Set in the rural desert landscape of Odessa, Texas in 1975, Elizabeth Wetmore's novel, Valentine, tells the story of seven fierce and resilient women, fighting for survival in a culture and environment which actively resists their efforts. By interweaving the first and third person voices of her heroic protagonists, Wetmore creates a communal narrative that explores themes such as the effects of place on the individual's psyche and emotional state, the power of unity to overcome hardship, and the struggle to claim agency over one's own story and future.
