Sunday 10 July 2016

Brailing for Wile by Jason Zerndt

This is a fiction story aimed at young adults and up. Between the time the book was offered for review and the review going up the name has subsequently changed to The Roadrunner Cafe and the main character's name has changed.

Secrets are what caused this. Too many secrets have ruined too many lives. Like the fact that Mattius's father Wile was having an affair and after he was found out he hung himself. Four trees that used to symbolise the family sit outside of their cafe and Mattius's mom is sick of seeing them. She decides to have the one that symbolised Wile taken away, which causes the townsfolk issues - whether about the landscaper (Norwood) taking it away or even where it gets put. Norwood is currently dealing with his girlfriend who is desperate for a baby and Easy (Norwood's apprentice) still suffers from the loss of his father. Helyana (Mattius's friend) has lost both of her parents and been brought up by her exceptionally religious grandfather. All of their stories are just waiting to collide as death finds life and life finds death.


An interesting take on a story that is not that far removed from real life. It deals with the floundering that so many people feel when a loved one leaves them (by their own hand) and how to deal with the aftermath. Not just within themselves but also with friends and family. The only negative that really stood out to me was that it read like a book one would have to study at school when dealing with signs and hidden meanings in action - like a film study class trying to decide why a director used a specific shot. Otherwise a good read dealing with some difficult topics.

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