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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
This is a quirky, charming, and poignant tale that follows the life and times of 78-year-old widow Harriet Chance, jumping between key events in Harriet's past that bear reexamination and the present day. The chapters focused on the past are written as if they are being narrated by a game show host, as the title of the book suggests. And, yes, it IS incredibly tempting to write this review in a similar style :) After Harriet learns that her now-deceased husband, Bernard, has planned a cruise to Alaska unbeknownst to her, she impulsively decides to use the tickets. Her best friend, Mildred, originally agrees to accompany her but mysteriously backs out at the last minute with no real explanation. The reason behind her surprising decision is revealed to the reader and Harriet in due time though. Harriet opts to go on the cruise anyway but doesn't tell her adult children that she'll be traveling alone (lest they try and stop her) until her daughter, Caroline, is about to drop her off for the trip. Bernard ends up tagging along in his current other-worldly form, much to chagrin of his CTO (or, Chief Transitional Officer), and helps Harriet work through the surprises she is about to encounter as she cruises north to Alaska. As the cruise proceeds, pivotal events in Harriet's life and those closest to her are recalled, forcing Harriet to reassess truths she believed to be true. Or perhaps the recollections are really truths that she has refused to acknowledge to date. The events range from heartwarming to humorous to heartbreaking, simultaneously showing humanity and human failings. Readers will undoubtedly pause to reflect on their own lives after reading this book and wonder if their own truths would look a little different if presented in a similar way.
I loved it. It was a quick read, stirs up a lot of "what direction is my life moving in?" And "how did I get here?" Feelings. Good writing, good story.
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/day-778-this-is-your-life-harriet-chance/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/day-778-this-is-your-life-harriet-chance/
I didn't care for this one. I thought it started out well enough, but I soon tired of the style — an unknown narrator addressing Harriet. And I really tired of the narrator's mean-spiritedness. Who the heck is this narrator (or game-show host) who seems to want to rub Harriet's nose in every mistake she's ever made, every less-than-respectable moment? God?
"You can’t remember getting old. You can’t remember when exactly you started carrying umbrellas just in case, when you started scheduling your weekly hair washings, oversalting your food, or reusing zipper-lock bags. It happened gradually. The years just wore you away, dulled your edges, leached the color from your face, and flattened you out like river rocks. Again, not the point. The point—not to belabor it—is: you’re old, sapless and enfeebled. . . ."
As for Harriet, I found her a bit of an anachronism. She's supposed to be 78 in 2015, but speaks (and is described) like someone who's 88 in some earlier decade. She sounds both a bit dowdy and dotty. Everyone she speaks to is "dear." I kept waiting for her to show some spunk, act like an intelligent, able woman.
And then there's Bernard, the dead husband. We are treated to scenes of him in the afterlife as well as witness to his visits to Harriet. Are we supposed to believe she's hallucinating? Or that he's really there? Seems like the latter.
A lot of the elements of what might have been plot (there isn't one) are left hanging. I found myself yearning for some closure re Harriet's relationships with Mildred and Skip, and even Bernard — though there's some with regard to Caroline. Maybe I expected more depth or more humor or more of a point besides the fact that aging really sucks. At the least, I wanted something more for Harriet. But I guess this is real life — or at least, Harriet's: tedious, full of unpleasant surprises, and too soon over.
"You can’t remember getting old. You can’t remember when exactly you started carrying umbrellas just in case, when you started scheduling your weekly hair washings, oversalting your food, or reusing zipper-lock bags. It happened gradually. The years just wore you away, dulled your edges, leached the color from your face, and flattened you out like river rocks. Again, not the point. The point—not to belabor it—is: you’re old, sapless and enfeebled. . . ."
As for Harriet, I found her a bit of an anachronism. She's supposed to be 78 in 2015, but speaks (and is described) like someone who's 88 in some earlier decade. She sounds both a bit dowdy and dotty. Everyone she speaks to is "dear." I kept waiting for her to show some spunk, act like an intelligent, able woman.
And then there's Bernard, the dead husband. We are treated to scenes of him in the afterlife as well as witness to his visits to Harriet. Are we supposed to believe she's hallucinating? Or that he's really there? Seems like the latter.
A lot of the elements of what might have been plot (there isn't one) are left hanging. I found myself yearning for some closure re Harriet's relationships with Mildred and Skip, and even Bernard — though there's some with regard to Caroline. Maybe I expected more depth or more humor or more of a point besides the fact that aging really sucks. At the least, I wanted something more for Harriet. But I guess this is real life — or at least, Harriet's: tedious, full of unpleasant surprises, and too soon over.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
An unusual book. The cover art (which I personally find quite delightful and one of the sharpest covers of the year) suggests that this might be a light, quirky read. Quirky for sure, but don't be fooled - this is not a light read by any stretch of the imagination. A fast read, for sure, but filled with sadness and uncomfortable truths.
Harriet Chance is 78 years old and has just discovered her recently deceased husband, Bernard, had bid on, and won, an Alaskan cruise. She decides to go on the cruise anyhow, with many revelations, betrayals and souls searching on the way.
The structure of this book may be off putting to some. It is told as a series of short chapters ricocheting back and forth to various points in Harriet's life, in the style of that old show "This is your life..." The narrator often speaks directly to the reader, in a joking or jovial manner, hinting at events to be told later in the story. This is the sole reason the book was four stars instead of five.
The book is the story of a marriage, the relationship we have with our children, the secrets we keep and how we relate to our past. It is also the stories we tell ourselves about our lives, how events can set our lives on a different course and how our reality does not always match the vision we had for our lives. It is a book with a great deal of sadness, but gave me a lot to think about. Highly recommended.
Harriet Chance is 78 years old and has just discovered her recently deceased husband, Bernard, had bid on, and won, an Alaskan cruise. She decides to go on the cruise anyhow, with many revelations, betrayals and souls searching on the way.
The structure of this book may be off putting to some. It is told as a series of short chapters ricocheting back and forth to various points in Harriet's life, in the style of that old show "This is your life..." The narrator often speaks directly to the reader, in a joking or jovial manner, hinting at events to be told later in the story. This is the sole reason the book was four stars instead of five.
The book is the story of a marriage, the relationship we have with our children, the secrets we keep and how we relate to our past. It is also the stories we tell ourselves about our lives, how events can set our lives on a different course and how our reality does not always match the vision we had for our lives. It is a book with a great deal of sadness, but gave me a lot to think about. Highly recommended.
3.5 I think; I'm torn on this as I found it completely charming but don't think it's for everyone.
I received this as a First Reads giveaway.
This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison is a story about a woman who copes with her husbands death by going to an Alaskan cruise that he won before his passing. Harriet attends the cruise to spread his ashes, as well as to do something for herself, after all this is her life.
The narration takes us through Harriet's life, from birth, to the cruise. We learn a lot about her children, her husband, her best friend, and a few twists along the way. I enjoyed rooting for Harriet as her cruise approached, dealing with seeing and hearing her dead husband. Her constant struggle with her age as well as dealing with her children. I also really liked Evison's way of writing about the after life. Pretty different.
Harriet reflects on her life, her marriage, and her upbringing. There were quite a few laugh out scenes, and some were real emotional. Some of the plot twists were done well and threw me off. I devoured this book, a real quick read that stood with me for a short time afterwards. Definitely recommended.
This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison is a story about a woman who copes with her husbands death by going to an Alaskan cruise that he won before his passing. Harriet attends the cruise to spread his ashes, as well as to do something for herself, after all this is her life.
The narration takes us through Harriet's life, from birth, to the cruise. We learn a lot about her children, her husband, her best friend, and a few twists along the way. I enjoyed rooting for Harriet as her cruise approached, dealing with seeing and hearing her dead husband. Her constant struggle with her age as well as dealing with her children. I also really liked Evison's way of writing about the after life. Pretty different.
Harriet reflects on her life, her marriage, and her upbringing. There were quite a few laugh out scenes, and some were real emotional. Some of the plot twists were done well and threw me off. I devoured this book, a real quick read that stood with me for a short time afterwards. Definitely recommended.