Commentary/review

This book is literature proper and an achievement on so many levels. Here is a beautiful, young and educated woman, a mother of five, a widow, on a small boat, cruising the Pacific Northwest. It strongly reminds of Tove Jansson but the attitude is less edgy, more flexible, reasonable. The perfect balance between adventurousness and therapy. She cares about safety but remains a force of nature, with curiosity and intelligence. The world is a cruel place but, for the moment, somewhere else. Bones fall from trees. Children pick them up and take home. Whatever works, works. You are judged by your results.

There is bereavement but it is so subtle that you need a lot of years behind you and a good ear to hear it at all. The capability to hold many truths at once is characteristic of an exceptional, open mind. We should be grateful this book was published when it was as the window for such magic is extremely narrow. In this production, it is properly read, if a bit rigidly (probably a good choice).

Cover photo by David Kovalenko on Unsplash