Imagine you’re part of a couple returning to the place of your honeymoon thirty years later. Would it be a trip to re-conjure the vibrancy and excitement of young love or would it be a reminder of what has been lost in the thirty years that you’ve been together?
William and Luisa Sutherland are about to find out as they return to Seville after thirty years on a trip paid for by their daughter. William is an old curmudgeon and workaholic, older in attitude than his 53 years and Luisa is showing the signs of the roundedness that comes with middle age whilst still being attractive. There is tension in their relationship and whilst the gesture by their daughter is well-founded on good intentions, a question hovers as to whether or not it will be a trip that cements William and Luisa’s marriage – or will the opposite happen and their thirty years together be reduced down to rubble?
We find out and we do it in lively fashion as Mendelson takes the magic of what is the Semana Santa and has all sorts of odd situations transpire where Will and Luisa are faced with looking at who they once were compared to who they are now. The carnival atmosphere of the city lends itself well to making what happens just this side of credible as it all gets a little surreal and in a madcap way. But this is a gentle book about taking a fresh look at what you have and removing the jadedness that can sometimes come from being bogged down in what you believe matters instead of appreciating what’s in front of you.
Mendelson creates sympathy for both characters but especially William around whom the story centres. He could quite easily have been a character to dislike but Mendelson balances this by showing how William has come to be who he is through circumstances as well as personality.
It reminded me of A Christmas Carol in its message, a tale of redemption and changing behaviour before it’s too late but, having said that, this is a much lighter, more modern tale, less didactic and full of humour. Mendelson’s narrative voice is wry and subtle as his comparisons and insights poke gentle fun at his creations, and, in addition, his observational descriptions are delightful and made me chuckle.
An enjoyable read.
This review was first published on Reedsy Discovery where I was privileged to read it as an ARC.
Scuffed Granny 