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Remembering the Bones
Best-selling author Frances Itani’s second novel is a beautifully written, moving tale of the staying power of family through time and memory, and the extent to which individual lives can influence and resonate in the world around them. Born on the exact same day as Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Canadian Georgina Witley is invited to an eightieth birthday lunch at Buckingham Palace. All she has to do is drive to the airport and board the plane for London. Except that Georgie drives off the edge of the road, her car plunging into a thickly wooded ravine. Thrown from the car, injured, and unable to move, she must rely on her full store of family memories, her no-nonsense wit, and a recitation of the names of the bones in her body-an exercise from childhood-to remind her she is still alive. As Georgina lies stranded and helpless, she reflects on her role as a daughter, mother, sister, wife, and widow, on lost loves and painful secrets.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2007
54 people are currently reading
874 people want to read
About the author
Frances Itani
40 books129 followersFrances Susan Itani is a Canadian fiction writer, poet and essayist.
Itani was born in Belleville, Ontario and grew up in Quebec. She studied nursing in Montreal and North Carolina, a profession which she taught and practised for eight years. However, after enrolling in a writing class taught by W. O. Mitchell, she decided to change careers.
Itani has published ten books, ranging from fiction and poetry to a children's book. Her 2003 novel Deafening, published in 16 countries, won the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Canada and Caribbean Region) and the Drummer General’s Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Her short story collection, Poached Egg on Toast, won the Ottawa Book Award and the CAA Jubilee Award for Best Collection of Stories. She was recently awarded the Order of Canada. Frances Itani lives in Ottawa.
Itani was born in Belleville, Ontario and grew up in Quebec. She studied nursing in Montreal and North Carolina, a profession which she taught and practised for eight years. However, after enrolling in a writing class taught by W. O. Mitchell, she decided to change careers.
Itani has published ten books, ranging from fiction and poetry to a children's book. Her 2003 novel Deafening, published in 16 countries, won the Commonwealth Writers Prize (Canada and Caribbean Region) and the Drummer General’s Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Her short story collection, Poached Egg on Toast, won the Ottawa Book Award and the CAA Jubilee Award for Best Collection of Stories. She was recently awarded the Order of Canada. Frances Itani lives in Ottawa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
June 30, 2015
On her way to the airport to board a plane to England to share an 80th birthday lunch with the Queen, Georgie Witley accidentally drives her car off the road into a deep ravine. With the accident unwitnessed, and no one to know she is missing, Georgie lay broken in the ravine, slowly trying to make her way back to her car in hopes that by honking the horn she can attract attention. Gradually becoming weaker and more dehydrated, Georgie falls in and out of sleep and her mind flows back and forth between present and past. Through her recollections, we learn the story of her life, from childhood through motherhood through widowhood. We learn of those she has loved and those she has lost and gained, of sorrow and joy, of regrets and uncertainties. This book is beautifully written and poignant, populated by characters who are interesting and endearing. I absolutely loved it.
July 29, 2008
If there's one book you read this summer, it should be this one. Why? Because it is such an unexpected gem. It's lyrical writing creeps up on you seemingly from out of nowhere and before you know it, you are engrossed in the stor(ies) of the Danforth and Witley families. In particular, you find yourself wrapped up in the mind of Georgina Danforth Witley as she lies trapped at the bottom of a ravine, barely meters from her own home waiting to be rescued (no spoilers there: you learn this in the first few pages of the book). As she lies in the dark and cold, Georgina reflects on her life: her significance as mother, daughter, and wife and the accomplishments of her life. Itani's novel is a moving and engrossing story--read it in one sitting if you possibly can. That shouldn't be hard--It's difficult to put down. Finally, for those of reformed smokers out there, Itani nails the attraction perfectly, describing the "...floating sensation after the first pull inot the lungds, the dizziness, the body sensing that it is off-kilter (189)."
December 8, 2018
A look at a life. Many of Georgie's relationships in this book are with the females in her life: grandmother, mother, aunt, sister. Until she marries, there is no male influence.
However, it is a good backing for this exploration of Georgie's life in all the roles she has played: daughter, mother, sister, wife, widow, niece, friend.
On the down side, with the story being told completely from Georgie's point of view, this is more of a recitation of a life, delightful at times but very one sided. We only see Georgie's side and we only see snippets of her life as her memory flits through, not full context.
Our brains work with odd connections as we go through our memories. We start by remembering something that happened when we were young, that memory leads to another when we were adult, that memory leads to another when we were teens, etc. That's how this book is written. It can appear jumpy but it's a wonderful simulation of how the mind works when we're alone with our brains.
An interesting story. A bit lacking in details and being purely memory driven, sometimes not exciting. However, it's an interesting look at times gone by, relationships, life choices.
I don't think the Queen Elizabeth part of the story is necessary, though. That part played only the catalyst to putting Georgie in the situation she found herself.
However, it is a good backing for this exploration of Georgie's life in all the roles she has played: daughter, mother, sister, wife, widow, niece, friend.
On the down side, with the story being told completely from Georgie's point of view, this is more of a recitation of a life, delightful at times but very one sided. We only see Georgie's side and we only see snippets of her life as her memory flits through, not full context.
Our brains work with odd connections as we go through our memories. We start by remembering something that happened when we were young, that memory leads to another when we were adult, that memory leads to another when we were teens, etc. That's how this book is written. It can appear jumpy but it's a wonderful simulation of how the mind works when we're alone with our brains.
An interesting story. A bit lacking in details and being purely memory driven, sometimes not exciting. However, it's an interesting look at times gone by, relationships, life choices.
I don't think the Queen Elizabeth part of the story is necessary, though. That part played only the catalyst to putting Georgie in the situation she found herself.
December 3, 2022
This was a challenging read for me, so much so that I skimmed many of the later chapters. This is definitely not a read if looking for an escape from life stresses.
July 22, 2009
I wished more than anything, as I read this book, that it had better structure. Trapping George at the bottom of a ravine was a a device to allow all this introspective reflection on life, but turns out, the, mental meanderings of a woman trapped at the bottom of a ravine are not so interesting. It really a bit too much like being inside somebody's head and I'd be happy to sacrifice some authenticity for a more deliberate narrative structure. She was thinking about her mom, then her Grand Da, then her aunt, then her sister, then her mom, then her aunt then her mom and then her daughter. This is one of the few times I wish somebody had just freaking unfurled the story chronologically.
Just imagine of the book had started with the crash. We have the physical crisis but then she goes back to her Grandma. Check back in on the physical crisis--perhaps with more emphasis on what she's doing to get rescued, how she's hurt -- go back to her mom's story. Tell about her sister. Then unfurl her love, her loss, Harry's death--all the while returning in the present as she pulls her self to a place of better visibility. Then I would have built in some big reason we wanted her survive.
Because, I really didn't care if she survived. So, besides the narrative structure I suppose I also wanted a bit more passion. Maybe she should have found out Harry cheated on her. Something rageful! Some impassioned reason that she wanted to stay alive! Some denouement to the story! Something. Anything but a lazy drifting down memory lane.
Just imagine of the book had started with the crash. We have the physical crisis but then she goes back to her Grandma. Check back in on the physical crisis--perhaps with more emphasis on what she's doing to get rescued, how she's hurt -- go back to her mom's story. Tell about her sister. Then unfurl her love, her loss, Harry's death--all the while returning in the present as she pulls her self to a place of better visibility. Then I would have built in some big reason we wanted her survive.
Because, I really didn't care if she survived. So, besides the narrative structure I suppose I also wanted a bit more passion. Maybe she should have found out Harry cheated on her. Something rageful! Some impassioned reason that she wanted to stay alive! Some denouement to the story! Something. Anything but a lazy drifting down memory lane.
June 25, 2009
I read another of Frances Itani's books, Deafeningand it was one of my favorites. This was good, too, but I wish I could have read it first because it didn't quite compare to Deafening.
The book tells the story of an 80-year-old Canadian widow who was born the same day as Queen Elizabeth II, and is one of 99 people born that same day who have been invited by the Queen to attend a birthday luncheon. While driving herself to the airport Georgie runs off the road and into a ravine and is thrown from the car and injured. To keep herself from panicing, she begins to name the bones of the body, something she learned as a youngster perusing her doctor grandfather's Gray's Anatomy. While naming the bones, she reviews her life in the small town of Wilna Creek, Canada. It was an interesting and unusual way to tell the story of a woman and her life and I applaud the author for her originality in this. I thought I had the ending figured out, but I was wrong. A very good and original read.
The book tells the story of an 80-year-old Canadian widow who was born the same day as Queen Elizabeth II, and is one of 99 people born that same day who have been invited by the Queen to attend a birthday luncheon. While driving herself to the airport Georgie runs off the road and into a ravine and is thrown from the car and injured. To keep herself from panicing, she begins to name the bones of the body, something she learned as a youngster perusing her doctor grandfather's Gray's Anatomy. While naming the bones, she reviews her life in the small town of Wilna Creek, Canada. It was an interesting and unusual way to tell the story of a woman and her life and I applaud the author for her originality in this. I thought I had the ending figured out, but I was wrong. A very good and original read.
August 9, 2022
3.5 stars
79-year old Georgie is on her way to the airport as she has been invited by Queen Elizabeth to their shared 80th birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Georgie’s car goes off an embankment and lands in a ravine. Georgie is alive, but too hurt to move from where she landed and she and her car are not visible from the road. As she waits for rescue, she goes through memories of her family and her life.
This was good. The initial crash brought me in and although the memories initially weren’t as interesting, I found it picked up a bit when Georgie got married, so I liked the second half of the story better. I also liked the comparisons to “Lilibet’s” (Queen Elizabeth’s) life and the little royal tidbits brought in that way. I thought it was amusing that all the women in Georgie’s family had names that shortened into “male” names: Phil, Fred (she had an Aunt and Uncle Fred when her Aunt Fred married a Fred), Grand Dan… (ok, not quite all, but most).
79-year old Georgie is on her way to the airport as she has been invited by Queen Elizabeth to their shared 80th birthday celebration. Unfortunately, Georgie’s car goes off an embankment and lands in a ravine. Georgie is alive, but too hurt to move from where she landed and she and her car are not visible from the road. As she waits for rescue, she goes through memories of her family and her life.
This was good. The initial crash brought me in and although the memories initially weren’t as interesting, I found it picked up a bit when Georgie got married, so I liked the second half of the story better. I also liked the comparisons to “Lilibet’s” (Queen Elizabeth’s) life and the little royal tidbits brought in that way. I thought it was amusing that all the women in Georgie’s family had names that shortened into “male” names: Phil, Fred (she had an Aunt and Uncle Fred when her Aunt Fred married a Fred), Grand Dan… (ok, not quite all, but most).
May 14, 2019
Beautifully written account of 80 year old Georgina who is invited to the Queens birthday since they were born on the same day. She starts out with spirits high but drives off the road ending up down a ravine with grievous injuries. As she waits hoping for rescue, her life replays for her highlighting the highs and lows. We feel her struggles to survive but will she?
January 27, 2011
didnt like it. it just went on and on .. still stuck in the ravine pit and going remembering everything in her life. pointless. i'm halfway reading it forcing myself to finish it. But dont think i can force myself to read this anymore. Next book,please...
February 23, 2022
2.5 stars. Are you actually kidding me with the end of this book? We get through the minutiae of this womans life and then …….
May 14, 2019
This book has a lot to offer, although I would say, targetted to a specific audience - women who are aging and reflecting back on their lives.
I really liked the use of Bones to set the structure of the book. Memory was a central factor of this book . The many rhyming jingos to remember (we learned as kids) were interspersed throughout this book.
While I understand the era of fascination about everything Royal, (my Mother certainly was enamoured by Queen Elizabeth) I could take or leave this concept and for most part didn't find it added to the book. I also found the male use of names for the female characters annoying.
Itani does a very astute job around Georgina's reflections on family and her life as a granddaughter, daughter, wife, mother.
The most engaging part of this story was coming to understand Harry, Georgina's husband. He had been one of The Home Children, and this book raises awareness of many the hardships that Home Children endured. His brother and sister find him after decades apart - their characters are quirky well-developed and it brings light to the overall story.
Itani presented a well-crafted exploration around dying and what might be reflected upon during the dying process; and this... is a universal question for us all.
I really liked the use of Bones to set the structure of the book. Memory was a central factor of this book . The many rhyming jingos to remember (we learned as kids) were interspersed throughout this book.
While I understand the era of fascination about everything Royal, (my Mother certainly was enamoured by Queen Elizabeth) I could take or leave this concept and for most part didn't find it added to the book. I also found the male use of names for the female characters annoying.
Itani does a very astute job around Georgina's reflections on family and her life as a granddaughter, daughter, wife, mother.
The most engaging part of this story was coming to understand Harry, Georgina's husband. He had been one of The Home Children, and this book raises awareness of many the hardships that Home Children endured. His brother and sister find him after decades apart - their characters are quirky well-developed and it brings light to the overall story.
Itani presented a well-crafted exploration around dying and what might be reflected upon during the dying process; and this... is a universal question for us all.
April 5, 2018
Georgie is born on the same day and year as the Queen, and to celebrate her 80th birthday, the Queen has invited 100 guests with the same birthday to celebrate with her at Buckingham Palace. However, when Georgie sets off for the airport to attend this function, she drives off the road and down a ravine. She is thrown from the car and lies there injured with broken arm and leg, so unable to move much at all. To keep up her strength she reflects on her life as a child, mother, sister, daughter, wife and widow. Beautifully written, I just loved it.
March 16, 2025
I thought this book was simply lovely. I liked how Georgie "spoke" with Lilibet throughout. At first, the male names for women confused me, but after a few minutes it became clear.
August 29, 2020
Frances Itani is a Canadian gem! A new favourite of mine. This book is beautifully written and each word, page, chapter is captivating. I enjoyed the ending. It reminded me of For Whom the Bell Tolls. The book that first introduced me to the idea that reader is an active participant in a story and not just a mindless observer.
July 13, 2010
REMEMBERING THE BONES is the story of Georgie, an eighty-year-old woman who was born on the same day as the wueen. She is on her wya to the airport for a celebration with the Queen herself, when her car slides into a ravine, and she is left nearly immobile. Georgie spends her itmei n the ravine keeping herself alive through memories of her life and family.
This book had excellent prose and description, but the story fell flat. At times, not enough was explained, leaving the reader scratching their head and wondering what happened. For example, Georgie is inexplicably laying outside of the car, even though the story never shows her being tossed from it.
The way the book was divided was excellent, splitting it into sections based on the anatomical features that Georgie is remembering. The painstaking care with which Georgie has remembered the stories of the owmen of her family is rather touching, even if the stories could have used a bit more oomph.
I would hesitantly recommend this book, if just for the stunning prose and elegance with which it is told.
This book had excellent prose and description, but the story fell flat. At times, not enough was explained, leaving the reader scratching their head and wondering what happened. For example, Georgie is inexplicably laying outside of the car, even though the story never shows her being tossed from it.
The way the book was divided was excellent, splitting it into sections based on the anatomical features that Georgie is remembering. The painstaking care with which Georgie has remembered the stories of the owmen of her family is rather touching, even if the stories could have used a bit more oomph.
I would hesitantly recommend this book, if just for the stunning prose and elegance with which it is told.
January 14, 2019
Remembering the Bones is one of the best pieces of literary fiction I’ve read in a long time. It’s like unpacking a chest of your mother’s keepsakes while reading her diary at the same time. The novel tells the story of Georgie who, while on her way to the airport, plunges her car over the side of a ravine and lives. As she lays injured, Georgie survives by recalling how she interacted with those she loved as a daughter, mother, sister, wife, niece, sister-in-law, and granddaughter. She does so to stave off death and remain hopeful of rescue. The story is intense but brimming with life. It made me want to revisit my past in every direction and make sure I had built up enough stories/memories of my own to pass on.
March 26, 2018
A beautifully told, captivating story told in flashbacks. I was a little unsure about how the story resolved itself -- I was left wanting a little more. But perhaps that is the sign of a great read.. when you are left thinking about it, days after. The language is glorious and the MC is emotionally available.
January 20, 2020
I got about half way though the book and stopped. It didn’t seem like it was going anywhere in particular. The concept was good... to recollect your life while wondering if you will ever be rescued, but it wasn’t presented in a way that I become interested in the people.
February 22, 2014
bored and didn't finish
January 5, 2017
Funny, touching, extremely well written. This is only the second book of Itani's that I have read but she is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
April 29, 2017
Tedious. Did not finish.
October 12, 2020
Georgie, the protagonist, shares a birthday with Queen Elizabeth, and (somewhat contrivedly) several life milestones. She is invited to a ceremony celebrating their 80th birthday, and is stopped along the way by an accident.
While waiting for assistance, she reflects on her stages of life: childhood, early adulthood, motherhood, and old age. The first stage, populated with strong female role models (also contrivedly, all with male names), is the most vivid. In contrast, her mature adulthood is dim and rushed. Part of this is because, unlike the other women, Georgie has no vocation and no work beyond raising a whimsical and stereotypical artistic daughter and homemaking for a tortured husband. Her identity in the latter years is derived from her husband's long-estranged family, who act as substitutes for personality.
Prior to marriage and motherhood, we live through her mother, grandmother, aunts, and sister, hard-working and lively women all. Even Georgie's childhood identity is smushed with her sister's hopes and dreams.
The early years, while more engaging than the rest of the novel, rely on cultural flotsam such as hymn snippets, moments in the life of the Queen, and so on. I share this cultural history so, while I appreciated the memories, struggled to find the narrative thread in these sections. The "bones" device felt tacked-on as a childhood obsession of Georgie's gone amuck, and not an organic development.
Finally, Georgie's husband, Harry, is presented as the love of her life, but aside from a horrific honeymoon and the aforementioned relatives revue, he is similarly blank in characterization. Maybe that's supposed to be the point - the slow dying-out of Victorian character over the generations, although Georgie's sister ends up accomplishing her lifelong dream. Their foremothers all live to an ungodly age, so they keep popping up in anecdotes throughout the chronology, but this substitutes for a lack of character development in the younger generations. The line ends with Georgie's daughter (who is in her 50s) so it's implied that the memories will fade when Georgie does.
This book felt like flipping through an old scrapbook: patriotic, at times trivial, but ultimately an incomplete view on something that once had vigour and meaning.
While waiting for assistance, she reflects on her stages of life: childhood, early adulthood, motherhood, and old age. The first stage, populated with strong female role models (also contrivedly, all with male names), is the most vivid. In contrast, her mature adulthood is dim and rushed. Part of this is because, unlike the other women, Georgie has no vocation and no work beyond raising a whimsical and stereotypical artistic daughter and homemaking for a tortured husband. Her identity in the latter years is derived from her husband's long-estranged family, who act as substitutes for personality.
Prior to marriage and motherhood, we live through her mother, grandmother, aunts, and sister, hard-working and lively women all. Even Georgie's childhood identity is smushed with her sister's hopes and dreams.
The early years, while more engaging than the rest of the novel, rely on cultural flotsam such as hymn snippets, moments in the life of the Queen, and so on. I share this cultural history so, while I appreciated the memories, struggled to find the narrative thread in these sections. The "bones" device felt tacked-on as a childhood obsession of Georgie's gone amuck, and not an organic development.
Finally, Georgie's husband, Harry, is presented as the love of her life, but aside from a horrific honeymoon and the aforementioned relatives revue, he is similarly blank in characterization. Maybe that's supposed to be the point - the slow dying-out of Victorian character over the generations, although Georgie's sister ends up accomplishing her lifelong dream. Their foremothers all live to an ungodly age, so they keep popping up in anecdotes throughout the chronology, but this substitutes for a lack of character development in the younger generations. The line ends with Georgie's daughter (who is in her 50s) so it's implied that the memories will fade when Georgie does.
This book felt like flipping through an old scrapbook: patriotic, at times trivial, but ultimately an incomplete view on something that once had vigour and meaning.
February 23, 2018
This is Georgie's story. Georgina Witley. She's nearly 80 and has been invited to participate in a formal lunch at Buckingham Palace because her birthday is the same day as that of Queen Elizabeth I along with the other 99 guests who are also invited. But Georgie only gets to the end of her road where she accidentally drives her car off the road and down into a steep ravine. Georgie is thrown from the car but is injured and has no way to alert anyone.
She spends several days there, with exposure to the elements. While her injuries may not be fatal, lack of food and especially water just might be. She tries to keep her mind alert by reciting the latin names of the bones in the body and remembering anecdotes from her life and her family, hoping to ward off the Grim Reaper who is ever inching closer. She doesn't filter her memories through in chronological order as you might think. That's just the way most minds work. She keeps herself motivated by talking ..to herself, to her late husband, to her mother and even to Death himself as she slowly inches her way to her vehicle, hoping for a little warmth and a way to sound the horn to alert someone for help.
Frances Itani writes exquisitely and she writes about women, women that are vastly different from each other but all have a very true and real presence.
This book fills one of the CanadianContent Bingo squares
She spends several days there, with exposure to the elements. While her injuries may not be fatal, lack of food and especially water just might be. She tries to keep her mind alert by reciting the latin names of the bones in the body and remembering anecdotes from her life and her family, hoping to ward off the Grim Reaper who is ever inching closer. She doesn't filter her memories through in chronological order as you might think. That's just the way most minds work. She keeps herself motivated by talking ..to herself, to her late husband, to her mother and even to Death himself as she slowly inches her way to her vehicle, hoping for a little warmth and a way to sound the horn to alert someone for help.
Frances Itani writes exquisitely and she writes about women, women that are vastly different from each other but all have a very true and real presence.
This book fills one of the CanadianContent Bingo squares
October 27, 2024
A genuinely Canadian story of survival, reflection, and resilience. When 80-year-old Georgie's car veers off the road on her way to meet Queen Elizabeth II at a royal birthday celebration, she finds herself stranded in a ravine. As the hours stretch one, Georgie - injured and isolated - must rely on wit, willpower, and a recitation of the names of the bones in her body to sustain her mind and spirit. 👁️🗨️"I'm losing track. I'm old and stiff. An old stiff. Come on, bones, don't let me down!" (pg. 57) She reflects on her life, her family, and the bittersweet nature of aging and relives moments of joy and loss from her past, bridging her personal story with that of Lilibet, who shares her birthday.
Through Georgie's life review, Itani explores universal themes of motherhood, aging, and the often-overlooked lives of older women. Georgie's memories serve as her lifeline and guide readers through her reflections on family, independence, and the invisible weight of mortality. With sharp humour and raw honesty, Georgie confronts her past and her relationship with her mother, Phil, who, at 103, is both fiercely independent and delicately vulnerable.
👁️🗨️"And what contribution have I made? What is a life worth? I might as well ask. Have I learned anything?" (pg. 280)
Through Georgie's life review, Itani explores universal themes of motherhood, aging, and the often-overlooked lives of older women. Georgie's memories serve as her lifeline and guide readers through her reflections on family, independence, and the invisible weight of mortality. With sharp humour and raw honesty, Georgie confronts her past and her relationship with her mother, Phil, who, at 103, is both fiercely independent and delicately vulnerable.
👁️🗨️"And what contribution have I made? What is a life worth? I might as well ask. Have I learned anything?" (pg. 280)
February 19, 2021
This novel was surprisingly enjoyable. What attracted me to it was that the main character, Georgie, had memorized the names of bodily parts, mostly bones, during her perusal of her grandfather( a doctor)’s 1901 edition of a Grey’s Anatomy textbook as a child. I spent many hours as a teen studying my sisters’ nursing textbooks so that pastime resounded with me. Georgie as a 79 yr old, accidentally drives her car over an embankment, gets thrown out and ends up alive but seriously injured at the bottom of a ravine. The story covers her thoughts and memories of her life, while hoping and waiting for ( unlikely)discovery and rescue. I found Georgie the character was very likeable, gutsy, and smart, and was well written. I’d like to be like her if I was ever caught in a similar circumstance: brave and practical. The stories about her family members, particularly her husband, daughter, sister, mother and grandmother, were credible and made me laugh often as it reminded me of different incidents in my own life. I really felt bonded to Georgie by the end, and was sorry to have finished the book.
June 21, 2022
This would be a four star book (for me) if I were rating just Georgie in the present, and even Phil (Phil being Georgie's truly ancient mother; most of the women in this book have masculine names) in the present. Admittedly, Georgie just in the present would be a pretty short book, but a good one! I did not find Georgie's reflections on her grandparents' lives, and her parents' lives, or even her husband's life, tragic as it was (I once knew an elderly lady, now long gone, who had been one of the Home Children sent over to Canada from London in first decades of the twentieth century) particularly compelling. Nor were Georgie's reminiscences--the chapters that deal with them--as well constructed as those dealing with the present. Her family's characters seemed underdeveloped to me. I never got to know them well enough to care what happened to them. I cared very much what happened to Georgie.
May 13, 2024
A quiet reflection of a widow’s life using the device of her trying to survive her injuries after she was thrown out of her car into a ravine. Ironically the ravine is nearby her house and sadly she had been on her way to the airport having been one of the 99 persons selected to celebrate QEII’s birthday, having been born on the same day.
Despite the circumstances, Georgie, the narrator, has pluck and wit and tries to save herself by relating her situation to the different bones in her body as a means of remaining conscious.
While her recollections are interesting the underlying stress of Georgie’s situation diminishes the enjoyment. Will she survive? Will she be rescued?
This reader could not bear her pain any longer and skimmed to the last chapter.
Despite the circumstances, Georgie, the narrator, has pluck and wit and tries to save herself by relating her situation to the different bones in her body as a means of remaining conscious.
While her recollections are interesting the underlying stress of Georgie’s situation diminishes the enjoyment. Will she survive? Will she be rescued?
This reader could not bear her pain any longer and skimmed to the last chapter.
December 1, 2020
SPOILER ALERT:
This book is beautifully written and the concept really drew me in.
However about 80% (this is a guess) of the book or so, is backstory.
I told myself "Self, if Georgie is still lying in the ditch halfway through the book then I've been bamboozled into a story I wasn't expecting to read."
I stopped half way through as Georgie continued to lie in the ditch and I pulled a Harry Burns -- yes, I skipped to the last chapter.
Let's just say I didn't regret stopping half way through.
I think if the chronology of the book was different, then I may have finished it.
The first two chapters were SO exciting.
I think Ms. Itani and her could have saved the car accident for what I call the 7th inning stretch of the book.
This book is beautifully written and the concept really drew me in.
However about 80% (this is a guess) of the book or so, is backstory.
I told myself "Self, if Georgie is still lying in the ditch halfway through the book then I've been bamboozled into a story I wasn't expecting to read."
I stopped half way through as Georgie continued to lie in the ditch and I pulled a Harry Burns -- yes, I skipped to the last chapter.
Let's just say I didn't regret stopping half way through.
I think if the chronology of the book was different, then I may have finished it.
The first two chapters were SO exciting.
I think Ms. Itani and her could have saved the car accident for what I call the 7th inning stretch of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2020
I was amazed to find The Princess Elizabeth Gift Book in this book. I own a copy and I always thought it was a precious only copy which I inherited from my mother. I must get it out and look at it again.
Georgie, like all of us, was many people and the structure of the book details that in a unique way. It also, for me, evokes the days after the war and the way life has changed so much in recent times.
Georgie, like all of us, was many people and the structure of the book details that in a unique way. It also, for me, evokes the days after the war and the way life has changed so much in recent times.
March 8, 2021
Marvelous novel by Canadian author Frances Itani, written with quiet attention to detail and underlying tension. The characters show stoic courage under different kinds of adversity, be it war or grief or illness. The bonds of family are celebrated and the depictions of the marriages feel real and honest.
How beautiful was the language and the imagery in this novel, this author painted scenes that will remain in my mind.
How beautiful was the language and the imagery in this novel, this author painted scenes that will remain in my mind.
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