Broken families in fractured countries. New York urbanity versus Ontario lake country. Quebec and Canada in the Pierre Elliot Trudeau era. Life, living and death within these many layers. The story is told in the thoughts of Jim’s mind and heart and his mother, Nan’s mind and heart. The love and open caring between these characters was hesitant and fraught with emotional pain, limited satisfaction and times of tenderness.
I tend to read in short bursts. Some stories do not fit this mode. His Whole Life by Elizabeth Hay needs to be read in long spells if at all possible. His Whole Life, a story of Jim, his family and his growing up is thoughtful and wise. ‘What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?' - a question that Jim asked Nan on the first page of the book, runs through this novel. Different answers come up in different life situations. Discussion was, as always, lively and most interesting.
“But some feelings take a long time, they sort of grow behind
your back. You turn around thirty years later and there they are.”
~ Elizabeth Hay, His Whole Life
Title: His Whole Life
Author: Elizabeth Hay
Publisher: McLelland & Stewart,
a division of Random House of Canada Limited,
a Penguin Random House Company
Copyright Date: 2015
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 978-0-7710-3859-4
ISBN (ebook): 978-0-7710-3861-7
Type: Fiction
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