PEACEFUL WATERS

Sailing offers a way to transcend heartache in this novella.

When readers meet Fen, she is weeping outside a Sausalito, California, post office. Her boyfriend, Donovan, took his own life two weeks earlier, and she has no idea why. A successful pediatric cardiac surgeon, Donovan lived with Fen aboard Peace, a 45-foot sailboat. With a close group of friends, abundant hikes, and lots of love, Fen thought their lives were perfect. But then Donovan killed himself: “No note, no sign, no hint of unhappiness.” Donovan’s brother, Cayden, tries to coax Fen out of her grief with conversations, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a hike, and cupcakes. Fen appreciates Cayden’s efforts and tries to start reclaiming her life. She donates heaps of Donovan’s clothes and bedding and returns to her work as a physical therapist. But then Fen receives a package from Donovan in the mail containing a diamond ring and a note. His message prompts Fen to plan a solo sailing trip down the Southern California coast and along the Baja Peninsula, where she will look for an appropriate place to scatter Donovan’s ashes. Fen’s journey down the coastline and back again allows her to recover from her trauma through physical labor, early morning hot chocolate, wine, vivid sights, and new people. Donovan’s otherworldly presence is palpable at the beginning of her trip, but fades over time, particularly once Fen begins scattering his ashes. Ultimately, Fen’s trip reminds her that even without Donovan, “life was all around her. She had only to grab it.” In this evocative story, Hutcheson’s knowledge of the waters and landscapes of the Baja Peninsula is impressive, and her descriptions of the delicious meals Fen enjoys on her trips to shore are mouthwatering. But the foundation of the author’s tale is the love between Fen and Donovan, both of whom remain vague. Although readers are told that the couple loved hiking and sailing and adored dancing on the deck of their boat, the audience learns relatively little else about them, or about what made their relationship so magical. More background about the couple and their life together would imbue Donovan’s tragic choice with even more sorrow.

A lyrical tale of grief that would be more potent with fully developed characters.