MAHJONG AT MARA'S
THE CONVENTION OF WIVES
The Convention of Wives
Fall 2022 She Writes Press
When Dina and Julia meet at a surgical convention, they bond over frustrations with their husbands’ demanding schedules. But geography, time, and growing families make maintaining their friendship difficult and their relationship eventually falls apart. One of them is left to wonder why; the other has a secret. But neither of them knows that decisions made by family members decades earlier have set them on a collision course.
A sweeping saga that follows generations from a shtetl in Odessa to the comforts of Scarsdale, an uprising in Glasgow to servitude in the Caribbean, and a trek through the Alps to a displaced persons camp in Italy, The Convention of Wives is a story about the ever-evolving messiness of friendship and marriage, and the wonder of survival.
The reviews are in!
“Green is a strong writer, especially when it comes to descriptions of marital tension . . . ”
—Kirkus Reviews
"Complicated secret legacies are exposed as two families reel from a betrayal, creating a ripple effect no one could have imagined at the core of this multi-generational saga."
—Eva Lesko Natiello, New York Times bestselling author of
The Memory Box
“In a story that spans centuries and crosses continents, Debra Green weaves a complex tale of family secrets, love, loss, and redemption.”
—Susan Schoenberger, author of
The Liability of Love
“If you love historical fiction, family sagas, women's friendships - and a juicy secret or two to tie them all together then The Convention of Wives is the book for you!”
—Alina Adams, author of
The Nesting Dolls
“Debra Green’s skillfully braided story of two families, several generations, love, marriage, friendship, and a medical mystery makes for a thoroughly entertaining and oh-so-satisfying read.”
—Deborah K. Shepherd, author of
So Happy Together
"Riveting and fast paced, this novel holds your attention from the first to the very last page. The Convention of Wives is unflinching in its revealing account of generations of women who survive dire political realities as well as threats to their friendships, marriages, and families."
—Robin Rosen Chang, author of
The Curator's Notes
“Debra Green is a wonderful storyteller, and her sweeping tale of family secrets had me turning pages from beginning to end...Green masterfully moves the narrative back and forth in time and place, weaving together the lives of Dina’s Jewish ancestors and Julia’s Christian heritage to remind the reader that long-hidden family trauma still lives and breathes in each of us. A gripping family saga.”
—Mally Becker, author of
The Turncoat’s Widow
"The Convention of Wives is a captivating story about friendship, marriage and survival, but also opens our eyes to the impact of genetic disease and emerging treatments. A delightful and timely read!”
—Karen A. Grinzaid, MS, CGC, Assistant Professor, Executive Director JScreen at Emory University
“. . . compelling and enjoyable. . .. Any reader interested in the science of genetic diseases and forensic paternalism will find this book intriguing.”
—Barry Rosenbloom, MD,
Clinical Professor of Medicine,
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center