This book is written in a literary style, which I don’t traditionally go for, but as I’m working to expand my repertoire, I thought I would give it a try, and found it fairly fascinating in the way it was constructed.
The book is, in actuality, a work of fiction written by Kevin Brockmeier. However, once within the book, you are invited to believe that it was written by the main character, Christopher, and that you are reading a true story.
Celia was just seven years old when she disappeared from her own yard. Her father was inside the house and had seen her just moments before, and then suddenly she was gone, without any trace. No evidence was ever found, no clues were left, and Christopher and his wife Janet were left to wonder what had happened to their daughter.
Each parent handled the uncertainty and the stress in their own way. Janet took to watching matinees at the local movie theater and losing herself into the world of the cinema to take her mind of reality. Christopher, an author, delved into his writing, creating bizarre stories of fantasy and sometimes writing alternate life stories for Celia, trying to give her some closure and himself some peace. The downward spiral of despair continues until Christopher is hallucinating that he can talk to his daughter on her toy phone, and Janet has an affair with the investigating officer.
Several different characters are brought into play, from the neighbor who brings dinner in Tupperware containers that she buys by the case, to the homeless man who lives in the town pavilion. The book shows that a tragedy of this type changes everyone within a community, not just those most closely involved.
This book is not formatted in a traditional way, so I’ll outline it a bit for you. Chapter one tells us of the events leading up to the disappearance. Chapter two takes us into the minds of several of the town’s inhabitants as they prepare for a memorial service. Chapter three, called “The Green Children,” is a story that Christopher wrote, trying to pull himself out of his reality. I wouldn’t recommend that this chapter be read, however; it’s very suggestive and doesn’t lend anything to the story. Chapter four goes with Janet to the movie theater, showing her attempts to hide from her pain. The next chapter, “The Ghost of Travis Worley,” is Christopher’s creation, trying to extend Celia’s life by writing a fictional story about her, as if she had never been taken. The next chapter is also a story by Christopher, one of his “what-ifs,” in which he shows Celia all grown up, having been raised with the name of Stephanie, now living as a single mother and some of the experiences she might have had. The chapter after that is where Janet’s affair is revealed and Christopher has conversations with Celia on her toy phone, and the last chapter is a confused conglomeration of thoughts, showing Christopher’s thought processes after losing it all.
I found the book to be thought-provoking as we look into the hearts of parents who are enduring such incredible pain. There are mentions of sensuality between the husband and wife, and while fleeting, if the reader is of a sensitive nature, perhaps the book might not be the best choice. All in all, however, I’m glad for the chance to read this story.
(This book was published in 2003 by Pantheon Books.)
Related Blogs:
Happy Ending to the Newborn Baby Kidnapping
Code Adam: What is it? How does it work?