Cattail Lane by Fran Kimmel

I’ve known Alberta writer Fran Kimmel for quite some time, and because I loved her last book, I knew I would enjoy her latest release, Cattail Lane. Just like in No Good Asking, this book provides a rich look at family in all its forms. Her publisher compares Cattail Lane to an Anne Tyler book, and this is a fair comparison – Kimmel offers us a glimpse into the every day, with some plot points that push the characters, but not our believability. Her writing flows with both detailed characterization and interpersonal drama to keep the pages moving. It’s not a fast read, but it will make you appreciate the different kind of love that one has for family, both chosen family, and those we are born with.

Plot Summary

We meet Nick on what is perhaps one of the most stressful days of his life; he’s picking up his son Billy, a 14-year-old he just discovered was his, after a one-night stand when Nick was only 18 himself. But not only is Billy now under Nick’s care, Billy’s Grandma Evie is also part of his life, and her dementia has progressed to the point that she can no longer take care of Billy, and is being moved into a seniors home in Nick’s small town. The novel alternates between Nick, Billy and Sarah’s point of view, Sarah being a single mom who works at this same seniors facility, and an obvious love interest of Nick’s. Both are struggling with the life of a single parent, albeit with different challenges, as Sarah’s son is a rambunctious 5-year-old. Billy is adjusting to his new life of being a true teenager; he spent his entire youth with his grandmother, after his mother died when he was very young. Now with Evie in care, Billy is free of the role of primary caregiver, finding himself adrift, and anxious about starting at a new school. The story takes places over the short months of one hot summer in rural Alberta, each character moving closer to a self-realization that seems obvious to the reader – but Kimmel doesn’t take the easy road with everyone. She stays true to reality for all three of these characters, not necessarily giving them all a happy ending, but a good enough ending that we can all recognize and relate to.

My Thoughts

This is not a plot-driven novel. What I’ve detailed above is basically what you’ll get within its pages, nothing shocking or untoward really happens, other than a fairly minor drama at the seniors home that serves to highlight the struggles of other people more than anything. If you’re looking for a page-turner, you’ll have to look elsewhere. But if you’re ready to luxuriate in a slow and small world, following along as people grow into their new and changing circumstances, you’ll enjoy this book. The relationships we have with ourselves and those around us are what make life so challenging, and Kimmel highlights this simplicity by focusing on solely that. My favourite part of this book is the relationship between Billy and his grandmother. So often, teen boys are depicted as selfish, emotionally stunted, and embarrassed by seniors. Instead, Billy’s life revolves around Evie and his love for her, and longing for their life from before is both heartbreaking, and heartwarming. I’ve never really come across a relationship quite like this is before in fiction (or real life), and I think it’s one of the strongest parts of this novel.

What I also found impressive about the writing is the lack of stereotyping; even the smaller characters who play minor roles seemed to both fit in, and stand out of the narrative. No actions of any characters ever felt unlikely, forced, or wooden. Instead, there are complications; some small, some large, but all realistic. The woman who Nick is seeing at the beginning of the novel comes across as tough but sensitive, the disgruntled landlord that Nick pisses off with a negative home inspection is a point of entertainment, the prickly manager of Evie’s home reveals a softer side when we least expect it – all these characters work together to create a narrative that we can all recognize. Life is mundane, but this daily humdrum looks different for all of us, and this is where my interest is primarily in this book. Kimmel isn’t exposing anything we don’t already know about, but she writes in a compassionate way that illuminates the beauty of this simplicity. Like the book cover suggests, for those looking for a subtle read, you’ll most definitely find it here.