At The Grand Glacier Hotel

by Laurence Fearnley

Following a disastrous family holiday, Libby and Curtis make a If they ever visit the West Coast of the South Island again, it will be to stay at the majestic Grand Glacier Hotel.

Twenty years later, Libby is recovering from cancer and the couple finally return to the resort. Except the glacier has retreated, nothing goes to plan, and after a storm separates her from Curtis, Libby finds herself alone in the isolated hotel.

Disappointed, she tentatively begins to explore her surroundings. Could the inaccessible hotel and its curious collection of staff and guests hold the key to Libby reconnecting with the person she once was?

At the Grand Glacier Hotel is award-winning novelist Laurence Fearnley’s third novel responding to the five senses. Drawing on a varied soundscape, this tangible, moving portrait of physical and emotional recovery offers a way forward, one hopeful step at a time.

Praise for the author’s other

Genres: Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Laurence Fearnley is an award-winning novelist. Her novel The Hut Builder won the fiction category of the 2011 NZ Post Book Awards and was shortlisted for the international 2010 Boardman Tasker Prize for mountain writing. Her book Edwin and Matilda was runner-up in the 2008 Montana New Zealand Book Awards and her second novel, Room, was shortlisted for the 2001 Montana Book Awards. In 2004 Fearnley was awarded the Artists to Antarctica Fellowship and in 2007 the Robert Burns Fellowship at the University of Otago. Laurence Fearnley lives in Dunedin with her husband and son.

Reviews

[Frazer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel icky writing bad reviews about living authors, especially if they're local and ESPECIALLY if they're not super popular. But there's little worse than insincere praise so I'm going to be honest.

This book held very little interest for me. People being trapped (in one form or another) in hotels can be done really really well (Towles A Gentleman in Moscow). But there's gotta be some spark, some compelling hook to guide the reader through how this entrapment leads to self-discovery. This had vanishingly little spark.

I also found the dialogue pedestrian, the first-person narrator/protagonist POV very tiring. Why not spice up a bland plot with something different? One or two daydreams just didn't cut the mustard.

The writing about NZ West Coast's landscape and nature was pleasant but little more.

Maybe I'm just the wrong audience for this. Maybe it will resonate more with an older, female audience (certainly peak bookclub demographic). But for me, besides a cool cover, this book had very little to recommend it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regular readers of this blog will know that I first became interested in the representation of older women in fiction after coming across the Older Women in Fiction Month at the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative where the curator Caroline Lodge wrote in her introductory post that:

A common complaint of older women is that they become invisible. My blog series is in part a challenge to that invisibility in fiction.

If you investigate Caroline's page:  about the older women in fiction series you will see that she is interested in fiction...

... that depicts older people, especially older women, as real humans, with the full range of emotions and experiences. Such books are to be treasured but can be hard to find.

Laurence Fearnley's new novel At the Grand Glacier Hotel (2024) is one to add to Caroline's list. (And mine.)  It's is a wise, thoughtful and engaging novel that explores the all-too-common experience of acquiring a disability later in life.  Adjusting to new limitations in the body is shown to be a process that takes time and energy and effort.  And patience and courage.  It's not a straightforward journey and it's complicated by an ambivalence towards getting help.  Older women for whom independence and respect were hard-won achievements are reluctant to shed them, and yet the pathway to being the best that's possible is literally and psychologically full of pitfalls that make some forms of help a necessity, at least some of the time.

The central character and narrator, Libby, is stranded by herself at the Grand Glacier Hotel on the West Coast of the South Island.  She and her husband Curtis were fulfilling a long-held ambition to stay at the resort when a landslide separated them after he'd made a side trip to retrieve his reading glasses that he'd lost along the way.  After a little while the road is cleared and it becomes possible for them to reunite, but he has to go back to work and she decides to stay and test her independence.  Libby is recovering from major surgery on her leg to remove a large sarcoma, and Curtis has been a loyal and supportive husband — but now she wants to see if she can manage by herself.

Though I've never suffered anything as catastrophic as a sarcoma, I could relate to Libby's experience of coming undone because of bravado, coincidentally in a similar setting. With any recently acquired disability, one has to learn what can be done and what must no longer be done, and discovering which is which involves some chastening experiences. Some time after I mushed my ankle, The Spouse and I went up to the Mount Buffalo Chalet in the Victorian Alps and we went for a walk around the grounds.  He charged on ahead while I plodded on behind him — until I came to a very large boulder that blocked my way.  It was about the size of a king-size bed, and not quite my own height with smooth rounded sides. I thought that maybe I could get up it, but I knew I could not keep my balance to get back down on the other side. And I was not going to call him back to help... I just stood there, waiting, feeling ashamed and embarrassed, until he realised his companion was no longer with him and came back to see where I was.

In Fearnley's novel, Libby tests herself on a walk with a companion, a nice young man called James, but someone has parked carelessly and in negotiating around it, her weak leg lands her in a ditch and she cannot get out by herself.  He helps her out and they go on with the walk.  But later, setting off for a different trip, he mentions this incident and she realises that for her this had been a panic-stricken humiliating sabotage of her confidence and self-esteem, but that's not what it was for him:

To my embarrassment, James immediately raised the carparking incident and how I'd ended up on the loop track.  Some people might have embellished the story, for dramatic impact, but James almost undersold what had happened and it occurred to me, then, how completely different his experience of the episode had been from mine.  I'd been truly worried and frightened that I might be stuck in a ditch for a long time, possibly all night.  James's version described an event of almost no consequence.  I'd lost my balance, stumbled and fallen, and he'd given me a hand up.  That was all there was to it.  My disaster was his minor incident. (p.127-8)

But what could have been a sombre memoir full of sobering incidents like this, is a novel which is often wry, amusing and self-deprecating.

TO read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2024/07/22/a...

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

How on earth was this shortlisted for the Ockham? Dull as dishwater with no real plot. The reason I’m not giving it 1 star is because I enjoyed reading a book set on the West Coast which is a pretty stunning/unique part of NZ and the author captured that well.

[Anna Matthews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
Characters were bland. James was the most interesting, kind of wish he'd been the main character. Might have been because he was closer in age, but I also found his story more intruiging. Why was Ella so keen on getting back with him? How did his trauma of his mum being a bitch affect his life and relationship?
Why on earth did main character (Libby?) spend so much time with him??
There was weird sexual tension between them, and when it got to the point she was going to his room in the middle of the night I was expecting something saucy to happen.
It was a very boring book. I kept waiting for something, anything to happen. When all of these characters were introduced I kept wondering what their significance was. Well, there wasn't really any.
I am sadly surprised that this book is an Ockham award shortlister, I feel like I could write this easily... then read it again years later and think "that wasn't bad for my first book". But isn't the author well-established?
I didn't know until the end that it was based of the sense of "hearing"... I had no idea this was even a theme or feature... seemed like a ploy to lure people in but really it wasn't actually significant at all.
I understand that Libby was struggling and did well to walk after a while, but I simply didn't really care.
There were to many insignificant flashbacks to the past... the book was very reflective but not in an interesting way. A lot of the flashbacks had no significance to any plot, which there wasn't much of.
Why did they do a scavenger hunt? What the heck????
Why did Curtis leave in the middle of storm to get his glasses? Did he just want to piss off and leave her on their holiday?
All Libby did was mope around. Very depressing really.
None of it made sense. None of it made me feel any type of way except confused.
Nothing happened.

[Emma McCleary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurence Fearnley really is the queen of atmosphere and writing descriptive South Island locations. As a long time fan girl I was super keen to read this, and it was everything I love about her writing; rich, quiet, well-paced, meaningful, brilliant characters, and enjoyable.

You know when wankers go to a movie and then they say, “it was like LA was a character” - it was that. For the entirety of this book I was on the West Coast when I was taking the train to work, or in my bed, or sitting in the corner chair. I could smell the bush and hear the rain and the bird call. I also connected deeply to the story of an older woman coming back to herself through friendship, conversation, quiet adventure, and deep wondering.

[Zac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another atmospheric story from one of my favourite NZ authors. I love the way that Laurence captures the beauty and essence of the places that she writes about. This story reminded me of all of the things that I love about the West Coast - the rain, the bush and the stunning landscape.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written characters and descriptions of landscape and it’s flora and fauna. Perfectly captures and celebrates life mundane moments. Highlights the often isolating experience of having a disability in an inaccessible world. Plot was slow moving and a bit dull.

A ✅

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars...This book wasn't for me. It was a very slow read. I thought this was going to be DNF book but I did carry on.

[Bridget · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wax so looking forward to this. I bought it because it is set in an area I know well. I enjoy this author’s work. But I’ve list the will to continue. It’s beautiful writing, but I need more to happen.

[Kate Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read about this book in a newspaper review and I was intrigued enough by the review to give it a go. I found it was a very easy book to read. I really enjoyed the setting, the flora and fauna and the little diversions into the history of the area. It brought back memories of my travels on the West Coast. I thought the characters and events were believable and I liked the way the relationships between them unfolded throughout the story. In saying that I don’t think I will be looking to read any more of Laurence Fearnley’s books.
I should add - I wouldn’t recommend this book to my daughters or granddaughters. I think it is a book for older women to read.

[Claire Tomonaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sense of place is so powerful in this story. I enjoyed having a protagonist around my own age for a change. Her account of a long marriage also rang very true.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was recommended this book in an Auckland book store as being reflective of the state of New Zealanders. As a visitor, I like to get a sense of the people, so I buy a novel or two as I travel. I’m not the target audience. What it told me about New Zealanders, post COVID, is that they feel trapped. They are surrounded by the beauty and wonder of their country, but can’t/don’t access it as they once did, or perhaps never had full access to the land, plants, and animals. Well written, be prepared to look up a term or two if you aren’t a Kiwi. I’ll try another book from New Zealand, but probably not this author.

[Karen Kozuls · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* This story resonated with me big time. Like the main character I too have a disabled leg, which completely dictates my life. Constantly scanning the ground and calculating what I can manage. Unlike her though, mine will improve when I get my new knee. I really enjoyed the writing.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recovering from a sarcoma in her leg, Libby and her husband Curtis treat themselves to an escape a the Grand Glacier Hotel on the West Coast, a place they once admired, but could not afford, as young parents. A series of unfortunate events, and some epic Coast weather sees Libby stranded alone at the hotel where she strikes up a friendship with a young man hunting for the long lost South Island kōkako​. This is a book rich in atmosphere and lush visual scenery, but it also feels ephemeral​, vague and hard to pin down and I struggled to find entry points into the meandering storyline.

[Frances Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to love about Ockham fiction finalist “At the Grand Glacier Hotel” by Laurence Fearnley.

After a tough time with health issues and busy work schedules Libby and her husband Curtis plan a weekend away together on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Libby, a woman in her 50s, is recovering from cancer, in particular the removal of a large tumour on her leg which makes it difficult to do some of the things she used to love. Plans for the weekend are interrupted when Curtis returns to Wānaka to retrieve his lost reading glasses, but torrential rain and flooding prevents him from returning. Left alone, Libby refuses to let the weekend be ruined. At the quirky Hotel (which I imagined as the Chateau in Tongariro) she meets a number of interesting characters including James, 15 years her junior who is facing his own demons and carries scars of his own. Through their growing friendship and a mysterious quest (no spoilers) Libby and James face the larger challenge of living life and facing the future.
I loved the beautiful West Coast setting, and the use of native birds and song as a central idea in this novel. I loved that a woman of my age was the central character, showing courage, overcoming obstacles and figuring out what she wants out of the next phase of her life. I loved the complexities of her relationships and the fact that the most important connections were beyond physical.
I have read other reviews that suggest this novel has no plot and describe it as “dull” and without a “hook”. I wholeheartedly disagree. This is a subtle and nuanced novel which has powerful themes and is beautifully written. I suspect I am the target audience and it hit the bullseye as far as I’m concerned.

[Jacki (Julia Flyte) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fearnley has written a quiet novel about a woman in her 50s who is recovering from an unusual form of cancer in her leg. She’s in the clear, but has to come to terms with her new limitations. It’s a book about learning to live again, learning to see life and possibilities around you rather than the shadow of illness. The author has had the same form of cancer, so it’s a very personal novel.

The main character is Libby, who comes for a short break at the Grand Glacier Hotel. Her husband has to leave early and so she stays on alone. It rains a lot. She strikes up a friendship with another guest and the next few days will be something of a turning point in her life.

I liked many things about this book and it’s got under my skin. The characters and the setting have stayed with me.

[Susan Wilson]

I was drawn to the theme of confronting limitations. In case we were in doubt, the line Libby quoted from the Esperanto film summed it up: “so you’ve decided to live after all.” In a weird twist of fate, I read that quote on the same day I read words written about Nigel Latta's passing by his wife Natalie. She wrote that he wasn’t dying, he was living until he wasn’t.

Natalie's words were powerful and resonated with me. This novel did not.

I think that’s mostly because of Libby. I wanted to believe in her. I couldn’t. I liked that she was flawed and sometimes frustrating, and that she was sometimes exhausting. Her doubts and daydreams were believable, yet I kept waiting for that “decision to live” moment, and it never came. She said she wanted to die and then it never came up again. The way her body was described as frail and dependent made her seem much older. But, if we believe James’s assessment of her scar, and it was that bad, it’s hard to believe she could make that walk to the caves after barely managing to get out of the bath. The author tried to have it both ways.

Libby’s relationships two key relationships (with Curtis and James) didn’t feel real either. The disconnection with Curtis was underexplored. I wanted to understand the silence between them. We almost got there at the end with him acting as her carer, but no real carer would have left her there with a storm coming to get his glasses and then stay away all week with hardly a phone call, or be checking work emails while they talked to her. I thought he must have been having an affair. With James, it felt like she had a crush, but he also was lurking around her. I was sure the novel was about to take a strange turn into gothic or erotic fiction when she was lured up to the attic by the kōkako bird call. I’m kinda disappointed that it didn’t get weird. It would have been more interesting.

On James, I liked that we started to learn things about him – he was a plastic surgeon with insecurities, he had lived with Ella, Mr Kendrick was his stepfather, he had a manipulative mother, he had burn scars, he loved birds – and then it went nowhere.

The other hotel guests mostly felt like caricatures that just filled up the hotel. I’m not sure why most of them were there.

And then there’s the treasure hunt – I guess that was meant to be the plot. It felt trivial, almost silly, in what was supposed to be a novel of reflection.

Finally, the ending was just annoying. James leaving suddenly without saying goodbye, after having a coffee with Curtis, while Libby slept through it in the same hotel room, only after leaving the note at the flagpole sticking out so she could reach it. I felt cheated as a reader after investing time to finish the novel.

In summary, while Natalie's words about her husband Nigel Latta lingers with me, this novel does not. For a book about deciding to live, it didn’t have enough life.

Something positive to add is that I love the birds and the bush. We went to Tiritiri Matangi last month and heard (but did not see) the kōkako and korimako. I felt back there at times while I was reading.

[Kiwiflora · Rating 3 out of 5]

It grieves me to say I was disappointed in this. Promising start, with 52 year old Libby and her husband Curtis travelling to the West Coast of NZ, returning after many years to the Grand Glacier Hotel. All the writing about the environment, the weather, the gorgeous lushness of this part of the country is glorious. Best part of the book. Which is why the 3 *. So beautifully described and atmospheric - I loved how you could almost feel the rain and dampness.

Libby is recovering from the removal of a large sarcoma in the back of her leg, the tortuous repair process, the chemotherapy treatment. It has been a most unpleasant experience. It has changed her, deeply affected her confidence, her sense of self, career in ruins, jobless and limited mobility. Curtis is a lovely husband but as the result of a moment of inattention is back in Wanaka, cut off from Libby due to a severe storm closing the road. Libby is on her own, but also determined to make the most of her alone time. My attention really began to waver as she strikes up unexpected friendships, and a peculiar sort of treasure hunt that severely tests her physical stamina as they stride out over the country side, and dare I say her sanity as she wonders what on earth is going on. I still don't really know the point of this. In addition with her injury I just can't figure out how she managed these crazy excursions. My biggest disappointment though was how this 52 year old woman came across as old, invisible and irrelevant. I just could not believe this woman was only 52. 52 is young these days, this Libby is an elderly woman. I am well past 52, my body has issues, I know women who have had or now have serious health issues in their 50s. None resembled Libby. It was just sad, and by the end I didn't really feel she had made much progress.

[Gaby Meares · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit that I purchased this book because 1) the cover is gorgeous and 2) it's set in the beautiful South Island of New Zealand.
It started promisingly, with the narrator, Libby and her husband Curtis escaping for a holiday to the majestic Grand Glacier Hotel, located near the rapidly retreating Franz Josef glacier. Circumstances leave Libby alone in the hotel, and extreme weather cuts off access.
Libby is recovering from cancer that has rendered her leg badly damaged by surgery and radiation. Everything she does is a struggle, and she must calculate every movement to ensure that she doesn't fall. This dominates the book. This a a book about a woman recovering from cancer. Unfortunately, her time spent with the other hotel guests doesn't seem to effect her greatly - where is the development of the character; the arc of her self-discovery while isolated in this grand hotel? She seems to be the same at the end of the book as she is at the beginning. She is supposed to be 52 years old, and describes herself as if she were 72 years old. I appreciate the disability makes her feel older, but it makes for rather depressing reading.
The descriptions of the landscape are sublime. You can feel the damp, dripping natural environment. For this alone, I gave my three stars.
The plot is plodding and has no resolution. All in all, I found this book disappointing. Perhaps if the author had written a memoir about her own recovery from a similar cancer, it could have been a more personal, and thus engaging, journey.

[Elia Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was recommended this book upon the description 'Robbie Arnott of New Zealand', and I was truly looking forward to the descriptions of nature. I was vaguely disappointed. It was 90% focused on the main character and her recovery from cancer, 5% on the strange mystery clue plot and the last 5% on nature. I thoroughly enjoyed the nature when it was actually described and interacted with, but this expectation of further focus on it discoloured the experience of reading the rest of the book to me.
To talk about the actual plot itself, and not just my disappointment, this was quite heavy and depressing. As the premise was self discovery after cancer, the lack of character growth was astounding. I did come to care for the main character, but her dialogue was inconsistent and confusing. The scenery (outside of the nature) was gorgeous and beautifully described and I really enjoyed watching various characters interact with the hotel and its surrounds.
The ending was inconclusive. It left the story so open ended it was a gaping hole. There somehow needed to be more words and more direction to conclude an over-worded, directionless book. It wasn't sad, persay, I just have more questions than I had in the middle of the book, and I don't think that's a good thing.
Overall, interesting but vaguely depressing and kind of empty?? Not sure.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libby, recovering from cancer wishes to return, after 20 years, to The Grand Glacier Hotel with her husband. However, an unfortunate memory loss means Curtis retraces his travels to find his missing glasses, and Libby is left at the hotel on her own. Cue, severe storm that delays Curtis, and cue, Libby, isolated and alone, decides to make the most of a bad situation as she seeks out 'things to do'.
In parts amusing - ie, the bath scene, but also, such scenes belie a deep sadness of 'what used to be' and Libby's new reality, living with the aftermath of operations and reduced mobility.
And in parts frustrating; a lot of interior monologue which at times seemed a tad self-indulgent on Libby's part, but also, some amazingly beautiful scenes of the description of the sights, and sounds Libby recalls or sees.
Reflective, descriptive - as Libby seeks to find her equilibrium as a person again.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was so much I liked about this book that I could have given it four stars. The setting, the quirky cast of characters, the atmospheric writing, the birds, the relentless rain, and the meandering exploration of a woman finding herself again after a world-altering cancer journey and all that entails. But it took such a long time to get going. At the halfway point I struggled to see where the plot was going, and I really wondered if it was worth continuing - hence my 3 (3.5 really). I’m glad I did though. Overall the book was an enjoyable read that had me googling to see if the hotel was a real place (it’s not 😞), and also recognising that I shouldn’t take my health for granted.

Knowing now that this novel is part of a series exploring the senses, and this one specifically is based around sound, I can see how that was a feature of the text. Rainfall, birdsong, thunder, music, conversation, language and communication. I’m keen to read more of Laurence Fearnley’s work.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurence’s book focuses on a couple’s getaway to NZ West Coast staying at the Grand Glacier Hotel, a venue they identified 20 years earlier on an ill fated trip with their baby daughter.
The narrator , Libby, is now in recovery mode following surgery to remove a large tumour from her leg. Husband and wife become separated for various reasons and the stay is prolonged. The long term married relationship is captured well, the balance of care, desire to protect and respect each other’s space. Her first tentative attempts at walking independently on rough tracks, and the difference of others’ interpretation of a fall is so true. The emotions associated with illness, aging and change are interwoven with self deprecating humour and strength of character.
The West Coast landscape and weather are alive in this description. The Glacier’s receding, serves to highlight climactic change and the impermanence of all things.

Well worth a read.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I purchased this because the cover art and the name of the book really appealed to me. Slow paced, but thoroughly enjoyable if you like novels focused on the characters. We follow the story of Libby and Curtis as she recovers from cancer, and they try to have a holiday at the Grand Glacier Hotel. The story is told from Libby's point of view, and it makes for a raw and honest read, but at the same time, gentle. The cast of characters is small but considered. The setting (West Coast of the South Island in NZ) was described so beautifully that I could really picture each location around the hotel. This is the 1st book I have read by Laurence Fearnley and I will read more by her. I see she is writing a series of novels based around the five senses, and this one is based on sound.

[Margaret Willoughby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book rather boring in places. Tead it aftervrec4ntly reading The Hut Builder by same author. Story drawn out waiting tor something to happen but it didn't.
Story of .Libby just recovered from cancer surgery and her husband Curtis. From Dunedin drive to West coast to a few days holiday. Wild weather caused the Haast past to close after Curtis decided to drive back 6o Wanaka to pick up glasses left in a cafe. Wife Libby happy on her own. Befriends a guy James who had been camping in a remote valley looking for the, thought, to ge extinct South Island Kokako. A few mild adventures with him until husband is able to return when road opens. James returns into the bush with out even goog bye.

[Fiona Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself lost in this gentle, charming story of a woman's recovery from cancer surgery, holidaying at a hotel deep in the bush and mountains of the South Island. Reminiscent of Mansfield's The Man Without a Temperament, Libby is marooned at the hotel after a storm closes the roads. She makes the most of the idyllic surroundings and inclement weather, finding peace in the people and native birds as she assimilates back into 'normal' life. It's funny in parts, with some really nice descriptive language.

[Ruth Tait · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with many of the other reviews and did not really enjoy this book.
I did love the setting and having recently visited this area it was great to recognise the places.
The real problems for me were several. The plot seemed unclear and I found the second half of the book hard to get through. I found it really hard to picture or empathize with Libby and realised when I had finished that I had been unable to "see" her. I don't remember this happening in a book before. the dialogue didn't flow which also made it harder to read.
I wanted to like it but sadly did not.

[Cheryl Hamblyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sad but ultimately hopeful novel. It is the latest in Fearnley’s “senses” series and is dedicated to sound. Libby is recovering from cancer and is coming to terms with reduced mobility. She and her husband book in for a weekend at the Grand Glacier Hotel and make the acquaintance of a young man who is trying to prove the existence the assumed extinct South Island kōkako. The West Coast scenery is beautifully depicted as is the wildlife.

[Adrian Major · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicely written, believable characters, wonderful setting, but........ pedestrian or should I say glacial pacing, a story that lacks any great interest and care factor. After a promising 100 page start I got bogged down whereby the thought of picking up the book to continue reading was a challenge. Half way through, the challenge beat me. Sadly despite her reputation and praise for the writer, Laurence Fearnley isn't an author for me. DNF.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew to love this author’s way of inhabiting Libby, making her both strong and weak, deliberate and chaotic, funny but pathetic. The story of her recovery from surgery and the descriptions of the demoralizing experience of near death, was riveting. I bought this book in Queenstown in a real bookstore. I had no idea who this author was but I wanted to bring a New Zealand book home to the US to read. So glad I now have her many other books to look forward to.