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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
Jonathan Evison's "This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance!" is a good book, but not exactly a great one (in my humble opinion). The cover and how the narrative begins leads you to believe this is a quick-reading lark of sorts, but it has a dark turn of events about half to 3/4 of the way through - so be forewarned (I offer no spoilers, just know that there are a lot of heavy, serious themes and stories you will be reading about).
A feisty 78 year-old - Harriet Chance - somewhat reluctantly embarks on an Alaskan cruise won in a raffle a year or two previously by her (now dead from Alzheimers) husband, Bernard. You soon come to realize, through ensuing chapters that alternate Harriet's past with the present, that her life and marriage weren't exactly happy. Bernard was curiously remote and unaffectionate, her children also are distanced from her for various reasons - most especially her daughter Caroline. Additionally, she is haunted periodically by the ghost of her dead husband, apparently attempting to make amends for his neglect of her in life.
The alternating glimpses into Harriet's past were written as though she were the subject of the classic game show held for celebrities, "This is Your Life!". It's a ploy that keeps things interesting, though I found myself a bit confused as I was reading with how it jumped back and forth in time. When things in Harriet's past get a little darker, it's certainly provides a twist - it's almost a bit ironic, as "This is Your Life" was a game show that was rollicking good fun for the celebrities involved typically - not shocking exposés into the tragic parts of their lives. I also found these "past" chapters a little weird to read - narrated as they were almost as if through a game show host.
I also found Harriet's strained relationship with her daughter a little hard to buy. I wanted it to be more fleshed out. The hostility, at moments, between mother and daughter felt sudden and severe. I wanted their resolution with each other - if any - to be more thought-out, and many times I was left wanting.
All in all, this is a fast-paced read (I read most of it on a plane trip) that demonstrates the work of a very talented writer. I will read more of his work. I would rate this book higher, but for some of my reservations listed above. If you are looking for an interesting new read that will have you thinking about the consequences of our past and the relationships we forge in the living of our lives - in all their mysteries and subtleties - this book gives you some good room for thought that isn't too overwhelming, but intriguing nonetheless.
A feisty 78 year-old - Harriet Chance - somewhat reluctantly embarks on an Alaskan cruise won in a raffle a year or two previously by her (now dead from Alzheimers) husband, Bernard. You soon come to realize, through ensuing chapters that alternate Harriet's past with the present, that her life and marriage weren't exactly happy. Bernard was curiously remote and unaffectionate, her children also are distanced from her for various reasons - most especially her daughter Caroline. Additionally, she is haunted periodically by the ghost of her dead husband, apparently attempting to make amends for his neglect of her in life.
The alternating glimpses into Harriet's past were written as though she were the subject of the classic game show held for celebrities, "This is Your Life!". It's a ploy that keeps things interesting, though I found myself a bit confused as I was reading with how it jumped back and forth in time. When things in Harriet's past get a little darker, it's certainly provides a twist - it's almost a bit ironic, as "This is Your Life" was a game show that was rollicking good fun for the celebrities involved typically - not shocking exposés into the tragic parts of their lives. I also found these "past" chapters a little weird to read - narrated as they were almost as if through a game show host.
I also found Harriet's strained relationship with her daughter a little hard to buy. I wanted it to be more fleshed out. The hostility, at moments, between mother and daughter felt sudden and severe. I wanted their resolution with each other - if any - to be more thought-out, and many times I was left wanting.
All in all, this is a fast-paced read (I read most of it on a plane trip) that demonstrates the work of a very talented writer. I will read more of his work. I would rate this book higher, but for some of my reservations listed above. If you are looking for an interesting new read that will have you thinking about the consequences of our past and the relationships we forge in the living of our lives - in all their mysteries and subtleties - this book gives you some good room for thought that isn't too overwhelming, but intriguing nonetheless.
Well written, and the dark scenes caught me off guard. I felt disturbed when I finished, and I'm ready for some lighter fare next!
The positive: the story of Harriet's life was artfully laid out in tiny tidbits. The exploration of information was so realistic as if talking to one of my clients. It was heartbreaking and inspiring.
The negative: the sometimes condescending tone of the narrator. "Look at you Harriet!" I was also disappointed by the ending. I won't put spoilers, I promise. I agree that the event that occurred was necessary to round out Harriet's life journey. However, the lack of closure to the story frustrated me. The story just sort of drops away.
The negative: the sometimes condescending tone of the narrator. "Look at you Harriet!" I was also disappointed by the ending. I won't put spoilers, I promise. I agree that the event that occurred was necessary to round out Harriet's life journey. However, the lack of closure to the story frustrated me. The story just sort of drops away.
One old lady's lifetime in a nutshell. It was mildly entertaining but not revealing any profound truth on the subject of aging. We all have our regrets, I guess. Not my favorite by this author
Great, easy read if you liked books like "Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine", "A Man Called Ove" or "Where'd You Go Bernadette?"
We come to know Harriet Chance through glimpses of her seventy eight years, in vignettes that jump back and forth through time. I feel like the story lets you really come to know this complicated woman as she mourns her recently deceased husband. Relationships between husband and wife, mother and children, and others contribute to define I g who we are. With humor and pathos, recommended read.
At first I was enamored by the lighthearted tone of the book. As I continued reading, the content became darker and more bleak. The author drew me in to the complexities of Harriet’s life and life in general.
It reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events - in that you don’t always know what happens next.
The tone, texture and structure of the book made it feel light and charming, but it's really, REALLY loaded. By the end, you realize just about everyone in this book is messed up, but you kind of love them all. I'm not quite sure how Jonathan Evison did that, but it's pretty amazing. Think Where'd You Go, Bernadette? meets Olive Kitteridge.
I am surprised by how many positive reviews of this book there are. I love books about old people on zany quests and there were some good parts but the narration wore on me and the big reveal of Harriet's secret was so depressing. She got a couple good days on the cruise, I suppose, but all in all, Harriet deserved better than the author gave her.