By Clare Morall
I was scanning through a local bookshop when I found this book. It seemed like an interesting read, so I picked it up. Well, I don’t regret it. It was a pleasant read and I enjoyed it albeit it was depressing sometimes.
This is the author's third book after the famous 'Astonishing splashes of color' which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and 'Natural Flights of the Human Mind'.
The story paces back and forth between the present and past life of detached but musically gifted Jessica Fontaine. The book is moderately paced with strong emotional cobwebs. It's easy to sit engrossed with the book for hours together without ever knowing.
Her childhood years are portrayed in a beautiful country house called Audlands. She's a concern for her parents for not being social like her mom Connie or her amiable sister Harriet. Jessica has an exceptional flair for playing piano and she plays too much that it peeves her mom. She's always whittled away from others and spends most of her time on music. Jessica finds it hard to move around with people and she's constantly bullied by her cousins.
Jessica falls in love with Andrew, her college senior, an obstreperous person whose behavior is unpredictable. Innocent Jessica falls in love with his music and eventually marries him. As she's fighting to lead a normal life with Andrew and Joel, Andrew suddenly deserts her only return after few years pursuing her to reunite.
Jessica, who's 40 years at the present is quite content working as a librarian as well as doing concerts with her dear friend Mary. Mary has a beautiful life with an understanding husband and co-operative kids. Jessica often wonders why her life not so practical as Mary's or as beautiful as Harriet who's a designer and travels the world.
Jessica is frustrated with her son Joel, a successful Computer games programmer not being mature enough to find a home on his own and being still dependent on his mom and Andrew who's pursuing Marie on a reunion and has got a recent flair for climbing tall buildings and playing Violin.
One day, Joel suddenly brings her girlfriend Alice who seems to understand Joel better than Jessica. It's Alice who throws light on Joel and Jessica's paths to self-realization. Jessica always thought that the reason for her life being so dull is undoubtedly due to Andrew's preposterous behavior. Jessica falls in love again and the story ends when she realizes who's the reason for all the misery.
Slow paced but a must read.
