A thrilling work about a political crisis; original and gripping.
A struggling farmer turns into a national figure when he dramatically chooses to become a faithless elector in this novel.
Chance Fitzbourne inherited a Virginia farm when he was only 35 years old, land that had been in his family for generations and that he proudly cherished. Now 67, he’s exhausted from the demands it imposes and the financial precariousness of the industry. He feels swallowed up by the avarice and corruption of the world, a melancholic depletion poignantly depicted by Willis: “There’s too much unknown with farming. Like with most things, the big guys have taken over. They have lobbies, money, and government support. The big guys rule the world.” But in the midst of Chance’s powerlessness, he’s given an opportunity to make a difference. A longtime supporter of the Democratic Party, he’s appointed as an elector for his district, a role that typically only requires the perfunctory rubber-stamping of the winner. But then Democratic President-elect John Vickers suddenly collapses and dies, and the Electoral College process is thrown into confusion and disarray. Chance suddenly becomes a singularly important man after Democratic National Committee Chairman Edwin Damson chooses Sen. Brock Henry instead of throwing his support to Vice President-elect Jane Meyer Grete. Chance strenuously objects to Henry’s brand of radical socialism and considers the lawmaker a “bigoted ass,” refusing to cast his vote for him. Damson, an unscrupulous man, is maniacally intent on changing Chance’s mind, even if that means resorting to intimidation. The author vividly captures the chaos into which the nation descends, including the possibility that the other faithless electors who follow suit were bribed and the White House is somehow involved in a related murder.
Willis builds a suspenseful political drama around a tantalizing premise that proves ingenious because it is both eminently plausible and one on which the Constitution is silent. As a consequence, he delicately exposes the fragility of the democratic process and the rule of law. Furthermore, he avoids sullying the literary execution of this idea with politically partisan ax-grinding—there is plenty of dark corruption on both sides of the ideological aisle. At the heart of the story, though, is Chance’s embittered frustration, expressed in terms provided by the political moment but with deeper roots. Speaking to the Democratic county chairperson, he unleashes his disgruntlement: “I’ve backed the Party for forty-some-odd years, Gwen Ellen. Really voted for some sad candidates. Fortunately, the Republicans haven’t been any better. Politicians get rammed down our throats, qualified or not. I can’t swallow Brock Henry, simple as that.” The author’s irreproachable realism starts to waver toward the end of the story, and some blandly sentimental scenes meant to make readers feel good sneak in incongruently. Nevertheless, this momentary loss of literary nerve doesn’t come close to undermining a thoroughly captivating novel that is as politically astute as it is emotionally affecting.
A thrilling work about a political crisis; original and gripping.Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-578-79553-9
Page Count: 298
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.
A lifetime’s worth of letters combine to portray a singular character.
Sybil Van Antwerp, a cantankerous but exceedingly well-mannered septuagenarian, is the titular correspondent in Evans’ debut novel. Sybil has retired from a beloved job as chief clerk to a judge with whom she had previously been in private legal practice. She is the divorced mother of two living adult children and one who died when he was 8. She is a reader of novels, a gardener, and a keen observer of human nature. But the most distinguishing thing about Sybil is her lifelong practice of letter writing. As advancing vision problems threaten Sybil’s carefully constructed way of life—in which letters take the place of personal contact and engagement—she must reckon with unaddressed issues from her past that threaten the house of cards (letters, really) she has built around herself. Sybil’s relationships are gradually revealed in the series of letters sent to and received from, among others, her brother, sister-in-law, children, former work associates, and, intriguingly, literary icons including Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry. Perhaps most affecting is the series of missives Sybil writes but never mails to a shadowy figure from her past. Thoughtful musings on the value and immortal quality of letters and the written word populate one of Sybil’s notes to a young correspondent while other messages are laugh-out-loud funny, tinged with her characteristic blunt tartness. Evans has created a brusque and quirky yet endearing main character with no shortage of opinions and advice for others but who fails to excavate the knotty difficulties of her own life. As Sybil grows into a delayed self-awareness, her letters serve as a chronicle of fitful growth.
An affecting portrait of a prickly woman.Pub Date: May 6, 2025
ISBN: 9780593798430
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
A warm and winning "When Harry Met Sally…" update that hits all the perfect notes.
A travel writer has one last shot at reconnecting with the best friend she just might be in love with.
Poppy and Alex couldn't be more different. She loves wearing bright colors while he prefers khakis and a T-shirt. She likes just about everything while he’s a bit more discerning. And yet, their opposites-attract friendship works because they love each other…in a totally platonic way. Probably. Even though they have their own separate lives (Poppy lives in New York City and is a travel writer with a popular Instagram account; Alex is a high school teacher in their tiny Ohio hometown), they still manage to get together each summer for one fabulous vacation. They grow closer every year, but Poppy doesn’t let herself linger on her feelings for Alex—she doesn’t want to ruin their friendship or the way she can be fully herself with him. They continue to date other people, even bringing their serious partners on their summer vacations…but then, after a falling-out, they stop speaking. When Poppy finds herself facing a serious bout of ennui, unhappy with her glamorous job and the life she’s been dreaming of forever, she thinks back to the last time she was truly happy: her last vacation with Alex. And so, though they haven’t spoken in two years, she asks him to take another vacation with her. She’s determined to bridge the gap that’s formed between them and become best friends again, but to do that, she’ll have to be honest with Alex—and herself—about her true feelings. In chapters that jump around in time, Henry shows readers the progression (and dissolution) of Poppy and Alex’s friendship. Their slow-burn love story hits on beloved romance tropes (such as there unexpectedly being only one bed on the reconciliation trip Poppy plans) while still feeling entirely fresh. Henry’s biggest strength is in the sparkling, often laugh-out-loud-funny dialogue, particularly the banter-filled conversations between Poppy and Alex. But there’s depth to the story, too—Poppy’s feeling of dissatisfaction with a life that should be making her happy as well as her unresolved feelings toward the difficult parts of her childhood make her a sympathetic and relatable character. The end result is a story that pays homage to classic romantic comedies while having a point of view all its own.
A warm and winning "When Harry Met Sally…" update that hits all the perfect notes.Pub Date: May 11, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-9848-0675-8
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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