Bath Thoughts from Berkeley is a three-part novel that spans the years from World War II to the Millennium through the eyes of two sisters who come of age in Berkeley, California in the rich and turbulent '60s. The intimate lives of the sisters, their families, and their friends are woven into historical events and cultural trends of the half century, particularly the space race, the civil rights movement, political campaigns, and the various wars of the time, as well as music and literature of the period. John Steinbeck's comment: "Look from the tide pools to the stars and back again" guided development of the four voices that tell the story: The storyteller; the two sisters, Mattie and Josie Randall; and Caitlin, Josie's daughter. The storyteller guides the reader through historical and cultural events that impact the sisters, while the sisters' "bath thoughts" and interactions reveal their individual spirits, dreams, and perceptions.
"Fertile Soil" (Part 1) chronicles the lives of Mattie and Josie from their childhood during World War II to the early '70s in Berkeley and London. "The Wanderers" (Part II) is the voice of Caitlin, who rides the rails throughout the States during the late '70s and '80s. "Toward the Millennium (Part III) begins during the Gulf War when Mattie and Josie are in their fifties. The novel ends in the spring of 2000 as family members return to their growing-up place.
