The Arrangement

Rumspringa. What is it about our human condition that we steer ourselves toward what or who we don’t have, and pay little attention to achieving contentment with who and what we have? In Sarah Dunn’s novel titled, The Arrangement, protagonists Lucy and Owen are living the good life in the NYC suburb of Beekman. While drunk at a dinner party, they decide to embark on an open marriage experiment for six months under a set of specific rules. Their arrangement is at times hilarious and at other times tragic. While the sowing of wild oats may be appropriate at a certain life stage, as the Amish practice with rumspringa, within a marriage, especially one with children, the consequences of this experiment are likely to be perilous. Dunn presents a great cast of interesting characters, and her brisk writing entertained me, whether I laughed or winced at the foibles of Lucy, Owen and other characters. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Arrangement from amazon.com.