1996

Summary

After having published critically acclaimed novels like The Women of Brewseter Place and Mama Day, Gloria Naylor returns with 1996. In this startling account, we find Naylor buying a house on St. Helena Island, off the coast of South Carolina. Here she seeks the serenity of a writer’s life. She intends to enjoy life, relax, write in peace, and tend to her garden. Her tranquility is ruined, however, by a woman, who feels threatened by Naylor’s presence. When this woman’s fears spur a massive covert surveillance operation against Naylor in 1996, the year becomes one of discomfort and confusion for Naylor.

“Whether readers think Naylor has been a victim of pernicious abuse or that she suffered a breakdown, her incredible book will spark debate about government surveillance and the blurring of the lines between fiction and nonfiction."—Booklist