Book Reviews

Friendships and Discoveries

Samantha Warwick (Author)
Sage Island. Brindle & Glass
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Marina Endicott (Author)
Good to a Fault. Freehand Books
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Reviewed by Lee Baxter

Set in the Roaring Twenties, Sage Island depicts glimpses of America during the Prohibition and the changing attitudes amongst the younger generation after World War One. Based on the 1927 Wrigley Ocean Marathon, Samantha Warwick has meticulously researched everything from the contestants to 1920's swim coaches' techniquesand the wool bathing suits worn by the swimmers,  and has created genuine characters in the process.

Nineteen-year-old Savana "Savi" Mason feeling the urgent need to vindicate herself for her perceived failures in swimming, leaves New York un-chaperoned to swim the Wrigley Ocean Marathon-a twenty-two-mile race from Santa Catalina Island to Los Angeles. As Savi trains to acclimatize her body to the cold waters she recalls her moments of defeat that have led her to Catalina Island-failure to make the 1924 Paris Olympic Swim Team, failure to be the first woman to swim the English Channel, and failure to keep her handsome rich boyfriend-all of which she blames on her rival, Trudy Ederle. But more importantly, Savi can no longer stand being hidden in her older brother's shadow. Savi, believing that the only way for her to change her luck and her world is to win the marathon, is willing to endure the ridicule of traveling and staying alone as she trains in the cold water off of the coast.

On her first day on the island Savi meets Sol, whom she takes an instant dislike to. Part of Savi's dislike for Sol has to do with rumours that he was once a respected doctor in a big city but had to leave because of a "botched job." Yet, Savi is eventually forced to rely on Sol's help in order to have a chance at winning. Sol has his own secrets and, like Savi, tends to remain aloof from others. The two form an unlikely friendship that leads Savi to ask important questions about herself and her life as she swims to become the first woman to win the Wrigley Marathon.

Inspired by her own love for swimming Warwick's first novel Sage Island beautifully captures the passion and sense of freedom swimming offers to those who love the sport. As a swimmer myself, Warwick's ability to capture the random thoughts and feeling of just "being" that a swimmer has while in the water is wonderful. Warwick's poetical use of words engulfs one in the fluid motions of a graceful well-trained swimmer from the beginning to the end of the novel.

In Good to a Fault,one wrong turn causes Clara Purdy to crash not only into a car but straight into the lives of the family in the other car. Trying to eleviate her guilt for causing the accident, Clara moves the homeless family into her own home when the mother, Lorraine, is diagnosed with cancer at the hospital after the accident. Taking in the three children, the husband (Clay), and Mrs. Pell,the cantankerous grandmother, Clara's life is changed from one of mundane routine into that of changing diapers, running after children, visiting the hospital, and sleeping little.

Shortly after the family moves in, Clay leaves without any warning and Clara finds herself left alone with the children and Mrs. Pell . Although she carries the burden of supporting a family that is not her own, Clara finds that she is not as alone as she had allowed herself to become after her own mother's death

While taking care of the family Clara is forced to ask who she is and, more importantly, wonder if she has been selfish for taking in this strange family. Amidst all of the confusion and chaos Clara finds the children filling the void in her life. The children also struggle with conflicted feelings and with where their loyalties should lay, with Lorraine or with Clara. Further, Lorraine, lying in the hospital, is worried about what will happen to her children and how she will ever be able to pay Clara back for her kindness.            

Good to a Fault, a 2008 Giller Prize finalist, is Marina Endicott's second novel. Written with clarity and insight, Good to a Fault is about self-discovery and our need for others. Endicott has taken the hectic daily routine of motherhood-cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, wiping noses, changing diapers, and sleep depravation-and brought to life the worry, the frustration, but more importantly, the love that develops between people with shared experiences. Endicott's novel is a compelling read that holds the reader in suspense until the end. 

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This review originally appeared in Canadian Literature #202 (Autumn 2009), Maggie Helwig. (pg. 136 - 137)

***Please note that the articles and reviews from the Canadian Literature website (www.canlit.ca) may not be the final versions as they are printed in the journal, as additional editing sometimes takes place between the two versions. If you are quoting from the website, please indicate the date accessed when citing the web version of reviews and articles.