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A literary tale of choices, love, loss and grief. Ellis is struggling after the death of his wife, Annie, and best friend Michael. He works nights at the car factory so he doesn't have to deal with his insomnia. Loneliness and depression are taking their toll. When a bike accident forces Ellis to take time off work he finally has to confront the past.
The narrative weaves in and out of past and present as Ellis remembers how he met Michael, the first love of his life. Only kids when they met, both boys were dealing with their own traumas and ambitions. As the grew their relationship changed but this was in the 1970's and Ellis' father had very definite opinions about what a man should be.
Michael eventually moved to London and he and Ellis lost touch. Ellis learns Michael's story from his journal. A journal Micheal started while nursing a friend through AIDS.
This is complex story, told well and simply in this quite short (200 odd pages) novel. As we move between past and present the edges begin to blur and it is sometimes hard to track when the character is, but I feel it is deliberate - just like Ellis is lost in his memories so are we. Winman's style is simple but effective. The only issue I had was the lack of "talking" marks (Something I also found frustrating / distracting in her previous novel "A Year of Marvelous Ways") as I find the lack reduces readability. But maybe that's just me?
This is a novel for those who love literary fiction: It is about resilience and grief; depression and heartache; society and parental expectations; love and friendship; pain and hope. At each step you cannot help but wonder how these people's lives would have changed if they had made or been offered different choices.
This would make a great book club read - I'm sure everyone will find a lot to discuss.
The narrative weaves in and out of past and present as Ellis remembers how he met Michael, the first love of his life. Only kids when they met, both boys were dealing with their own traumas and ambitions. As the grew their relationship changed but this was in the 1970's and Ellis' father had very definite opinions about what a man should be.
Michael eventually moved to London and he and Ellis lost touch. Ellis learns Michael's story from his journal. A journal Micheal started while nursing a friend through AIDS.
This is complex story, told well and simply in this quite short (200 odd pages) novel. As we move between past and present the edges begin to blur and it is sometimes hard to track when the character is, but I feel it is deliberate - just like Ellis is lost in his memories so are we. Winman's style is simple but effective. The only issue I had was the lack of "talking" marks (Something I also found frustrating / distracting in her previous novel "A Year of Marvelous Ways") as I find the lack reduces readability. But maybe that's just me?
This is a novel for those who love literary fiction: It is about resilience and grief; depression and heartache; society and parental expectations; love and friendship; pain and hope. At each step you cannot help but wonder how these people's lives would have changed if they had made or been offered different choices.
This would make a great book club read - I'm sure everyone will find a lot to discuss.