This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Kay Brooks
Emma is part of what seems like a perfect family unit on the
surface. Her mother whiles her days away cooking and baking in the kitchen, her
father supports the family and practices carpentry in his spare time and she is
an enthusiastic Christian and seemingly perfect daughter. However, the surface
only needs to be scratched to see just how broken the family is. Two brothers
were also once part of the family; Kit, who is not to be spoken about after his
death five years ago and Jamie, who vanished just days after his death. Emma’s
parents seem resigned to Jamie’s disappearance and have even attempted to wipe
him from their lives completely, but she really could do with a big brother
right now.
‘The View on the Way Down’ is a compassionate exploration of how a tragedy can blow a family apart, irrevocably altering everyone within it. It is a story of survival against the odds with heartbreaking moments that are painfully true to life. The novel is written in three parts. Personally, I found the second part the most revealing. It is made up from a series of unstructured letters or notes that Jamie sends to his dad as an attempt to reach out to him and make some sense of the mess that their lives have become. The letters reveal the kind of memories that all adults with siblings carry around with them, detailing exciting escapades and close scrapes. Some memories are revisited later from different points of view, which could have been boring, but Wait managed to make it a fascinating insight into varying perception.
Emma seems a tragic figure who has suffered the most from being ‘protected’ from the truth and as a result, excluded from the knowledge that would explain Jamie’s banishment from the family. She is a sensitive, moral soul who is taken advantage of by bullies at school who pick up on her insecurities about her weight.
The novel deals with catastrophic events and doesn’t pull any punches. There were several moments that brought tears to my eyes. Some tragedies cannot be overcome. There is no way to rise above them but the story shows that life can go on as long as there is communication and a will to cherish what you have.
This book does not promise an uplifting, sugar-coated read but there are some smiles to be had along the way. It is enjoyable despite being very upsetting and saddening at times.
This is not a story that can be easily forgotten.
8/10