UNDER AN INDIANA SKY

Addiction connects the lives of friends, family, and strangers alike in Hugo’s novel.

Aside from caring for their sick mother, Angela and Denise Brown have very little in common. Denise, a hardened mother of two, is on the brink (or so she hopes) of divorce, as soon as her husband, Kenny, agrees to sign the papers. Angela (Angie for short) longs for mere scraps of love and affection from her standoffish boyfriend, Brock, who illegally grows and sells marijuana. Denise’s low opinion of Brock—a “shady character,” in her cynical eyes—further drives a wedge between the sisters, especially as Angie devotes herself to her relationship and leaves the caretaking duties to fall heavily on Denise. After an accident leaves Angie with a Percocet prescription (“it did ease the pain, definitely. It also made her dizzy and spaced-out, her head buzzing as if she’d stuck it inside a hive”), the sisters’ lives, and the lives of those around them, change forever. Among those affected by the resulting addiction are Brock’s renowned artistic mother, Nora; Mercedes, Brock’s bartender friend; Justin and Julie, Denise’s children; and even complete strangers. After two sudden and shocking deaths, the survivors hunt for meaning and justice…as if there’s any meaning or justice to be found in the face of such tragedy. Hugo creates complex and engaging characters and intertwines their narratives effortlessly and effectively. The characters all come with their own history, desires, fears, and motivations, and the narrative’s intense emotional turmoil is compelling, painful, and familiar. The novel is split into four parts (“The Landscape,” “The Falling Sky,” “The Survivors,” and “Pick Up Your Corner and Raise It”); over the course of the story, the author tackles themes of addiction, religion, family, and hope with grace and careful consideration. Packed with many thought-provoking ideas, Hugo’s novel would make an excellent book club selection—the text even provides discussion questions to ponder after reading.

A painful and compelling tale of addiction, sisterhood, and hope.