The Treasured Egg - Phyllis Magold

The life journeys of Brigid, Rosie, and Babs, beloved characters from Magold's first novel, A Beast No More, continue in The Treasured Egg. Having achieved worldwide success in their respective careers as English professor, zoologist, and NASA scientist, these women approach middle age with a yearning to reconnect with their families, especially their aging mothers, in Cleveland, Ohio. The novel takes the reader through the splendor of Africa, the magic of Ireland, and the pulse of California-always with the underlying rhythm of a woman's heartbeat.

Marriage, music, romance, and cosmic explorations intertwine as the characters rely on their friendship and faith to conquer personal crises of divorce, cancer, and sexism. Dominating the narrative are the women's close relationships with their mothers, especially when confronting the ravages of Alzheimer's and the frightening inevitabilities of old age. Many ancient civilizations traditionally revered women who carried "the treasured egg," the preserver of procreation and survival of the tribes. This story of Brigid, Rosie, and Babs, and their mothers and daughters, honors those traditions of reverence.