We Are Gathered Here (1996) by Micah Perks

 1,001 Novels:  A Library of America

We Are Gathered Here (1996)

by Micah Perks

Adirondacks Park, New York

New York: 18/105

Upstate: 17/23

   I could have made a four book subcategory of the Adirondack Mountains, which takes up the whole northern third of New York state.  But, only four books from this area so, no subcategory.  I've never been to the Adirondacks, but the books from here resemble other books from the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  We Are Gathered Here is a work of historical fiction, about the friendship of two young women, one the epileptic child of wealth, confined to her grandfather's house in a last ditch attempt to cure her before she is committed to the state insane asylum (Utica, New York- represent!) and a local girl, the young bride of a Swedish immigrant coal miner and daughter of a local midwife.

  Perks deploy a ton of pieces on her thematic chess board- besides the obvious themes of  class, gender and sexuality there are also gypsies, a sect of renegade all female Shakers, union organizers and the afore mentioned state insane asylum in Utica.   Quite a stew!