THE ICE STORM

Speranza

The novel takes place over Thanksgiving weekend 1973, during a dangerous ice storm and centers on two neighboring families, the Hoods and the Williamses, and the difficulties they have dealing with the tumultuous political and social climate of the day, in affluent suburban Connecticut, New England, Long Island Sound, during the height of the sexual revolution. 

The novel is narrated from four different perspectives, each of them a member of the two families, who are promoting their own opinion and views of the several complications that arise throughout the novel, including their encounters and daily life. 

The Hood family is overridden with lies: Ben is currently in an affair with his married neighbor Janey, his wife Elena is alienated, her daughter ventures on her own sexual liaisons with both females and males of her age, including her neighbours Mikey and Sandy.

The Hoods are Ben, Elena, Paul and Wendy and the Williamses are Jim, Janey, Mikey, and Sandy. 

The story focuses on the 24 hours when a major ice storm strikes the town of New Canaan, Connecticut, New England, Long Island Sound, just as both families are melting down from the parents' alcoholism, escapism and adultery, and their children's drug use and sexual experimentation.