Books like Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips
Jayne Anne‑Phillips’s *Lark and Termite* spans mid‑century West Virginia and the Korean War, weaving a tale of loss, love, and the unseen ties that bind a family. The story centers on Lark and her brother Termite—an orphaned child who cannot walk or talk yet radiates a quiet strength—alongside their mother Lola, aunt Nonie, and Termite’s father, Corporal Robert Leavitt, who is drawn into the chaotic early months of the conflict. Through vivid imagination and deep emotion, the novel opens the hearts and minds of each character, even curving into Termite’s intricate, shrouded consciousness. It charts Lark’s hopes and her determination to shape her and Termite’s futures, Lola’s devotion to her husband and children, the mystery surrounding Lola and Nonie’s relationship, and the ways past and future resonate after a devastating flood in their small town.
First publish date: 2009
Genre: Historical Fiction/20th Century Historical Fiction
Authors: Jayne Anne Phillips
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