This is the story of Hattie, called to help out her niece, age 11, and nephew, age 15, when their mother suffers yet another mental breakdown, she takes the kids on a mad mad world road trip to search for their father. They cross into the US in an old van --- and Toews finds new material for a familiar plot in this dysfunctional family tale.
The writing is outstanding, possibly her best in a stunning collection. The conversations between Hattie and the kids are masterful. Toews usual themes of people with seemingly insurmountable problems who stumble and struggle through life could be very frustrating, but she draws characters who are battered by life, intelligent, funny, wise, impulsive, self-destructive, creative, in emotional agony, and who learn to love and care for each other.
Other books by this author:
A Complicated Kindness **** (Governor General's Award)
Swing Low: A Life ****
The Summer of My Amazing Luck ***
-
No comments:
Post a Comment