Summer Island: A Novel

Nora is one of the novel’s protagonists. She has two daughters, Caroline and Ruby, and views the Sloan brothers, Eric and Dean, as her surrogate sons. At the beginning of the novel, she is a beloved celebrity:

Although her show, Spiritual Healing with Nora, had been in syndication for less than a year, it was already a bona fide hit. Advertisers and affiliates couldn’t write checks fast enough, and her weekly newspaper advice column, ‘Nora Knows Best,’ had never been more popular (4).

As the book opens, Nora is known for her morality and empathy: “Reviewers claimed that she could see a way through any emotional conflict; more often than not, they mentioned the purity of her heart” (4). Her world is turned upside down when nude photos taken during an extramarital affair are released without her consent, leading many people to view her as a hypocrite. In reality, Nora uses her fame to hide the family secrets she doesn’t want to acknowledge.

While almost all of the characters undergo dramatic transformations, Nora actually stays quite static. She is very concerned with her physical appearance and continues to wear designer clothes throughout the novel. She remains extremely empathetic to others and dispenses wise advice.