Diary of a Naive

Diary of a Naive, first published in 2010, takes a superbly intimate look at the subtle but destructive dynamics of a marriage and its escape there from, which is told humorously, self-deprecatingly, and at times heartrendingly by Kate Hamilton, a neglected wife and exasperated mom, in a secret journal. Here is a sample: . . . "As I looked out over the river, I realized that my heading into it wouldn't be the thoughtful strolling of a Joan Crawford. I'd have to climb down that embankment, which was covered with sharp rocks, and it would be my luck, once I had negotiated those rocks and their dirty pools of water and dead fish and dead bugs and paper cups and empty beer cans that I would unceremoniously lose my footing and plunge right into the icy river, scaring myself to death rather than making a dramatic statement. For an instant, I lost myself in the image of the cold, murky water pouring into my mouth and nose as I felt myself going under. I sat up with a start and shook myself like a drunk who's been jolted out of his stupor by a bucket of ice water over the head. Did I really just now consider killing myself over this jerk? I did, and I must be nuts!" . . . ."