Bow Grip takes place in present tense, in around Drumheller and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Joseph is a 40-something divorced auto mechanic, trying to move on with his life. His wife Allyson left him for his hockey buddy’s wife, Kathleen and moved from Drumheller to Calgary.

The story opens with Joseph trying to sell his car for cash but James Carson doesn’t have any money. He does however have a cello and talks Joseph into a trade. Joseph figure that he can sell the cello but from the moment he opens the case he wants to learn how to play it. Besides, his mom has been after him to get some kind of hobbies to take his mind off his problems.
James calls him back a couple of days later and said that the car wouldn’t start and that he needs to go out of town. Joseph goes to take a look and finds more than he bargains for. There is a residue all over the inside of the car and he finds duct tape and a hose on the inside of the truck. Joseph doesn’t know how to deal with James suicide attempt, should he talk to him about it or just keep quiet and fix the car? He doesn’t know him very well, has only seen him around town a few times. He decides to buy some time and James that he needs to bring it into the shop but will personally deliver it as soon as it’s fixed.
He gets the car fixed by the next day but when he goes to deliver it, James is gone. His land-lord said that he left town. This is what sparks a trip to Calgary and a journey of self-discovery and forgiveness.
This is a short novel, all of 165 pages but it really packs a punch. It is choke full of quirky characters, vivid descriptions of landscape, and beautiful prose.
Bow Gip is the winner of the 2007 ReLit Award for Best Novel and has been Shortlisted for the 2007 Ferro-Grumley Award for Women’s Fiction . This is Ivan E. Coyote’s first novel. She has also written several short story collections including her latest, Missed Her, published in December 2010. Bow Grip is the first book I have read by Coyote but certainly won’t be the last!
4.5/5
Ivan E. Coyote was born in Whitehorse, Canada and now resides in Victoria, BC, Canada. She will be appearing at the 23rd Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival. Event #64 Short Stories, Varied Voices. I will be attending this event, so stay tuned for my coverage of it.
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