Wow - I can't believe this is Justin Evan's debut novel. This is a very well crafted story, told entirely in the first person.
The story opens in present day. George Davies, 30 something professional living in NYC, is in a therapy session talking about his wife and first child, a child he is unable to hold, hug, kiss, get near.
The therapist learns that George’s father died when he was eleven. The therapist asks him to write about his father’s death. George writes several notebooks of his memories of the events that follow his father death. It is these stories that are the bulk of the novel.
In reading the notebooks, I wasn’t sure if George had an overactive imagination, or was he involved in something more supernatural – a demonic possession. The people he describes seem creditable and real. His stories present two convincing views of his father’s death. One psychological and one spiritual. So which one is it? What really happened? It not always clear what is going on.
“A Good and Happy Child” will keep you guessing until the very last page. And beyond...
The story opens in present day. George Davies, 30 something professional living in NYC, is in a therapy session talking about his wife and first child, a child he is unable to hold, hug, kiss, get near.
The therapist learns that George’s father died when he was eleven. The therapist asks him to write about his father’s death. George writes several notebooks of his memories of the events that follow his father death. It is these stories that are the bulk of the novel.
In reading the notebooks, I wasn’t sure if George had an overactive imagination, or was he involved in something more supernatural – a demonic possession. The people he describes seem creditable and real. His stories present two convincing views of his father’s death. One psychological and one spiritual. So which one is it? What really happened? It not always clear what is going on.
“A Good and Happy Child” will keep you guessing until the very last page. And beyond...
Rating: Five out of Five Stars
On the needles: Soo Cute Baby hats
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