The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard

In 1950, Ruth Plank and Dana Dickerson are born in the same hospital on the same day. Never really interested in becoming friends, their lives are intertwined throughout the years by Ruth's mother, Connie, who oddly makes it a point to visit the Dickerson's once a year, even though the families aren't close. The Planks live on a New Hampshire farm that's been in Edwin Plank's family for generations. Meanwhile, George and Val Dickerson are wanderers, moving from one place to the next, not much interested in their children (Dana and her older brother, Ray). Neither girl grows up feeling that she fits in with her family--Ruth wants to be an artist and Dana longs to work with animals and farm. The novel alternates between Ruth's and Dana's points of view from childhood to middle age, touching on their coming of age during the 1960's and how America's history affects the choices they are given and make. For readers of Elizabeth Berg.