Title: ALL THE THINGS WE LEAVE BEHIND
Author: RIEL NASON
Type of Book: SOFTCOVER
Genre: FICTION
Length: 236 PAGES
Publisher: GOOSE LANE EDITIONS
Release Date: SEPTEMBER 13, 2016
ISBN: 9780864920416
Price: $19.95 CDN
Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
* I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
An absolutely mesmerizing read. ALL THE THINGS WE LEAVE BEHIND is quite simply brilliant.
Set in the late 1970s in a tiny town in New Brunswick, the story begins with seventeen-year-old Violet reminisces about the childhood adventures she experienced with her brother; Bliss.
The ironically named Bliss has left home and Violet’s parents have left to try and track him down. They have left Violet in charge of The Purple Barn which is the family’s antique store.
During her childhood, Violet remembers all the times that Bliss would become incredibly sad for no apparent reason. In those days things such as mental illness or depression were not taken as seriously as they are today. (Even though current society still has a long way to go as well.) This book highlights his depression symptoms, without recognizing them for what they were.
With characters such as “Quinny” who is the silver haired old lady hired to work the store’s counter and Violet’s almost too nice boyfriend: Dean, working alongside her, what could possibly go wrong for Vi?
Violet visits the hermit who lives at the edge of her family’s property, and hears about the deer he spotted recently, then she begins seeing an all-white deer which seems to glow in the moonlight. Violet is not sure if she wants the deer sightings to be real or imaginary.
When Violet is tasked with the responsibility for obtaining the items from a legendary local estate, things come to a head.
This book contains so many compelling storylines within the main narrative that you just do not want to put it down.
As a seventies child myself, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgia for that time period. With the backdrop being an antiques store, feelings of nostalgia are inevitable, but somehow the author makes it seem as if it is the readers idea which probably will not make sense until you read the book.
This is easily one of the best general fiction books that I have read in a very long time and deserves to be rated much higher than just 5 out of 5 stars. Ten stars seem more fitting, but since that is not an option, I rate this book as 5 out of 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I believe that this book will become a bestseller and that it is destined to win multiple literary awards. Add this to your MUST READ list. You will not be disappointed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Riel Nason is a Canadian novelist and textile artist (quilter).
Her acclaimed debut novel The Town That Drowned won the 2012 Commonwealth Book Prize for Canada and Europe, and the 2012 Margaret and John Savage First Book Award. It was also shortlisted for several other literary awards as well as longlisted for the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Her second novel All The Things We Leave Behind was published September 13, 2016.
Riel’s original quilts have been exhibited across Canada including being shown twice at Quilt Canada (the National Juried Show). She is best known for her whimsical selvage quilts and bold use of colour. Modern Selvage Quilting was published in March, 2016. It features 17 of her original designs.
She grew up in Hawkshaw, New Brunswick and now lives in Quispamsis, NB with her husband, son, daughter and cats.
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