Review: “When Robins Appear”
This book came to me via an ARC program, and I chose it because I was looking for a touching women’s fiction novel to read. This was an easy read that I devoured in two days and it certainly did not disappoint.
The Premise
“When Robins Appear” is the heartbreakingly beautiful tale of a mother and a daughter, at two ends of the spectrum in terms of their loves and their lives. It is told in the first-person point of view from both mother and daughter: Deborah, who is on the cusp of becoming an “empty nester”; and Amanda, who has had the benefit of a lovely family home as the only child of two successful, hardworking people with a longstanding, loving marriage. When Amanda meets Graham — the laidback, carefree guy and polar opposite of her jock ex-boyfriend Jack, her mother Deb is alarmed. Her own demons from her past lead her to believe that Graham will be her daughter’s demise, and she wants to protect her. But the tragedy awaiting the family is far different than Deb could ever imagine.
The Pros
I really enjoyed the development of each character in this novel. The author does this effortlessly: we immediately understand that Richard’s role in the family is on the peripheries; the real story here is the mother-daughter relationship, which seesaws from love and affection to frustration and anger. The reader is able to empathise fully with both main characters — the mother’s painful past that impedes her present willingness to trust her daughter, and her daughter’s rebellion to be with the man she loves. The language is exquisite and suits the tale perfectly, and the eventual turn of events is symbolic and beautiful. I also appreciated the side characters’ development: from Amanda’s friend with religious-zealot abusive parents, to Graham’s friend in a unstable home, to Amanda’s motherly-type sister Merritt, to Graham’s hippie parents, and even Deb’s past love — each character is allowed to fully bloom to fill his/her space. For even the shortest of scenes — a heartbreaking event of loss in her past — the reader can visualise the sibling relationship and Deb’s oblivious innocence and regret. The writing talent is palpable, and breathes throughout the entire novel, in turn leaving the reader breathless by the story’s eventual end.
The Cons
The journey of the novel from beginning to end was well executed, but the storyline itself has been told many times before, and did not deviate much from what I was expecting. I would also have liked the ending to a bit more fleshed out. The cadence shifts so drastically that it left many questions unanswered, and while I appreciate that this reflects real life, I wanted maybe a chapter or two more rather than the succinct wrap-up.
Conclusion
The author presents a powerful narrative that will stay with me for quite some time. There are nuances and intricacies of writing here that were expertly placed to lead the reader through the plot. The way the story is told makes all the difference, because a tried-and-true tale can gain much levity and poignance once done right. And this author does it very, very right. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a good story — but keep your tissues handy.
