A Thousand Consolations

by Julie Roorda

Moving, entertaining, and witty, A Thousand Consolations is a literary romantic comedy for fans of David Nicholls’s Us and Emma Straub’s Modern Lovers. Paula doesn’t put much faith in the candles she designs for her customers, which promise to cure everything from unrequited love to ingrown toenails; it’s just a business she started after her husband’s untimely death put an end to their joint dream of a career on the stage. Believing she may have somehow contributed to Teddy’s illness, Paula is too crippled by guilt to pursue the dream of acting on her own, and too bitter to believe she’ll ever be happy again. Then she meets Héctor, a former concert pianist seeking refuge from the Mexican narcos who severed his fingers and threatened worse. With great charm and wit, Héctor seduces her into believing in a life in which hope coexists with disappointment, happiness with loss. Paula begins to believe that love is a possibility after all. But will Hector be allowed to remain in Canada, or be sent back to an unknown fate? A Thousand Consolations is a surprisingly funny novel in which virtuosity, philosophy, and humour endure despite the modern blights of refugee politics and the threat of narcoterrorism.

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2017

Reviews

[Lisa the Tech · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story about a candlemaker failed to light a fire under me. The ending, while happy, was foretold and the characters were lacklustre. That's all.

2.5 stars.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher. The book was a Goodreads prize (thanks to Goodreads as well.)
Sweet story of love and loss. Thoughtful and insightful without be saccharine.
Enjoyed the Toronto locations (not too far from my home.) I also found the Theater sections quite fun. A good read for a weekend.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Toronto, which is interesting for the geographic references, past and present story of a would-be actress whose husband died from cancer and several years later she becomes involved with a Mexican pianist seeking asylum in Canada to escape a drug gang. Present tense is very irritating. Her voice lacks a reflective quality.

[Katherine Pederson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't finished this book yet, but I don't get a good feeling. So far, she's wrinkled her nose once, her stomach has "fluttered" 3 times, she's blushed twice, her heart has leapt and her heart has "fluttered wildly". And that's before page 30...groan. Page 46 "...a flicker of fear in my stomach." Page 51 "Teddy ran into the open area where he leapt with glee, clicking his heels together in the air". Barf. Page 54, she wrinkles her nose in distaste again. I am DNF at this point. The dialogue is trite and uneven. The story line could be interesting, but the writing just. isn't. there. And guess what happens at the end? Yup...you know it from page 3...yawn.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between the tasty turns of phrase, the twists in the story, and the many empathetic characters -- Roorda brings us a that's rich with a story and compelling. This is a great read.