Recent reading impressions (part 2)

The title of Ray Kluun’s novel is suggestive enough – “The Widower”. You expect a story of solitude and anguish over the loss of beloved wife. And the brief contents meet your expectations: Prologue, What happened earlier, Part One – Dan, Part Two – Dan & Luna and Rose, Part Three – Dan & Luna.

Yet the opening scene features a man who does not seem broken-hearted. He is preoccupied with some ordinary things and ready to make a joke. Dan has just arrived in Australia with his three-year-old daughter and he looks rather suspicious to the airport official, the more so because the last country they visited was Thailand. Somehow the middle-of-the-road situation grips your attention at once, though the author’s language is quite unpretentious.

Are we bringing any objects out of Thailand? He asks.

‘I – erm – I don’t think so.’

‘Don’t think so, or know for certain?’

‘I’m sure, I think.’

‘No food then?’

‘No.’

The official looks at Luna, happily sucking away on her lollipop.

‘Oh.’

Red-faced, I take the open bag of lollipops out of my bag and hand it over. The official looks at Luna pointedly. I look at him pleadingly, but he shakes his head.

‘Listen, sweetheart, the man says you can’t bring the lolly into Australia.’ Luna’s too tired to protest and just opens her mouth wide. Before she changes her mind, I grab the lollipop and look around where I can discard this oh-so-risky item.

Numerous things the official asks Dan to do – to open his suitcase, to explain the origin of the sand in his moccasin, to run the moccasin under the tap – involves you more and more. Finally the official asks:

'Where is her mother?’

Christ almighty. That’s more than I can take. I look him straight in his eyes and wait for a moment.

‘Her mother is dead, sir. She had cancer and died six months ago.’

After that the writer has you in his power. What goes after appeals to different categories of readers. Sensitive souls would be moved by the tragic story of Carmen’s disease and misery Dan has gone through; others would prefer the chapters of his drowning himself in party scenes in Amsterdam and Ibiza. To me most compelling was the way Dan got used to the role of a sole father and how his little daughter helped him to deal with the death of his young wife. I'd call this part “road book”, rephrasing a well-known film genre “road movie”. We can do this, don't you think?

There are episodes you read with bated breath, like the one when they visited a little church in Port Douglas. By the way, each part of the book is preceded by an epigraph from pop groups’ texts. To Part Three – Dan & Luna Kluun chose this:

We have all the time in the world

Time enough for life to unfold…

I can hardly refer this novel to notable big reads this year, though it did introduce a fresh new voice. Ray Kluun dedicated the book to his daughter Eva as it was actually his own life story. I wouldn’t recommend “The Widower” to a fastidious reader with an exquisite taste. But it’s fine for a day off or to take on the trip. Anything to share?

 
PS. Could you spot Shakespeare's quote? How clever of you!