Told through Emily’s first-person narrative, there are two main themes which are central to this multi-layered story. One explores the changing relationship with her father as they both face up to the life-changing and devastating effects of his dementia. Although she had always found him a rather cold and distant father and definitely hadn’t envisaged staying longer than three weeks, once she realises that he cannot possibly remain living on his own, relying only on long-term friend and neighbour Raewyn for support, she decides to extend her visit. The second theme centres on the mystery which surrounds Leah’s disappearance almost a quarter of a century earlier, leaving her mother Raewyn and younger brother Ira, as well as the wider community, haunted by unanswered questions about what happened to her. As the story gradually unfolds what becomes clear is that questions about the reliability of memory, and of uncovering long-held secrets, are just two of the threads which interlink both themes.
I found that Emily’s first-person narrative created such an immediate and powerful sense of intimacy to the story that I felt I was sharing every moment of her emotional roller-coaster of journey as she was faced not only with the day-by-day impact of her father’s failing memory, but with the inexorable progress of the dementia. Her struggles to try to make sense of some of the conversations he initiates, which seem urgent and important to him but make no sense to her, felt almost unbearably sad. I loved the portrayal of how, during the months of her extended stay, her relationship with him changed as she began to understand him better, to gradually feel closer to him and to support him in his wish to remain at home, in spite of pressure from her siblings to put him in care and sell the family home. I don’t know whether the author has any first-hand experience of living with someone who is suffering the ravages of dementia, but I was impressed by her deeply compassionate portrayal of the devastating effects of this cruel disease, not only on the sufferer but also on family and friends.
The devastating impact Leah’s disappearance had had, and continues to have, on her mother and younger brother Ira, is slowly revealed through Emily’s reminiscences about all members of the Parata family as she was growing up, as well as her reflections on what she discovers as she re-establishes her relationships with them following her return home. Through her superb characterisations of Raewyn and Ira the author managed to evoke something of the almost unimaginable horror of living for twenty-five years without knowing what had happened to their daughter/sister, capturing how, on a daily basis they needed to find the emotional resilience to carry on with their lives but, without answers, had been unable to grieve in any meaningful way. But, as if that wasn’t enough for any family to have to bear, there’s a parallel uncertainty they’ve been living with for even longer. In March 1992, after suffering several years of increasingly distressing symptoms, Raewyn’s husband Manu, had died of Huntington’s disease, an inherited neurodegenerative condition. Knowing there’s a fifty percent chance that he’s inherited the faulty gene, but not wanting to know for certain what the future has in store, Ira has decided not to risk having a long-term relationship or children. The author’s portrayal of what it’s like for a family to not only watch a loved-one suffer but to then face living with the fear that the condition has already been passed to the next generation, was as impressive and compassionate as her reflections on living with Alzheimer’s.
The powerful sense of place the author evoked, capturing both the beauty and the remote, wild vastness of the mountain range into which Leah had disappeared without trace, added a much-appreciated dimension to her captivating storytelling. Although I’d guessed what lay behind Leah’s mysterious disappearance quite early on in the story (there are a number of pointers) that didn’t lessen the emotional impact of this sensitively written story. Whilst there were many moments when I found it hauntingly sad, it never felt depressing to spend time in the company of these well-drawn, eminently memorable characters and to celebrate the power of love and friendship.
I found that Emily’s first-person narrative created such an immediate and powerful sense of intimacy to the story that I felt I was sharing every moment of her emotional roller-coaster of journey as she was faced not only with the day-by-day impact of her father’s failing memory, but with the inexorable progress of the dementia. Her struggles to try to make sense of some of the conversations he initiates, which seem urgent and important to him but make no sense to her, felt almost unbearably sad. I loved the portrayal of how, during the months of her extended stay, her relationship with him changed as she began to understand him better, to gradually feel closer to him and to support him in his wish to remain at home, in spite of pressure from her siblings to put him in care and sell the family home. I don’t know whether the author has any first-hand experience of living with someone who is suffering the ravages of dementia, but I was impressed by her deeply compassionate portrayal of the devastating effects of this cruel disease, not only on the sufferer but also on family and friends.
The devastating impact Leah’s disappearance had had, and continues to have, on her mother and younger brother Ira, is slowly revealed through Emily’s reminiscences about all members of the Parata family as she was growing up, as well as her reflections on what she discovers as she re-establishes her relationships with them following her return home. Through her superb characterisations of Raewyn and Ira the author managed to evoke something of the almost unimaginable horror of living for twenty-five years without knowing what had happened to their daughter/sister, capturing how, on a daily basis they needed to find the emotional resilience to carry on with their lives but, without answers, had been unable to grieve in any meaningful way. But, as if that wasn’t enough for any family to have to bear, there’s a parallel uncertainty they’ve been living with for even longer. In March 1992, after suffering several years of increasingly distressing symptoms, Raewyn’s husband Manu, had died of Huntington’s disease, an inherited neurodegenerative condition. Knowing there’s a fifty percent chance that he’s inherited the faulty gene, but not wanting to know for certain what the future has in store, Ira has decided not to risk having a long-term relationship or children. The author’s portrayal of what it’s like for a family to not only watch a loved-one suffer but to then face living with the fear that the condition has already been passed to the next generation, was as impressive and compassionate as her reflections on living with Alzheimer’s.
The powerful sense of place the author evoked, capturing both the beauty and the remote, wild vastness of the mountain range into which Leah had disappeared without trace, added a much-appreciated dimension to her captivating storytelling. Although I’d guessed what lay behind Leah’s mysterious disappearance quite early on in the story (there are a number of pointers) that didn’t lessen the emotional impact of this sensitively written story. Whilst there were many moments when I found it hauntingly sad, it never felt depressing to spend time in the company of these well-drawn, eminently memorable characters and to celebrate the power of love and friendship.