This book is a novella. Middle-aged divorced Leda goes to the beach for a vacation alone. This is her first chance to be alone in many years. On the beach she meets another mother and daughter: Nina and Elena. Leda developed an uncontrollable desire to destroy the seemingly intimate relationship between mother and daughter. Leda deliberately steals Elena's forgotten doll on the beach and encourages Nina to break up the dull family life. At the same time, Leda has to face the painful and complicated past between herself and her two daughters: she once abandoned her two daughters when they were young to pursue academic careers, and then returned to the family three years later when she could not bear her choice. . Behind the seemingly leisurely and free vacation, Leda struggled to find her place and meaning.
本书是一部中篇小说。中年离异的勒达一个人去海边度假，这是她多年以来第一次有机会独处。在沙滩上她遇到了另一对母女：尼娜和埃莱娜。勒达对这对母女看似亲密无间的关系产生了一种难以自制的破坏欲。勒达故意偷走了埃莱娜遗忘在沙滩上的布娃娃，并且鼓励尼娜去打破目前沉闷的家庭生活。与此同时，勒达要面临自己和两个女儿之间痛苦而复杂的过往：她曾经在两个女儿年幼时为了追求学术事业抛弃她们，又在三年之后不堪忍受自己的选择而回归家庭。在表面上悠闲自由的假期背后，勒达艰难地找寻自己的位置和意义。
本书是一部中篇小说。中年离异的勒达一个人去海边度假，这是她多年以来第一次有机会独处。在沙滩上她遇到了另一对母女：尼娜和埃莱娜。勒达对这对母女看似亲密无间的关系产生了一种难以自制的破坏欲。勒达故意偷走了埃莱娜遗忘在沙滩上的布娃娃，并且鼓励尼娜去打破目前沉闷的家庭生活。与此同时，勒达要面临自己和两个女儿之间痛苦而复杂的过往：她曾经在两个女儿年幼时为了追求学术事业抛弃她们，又在三年之后不堪忍受自己的选择而回归家庭。在表面上悠闲自由的假期背后，勒达艰难地找寻自己的位置和意义。
