This book by Canadian author, R.L Prendergast is quite unique.  Told in the form of a journal, it spans well over one hundred years.


Richard and Sonia take a vacation without the kids as what appears to be a last ditch effort to save their troubled marriage.  They are at their first destination, a bed and breakfast when they start arguing again.  It’s late at night but they pack up the car and head back home.  On the way, they witness a horrific accident car accident.  The car in front of them is over-turned and there is a couple that are hurt and unconscious.  There is also a gasoline leak so they quickly get the couple out of the car and wait for an ambulance.

The couple are taken away but their belongings are spread all over the road.  Richard and Sonia pick them up and happen across and old looking journal.  They are very curious about it but pack everything up in the car and go to the hospital where the couple was taken.  

The couple are in surgery and they are told to call in the morning so they go home.  In the morning they go to the hospital and drop off the couple’s belongings.  Both are in intensive care and can’t have visitors.  However, once the couple are release they contact Richard and Sonia.  They photo copy the journal to share with Richard and Sonia.

The journal has several different writers, starting from the 19th century on.  The people were from Canada and all the way to India and back.  These journal entries were my favorite part of the book. Each journal entry gives the reader a snapshot of each writer’s life in the time and place they lived.

R.L Prendergast pulls off the journal type book with great effect.  His crisp and fresh prose kept me turning the pages and not wanting the book to end.  This is the second book I have read by Prendergast and I can hardly wait for him to write his nest book.

4.5/5

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

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