Patricia Averbach’s book was a surprise to me as it went imaginatively to places that I was not expecting and, more to the point, it does it really well so that this is an engaging, well-written book which I was able to read easily and thoroughly enjoy. There was a chance that Averbach’s premise could have led to a read which was cheesy or over-sentimental but she manages to tread this fine line with aplomb, producing a novel which is sensitive, realistic and magical all at the same time.
The book deals with two narratives. The author switches between them and they are very different voices, unconnected and from differing time periods. The first is Amy, young and living in Toronto, keeping a low profile and working in a print business. We follow her as she begins to settle in to her new life and learn about why she left America. She meets Arcus, Tom and Nancy who become an integral part of her life and are passionate young people, especially Tom and Arcus, who have ambitions to be revolutionaries and fight to free Greece from the juntas.
The second voice in the book is that of Jacob Kanter, an archaeologist in his younger days who is now a widower and faced with the prospect of moving into a home. There is the idea that he is losing his mind and this is certainly something which his son believes. The narrative does nothing to dissuade you of this notion although Jacob’s voice is clear and educated and intelligent and so, his story in particular provides a mystery as we read his alongside that of Amy’s.
I liked the characterisation of both Amy and Jacob as they are likeable people, just trying to find their way through life as best they can. They are both suffering from grief, having lost people close to them. What I really liked about this book, as I mentioned, was that it surprised me; it didn’t shock me but Averbach’s narrative took me in a direction I was not expecting and this was enjoyable for its unpredictability. I thought that I knew what this book was about and just as I had settled into that idea, it presented me with something completely different which was warm and mysterious and lovely.
This was good reading which flowed throughout. Convincing dialogue and a well-thought out plot make this a book to enjoy.
Scuffed Granny 