This month, I had the great privilege of reading a sweet and sentimental novel, If My Wishes Were Horses by local author Renee Livingston. The catalyst for this book is a trip a woman takes with her grandchildren to New York. Throughout the trip, the narrator’s mind drifts, and she shares the story of her life through snapshots remembered, making this a novel with the flair of a memoir.
The big city is an enormous change for the residents of the Pacific Northwest. The three youngsters are rapt with admiration at seeing monuments and sights they’ve never dreamed of. Throughout it all, their grandmother entertains them with stories of her past, brought to mind by experiencing various parts of their east coast adventure. The combination of storylines crisscrosses and weaves together beautiful, creating a lovely read.
What I Liked:
I was excited to find a novel that was written in a new and unique way. The pairing of two story lines, one on a trip and the other of a life well-lived, made it seem like I was on the trip too. The author’s storytelling ability is fantastic, and I felt like I was in the room, sitting on the floor with the narrator’s grandsons as she told them a story from her past. The descriptions are beautiful and bring to life the characters the narrator shared her life with.
I also appreciate the honesty and authenticity brought to this novel. The author didn’t try to hide the darker parts of her characters’ lives. She brings them to the table bravely and openly, focusing on the feelings, the mistakes, and above all, the love they experienced throughout even the most difficult times. She broaches difficult subjects — divorce, substance abuse, and even murder — with grace for the situation and compassion for those involved.
What Was Missing:
While I greatly enjoyed the storytelling experience this book offered, there were times when I was unsure of the reason a particular story was included at a particular time. There were parts where the event that triggered the memory could have been described in more detail to avoid confusion. I also felt that there were parts of the narrator’s life that could have included more detail.
It was also challenging to keep all of the characters straight. It would have been helpful to have a portion of the book devoted to primarily describing the relationships between the characters so that I would have had a better sense of the family ties.
Recommendation:
Each month I am blown away by the talent of the writers in our community, and this month is no exception. The focus of this book is the connections between people, and the ways that life weaves itself throughout our relationships. Especially in this time, we are all craving connection, and this book is a great reminder that we need not look far to find it. Connection and love are all around us, we must only make the effort to search.
About the Author:
This is the first novel by Renee Livingston. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, and has an associates degree from Linn-Benton Community College. If My Wishes Were Horses was published in 2016 by LifeRich Publishing.
Grass Roots Books currently stocks If My Wishes Were Horses.
By Kyra Young
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