Harold is now seventy-five and Maureen is seventy-two. It has been ten years since Harold made his six-hundred-mile journey by foot to see a buddy and the 2 have settled into a cushty and even loving relationship. However the story doesn’t finish there. Now his spouse, Maureen, has her personal pilgrimage to make. She needs to see Queenie’s sea backyard the place there’s a sculptural tribute or memorial to their son David, who killed himself thirty years earlier, in addition to one to Harold.
Maureen, nonetheless, is just not Harold. She is prickly, standoffish, opinionated, simply irritated, and, effectively, not a people-person. Her journey, by automotive moderately than foot, completely highlights their variations. She does not simply heat as much as folks and speaks her thoughts way-too-often. The hurdles she faces are fairly totally different from these Harold confronted, however they’re actually a problem for her.
I actually beloved this closing novel targeted on Maureen. It’s splendidly targeted, poignant, and perceptive character examine of Maureen, with all her flaws, misgivings, and doubts. She remains to be making an attempt to cope with the lack of their son, David, despite the fact that years have handed. She feels an odd compulsion to make this journey and see Queenie’s backyard, however she is totally uncertain of what she is going to discover and the way she is going to react. Her response is shocking, however in the long run life altering for Maureen.
Maureen highlights the ability, empathy, and insightful particulars Joyce offers for her characters. Whereas studying, even when Maureen is being particularly tough, Joyce additionally offers an avenue for readers to empathize along with her and her curmudgeonly angle. This can be a brief novel with a strong impression.
Disclosure: My evaluate copy was courtesy of Random Home through NetGalley.
