Since the death of his dad, Benny and his mom haven’t healed. She’s become a hoarder and Benny has started hearing voices from all of the things in his house. This book is about storytelling, relationships (both human and material), love, grief, and finding expression.
Gwenamon says: Yes!
The tale is told from two viewpoints: 16-year-old Nao in Tokyo, and a late-middle-aged Ruth on a remote area of Vancouver Island. After the 2011 tsunami, Ruth discovers Nao’s diary and other artifacts in a lunchbox, which has washed up on a beach. Like Ruth, we’re drawn into Nao’s disturbing and captivating world – one in which her father is unemployed and depressed, she’s bullied at school, and the only person she yearns to be near is her ancient great-grandmother, a Buddhist nun. I loved the many, many layers of this novel. It’s about writing and reading, metaphysics, relationships, the environment, faith, purpose, and redemption.
Gwenamon says: Just wonderful. A must-read!
Gwenonichi 