~ Grace After Henry – Eithne Shortall ~
I must admit that this is a novel which caught my eye because of its title. It is exactly what it says on the tin – the story of Grace’s life after her beloved fiancé Henry, dies suddenly in a traffic accident in his mid-30s, just as they have bought a house and are beginning another chapter of their happy life together. For all this tragic framing, the novel is actually not at all grim or sorrow laden – it is actually fairly comic and robust.
At first, like many people who are grieving, Grace imagines she sees Henry everywhere, but of course it turns out every instance to be a random stranger, with some passing resemblance only.
Spoiler alert: Grace slowly emerges from the first shock of bereavement by trying to resume normal life, moving into the new house she and Henry bought just before his death. Calling in a handy man to sort out the boiler, she is shocked to find a version of Henry at her door. It turns out that Andy is Henry’s twin, separated at birth and not made known to Henry’s adopted parents. Andy has travelled from Australia to Dublin in search of his origins.
Grace and Henry’s mother feel almost as if Henry has returned to them, and the story continues to unfold of how they interact with Andy and the role he plays in their lives. Another spoiler alert: Grace finds she is pregnant, with Henry’s child, and Andy offers to help Grace raise this child. There is a happily ever after, but not in as neat a package as this suggests.
There are also many other lively characters, comic and cute in turns, Grace’s parents, Grace’s new 82-year old neighbour, Grace’s best friend Aoife, etc. who all lend this novel humour and pace. The dialogue and exchanges are perhaps the best parts of the novel, imparting a sense of Irish wit and sense of fun:
“’You must be my new neighbour.’
‘You’re the new one, missy. I’ve been here fifty-six years.’
‘Were we making too much noise?’
‘Does Our Saviour sit on the right hand of the Father? […]’
‘Terrible driver, couldn’t park an arse on a sofa, but he knows what he’s at. You need to keep an eye on him or he’ll sell you a glass hammer and some rubber nails, but he made me hall table and it’s still standing after that earthquake you just set off.’
I’m sorry if we were making too much noise. I’ll keep it down.’
‘You can call into me tomorrow to apologise.’
‘Sorry?’
‘Just like that, but with biscuits. No, not tomorrow, actually, I’ll be out tomorrow. You can do your banging then. After eleven. I’m going out at eleven. I have Mass, then bridge. Call into me on Tuesday. You don’t seem to go into work.’
‘I’ve been on compassionate leave, actually.’
‘So you’re home Tuesday. […]
‘I’m actually back at work now,’ I called after her. ‘As it happens, I am not rostered on Tuesday but I have other—’
‘Good. Noon on Tuesday and bring digestives. Chocolate ones. And two Telly Bingos.’
‘I don’t—’
‘Lotto tickets. You can get them from Pat, in the shop around the corner. You know Pat? Foreign lad, funny accent.’
‘Yes but—’
‘And make sure you get them before eleven. […] They won’t sell them to you after eleven on the Tuesday. Do you think you can manage to remember that?’
p64-66
The passages with Betty are definitely amongst the highlights of the novel. Grace’s memories of the romantic exchanges between herself and Henry are just on the acceptable side of sweet without being saccharine or sentimental. Overall, a light, easy read, pleasing and page-turning.
Recent Comments