to "normal" life, becoming a successful photographer and teacher after he is forced to move to the city. This book is a good read, but I'm not sure it is an essential book -- that it needed to be written. I suppose there are many novels written each year that we don't need, so perhaps that's not a valid criticism. If you're looking for an entertaining book that will transport you to a different place and time, you could do a lot worse than Arcadia. Grade: B+