The Emerald Necklace

In the wake of her husband’s death, Rosalee Linoff bolsters her passion for sculpture yet struggles with insecurity and the fear of judgment. Her new neighbor, best-selling author Fran Barish, is everything Rosalee dreams of — fame and recognition. This ignites a simmering envy between them, compounded by Fran's childlessness and her secret obsession with Rosalee's granddaughter, Jill, who wears an emerald necklace. As Jill embraces her passion for women’s rights and joins her grandmother in the Women's Strike for Equality, tensions escalate. Rosalee confronts her dilemma of trusting Fran amidst their rivalry, questioning whether their shared experiences can ultimately unite them. 

In The Emerald Necklace, Linda Rosen offers a narrative that follows the transformative world of Rosalee, a widowed artist navigating the challenges of reinvention amidst personal grief and the backdrop of social change. The story unfolds during the dynamic 1960s and 1970s, a time rife with the burgeoning women’s movement, which complements the book's exploration of female friendships, loss, and the pursuit of identity. The primary character, Rosalee Linoff, is introduced as a woman dealing with the aftershocks of her husband Arnold’s death. Within the finely drawn setting of Florida's sunlit landscapes, she embarks on a journey to rediscover her artistic passions, which had stalled during her tenure as a devoted wife. The novel juxtaposes the vibrancy of Rosalee’s garden with her internal desolation. As she begins to engage with the world again, planting flowers and sculpting clay, readers witness her gradual awakening — not just to her creative spirit but to the community of women around her.

The dynamics between Rosalee, her friend Selma, and the newcomer Fran are central to the narrative. Selma represents steadfast friendship, rooting for Rosalee’s revival as an artist, while Fran’s presence stirs her insecurities. Selma and Fran become mirrors, reflecting different aspects of womanhood, creativity, and grit. Throughout the book, their interactions emphasize the strength of shared experiences, mainly as they discuss the societal pressures surrounding marriage, motherhood, and ambition. The central conflict arises from Rosalee's struggle between her past identity as a supportive spouse and her desire to find her voice as an artist. This conflict is not merely personal; it resonates with the broader themes of women's rights and self-actualization during a pivotal historical period. The dialogue regarding reproductive rights and societal expectations culminates in moments of introspection for Rosalee, birthing a narrative thread that connects her journey with the collective struggles of women seeking liberation.  

The Emerald Necklace is not just a story about grief; it's a powerful meditation on the bonds of friendship, the challenges of asserting one’s identity, and the necessity of carving one’s path amid external pressures. Linda Rosen’s vivid character portrayals and nuanced settings anchor these themes, creating a poignant exploration of resilience through creativity. As Rosalee begins to sculpt again, she captures the very essence of the story: the act of creation as an affirmation of life, hope, and enduring friendship. It’s a story—about trauma, grief, love, and friendship—that proves the author has a knack for engendering empathy in deeply flawed characters, picking out the small moments, and creating a tale that resonates with a timeless message.