He went back to the window and took his coffee standing up. Too much looking in: that’s what happens when you spend so much time alone. Look out, he urged himself, look out.
Widowed for years, Ruedi had taken early retirement to look after his wife. His daughter looks in on him regularly, sometimes with his young grandson of whom Ruedi is a little dismissive, but he’s lonely and looking for purpose. Long a member of Depart, he decides to train as a facilitator. Margrit will be the first person Ruedi helps. Aged eighty-six, long widowed and beset by health problems, she lives in a care home, an arrangement she dislikes. Her sons are fond of her but distant, one married the other still blaming his difficulties on his parents. She’s had enough of life, eager to die before the onset of another winter. Over the course of the summer, Ruedi and Margrit have several meetings, growing to trust and understand each other. This unusual situation prompts each of them to take stock, to remember their lives and their relationships in all their complexities – moments of happiness, sadness, joy, disappointment, just as we all have. When the time comes, Margrit is ready, her sons resigned to her decision and Ruedi confident in his role with this woman he’s come to care for and respect.
She felt more tranquil than she had in years. She felt a heightened sense of clarity about everything.
This could very easily have become one of those issue-led novels with two-dimensional characters there to make a point but O’Dea neatly dodges that, exploring the complexities of both Ruedi and Margrit’s lives. The narrative alternates between the two, both engaging characters who change over the course of the summer. Ruedi is led towards a more honest relationship with his daughter and grandson, enlightening them about his time in care and his mother’s Yenish roots – something I had to look up having never come across this itinerant group of Western Europeans. Margrit’s memories of her long life reflect her frustration as a woman constrained by societal expectations and its effect on her relationship with her sons. I enjoyed this brief, moving and humane novella with its depiction of a choice made without duress, eased by an empathetic character who learns much from the experience of facilitating that choice.
Cathy’s also reviewed this one. You can read what she has to say here.
Fairlight Books: Oxford 9781914148828 182 pages Paperback
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Hmm. This looks thought provoking, and far from a one-issue-novella. I’ll look it out.
She does wack you round the head with her theme in the way that some writers do. I hope your library’s stocking it.
Not so far … give it a chance. They do stock Bruton’s books.
Fingers crossed, and, of course, that should be ‘She doesn’t’…
I just bought a copy of this yesterday after reading Cathy’s review, so it’s great to hear you enjoyed this too! I’m looking forward to it.
Oh, that’s great! I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one.
Like you I loved how the assisted dying wasn’t really the main focus here, it was the connection that grows between the two (fascinating) lead characters. I thought it was so well done.
She handled a difficult theme so delicately, unfolding Margrit and Ruedi’s back stories and showing how both of them changed over the summer.
Sounds excellent. I too. enjoyed Voting Day and I think this is one I should also pick up soon!
Definitely! I think you’d enjoy meeting Margrit and Ruedi again.
Very compelling review. I hope I can find both books.
Thank you I hope you can, too.
Well, this has gotten a whole lot of good reviews, so I’ve put it on my Blackwell’s wish list!
Delighted to hear both those things!
I love it when authors return to familiar characters, years later!
It was lovely to make their acquaintance again. Highly recommend both books.
This sounds excellent.
A difficult theme beautifully handled. I’d also recommend Voting Day.
Thank you 🙂
Really like the idea of a novel that explores this theme without becoming too issue-led.
So often the case with a theme like this but she neatly avoids labouring it.