A Dark and Oval Stone

In Konkle's debut novel, set in the Chicago area, issues of faith, grief and identity mingle together in a quiet, sober story. When Miriam Kovatch's 39-year-old husband, Paul, dies unexpectedly, she's left to face awkward attempts at comfort from friends and family. Her grief brings deeper issues to the surface, including emotional scars from past tragedies. She reflects on the spiritual scars left by her mother's twisted ideas about prayer: "Pray, Miriam, Pray. Pray earnestly and often that you will be spared." But prayer doesn't keep her life from spiraling downward. When Miriam discovers after the funeral that she's pregnant, she wrestles with thoughts of an abortion. Her friend Esther Ling, who longs for another child and envies her condition, withdraws from Miriam, further compounding her sorrow. When Miriam uncovers the secret illness of her warm and supportive gay brother Steven, it's almost more than one character should have to bear. There's a glimmer of light in the darkness, however, as Miriam takes a few tentative steps forward to discover who she is apart from Paul and her past. Konkle excels at showing the many facets of grief, although too much information sometimes slows the pacing. A few characters are overdrawn (including Paul's father), but Konkle's smooth writing and eye for detail result in a lyrical, emotionally candid novel of faith. (Mar.)