Road Ends by Mary Lawson

This lovely and simple novel languished on my shelf for almost a year before I picked it up and read it in one sitting.  The setting is northern Ontario during blizzard season and England in the late 1960's and is told from three points of view in alternating chapters, a device I am not overly fond of, but which worked beautifully here.  There is Edward, the patriarch, who is working through the legacy of a violent and harsh childhood while his wife completely absorbs herself in baby after baby, letting the household work fall into the hands of her only daughter Megan.  Megan is brilliantly brought to life by the author.  She exiles herself to London to find her independence, as if the only way to escape the endless drudgery of raising her brothers is to leave Ontario altogether.  And then there is her brother, kind and lost Tom, suffering after the suicide of his best friend.  Tom, although isolated by his grief is the one to notice things are awry in his family, but is at a loss to intervene in any effective way.  Gradually all three characters come to an understanding of their place in the world and how to give their lives some kind of purpose.  I highly recommend this novel.

The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber

Despite its length (about 570 pages) this entirely plot driven novel reads very fast.  Unlike many plot driven novels the pacing is perfect and the denouement is understated.  Yet I expected so much more.  Peter Leigh is an ex-addict, happily married pastor who takes a journey to a windswept, barren planet to serve as priest to the small population of fragile beings residing there.  There is no irony to the religious aspect of this novel which I found hard to bear.  His wife Beatrice remains on earth.  Through her computer missives to Peter we learn that the planet is going through climate disasters and economic breakdown leading to civil unrest and violence.  Peter becomes emotionally distant from his wife and earth's troubles as he engages more fully with the planet's (called Oasis) inhabitants.  I've read Faber's previous two novels:  Under The Skin and The Crimson Petal and the White which were both fantastic so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.  He has said he is finished writing novels which is too bad.  He is certainly a versatile writer and has a lot to say, however this novel didn't really excite me.  I think for me it was the earnestness of the characters that bothered me, I do love my satire.