Magician's assistant

 I had read already 3 books of the author Ann Patchett. So I decided let me read this 4th book by her. 

Though I sat and completed the book - it did not reach the standards of her other books. The narration is excellent, but the story line is somewhat not as good as her other books. 

The magician's assistant is a 50 year old Sabine whose husband, her long term associate and her only true love has died. And she is deep depression and spends her days just lying down. Until she receives an unexpected guest - her lawyer - who reveals a strange secret. 

That her husband Parsifal has his family back in Nebraska - a mother and two sisters. And he has left behind some money for them. And also his real name was Guy Fetters. 

Sabine is shocked beyond words - he had always told her that his family - father, mother and a sister all had died in an accident. And he would just not talk anything when ever she broached the subject of his parents. Why did he lie to her? 

Sabine's parents suggest that may be there was some bad episode in his childhood - so bad that he just wants to forget them altogether.

Sabine receives her next shock, when Parsifal's mother calls her and asks her permission to visit her - she and Parsifal's kid sister Bertie. She unwillingly agrees to meet them. 

OK, these are the things one can accept in a story. But what is something very strange and unrealistic is the fact that Parsifal is gay. Still Sabine hangs on to him, as his assistant. And finally she marries him when his lover Phan dies. Just to be near him and help him overcome the tragedy. 

But what about her life and her happiness? Who will have such a blind, one sided love to not live one's life?

Anyways, Dot - Parsifal's mother comes over. They stay with Sabine for a day. And in a few days, Sabine goes to visit them in cold, snowy town of Alliance. And gets very attached to Parsifal's other sister Kitty, her two teenage children Howard and Guy, Dot and Bertie. 

And there are dramas galore.