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Missing Mr. Wingfield
A mother and daughter failed by the men they looked up to. The beginnings of a family saga that stretches across time. Two novels woven together as one.Veronica Silver’s life feels like an endless list of “what ifs?” Pregnant at sixteen, she was torn from the girl she loved and shoved into a loveless marriage with the father of her child. But her conflicted mind is in for a reboot when a piano falls out of the sky and triggers a harrowing journey down memory lane.High-school valedictorian Tracy Silver embraced her uncle as an adult male role model. But her perfect image of him shattered when she caught him with a stripper. Now he’s back in town, and she’s determined to render justice with a magical potion.Can Veronica and Tracy uncover the deeper truths of their lives by re-examining a lifetime of mistakes?Missing Mr. Wingfield collects the first two novels of E. Christopher Clark’s family saga series The Stains of Time, weaving them together with bonus materials found nowhere else. If you liked The Piano of Death and The Boot of Destiny, you’ll love this mash-up of the two books and the way it brings you even deeper into the stories of Veronica Silver and her daughter Tracy.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2017
12 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
E. Christopher Clark
22 books33 followersE. Christopher Clark is the author of the Stains of Time series, a family saga with elements of time travel and magical realism. His other books include the short story collections Out of the Woods and Under the World, the novella The Seven Wives of Silver, and a collection of poems cheekily titled Bad Poetry Night. His short stories have been published in Live Free or Ride: Tales of the Concord Coach, River Muse: Tales of Lowell & the Merrimack Valley, and the University of Hawaii’s Vice-Versa. A graduate of Lesley University’s MFA in Creative Writing program, he lives in Massachusetts with his wife and daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 29, 2018
This first full novel by this new author has been a very eventful journey, and a journey with much delight and surprising satisfaction.
First of all the book has at the end a most wonderful note on the chapter and section titles, in my opinion an absolute must for the reader to take notice.
At the end of the book is also featuring an extensive and well explained author's note & acknowledgements, which will show the reader the author's hard work and help from others, his efforts in succeeding and finally completing this great novel.
This book is set during the years 1999 until 2011 with various thrilling and exciting chapters, and within each chapter several diverse occurrences will happen to the main characters, and most of these happenings will certainly keep the reader captivated.
Story-telling is of a wonderful quality by this, for me, new promising author, and all his characters come superbly to life within this intriguing and astounding tale about the Silver family.
The two main characters are mother Veronica and daughter Tracy Silver, with also a lead part for Veronica's cousin Michael Silver, and their stories and adventures are highlighted here in this gripping novel.
From Veronica's coming out as a lesbian and marrying her Desiree, after having divorced Tracy's natural father Tim, the Runt, and the dreams in her imaginary travels with the Salesman about decisions made in the past, to Tracy's disciplinary punishment from school by the principal and her own dreams about how life should be, towards Michael and his adventures during his life before being married to Jenna, while several more psychological and emotional issues come to the forefront within this delightful tale.
Very much recommended, for this is a captivating book that's absolutely worthy to be read and valued by at least every keen reader, and so in my view this is: "A Very Eventful & Promising Debut Novel"!
First of all the book has at the end a most wonderful note on the chapter and section titles, in my opinion an absolute must for the reader to take notice.
At the end of the book is also featuring an extensive and well explained author's note & acknowledgements, which will show the reader the author's hard work and help from others, his efforts in succeeding and finally completing this great novel.
This book is set during the years 1999 until 2011 with various thrilling and exciting chapters, and within each chapter several diverse occurrences will happen to the main characters, and most of these happenings will certainly keep the reader captivated.
Story-telling is of a wonderful quality by this, for me, new promising author, and all his characters come superbly to life within this intriguing and astounding tale about the Silver family.
The two main characters are mother Veronica and daughter Tracy Silver, with also a lead part for Veronica's cousin Michael Silver, and their stories and adventures are highlighted here in this gripping novel.
From Veronica's coming out as a lesbian and marrying her Desiree, after having divorced Tracy's natural father Tim, the Runt, and the dreams in her imaginary travels with the Salesman about decisions made in the past, to Tracy's disciplinary punishment from school by the principal and her own dreams about how life should be, towards Michael and his adventures during his life before being married to Jenna, while several more psychological and emotional issues come to the forefront within this delightful tale.
Very much recommended, for this is a captivating book that's absolutely worthy to be read and valued by at least every keen reader, and so in my view this is: "A Very Eventful & Promising Debut Novel"!
October 31, 2020
“The roller coaster came to a full and complete stop just after they’d slid past the loading area and the control booth, just as they’d descended the small slope that would take them into the ride proper. Ahead of their train, Veronica saw the tunnel of pulsing blue lights grow suddenly dark. She heard the sounds of the Space Mountain “energy surge” fade into silence”. It was a great book and I also enjoyed the letters within the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2020
This captivating distinct novel starts in a principal's office but goes far deep into the lives of the characters as well as the readers' black-box regrets, and it ends in... well, it actually ends nowhere.
You will not forget the creative framing narratives of the deeply nested fictions in that mesmerizing order of `story within a story` structure. Statuesque? Inexplicable? Let’s not spoil it.
The vague setting, back and forth plot and all miserable and mischievous characters judging each other altogether make the reader feel lorn in a lost highway. However, it is not always like that.
“I’ve survived being married to you for a year. I know how to deal with a pain in the ass.”
In addition to the irony everywhere in the book, the author implies a strong illustrating prose to make you feel deep inside the story world and then starts to wipe it out into a foggy nightmare.
“The photo is of you, you sitting on a rock on the beach we all drove to on the final afternoon of the Boston conference. It was hot, and we’d known we were headed for the ocean, but none of us had thought to wear shorts (or maybe we had packed none). The cuffs of your jeans are wet, your feet are bare, and you’re leaning back, supported by your hands, your ring finger not yet naked. You don’t see me taking the picture. I didn’t remember taking it until now.”
Anyway, it makes the story a little difficult and late to get oriented but as soon as you get the clue, you cannot put it down.
Also noteworthy is the multi-layer intertextuality of the story referring to every kind of narratives through the main text or even in the titles (e.g. “The Old Ma’am and the Seams”).
Every single word I write more about it I am afraid to spoil the story and its wonderful form and structure. Therefore, I try to quote some examples I liked, considering that it is not possible to quote the best parts of it because it was not the sentences I liked, it was the whole story:
----
But his eyes, the way he looked at her, the way he looked at Desiree—the way he looked at every woman, dammit—they proved that he was just as much at fault.
You’re too harsh on yourself,” said Michael.
She patted him on the shoulder as she stood to go. “Aren’t we all?”
It was filled, all at once, with the smells of plumeria and pineapple, of sunblock and aloe vera, of a pig roasting on a spit.
Then there was sound: rain pounding down on the roof overhead, rain sizzling as it hit the hot pork, the slap of bare feet racing across cold stone. And, somewhere beyond all that, waves crashing on a not-so-distant shore.
It was filled, all at once, with the smells of plumeria and pineapple, of sunblock and aloe vera, of a pig roasting on a spit.
Then there was sound: rain pounding down on the roof overhead, rain sizzling as it hit the hot pork, the slap of bare feet racing across cold stone. And, somewhere beyond all that, waves crashing on a not-so-distant shore.
My mouse cursor hovers above an upload button as I wonder about you and the baby in your belly, about my wife and the womb I’ve left barren, about what could have been different, what would still be the same. If only. If.
“Fathers are never what you want them to be, not forever at least. None of them are perfect.”
“But he was supposed to be,” said Tracy, stuttering through her tears. “Goddamn it.”
You will not forget the creative framing narratives of the deeply nested fictions in that mesmerizing order of `story within a story` structure. Statuesque? Inexplicable? Let’s not spoil it.
The vague setting, back and forth plot and all miserable and mischievous characters judging each other altogether make the reader feel lorn in a lost highway. However, it is not always like that.
“I’ve survived being married to you for a year. I know how to deal with a pain in the ass.”
In addition to the irony everywhere in the book, the author implies a strong illustrating prose to make you feel deep inside the story world and then starts to wipe it out into a foggy nightmare.
“The photo is of you, you sitting on a rock on the beach we all drove to on the final afternoon of the Boston conference. It was hot, and we’d known we were headed for the ocean, but none of us had thought to wear shorts (or maybe we had packed none). The cuffs of your jeans are wet, your feet are bare, and you’re leaning back, supported by your hands, your ring finger not yet naked. You don’t see me taking the picture. I didn’t remember taking it until now.”
Anyway, it makes the story a little difficult and late to get oriented but as soon as you get the clue, you cannot put it down.
Also noteworthy is the multi-layer intertextuality of the story referring to every kind of narratives through the main text or even in the titles (e.g. “The Old Ma’am and the Seams”).
Every single word I write more about it I am afraid to spoil the story and its wonderful form and structure. Therefore, I try to quote some examples I liked, considering that it is not possible to quote the best parts of it because it was not the sentences I liked, it was the whole story:
----
But his eyes, the way he looked at her, the way he looked at Desiree—the way he looked at every woman, dammit—they proved that he was just as much at fault.
You’re too harsh on yourself,” said Michael.
She patted him on the shoulder as she stood to go. “Aren’t we all?”
It was filled, all at once, with the smells of plumeria and pineapple, of sunblock and aloe vera, of a pig roasting on a spit.
Then there was sound: rain pounding down on the roof overhead, rain sizzling as it hit the hot pork, the slap of bare feet racing across cold stone. And, somewhere beyond all that, waves crashing on a not-so-distant shore.
It was filled, all at once, with the smells of plumeria and pineapple, of sunblock and aloe vera, of a pig roasting on a spit.
Then there was sound: rain pounding down on the roof overhead, rain sizzling as it hit the hot pork, the slap of bare feet racing across cold stone. And, somewhere beyond all that, waves crashing on a not-so-distant shore.
My mouse cursor hovers above an upload button as I wonder about you and the baby in your belly, about my wife and the womb I’ve left barren, about what could have been different, what would still be the same. If only. If.
“Fathers are never what you want them to be, not forever at least. None of them are perfect.”
“But he was supposed to be,” said Tracy, stuttering through her tears. “Goddamn it.”
April 15, 2018
Took me a little while to get started, due to format, and then interruptions by kids. But finally had a few hours today and couldn’t put it down. An incredibly enjoyable read that makes me want to read again to find things I know I’ve missed. Well recommended!
August 16, 2020
I can't follow the story plot ... Maybe am not able to imagine the story and not used to this type of plot. Different to me, I think. Although maybe I would like read again somewhere in future. Perhaps I will change my rate at that time.
July 22, 2020
The book consist of 4 chapters, which are:
Chapter 1 November 2010
A short introduction of Tracy Silver. A talk with her principal allowed us to get to know her. Tracy's parents are divorced, then her mother married another woman which means she has two mothers.
Chapter 2 December 1999
It’s from Veronica Silver, Tracy’s mom point of view. Together with a salesman who is the ever wanted dad version of her, they went back in time to visit Veronica’s younger self. Replaying all the moments from when she figured out about herself, her feelings and the struggle out of it. About the thing that she thought was a mistake, but then not sure that it was one.
“My point is that things are just things, that life is just life. It’s never better or worse. It’s just it is. And the sooner you realize that, the sooner you remember that--,”
Chapter 3 July 2000-April 2001
It was more about Tracy, around the early time of Veronica’s divorcement and actual relationship with Desiree. What she thought of Veronica and Desiree's relationship, and about her parents divorcement. There’s also an introduction about her uncle, Michael. The supposed father figure for Tracy.
Chapter 4 September 2001 - November 2010
A collection of Tracy’s email for Michael. Here we could see the relationship between the ‘father-figure’ uncle and her niece.
Chapter 5 March 2011
“Our job as parents is to make sure you learn from our mistakes, not to repeat them.”
It's Tracy's chapter. A point of view from a teenage girl, who is a child of two mothers and wants to pour out her disappointment, to find out an answer, and to be able to sentence a guilty verdict over a man who she thought--always thought--as a father in her life.
My favourite part of the book is from chapter 5, when Tracy ‘indirectly’ confronted Michael to find out the truth of what she knew and what she saw. Then there's this interesting way of presenting a flashback. The first one Veronica’s when she was brought back to watch her past self decision. The second was Michael’s as well as Tracy’s. I think of both of the flashbacks as an ‘active’ flashback. Why? Because the person himself/herself was the one who presented it, to us the reader and to the other person who together ‘watched’ the past event while talking about it.
The other thing is the problems or issues presented in the story. First, about Veronica’s coming out to her family, to herself and finally sure enough to pursue her relationship with Desiree. How her parents’ reaction to it, how her only one child, Tracy, thought about her decision; of the divorce and marriage to another woman. Then about Tracy. Of how her mothers brought her up, about the man he thinks as a father figure, and the only person who could be one for her. And in the end all Tracy wants is a perfect father figure.
The story is deeper than what I thought, and I like it so much. It took more time for me to finish this book, but rest assured the problem is on me, not the book. Overall it’s a good read !
“Fathers are never what you want them to be, not forever at least. None of them are perfect.”
Chapter 1 November 2010
A short introduction of Tracy Silver. A talk with her principal allowed us to get to know her. Tracy's parents are divorced, then her mother married another woman which means she has two mothers.
Chapter 2 December 1999
It’s from Veronica Silver, Tracy’s mom point of view. Together with a salesman who is the ever wanted dad version of her, they went back in time to visit Veronica’s younger self. Replaying all the moments from when she figured out about herself, her feelings and the struggle out of it. About the thing that she thought was a mistake, but then not sure that it was one.
“My point is that things are just things, that life is just life. It’s never better or worse. It’s just it is. And the sooner you realize that, the sooner you remember that--,”
Chapter 3 July 2000-April 2001
It was more about Tracy, around the early time of Veronica’s divorcement and actual relationship with Desiree. What she thought of Veronica and Desiree's relationship, and about her parents divorcement. There’s also an introduction about her uncle, Michael. The supposed father figure for Tracy.
Chapter 4 September 2001 - November 2010
A collection of Tracy’s email for Michael. Here we could see the relationship between the ‘father-figure’ uncle and her niece.
Chapter 5 March 2011
“Our job as parents is to make sure you learn from our mistakes, not to repeat them.”
It's Tracy's chapter. A point of view from a teenage girl, who is a child of two mothers and wants to pour out her disappointment, to find out an answer, and to be able to sentence a guilty verdict over a man who she thought--always thought--as a father in her life.
My favourite part of the book is from chapter 5, when Tracy ‘indirectly’ confronted Michael to find out the truth of what she knew and what she saw. Then there's this interesting way of presenting a flashback. The first one Veronica’s when she was brought back to watch her past self decision. The second was Michael’s as well as Tracy’s. I think of both of the flashbacks as an ‘active’ flashback. Why? Because the person himself/herself was the one who presented it, to us the reader and to the other person who together ‘watched’ the past event while talking about it.
The other thing is the problems or issues presented in the story. First, about Veronica’s coming out to her family, to herself and finally sure enough to pursue her relationship with Desiree. How her parents’ reaction to it, how her only one child, Tracy, thought about her decision; of the divorce and marriage to another woman. Then about Tracy. Of how her mothers brought her up, about the man he thinks as a father figure, and the only person who could be one for her. And in the end all Tracy wants is a perfect father figure.
The story is deeper than what I thought, and I like it so much. It took more time for me to finish this book, but rest assured the problem is on me, not the book. Overall it’s a good read !
“Fathers are never what you want them to be, not forever at least. None of them are perfect.”
February 10, 2019
Missing Mr. Wingfield examines the choices a young mother has made and how those decisions have impacted her life and the lives of her loved ones. It also looks at the challenges her daughter has living in a modern 2 mum family and the expectations she has.
It is strongly character driven and I found I could easily relate to both Veronica (the mum) and Tracy (her daughter) even though their experiences are far from my own. Veronica’s cousin, Michael, fulfils a father role for Tracy and her relationship with him and the expectations she has of him are an integral part of the story.
I really enjoyed this book. If you prefer plot driven books this may not be for you, but if you enjoy a well written and richly rewarding read, I thoroughly recommend it.
It is strongly character driven and I found I could easily relate to both Veronica (the mum) and Tracy (her daughter) even though their experiences are far from my own. Veronica’s cousin, Michael, fulfils a father role for Tracy and her relationship with him and the expectations she has of him are an integral part of the story.
I really enjoyed this book. If you prefer plot driven books this may not be for you, but if you enjoy a well written and richly rewarding read, I thoroughly recommend it.
August 31, 2019
Missing Mr. Wingfield
: E. Christopher Clark
This book is a bit complicated. There is family dysfunction, real relationships, broken relationship, friendships, and a bit of potion inspired role play. Lots of twists that keep the listener on the edge of their seat. I wasn't sure if I would like this but it was interesting.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by Erin Bateman.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 25, 2018
It took me a chapter or two orient myself to the story. Once I did, the book worked as a character study. This book almost reminded me of A Christmas Carol, without the christmas theme. It was a nice journey watching the characters lives from the past and the present and how artfully they were woven together.
There were literacy references and music was a theme throughout the book.
All in all I enjoyed it, but the ending felt a bit rough and unfinished.
There were literacy references and music was a theme throughout the book.
All in all I enjoyed it, but the ending felt a bit rough and unfinished.
January 23, 2019
Let me start off by saying I found this book very enlightening . I too had two had to mothers, one mother and a stepmother. The things that happen in the book, make wonder about my life ,like when Tracy writes her Uncle and how she deal with issues at school, all this makes me think about my own life. I life how she slowly goes teen into adulthood . Being that my name is Tracy , i found a attachment to this character, more so ,than the mother . That said , I would Recommend this book, for the simple fact that you never know how important some choice can be.
June 19, 2019
So, this book really took me a few chapters to get into but once I did I enjoyed it. There is a lot of metaphors, and sometimes the metaphors seem over done a bit. Once I got into the story I couldn’t put it down although, some of the time jumps were confusing to understand what was going on. I really enjoyed all the references throughout the book, however the ending seemed like open like it wasn’t finished just quite yet.
February 4, 2019
A thoughtful and thought-provoking novel that challenges the reader, this imaginative story is very much Character driven with complex relationships resulting from fractured families – hence the allusion to The Glass Menagerie. It starts out with a compelling scene in the bowels of a subway station that sets the parameters for the rest of the narrative.
Metaphor figures largely throughout the telling – sometimes too largely – and the time warps were often confusing to this reader. I had the impression elements of the story were somewhat biographical, and the author’s notes at the end of the novel confirm this. Read the end notes all the way through. The author clearly loves language.
Metaphor figures largely throughout the telling – sometimes too largely – and the time warps were often confusing to this reader. I had the impression elements of the story were somewhat biographical, and the author’s notes at the end of the novel confirm this. Read the end notes all the way through. The author clearly loves language.
November 6, 2018
I love this book, everyone should read this book and then read it again.
Even though the characters in the book experience things that are far removed from my lived experience, I could relate to them, I cared, I want to know them.
I enjoyed the sructure of the book, I loved how it started near the end, but subsequent happenings didn't feel like "flashbacks", it was just someone telling a great, complicated, loving, sometimes messy, and a little bit magical story, of a family, who are full of love.
The love that the characters have for each other, shines through.
It's a beautifully written book.
It's funny, a little sad, and totally absorbing. I carried it around and read it every time I had a spare moment. I devoured the story, and I am planning on a leisurely read as I think there are probably more layers to discover.
When I finished the book I read the afterword, as I was sad the tale was over.
Definately a book to enjoy and an authour to watch.
Even though the characters in the book experience things that are far removed from my lived experience, I could relate to them, I cared, I want to know them.
I enjoyed the sructure of the book, I loved how it started near the end, but subsequent happenings didn't feel like "flashbacks", it was just someone telling a great, complicated, loving, sometimes messy, and a little bit magical story, of a family, who are full of love.
The love that the characters have for each other, shines through.
It's a beautifully written book.
It's funny, a little sad, and totally absorbing. I carried it around and read it every time I had a spare moment. I devoured the story, and I am planning on a leisurely read as I think there are probably more layers to discover.
When I finished the book I read the afterword, as I was sad the tale was over.
Definately a book to enjoy and an authour to watch.
January 11, 2019
It Is a lesbian story wich Is not my genere for reading, but i liked it because is compelling and the characters are very well constructed and deep developed. I got lost in a moment, but then reread and everything came to my understanding. I truly recommend the book if you want compelling characters and a different approach of the lesbians relationships.
October 24, 2018
I'd like to thank Booktasters and E. Christopher Clark for the opportunity in reading this tale of regrets and life choices. Missing Mr. Wingfield starts with Veronica, in a hallucinogenic dream state, looking back on the choices that she made and regretting not being true to her heart as well as to herself. Upon awakening, she takes the steps to change the direction of her life. First by breaking free of an unhappy marriage and second being with her true love. The story then shifts, to the point of view of Veronica's daughter, Tracy, from the age of eight to eighteen. Observant and intuitive, she prefers that people be honest with themselves. She feels this way in particular about her uncle and father figure Michael who had disappointed her with his own choices. My overall take on this story is that if you are unhappy about the choices that you made, you can work to change it or do nothing and live with regret. Missing Mr. Wingfield is a story that requires repeat readings to grasp the depth of the story and characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2018
Regret. Christopher Clark’s book Missing Mr. Wingfield explores the regret that we all have. Mom isn’t in love with her husband. She loves her friend and wishes she didn’t marry to keep her parents and society satisfied. As she works to end her mistake, she shows her daughter that you don’t have to live with regret.
The point of view shifts between mother and daughter as the story unfolds. I struggled to keep my focus as the book started to feel heavy with characters. The message is good and the concept was well executed but this just wasn’t my type of book.
The point of view shifts between mother and daughter as the story unfolds. I struggled to keep my focus as the book started to feel heavy with characters. The message is good and the concept was well executed but this just wasn’t my type of book.
August 27, 2018
I was excited about this book right away as it is set in Massachusetts, mostly on Cape Cod.
Then I had a difficult time reading it and eventually (pg.50) I quit. The story seems to be about the life of a girl trying to be comfortable living her life.
I felt the theme of desire and sex between two individuals is not my cup of tea. Perhaps I'll try reading again at another time. For now, there are other books that await.l
Then I had a difficult time reading it and eventually (pg.50) I quit. The story seems to be about the life of a girl trying to be comfortable living her life.
I felt the theme of desire and sex between two individuals is not my cup of tea. Perhaps I'll try reading again at another time. For now, there are other books that await.l
October 29, 2018
"If you are unhappy with the decision you make, change it or live with regret."
The story is fantastic. The point of view is switching between the mother and daugther. The characters are lovable and the plot is well executed. The message is good and the flow of the story is so nice. Highly recommended.😀
The story is fantastic. The point of view is switching between the mother and daugther. The characters are lovable and the plot is well executed. The message is good and the flow of the story is so nice. Highly recommended.😀
November 24, 2018
Took me a while to get acquainted with all the characters and their nicknames.The book is mostly about 'should have'.It seems everybody here was living a lie at some point,then decided later that 'its enough'.Too many memories,kinda confused people and almost directionless.
It is a very sad story,I don't really get it.
It is a very sad story,I don't really get it.
November 5, 2020
First of all, I'd say the book is a bit complicated. The reason is not the pattern of writing, but the story inside the book. The book is containing such a grand story that you'll not be capable of understanding if you don't actually 'READ' it. The book has several chapters that cover the stories of several timespans. The main story is based on two characters, Veronica and her daughter Tracy Silver.
Veronica didn't have any relation with the natural father of Tracy because she had another character, Desiree as her wife. So it's seen that Tracy had actually no father beside her for guidance because her natural father doesn't have any effective role in her life in the story. We can find another character Michael, Veronica's cousin who mainly performs his duty as a father of Tracy.
The whole story goes forward depending on varieties of decisions. From the birth of Tracy, marriage with Desiree to the complication of Tracy's growing up without her real father- everything caused because of her decisions. The decisions may seem right or wrong depending on the mentality of various persons. Because of living in an unusual environment where Tracy had two mothers but not the real father, she had a mental development at a very early age. She often faced some situations which were inappropriate for her age. Thus the age of her mind grew a bit faster. She started questioning about many things happening around her- her natural father, the role of Desiree in her life, the life of her uncle-cum-father Michael, and some other characters evolving them. Especially Tracy had a great curiosity about Michael's life and she discovered many expected and unexpected facts on the way of knowing the life of Michael.
The book will give the reader a great space for thinking. While moving from pages to pages, the reader will be able to relate the previous things with the new ones. Thus the reader can have the experience of discovering new facts, relating those with his/her own imagination, and judging the incidents with own logic. This is how the chapters are arranged in the book. For me, it was a new experience to read a book having this type of pattern. at one stage I thought I had lost the serial of incidents, but I got back on track later on.
Finally, I thank the author to write the book covering some issues which are existing in society, in reality. It'll have an impact on many persons who are going through these scenarios.
Veronica didn't have any relation with the natural father of Tracy because she had another character, Desiree as her wife. So it's seen that Tracy had actually no father beside her for guidance because her natural father doesn't have any effective role in her life in the story. We can find another character Michael, Veronica's cousin who mainly performs his duty as a father of Tracy.
The whole story goes forward depending on varieties of decisions. From the birth of Tracy, marriage with Desiree to the complication of Tracy's growing up without her real father- everything caused because of her decisions. The decisions may seem right or wrong depending on the mentality of various persons. Because of living in an unusual environment where Tracy had two mothers but not the real father, she had a mental development at a very early age. She often faced some situations which were inappropriate for her age. Thus the age of her mind grew a bit faster. She started questioning about many things happening around her- her natural father, the role of Desiree in her life, the life of her uncle-cum-father Michael, and some other characters evolving them. Especially Tracy had a great curiosity about Michael's life and she discovered many expected and unexpected facts on the way of knowing the life of Michael.
The book will give the reader a great space for thinking. While moving from pages to pages, the reader will be able to relate the previous things with the new ones. Thus the reader can have the experience of discovering new facts, relating those with his/her own imagination, and judging the incidents with own logic. This is how the chapters are arranged in the book. For me, it was a new experience to read a book having this type of pattern. at one stage I thought I had lost the serial of incidents, but I got back on track later on.
Finally, I thank the author to write the book covering some issues which are existing in society, in reality. It'll have an impact on many persons who are going through these scenarios.
November 16, 2020
Missing Mr. Wingfield was one of those books you will struggle to put down once picked up. Woven around the lives of the mother and daughter duo Veronica and Tracy Silver, the story examines their relationship with the men in the family, and how it impacted their lives. Both were disappointed by the fathers; Veronica, when her father forced her into an unhappy marriage with the man who brought about her teenage pregnancy, refusing to accept the same-sex union she longed for. Tracy, when she witnessed an act of obscenity by her father years later, on a visit to his house after the separation of her parents. From then onwards, her mother's cousin, Uncle Micheal, became her official father figure, since she was now raised by her two mothers. For Tracy, Micheal was the embodiment of a perfect man, until she stumbled upon a scene which shattered her world.
In this brilliant and witty narrative, Clark explores complexities within human relationships set within a small family circle to signify the imperfections, the shades of grey and the absurdities of life; the very things that remind us of how human we are. This captivating debut novel is highly recommended for anyone appreciating a throught-provoking read with a healthy dose of magical realism, which blends in very well with the storyline.
In this brilliant and witty narrative, Clark explores complexities within human relationships set within a small family circle to signify the imperfections, the shades of grey and the absurdities of life; the very things that remind us of how human we are. This captivating debut novel is highly recommended for anyone appreciating a throught-provoking read with a healthy dose of magical realism, which blends in very well with the storyline.
July 26, 2020
This book is a well-written family drama about finding your true love (and being brave enough to act on it), making sacrifices for the ones you love, and the feelings of disappointment we experience when loved ones let us down. The characters are very well-developed and I found myself rooting for them throughout the book. Veronica, a teen mom, found the courage to stand up to her father. Tracy, her daughter, thought she had the perfect father figure in her Uncle Michael. And Michael, who seemed to be the hero throughout much of the book, had his own faults and indiscretions to deal with.
The story was written in a creative way that kept me wondering how it would all end. I was very pleased with the resolution and outcome of the story - I like it when I get the feeling at the end of a story that all of the characters will be okay, despite all of the challenges they faced. I also especially appreciated the lengthy author's note that explained the process he went through when writing the book. This is not a book I would normally choose based on the sexual tones and vulgar language, but I did enjoy it nonetheless.
The story was written in a creative way that kept me wondering how it would all end. I was very pleased with the resolution and outcome of the story - I like it when I get the feeling at the end of a story that all of the characters will be okay, despite all of the challenges they faced. I also especially appreciated the lengthy author's note that explained the process he went through when writing the book. This is not a book I would normally choose based on the sexual tones and vulgar language, but I did enjoy it nonetheless.
November 16, 2020
An all-encompassing book that beautifully yet tragically describes the hardships faced by two women who have been let down by the men that they looked up to. The narration and description given by the writer are so vivid, the reader is bound to find themselves in the books at some point or the other. A book so entrancing, the reader won't be able to keep it until it is finished. It is a must-read for all the people looking for the harsh truths of society.
August 16, 2019
This is the first book I read from the author E.Christopher Clark. This book is unputdownable.The story is about Veronica, it’s about her unhappy married life which she ended and what choices she made to make her life happy.Its a beautifully written family drama.The story also focuses on her daughter Tracy too. Overall I loved the book and would recommend it.
March 9, 2020
Well for this one, you are all on your own, you have to take a chance and see for yourself if you will have more words than I did at the end, left me speechless, don't know if that's supposed to be a good thing, see for yourself. Maybe it is because I'm missing the other books in the series, could be...
November 30, 2020
This book was a rollercoaster honestly. It was great especially because of the lesbian representation. For a man, he wrote this so well! However, I think the flowery language was a little overdone but I definitely recommend this to people looking for contemporary novels and LGBT+ representation.
June 21, 2019
This was a nice heartwarming read. From showing everyone has regrets in life to accepting. Its a tale of trying to live differently than what you truely feel and the consequences of that.
December 6, 2020
An eventful and little weird journey of a girl, not so girlish though!!!! Wanting to get her answers well established in a format.
Kudos to writer for great efforts.
Kudos to writer for great efforts.
December 1, 2020
I started reading Missing Mr. Wingfield by E. Christopher Clark...So far I am really enjoying the book. I like the uniqueness, sass, and humor that the book presents. Missing Mr. Wingfield was a great read while on Thanksgiving break. The book is a must read. Happy Reading!
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