Good Faith

Jane Smiley is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for A Thousand Acres. In 2001, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She delivers a searing indictment of 1980s greed culture in Good Faith, an insightful and provocative novel. Booklist gives it a starred review, raving, “Smiley has never been more seductive than in this acutely entertaining novel …” New Jersey realtor Joe Stratford’s life is just starting to come together. After a difficult divorce, he is eager to start over again. It’s 1982, and times are changing. The realty WD that was once so familiar to the honest Joe has become more competitive. Marcus Burns, a New Yorker, has come to town looking for a luxurious home and new business prospects. He has befriended Joe, and offers him a plan to get rich quick. Convincingly, Marcus offers Joe a vision of extravagant homes, country clubs, and shops spreading throughout the countryside. At first, Joe is hesitant, but eventually, the charming Marcus persuades Joe to join him in his risky business venture. There are a few strange coincidences, however. For example, why is the local savings and loan so intent on lending Marcus and Joe the money? Joe begins to wonder whether he may be in over his head. As if his life isn’t complicated enough, Joe is infatuated with Felicity Ornquist. Felicity is Gordon’s daughter, the man with whom Joe originally planned to work. Free-spirited and enchanting, Felicity has finally confessed her love for Joe—but she is already married to another man. Now Joe is not so sure Felicity is what he’s been waiting for.