“San Miguel” by T. C. Boyle is a novel that tells the stories of two families living on the desolate San Miguel Island, off the coast of Southern California. The first family arrives in the 1880s, consisting of Marantha Waters, her husband, and their adopted daughter, Edith. They face the challenges of isolation and struggle to maintain their sheep ranch. In 1930, Elise Lester, a librarian from New York City, along with her husband Herbie, settles on San Miguel. The novel explores the families’ pursuit of self-reliance and freedom, portraying their hardships, hopes, and the impact of the changing times on their lives.