The Golden State Summary
Lydia Kiesling

The Golden State Overview

Lydia Kiesling's debut novel, The Golden State, follows the first person narrative experience of young mother and struggling professional, Daphne. Ever since her husband's undue deportation and the tragic death of one of her young students, Daphne has felt incapable of facing the stresses and anxieties of her life in San Francisco. In an attempt to distract herself from those conflicts she is unready to face, Daphne flees with her infant child to her hometown in northern California. The novel follows Daphne through her ten riotous, frustrating, and revealing days away from her typical urban environment. Daphne's voice is witty, authentic, and curious, and brazenly excavates the messy terrain of single-motherhood, self-blame, and the difficulty to overcome profound grief and loss.