About the book
“Miller depicts [her characters] with grace and elegance, enriching their perceptions with strands of connecting images and intertwined history.... A very moving book.”—New York Times Book Review
The moving story of a mother and son that touches the deepest concerns about love, art, family, and life.
Lily Maynard is proud, chilly, difficult, and has become a famous writer at age seventy-two. Now, stricken with Parkinson's disease and staying with her architect son Alan, Lily must cope with her fading powers as well as with disturbing memories of the events that estranged her from her children and ended her marriage. For Alan, her visit raises old questions about his relationship with her, about the choices he has made in his life, and about the nature of love, disappointment, and grief. Profound and moving, The Distinguished Guest reveals a family trying to understand the meaning of its life together, while confronting inevitable loss and the vision of an immeasurably altered future.
Editions of Distinguished Guest
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780062973498
- EBook
- ISBN 9780062495822
Read an Excerpt
“Miller depicts [her characters] with grace and elegance, enriching their perceptions with strands of connecting images and intertwined history.... A very moving book.”—New York Times Book Review
The moving story of a mother and son that touches the deepest concerns about love, art, family, and life.
Lily Maynard is proud, chilly, difficult, and has become a famous writer at age seventy-two. Now, stricken with Parkinson's disease and staying with her architect son Alan, Lily must cope with her fading powers as well as with disturbing memories of the events that estranged her from her children and ended her marriage. For Alan, her visit raises old questions about his relationship with her, about the choices he has made in his life, and about the nature of love, disappointment, and grief. Profound and moving, The Distinguished Guest reveals a family trying to understand the meaning of its life together, while confronting inevitable loss and the vision of an immeasurably altered future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Distinguished Guest about?
“Miller depicts [her characters] with grace and elegance, enriching their perceptions with strands of connecting images and intertwined history.... A very moving book.”—New York Times Book Review
The moving story of a mother and son that touches the deepest concerns about love, art, family, and life.
Lily Maynard is proud, chilly, difficult, and has become a famous writer at age seventy-two. Now, stricken with Parkinson's disease and staying with her architect son Alan, Lily must cope with her fading powers as well as with disturbing memories of the events that estranged her from her children and ended her marriage. For Alan, her visit raises old questions about his relationship with her, about the choices he has made in his life, and about the nature of love, disappointment, and grief. Profound and moving, The Distinguished Guest reveals a family trying to understand the meaning of its life together, while confronting inevitable loss and the vision of an immeasurably altered future.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Distinguished Guest?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Plays, playscripts, drama
Where can I read a sample of Distinguished Guest?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780062973498
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Distinguished Guest?
Sue Miller
Who is the Publisher of the book Distinguished Guest?
HarperCollins
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Distinguished Guest is available as paperback(ISBN 9780062973498) and ebook(ISBN 9780062495822)
Where can I buy Distinguished Guest online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Distinguished Guest from below
Where can I buy Distinguished Guest?