What Is Left the Daughter by Howard Norman
Short Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Wyatt Hillyer is suddenly orphaned when his parents, within hours of each other, jump off two different bridges—the result of their separate involvements with the same compelling neighbor, a Halifax switchboard operator and aspiring actress. The suicides cause Wyatt to move to small-town Middle Economy to live with his uncle, aunt, and ravishing cousin Tilda.
My Review:
In a letter to his daughter, Marlais, Wyatt Hillyer begins with the following line:
“I refuse any longer to have my life defined by what I haven’t told you.”
And I was drug, hook, line and sinker, into the story as told by the man himself in a 200+ page letter to his daughter.
Wyatt Hillyer’s life is a jumbled mess of tragedy – from the double-suicide of his parents to the loss of his one love during a time when Germans in Nova Scotia, even the innocent ones, are scorned and treated horribly.
This book is a fantastic look at the Canadian life during the second world war, touching on the fears of old men hunched over their radios and whispering about the U-Boats to the prejudices of the young over-zealots, attacking even those speaking with an accent. And through this letter there is one, main, important theme: that of a father telling his daughter all she needs to know about her past and her fathers past.
This is no story of redemption – Wyatt’s actions he claims full responsibility for and I appreciated that so very much. In a book that could have been sappy and full of self-pity, I found none of that. It was refreshing to read a character who was so open and honest with himself and the others in his life, so frank when it came to talking about the deeds he’s done and the crimes he’s committed.
The author Frank Delaney (Shannon , Ireland ) said “If your narrator is first person, have them make errors; it can endear them to the reader.” and Howard Norman showcases this in fine form. WHAT IS LEFT THE DAUGHTER is a beautifully written, heart-rending novel that will have me thinking about its story for days to come.
