Getting over Edgar

by Joan Barfoot (Contributor)

From one of the most distinctive voices in Canadian fiction, comes a major new novel imbued with Barfoot`s signature theme - that of an ordinary woman deflected from the course of her life by an extraordinary event. Gwen Stone thought her life had taken an abrupt nose-dive when Edgar, her husband of twenty years, suddenly decided he wasn`t suited to marriage and left her, for freedom and a shiny red convertible. Edgar`s freedom, however has been short-lived - and so has he. Seven weeks later, he and his convertible have been mowed down by a train, and Gwen is attending his funeral, swinging between caustic rage, despair and an unfamiliar sense of possibility. "So, `For the last time, Edgar, good-bye,` Gwen says in a clear, impatient, exasperated voice. She gives the casket an encouraging pat, straightens and marches briskly out of the room, past everyone gaping, through one set of doors, and down a hallway to a heavy set of wooden doors, out into the parking lot and sunshine...... She`s had enough. More than enough. She spreads her arms and lets loose a whoop into the shining, hot sky." From Edgar`s funeral Gwen moves on to her new life, and a few hours` solace in the arms of David, a friendly young bartender. David has his own troubles, and the brief encounter between the newly widowed Gwen, and the misunderstood (in his opinion) David, unexpectedly alters both of their destinies. "He could do that. He could take an hour and go for a walk in the sunshine. He could watch carefully for the elusive signal, wait for it, act on it. He could give himself one more outing. This may be how an alcoholic just one more treat. What harm could it do, how much difference could it make? He deserves some recompense, a reward, doesn`t he? For being so good, for so long? He could walk right now across this barren floor and out that door, into the light and air." Gwen and David`s alternating stories, both humorous and surprising, have wonderfully satisfying resolutions.

Genres: Canada, Fiction, Book Club

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Joan Barfoot is an award-winning novelist whose work has been compared internationally with that of Anne Tyler, Carol Shields, Margaret Drabble and Margaret Atwood. Her novels include Luck in 2005, nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, as well as Abra, which won the Books in Canada first novels award, Dancing in the Dark, which became an award-winning Canadian entry in the Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals, Duet for Three, Family News, Plain Jane, Charlotte and Claudia Keeping in Touch, Some Things About Flying, and Getting Over Edgar. Her 2001 novel, Critical Injuries, was longlisted for the 2002 Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the 2001 Trillium Book Award. In 1992 she was given the Marian Engel Award. Also a journalist during much of her career, she lives in London, Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

apparently I have (almost) read this, I don't really remember, but going through emails to delete I said this: I have ditched a novel – what was the recent one I did – Joan Barfoot’s Getting Over Edgar – but don’t like doing it
so there you go..

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the back cover

Seven weeks and three days before his death, Edgar walks out on Gwen and their comfortable, long-standing marriage. To aid his search for excitement, he has taken to driving a brand-new cherry red convertible. But it is not adventure that sweeps Edgar away when his car becomes stuck on a level crossing; it is the 8.20 eastbound train.

My Review

The book is a tad confusing at times as it starts off with Gwen staring at Edgars dead corpse, her behaviour at his funeral and her demands at the undertakers. It then goes back and forth between Edgars leaving her, to present day and everything inbetween. Present day, she takes off from the funeral and meets a young lad at an unlikely place with unlikely behaviour which turns her future down a road she never expected.

The book then jumps from Gwen and what is happening to David (the young guy from the bar) and we follow their lives in jumps which you can follow but it is very confusing (well it was for me). The end of the book on Gwens life answers questions and is even a nice ending but with David I was left hanging and with questions, I expected their to be more. I found closure on Gwens chapter but nothing close to it with Davids.

The book is definately worth reading if for nothing else it is different but I certainly didn't love it like I expected. Maybe the problem is I had such high hopes for it (maybe too high). I liked it, but it isn't up there with any of my all time favourites and if I came across another by Joan Barfoot I would read it but I wont be actively searching it out. 3/5 for me.

[Luce Cronin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved every word of this book. Abra had always been my favourite of hers, but this novel says so much to all of us about small events changing our lives, taking risks, going with the flow of life, etc. Really funny at times but always very perceptive.

[Maggie Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book club read. An enjoyable read, one I probably wouldn't have picked for myself, but glad I read it.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not at all what I expected - the cover, title and backpage all made me think it would be a silly, funny light-hearted read, but it was actually both more literary and more serious, which is not a bad thing at all, it just took a bit of adjustment. While it's written by a Canadian, there is very carefully no mention of any place names, so it could have been set anywhere in N America which I thought was a shame - I haven't read any other Canadian literature that I'm aware of.
The David character was weird and felt a little unresolved, but I liked the way she ended it.

[Sharon Mensing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about finally getting the chance to become who you want to be. Edgar leaves Gwen and then is killed while they are still married. The mystery of who Edgar is and why he did what he did is left unanswered as Gwen uses the resources he left her to move on.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book

[Elisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF