Review of GERALDINE VERNE'S RED SUITCASE by Jane Riley (New Release)

 3.5 Stars

Seventy-two-year-old Geri is a widow; Jack, her husband of 50 years, has been dead for three months when we meet her.  He asked her to scatter his ashes “somewhere exotic” but Geri finds it difficult to leave her house, feeling “stuck in a loop of self-isolation and brain fog.”  She describes herself as “frozen in time, shackled to my self-pity, my grief, my fears.”  A friend arranges for Meals on Wheels when she has a minor accident; Lottie, one of the volunteers, befriends Geri and tries to get her to rediscover her zest for life.

The book is about grief, about learning how to let go and move on.  At one point Geri compares their love to a pair of shoes:  “Jack and I complemented each other like a pair of shoes.  A right shoe can never become a left and a left shoe can never become a right, but together they bring out the best in each other.”  She has difficulty letting go “Because if I let him go, what would be left?  The half that was me.  One left shoe without its partner.”  The red suitcase that she takes everywhere is a wonderful representation of her unwillingness to let go. 

Geri is a likeable character.  She is grieving and so not herself.  She abandons personal hygiene and housekeeping and becomes anxious when she leaves her house, even if she has to walk only nine metres to pick up her newspaper.  When a friend comes to her door, she doesn’t let him in:  “I was happy to see him.  I just didn’t want him to see me.  To see the state I was in.  How I no longer felt like the person I was before.  How I didn’t know who I was anymore.”

Even though she is depressed and lonely, we are given glimpses of the Geri that could emerge if she can get past her grief.  Her sense of humour is wonderful:  “I slid under the covers feeling as dispirited as a non-alcoholic beverage.”  Because we see these glimpses of a spirited woman, readers will cheer every positive step she takes.

I appreciated Geri’s emergence from her chrysalis.  Because it is gradual, her change is convincing.  And there are some steps backward too.  I imagine some readers will feel that there is repetition as Geri seems to backslide into depression; I, however, found that her recovery is more realistic because of her emotional regressions. 

This is one of those easy, heart-warming reads.  Though it examines grief and the difficulty of moving on after great loss, it suggests there is hope:  it is possible to bring new people and experiences into one’s life without dismissing or diminishing what one had with a beloved.

Note:  I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by Rumaan Alam

 3.5 Stars

There is much about this book that will feel familiar to people living through a pandemic and feeling trapped in a state of continual unease. 

Amanda and Clay, a couple from Brooklyn, take their teenaged children, Archie and Rose, to eastern Long Island where they’ve rented a luxurious house for a week’s vacation.  All is well until the homeowners, GH and Ruth Washington, arrive with news of a blackout in New York and they ask to take refuge.  Though they have electricity, all communication with the outside world is cut off:  there is no radio or television and no internet or phone service.  Strange and increasingly menacing things happen so they know something devastating has occurred.  Then Archie’s health becomes a concern.  What happened?  How will they cope?

The story is narrated from the third person omniscient point of view; the reader is given access to the thoughts and feelings of the characters as the narrator flits from one person to another.  Occasionally, that narrator makes comments about the state of the world or what will happen:  “She did not know that the Chinese man who ran [the neighborhood Laundromat], was inside the elevator that carried passengers between the turnstiles and the platform at the R train station in Brooklyn Heights, and he’d been there for hours, and he’d die there, though that was many hours in the future yet” and planes “were off to intercept something that approached the nation’s eastern flank” and “in an old-age home in a coastal town called Port Victory a Vietnam vet named Peter Miller was floating facedown in two feet of water.  That Delta had lost a plane travelling between Dallas and Minneapolis during the disruption of the air traffic control system.  That a pipeline was spilling crude onto the ground in an unpopulated part of Wyoming.  That a major television star had been struck by a car at the intersection of Seventy-Ninth and Amsterdam and died because the ambulances couldn’t get anywhere” and “The next generation of these deer would be born white as the unicorn in those Flemish tapestries” because of “intergenerational trauma.”

We are given only bits of information, not told exactly what happened.  Was there a natural disaster or a manmade catastrophe?  Was there an accident or did someone carry out an act with malicious intent?  Did “the morbidly obese grandson of the Eternal President” send a bomb?  The lack of details adds to the sense of menace.  The author suggests however, that what happened does not matter:  “Did it matter if a storm had metastasized into something for which no noun yet existed?  Did it matter if the electrical grid broke apart like something built of Lego? . . . Did it matter if some nation claimed responsibility for the outage, did it matter that it was condemned as an act of war, did it matter if this was pretext for a retaliation long hoped for, did it matter that proving who had done what via wires and networks was actually impossible?”

What the author suggests is important is how people react.  It becomes obvious that the adults are not prepared.  They seem capable, successful people but their experiences are largely irrelevant in the face of what is happening.  They become fearful and spend their time trying to cling to normalcy by eating, drinking, relaxing in the hot tub, and doing laundry.  Their conversations are endless loops of indecision and useless conjecture.  They really don’t know what to do.

The book suggests that we live irrationally.  We tend to focus on financial security.  Surely we should know that “life was about change” and “the illness of the planet had never been a secret, the nature of it all had never been in doubt.”  After all, “information had always been there waiting for them, in the gradual death of Lebanon’s cedars, in the disappearance of the river dolphin, in the renaissance of cold-war hatred, in the discovery of fission, in the capsizing vessels crowded with Africans.  No one could plead ignorance that was not willful.”  As the pandemic has shown, we are unprepared for catastrophe despite its increasing likelihood:  “Comfort and safety were just an illusion.  Money meant nothing.  All that meant anything was this – people, in the same place, together.  This was what was left to them.”  We can’t leave the world behind; we may not have the luxury of clairvoyance, but we should know that reality will always catch up. 

The book does not show humans on their best behaviour, suggesting instead that humans often reject others in their time of need.  Racism exists, as evidenced in Amanda and Clay’s reactions to learning that the homeowners are black:  “those people didn’t look like the sort to own such a beautiful house.  They might, though, clean it.”  In fact, none of the characters is particularly likeable.

Because of its portrayal of what it’s like to live through an evolving crisis, this novel is not an easy read.  It is, however, thought-provoking. 

Review of A HAND TO HOLD IN DEEP WATER by Shawn Nocher (New Release)

 3.5 Stars

When her 5-year-old daughter Tasha is diagnosed with a serious illness, Lacey moves back to the farm where she was raised by her stepfather Willy.  As she stays by her daughter’s side during her treatments, she starts thinking back to being raised by Willy after her mother May left her and Willy when Lacey was Tasha’s age.  Knowing she could never abandon Tasha, Lacey wonders how May could have left her daughter.  Lacey and Willy discuss May’s disappearance 30 years earlier, and though Willy advises otherwise, Lacey keeps searching for answers.

The narrative alternates between the present, with most of the focus on Lacey, and the past through May’s diary entries.  Because of this structure, the reader knows more than Lacey and Willy know.  It is not difficult to understand why May left Lacey with Willy after only one year of marriage.  The interest lies in whether Lacey and Willy will learn the truth and how they will react if they do. 

I found the book to be predictable.  Once I learned what happened to May, I knew exactly what she would do.  The repeated references to May’s behaviour around the pond are such obvious clues as well.  But would a person keeping a chronological diary actually write, “And that time I chose to turn around”?  The implication is obvious but makes no sense unless May can predict the future.  The visit to the cottage and the mentioning of the unmovable wardrobe tells the reader exactly what will happen.  Unfortunately, Lacey’s discovery stretches credibility:  in 30 years, a drawer has not been opened? 

The characters are well developed.  Everyone is complex and flawed.  Even the most villainous character is shown as a victim of circumstances with some touches of humanity.  My one reservation is Willy’s lack of action when May left.  Wouldn’t he have tried harder to find her?  Lacey also moved on fairly easily.  Only thirty years later does she start her search in earnest?  The author does make attempts to make their behaviour credible, but I was not totally convinced.

The novel examines the effects of secrets.  May’s secret has led to 30 years of misunderstanding:  “Look at the shape it has taken, look at the haunting it has conjured.  Look at the blame we have wordlessly passed between one another like a forkful of bitterness.” 

The book also examines the concept of family.  There are biological connections, but the novel suggests that the more important family is the one we choose to construct.  Certainly May’s decisions suggest that though Willy was not Lacey’s biological father, May knew he would be a good father to Lacey, better than May’s biological father was to her.  And May is right; Willy raised Lacey so she flourished and knows she always has Willy’s hand to hold in difficult times.  Considering the backstory, the importance of constructed family is a paramount message for Lacey.

The pace is slow; because the focus is on character development and development of themes, there are times when not much happens.  As a consequence, I found it difficult at times to stay interested.  The pacing and plot predictability make the book less enjoyable than I had hoped.

Note:  I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.

NOVELS FOR YOUR SUMMER TO-BE-READ PILE

I wrote an article for my hometown newspaper suggesting some books for summer reading:  https://madvalleycurrent.com/2021/06/19/novels-for-your-summer-to-be-read-pile/

With Covid-19 vaccines being administered, our lives are slowly returning to some semblance of normal.  If your normal includes reading, here are some suggestions for novels to add to your summer TBR pile.

A Funny Kind of Paradise by Jo Owens This book should be at the top of everyone’s to-read pile.  After a stroke, Frannie has become a resident of an extended care facility. Though she has physical limitations, she has no cognitive impairment.  She has nothing to do but listen and think, whereas in the past she never stopped to really do either.  Her observations of what is happening around her and her reflections on her past lead her to life-changing insights.  The author, a Canadian, has worked as a health care aide for 20 years so her portrayal of life in an extended care facility is very realistic.

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A Killer in King’s Cove by Iona Whishaw Those who enjoy cozy mysteries should check out the Lane Winslow series set just after World War II.  There are eight books in total.   I’ve read the first three, and they keep getting better as the author hits her stride; I intend to read more of the series this summer.  Begin with A Killer in King’s Cove which introduces Lane, the amateur sleuth who always manages to uncover clues, and the various, sometimes quirky, residents of a village in interior B.C.  These characters appear in subsequent books (Death in a Darkening Mist and An Old, Cold Grave) and relationships are further developed, so I’d certainly advise reading the books in chronological order.  References to historical events like the internment of Japanese-Canadians and the treatment of Doukhobors and British Home Children are a satisfying added dimension.   What is better than finding a new mystery series to devour?  Finding a Canadian mystery series!

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Darkness by David Adams Richards If you prefer books with thematic depth, this one is highly recommended.  Orville MacDurmot is accused of murder but then dies a violent death.  His sister asks John Delano, a family friend, to investigate his death and the murder charges.  The book is John’s recounting of what he learned about Orville’s life:  how a bullied child became renowned in his field but was then suspected of murder.  This multi-layered book illustrates the consequences of judging others on the basis of appearance, background, and gossip.

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The Good Father by Wayne Grady This is another Canadian novel with an in-depth development of theme.   After her parents divorce, Daphne feels abandoned by her father Harry, and her life spirals out of control; a crisis brings them together physically, but the two struggle to bridge their emotional gap.  Including the perspectives of both Daphne and Harry, the author provides a detailed examination of a troubled father-daughter relationship.  This book had particular appeal to me because it is set in a fictional town “on the Madawaska River, between Ottawa and Peterborough” and makes references to “the Madawaska Valley accent” and “Madawaska Grunge” and mentions Pembroke and Foymount.  (As a point of interest, Wayne Grady is married to Merilyn Simonds who wrote a novel, The Holding, set on the Opeongo Road “in the northern reaches of the Madawaska”; one of the characters marries a Polish girl and moves to Golden Lake.)

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The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi For those who want an exotic locale, this novel will immerse the reader in Indian culture.  Escaping an abusive arranged marriage, Lakshmi becomes a henna artist for upper caste women.  She works hard to establish a business and reputation, but the arrival of her high-spirited 13-year-old sister upends all she has strived to build.  The novel has a fast-paced plot and engaging characters.  As an added bonus to those who enjoy this book, a sequel, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, is scheduled for release on June 22; it focuses on Malik, the clever street urchin who serves as Lakshmi’s assistant in The Henna Artist.

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The Willow Wren by Philipp Schott Readers who like historical fiction might consider this fictionalized memoir which provides an interesting perspective of World War II, that of a German child living through the war and its aftermath.  That child is Ludwig and his father is a senior Nazi leader.  The young boy becomes increasingly responsible for helping his family survive, especially during the Russian occupation in what would become East Germany.  The book, covering Ludwig’s life between 6 and 15 years of age, is based on the experiences of the author’s father.

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The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe If you want a charming, feel-good read, The Spoon Stealer might take your fancy.  The protagonist, 74-year-old Emmeline Darling, lives in a small English town with Vera, her companion dog with whom she has regular conversations.  To her surprise, since she is estranged from her family, Emmeline inherits the family farm in Nova Scotia.  She decides to make a trip, and it’s a visit that changes many lives.  Though the novel touches on some serious topics, there is considerable humour. 

Complete reviews of all these books can be found on my blog:  https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/. 

Happy Reading!

Review of THE LAST BOOKSHOP IN LONDON by Madeline Martin

 2.5 Stars

As a bibliophile, I’m a sucker for books about books, libraries, and bookstores, so I was immediately drawn to this book.  I wish I’d resisted its lure because it proved to be shallow and formulaic.

Grace Bennett and her best friend Viv move to London in 1939 just before the beginning of the war.  They move in with Mrs. Weatherford, a friend of Grace’s mother, and her son Colin.  With Mrs. Weatherford’s help, Grace gets a job with Primrose Hill Books.  She tidies and organizes the shop for Mr. Evans and slowly makes herself indispensible.  When war is declared, she volunteers as a warden with Air Raid Precautions and begins reading aloud inside tube stations during the Blitz. 

Part of my issue with the novel is the character of Grace.  She is so saccharine.  Everyone seems to love her as soon as they meet her; both Mrs. Weatherford and Mr. Evans “adopt” her and become parental figures.   The people who are not enamoured with her are eventually won over by her compassion and generosity.  The first handsome man who comes into the shop is immediately romantically attracted to her.  Her only flaws are that she is somewhat shy and considers herself not to be brave. 

The book is so predictable because it is so formulaic.  After the first few chapters, I was able to correctly predict who would survive and who wouldn’t.  Even the title suggests what will happen to Paternoster Row and what will not happen to Primrose Hill Books.  The novel is historically accurate, but seems to just check off items from a list:  air raids, blackouts, food rationing, victory gardens, evacuation of children, etc. 

The author tends to tell rather than show.  How many times must we be told that “no one in the world had the spirit of the British.  They were fighters.  They could take it”?  Grace finds courage because “she was British.  What’s more she was a Londoner, baptized as such by the firestorm of war, by bombings and incendiaries.”  When St. Paul’s Cathedral is undamaged, “It was a mark of the British spirit, that even in the face of such annihilation and loss, they too had kept standing.  ‘London can take it.’” 

When Grace begins working at the bookshop, she is not a reader.  Of course she becomes a book lover – because a handsome man recommends a book to her!  When she finally opens that book, “Word after word, page after page, she was pulled deeper into a place she had never experienced and walked in the footsteps of a person she’d never been.”  Then, over and over again, it is repeated that books provide pleasure and “an escape from exhaustion and bombs and rationing.”  Books make Grace a better person because they provide a “profound understanding for mankind”:  “Over time, she had found such perspectives made her a more patient person, more accepting of others.”  All of this is true, but the reader doesn’t need to be told this if events clearly show this.  Nonetheless, the author feels compelled to repeat that “It is through books that we can find the greatest hope” and “Books . . . [are] a reminder that we always have hope” and “For in a world such as theirs, with people of spirit and love, and with so many different tales of strength and victory to inspire, there would always be hope.”  I do not like being treated like a stupid reader!

This is a book for those who want an unchallenging read.  It slavishly follows the historical fiction formula with a strong romance element.  It did not engage me and is totally unmemorable.

Review of HOW THE ONE-ARMED SISTER SWEEPS HER HOUSE by Cherie Jones

 4 Stars

I chose this as an audiobook for morning walks because the title appeared on the longlist of the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

The novel is set in 1984 in Barbados, in the fictional town of Paradise with a stretch of beach known as Baxter’s Beach.  Eighteen-year-old Lala is trapped in a violent marriage.  Her husband Adan kills a rich white man, Peter Whalen, during a robbery on the night Lala gives birth to their daughter.  That murder is followed by another death, and more tragedy. 

The novel is organized into short chapters giving the perspective of various characters.  Lala, Adan, Mira Whalen (the widow of the murdered man), Tone (a beach gigolo and Adan’s partner in petty crimes), and Sergeant Beckles (the police investigator) have several chapters, but other characters like Esme (Lala’s mother), Wilma (Lala’s grandmother), and the Queen of Sheba (a prostitute with whom Beckles is infatuated) also receive some attention. 

Despite the number of characters, there is no difficulty differentiating them.  What is amazing is that sufficient information is given about each that their behaviour is understandable.  Backstories are provided for several characters so their motivations make perfect sense.  The childhoods of virtually all the characters include poverty, violence and abuse.

A major message is that lives are defined by trauma generation after generation.  Lala, for example, is raised as she is because of the experiences of Esme and Wilma.  Lala lives in a beachfront shack with 25 cement stairs to the sand; there is no banister and that serves as a perfect metaphor for her life.  It is not unexpected that Lala wonders, “What woman leaves a man for something she is likely to suffer at the hands of any other” because “for women of her lineage, a marriage meant a murder in one form or another.”    

This is not a book for the weak-hearted.  Murder, rape, incest, domestic violence, drug dealing, poverty, and prostitution all are featured.  For tourists, Paradise may be an escape from reality, but for the locals, Paradise is the reality they are trying to escape.  Unfortunately, escape seems impossible because events conspire to entrap people.  Tone wants to rescue Lala, but Sheba’s need to escape the attentions of Beckles means Tone is ensnared.  Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope in the ending, but it is faint.

The prose is beautiful, and the narration by Danielle Vitalis is exceptional, but readers should be forewarned that the novel is heart-breaking.  It is so full of tragedy as to be emotionally exhausting.

Review of DARKNESS by David Adams Richards

4 Stars

A new novel by David Adams Richards always excites me.  He is an author whose books I insist on buying in hardcover.  Like so many of his previous books, this one enthralled me.

John Delano, at the behest of Cathy MacDurmot, investigates the violent death and accusations of murder made against her brother Orville.  As a child, Orville was bullied and shunned because of a physical deformity and his impoverishment, but he eventually became a renowned archeologist.  The people living along New Brunswick’s Miramichi River, where he grew up and chose to live after extensive travels, took pride in his accomplishments but also envied him.  Some tried to use Orville’s fame to advance causes but he, a man of principles, refused to help those whom he knew were only interested in their own personal gains.   His behaviour made him an easy target for gossip and rumours which destroyed his reputation and led to his being charged with murder. 

Most of the book is Delano’s lengthy recounting of what he has learned about Orville, his death, and the charges of murder.  His telling is convoluted and focuses on various people – Brenda, Orville’s first love; Milt Vale, a literature professor Orville encounters at university; Eunice Wise, Orville’s neighbour; and Gaby May Crump, a poor child whom Orville tries to help – and involves flashbacks to various time periods.  It soon becomes clear that Orville’s fate is connected to a novel written by a young man whose work is deemed by some to be “’clumsy – awkward, inelegant and untrained.'” 

Characters from other novels appear or are mentioned, most notably the protagonist of Mary Cyr, Paul Amos of Incidents in the Life of Markus Paul  and John Delano of Principles to Live By.  There are similarities among the characters of these books.  So often his protagonists are people who are at odds with a society where appearances, status, and political correctness take precedence.  For instance, John Delano is much like Orville; both are intelligent men with uncompromising codes of honour.  John focused his life on rooting out evil whereas Orville was devoted to a search for beauty:  “’goodness, kindness and simplicity – and that’s the beauty he was seeking, it was nothing else than that.’”  Like Mary Cyr, Orville is a deeply wounded person who falls victim to exaggerated rumours and sensationalized gossip. 

Orville believes evil exists, and this novel, like others by David Adams Richards, has its villains.  Eunice Wise is self-righteous and totally lacking in empathy:  “’She relished her right never to really care, but to pretend to care.  The Handmaid’s Tale would titillate and rule her life, but no real handmaid would she help.’”  Eunice reminds me of Melissa Sapp in Principles to Live By who portrays herself as an altruist but is a hypocrite because she only does what will aid her personal ambitions.  Several of the seven deadly sins – pride, greed and envy - make their appearance, and the willingness of some people to use and manipulate others knows no bounds. 

What is always impressive about DAR’s books is the memorable characters.  The author takes great pains to explain the motivations of characters – why they behave as they do and make the choices they do.  Orville, for example, who is dead and appears only in flashbacks, emerges as a complex character with positive qualities and flaws.  Orville is maliciously maligned and scapegoated, but he is at heart a gentle, caring man who possesses the qualities of true beauty he spent his life seeking.  The motivations of other characters are also thoroughly detailed so that their reactions and decisions are predictable and totally realistic. 

There are a couple of elements in the book that troubled me.  One is the inter-connectedness of all the characters - though I grew up in a small town and know first-hand how everyone knows everyone.  It is not unusual for a young man to fall in love with a young woman, but what are the chances that this particular young man born to this father will meet and fall in love with this young woman with her “father” and background?  Another issue is how John Delano uncovers some of the information; for instance, how could he know that a man stopped at a service station and “’was at that moment two feet from’” an item in the luggage compartment of a bus, or that, for one woman, a man’s name “’seemed to hover near her at moments in the day’s sun, or at night as she walked the sidewalk home’”?

As always, DAR strikes out at people for whom he feels contempt.  There are some wonderful one-sentence disparagements:  “’He listened to broadcasts by the vast, sweeping CBC that he found so pleasurable to listen to, where so many of our broad-minded reporters live in like-minded cubby holes for thirty years’” and “Many did not take his doctorate seriously – or as seriously as they would have if they had thought of it themselves.  It’s amazing how certain academics can slough things off.’”  Of course, people who “’”put on” sensitivity, or concern, or equality’” are targets for his scorn, as are those who are part of “the rumour mill of rural Canada, the glut of Tim Hortons gossip.’” 

A novel by DAR is always multi-layered.  There is so much to parse, but this is supposed to be a review, not an academic essay.  I am, once again, impressed by his compassion for the poor.  His books demonstrate a deep understanding of human behaviour and show the consequences of judging others on the basis of appearance, background and gossip.  The book deserves to be read and re-read.

Darkness makes several references to the long-ago relationship between John Delano and Cathy MacDurmot; I understand that one of DAR’s first novels, Blood Ties, introduces the MacDurmot family and describes John and Cathy’s relationship.  I’m off to try and find a copy and read it.

In the meantime, here are links to my reviews of other of David Adams Richards’ novels:

Mary Cyr:  https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-of-mary-cyr-by-david-adams.html

Principles to Live By:  https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2016/06/review-of-principles-to-live-by-by.html

Crimes Against My Brother:  https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2016/12/canadian-book-advent-calendar-day-18-r.html

Incidents in the Life of Markus Paul:  https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2015/07/from-schatjes-reviews-archive-incidents.html

The Lost Highway:  https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/2017/09/archival-review-lost-highway-by-david.html

Review of THE MISSING TREASURES OF AMY ASHTON by Eleanor Ray (New Release)

 3.5 Stars

This book is for readers who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.

Amy Ashton once dreamed of being an artist, but the betrayal of her boyfriend Tim and her best friend Chantal eleven years earlier sent her life spiraling out of control.  Finding it difficult to trust people, Amy chooses to love things instead since they won’t abandon her.  She has collected a variety of things (cups, lighters, ashtrays, vases, wine bottles, newspapers), giving them a safe place where they are loved.  Her hoarding, however, means that there is virtually no free space in her home.

New people move in next door, and the two young boys, Charlie and Daniel, cause havoc in her backyard, inadvertently uncovering something that sets Amy on another search to find out what happened to Tim and Chantal when they disappeared.  Her investigation is assisted by Charlie and his father Richard.  Can she learn what happened to Tim and Chantal?  Can she learn to let go of things and make room for people in her life?

Via flashbacks, the reader learns about Amy’s relationships with Tim and Chantal and the events leading up to their disappearances.  What these flashbacks also reveal is the rationale for the items Amy collects.  She formed attachments to objects connected to a particularly meaningful memory, “surrounding herself with belongings that made her remember a past long gone.”  Since she doesn’t smoke, the collecting of lighters and ashtrays, for instance, was puzzling.

The book becomes a mystery when Amy becomes an amateur investigator determined to find out what happened to the two most important people in her life, “her lifelong best friend and boyfriend of ten years.”  The solution to the mystery is somewhat predictable, especially after Amy reconnects with an acquaintance from the past.  Unfortunately, a piece of the puzzle revealed at the end just doesn’t feel right; it seems unrealistic and the reader must suspend disbelief. 

Amy is an interesting character.  Though her administrative job is not her passion, she maintains a “carefully cultivated image of controlled competence” at work.  More than anything, she wants not to draw attention to herself, so she dresses in drab colours and avoids social interactions.  She is preoccupied with making sure “that no one would ever hurt her like that again” and protecting her collection:  “She had a responsibility to keep her beautiful possessions safe.  They trusted her.”  The flashbacks show her as a person full of life and humour; because of what happened, she has virtually no life so the reader cannot but feel sympathy for her.  Certainly she does not have a happy life; she admits that her collected treasures “made her feel almost happy at times.”

The message of the book is the importance of learning to let go of things that don’t matter.  Though she would be best to get therapy, Amy does start to realize that there are things that are suffocating her and she needs to remove items to make space for people:  “Real life needed space to grow.”  The book also emphasizes the importance of accepting people’s flaws.  After all, we all have baggage because “No one travels lightly through life anymore.’” 

Amy enjoyed books, “with stories where people made mistakes and learned from them and grew.”  That is a good description of this book.  It is quirky and heartwarming, reminding us that second chances are possible. 

Note:  I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Review of BONNIE JACK by Ian Hamilton (New Release)

 3 Stars

This is a quick, easy read, good for a summer day on the beach or at the cottage or in a Muskoka chair in the back yard.

Jack Anderson was abandoned by his mother in a Glasgow movie theatre when he was six years old.  She left to take his sister Moira to the washroom and never returned.  He is now a successful multi-millionaire nearing retirement.  In all those years, he has not told his wife Anne and their children about his past.  After finally sharing his story of abandonment and adoption, he and Anne travel to Scotland to see Moira whom he has located.  While in the country of his birth, Jack learns he has more family than Moira, and meeting them has unexpected consequences. 

The novel is very readable.  What irritated me, however, are the unnecessary details that are included.  For instance, do we really need to know what everyone is drinking?  At the beginning we learn that “Anne liked gin martinis [while] her husband drank Scotch.”  In fact, there are over 25 references to Scotch, not including mentions of Scotch eggs and Scotch pies!  Some of the conversations don’t sound natural; for example, would a wife say to her husband of many years, “’You know I have a degree in English literature from UMass Amherst’”?

Descriptions of houses focus on windows and doors: Jack and Anne’s house “had two storeys, with six windows on the upper floor facing the road, and two huge windows on either side of a bright red double door on the ground floor."  Later, we have this description:  “Harry’s house was built of brick, with a red slate roof, a large window to the left of the front door, and three windows across the front of the second storey.”  Then a pub “had a brown brick façade that was black in places, and small, dirty windows on either side of a glass door etched with thistles.”  Moira lives “in the middle of a row of rather grimlooking houses, their doors set into walls of grey stone with windows on either side.  Some of the doors had been painted bright colours.”  This fixation on windows extends to characters always walking to a window and looking out; this happens at least 15 times.

There is considerable suspense.  Chapters often end on a dramatic note with announcements like “’He’s dead’” and “’She’s had a visit from one of the Baxter boys.  We need to talk.’”  Unfortunately, there are elements that require some suspension of disbelief.  Duncan Pike, “a top-notch lawyer,” becomes important in the latter part of the book, but some of his behaviour is rather shady, if not illegal.  And “’Scottish criminal royalty . . . who run most of the drug and prostitution business’” and are not averse to physical violence would feel bound by a contract? 

Jack is not a likeable character.  His nickname in the business world is Bloody Jack, and he admits, “’I didn’t get the nickname Bloody Jack by being a nice guy.  I trust no one.  Everyone is disposable.’”   He also admits to having trust issues; he has kept secrets from his wife and children for much of his life and his conversations concerning postponing his retirement are never mentioned to Anne:  “’I love Anne, but there are things I don’t tell her, and some of those things she has a right to know. ‘”  I don’t understand what Jack’s appeal is to Anne; she always seems to be walking on eggshells and reacting so as not to upset him.  He has difficulty accepting people who disagree with him, and he seems incapable of forgiveness.  When he makes what most people would consider a right decision, it is only because of his own self-interest and fear.  And we are to believe that such a successful man has not really given more thought to his retirement and what that entails?  In terms of character, Jack is not Bonnie Jack, and I found it difficult to care about what might happen to him.

There are many unanswered questions at the end, so I would not recommend the book to anyone who likes complete closure.  Despite its flaws, it is entertaining.

 Note:  I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.