The Mourners' Bench: A Novel

by Susan Dodd

Thirty-year-old Leandra leads a solitary existence on an island in North Carolina, earning a modest living by fixing broken dolls. But her quiet, isolated life takes an unexpected turn when her sister's husband, Wim, appears, a man she has not seen for ten years, since their urgent love affair ended in tragedy. Wim, now dying of cancer, feels the need to see Leandra one last time. In alternating, distinctly American voices -- one the twang of a New England Yankee, the other a gentle Southern drawl -- these two characters tell a wistful, wonderfully evoked story, from their first meeting, when Leandra was summoned to Boston to care for her pregnant, depressed sister, to the growing passion that led them beyond common sense and caution. As the narrative alternates between past and present, Leandra and Wim lay claim to the love they've denied themselves and each other. With a sure sense of language and the kind of detail that rings with truth, Susan Dodd creates characters who will resonate in the reader's mind long after their tale reaches its inevitable end. Soft-spoken, sensitive, and deeply moving, The Mourners' Bench is literary fiction at its best, a powerfully eloquent novel of love, loss, regret, and rediscovery.

Genres: Fiction, Novels

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Treasure Island Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sad, sad book that somehow ends on a hopeful note. Leandra leaves her home in the South to help her older sister, Pamela, through a difficult pregnancy. Leandra and Pamela's husband, Wim, don't realize that nothing and nobody can change the fact that Pamela has no hope. In their sorrow over Pamela's suicide, Leandra and Wim fall in love, but guilt makes Leandra go back home where she makes a lonely life repairing broken dolls. Ten years later, Wim shows up on Leandra's doorstep, leading to the real kernel of this novel: love.

[Melissa Thompson Dees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, beautiful story, probably one of the best books I've read in the last year. I love the intimacy of the first person POV through both character's eyes. It's more than a love story, it's a beautiful story about forgiveness. Love it! This is a keeper that I will read again over the years.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan Dodd writes beautifully (much like Kingsolver). The story, while enjoyable, sadly lost momentum about 3/4 through the book.

[Debra OConnell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a quick summer read, but not much more. The story was entertaining enough, and I liked the way the narration alternated each chapter between Wim and Leandra. I liked Leandra's 'southern mindset' and speech patterns, and found myself talking like that in my mind! However, the conversations between characters were a little too scripted; language was just a little too witty and clever, not like natural conversation. Every conversation was a bit too perfect. Also, the love story was a little schmaltzy and overwrought. But all in all, it was still a story you wanted to stick with until the end.

[Vivian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. Too melancholic for me. Just did not care for any of the characters. Pretty sure Wim is short for wimpy. He was creepy to me with his interest in very young girls. Pammy was selfish and conceited. Leandra was just sad…can’t imagine living such a homebody life. Bored.

[Bamboozlepig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully written but lost steam at about the halfway mark. Began to feel drawn out and overwritten, so skimmed to the end. It ended just how I expected.

[Susan Poling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned that a "mourners' bench" is a long wooden bench with a awkward back that adults sit in confessing their sins before being called to baptism. Obviously a uncomfortable place to sit. It surfaces early in this book as the resting place for one of the characters repaired dolls. The three main characters of the book are figuratively sitting on this bench thoughoutthe book.
I loved the way this book has the two main characters tell this story in the 1st person. They take turns offering how they see the storyline and how it effects them.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially this book seemed contrived, the characters were stereotypical. Leandra lives in a shack and wears overalls while repairing dolls. And Wim would have to be a college professor, but the story finally comes together despite these flaws, and plays out well. Worth the time of slepping through the first part of the book.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book very disappointing. The language was beautiful and it drew me in very quickly. But I found little or no substance behind the lovely form. I found the novel to be a symbol of our times: too much self indulgence and too little integrity.

[Book Concierge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book club selection

[Peg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good love story...rather sad.

[Cmaxwell]

Found in bargain section - great read. Unusual but endearing love story

[Danielle]

Love and forgiveness are two of my favorite themes, so this is right up my alley. But it doesn't sound like the Feel Good book of the year, so I'll have to be in the mood to tackle it.

[Dgoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done, but depressing

[Ronit · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful period peace, of love and impending death. Slowly and gently told.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, loss, forgiveness....intense read.

[Colleen O'Hare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story with character development that pulls you in and makes you care until the end.

[Donnicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very strange book.

[Bettye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this book in the used book area of our local library. For some reason I could not get engaged in the story of a man showing up at his former sister-in-law's home to die. Of course there was a back story, but the characters are not compelling, the plot is unplausible and so I found it hard to plod on. I abandoned this book.