Customer Reviews

Sitting Practice: A Novel

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's the story of a woman who is confined to a wheelchair because of a car accident. The book follows her and her husband as they try to rebuild their lives and relationship after the accident. Some authors would take a plot like that and turn it into a sappy, sentimental story. This author resists that temptation. The characters are real and make realistic choices and mistakes. I laughed out loud at some parts, cried at others, and was sorry to reach the end. It's a wonderful, well-written story.

Caroline Adderson has been proclaimed as one of Canada's most notable emerging authors. "Sitting Practice" was an interesting book, but I didn't ever feel connected to any of the characters. Contrary to several reviews I read, the people didn't seem very real and probably the only one I really liked was the young nephew. I was disappointed, but will likely read her future novels to see if the author becomes the major literary talent that is being predicted.

The story here is contrived. As a result of an accident a young newlywed finds herself in a wheelchair for the remainder of her life. Her young husband feels the guilt. He loses interest and she falls for a lowlife character momentarily. Meanwhile, this husband is supposedly coming to spiritual realization. Not much is ever said about his meditation practice, but there is one reference to him sitting on the bed meditating. What? There is no depth at all in the husband's character and it is difficult to see who is really is.
There is far more discussion of love interest and description of romantic encounter than of spiritual development in any of the characters. In fact the last scene in the book hints at sexual encounter.
The book is well enough written, but kind of superficial. A nice novel that might be more accurately catalogued in romance than spiritual.

Sitting Practice by Caroline Adderson tells the story of Ross and Iliana, a newlywed couple, and how they deal with the aftermath of a car accident that leaves Iliana paralyzed. Ross is a film caterer who has had multiple ex-girlfriends, but he is absolutely in love with Iliana at the time of their marriage, much to the chagrin of his twin, Bonnie. Ross is also `in love' with Bonnie's son, Bryce, and very much longs to be a father. He and Bonnie of course share a bond that only twins can experience. In contrast, Iliana grew up in a very strict household, and Ross was her first real boyfriend. She meets Ross for the first time as a nurse assigned to him after a minor operation.

After the accident, the marriage changes, as do Ross and Iliana. Ross struggles with wanting `the real' Iliana back, while Iliana struggles with desiring independence from others. They do adapt, but not without repercussions.

Themes of love, guilt, forgiveness, religion, and the bonds between twins form the novel. I felt for all the characters in the book as they wrestled with the surprises life brings. I truly cared for them. However, I don't care for the more graphic parts of the book. It would have been just as good (or better) without those elements.

I loved all the characters in this novel, the story of the pressures on a young marriage when a car accident leads to the wife's "sitting" in a wheelchair after a spinal injury causes permanent damage. How she and her husband come to terms with this situation is the crux of the novel.

The writing is wonderful; the conversations always perfect. There is wit and I really found no pathos considering the situation. Iliana, the wife, is one tough cookie. The author gave her the perfect background and occupation for us to believe in her.

I only took away 1 star because of the plot which was a little on the time-worn, thin side.