Springtime – a ghost story

 Springtime – a ghost story

Reviewed By  Janet Mawdesley       December 2, 2014

 

Author  Michelle de Krester

Distributor:     
ISBN:                 9781760111212
Publisher:         Allen & Unwin
Release Date:    

   Website:   http://www.allenandunwin.com

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Deeply disturbing and brilliantly written this story develops an almost ethereal, symbiotic relationship, not just with the other characters, but also the reader.

When Frances met Charlie at a party they developed a relationship which eventually leads them to a life in Sydney which, as it turns out is not all Frances believed it should have been.

Charlie turns out to be other than expected. The friendships they form in this new life are also somewhat different to expectation.

Frances rescues Rod, a somewhat traumatised dog from the shelter. During their daily walks they often pass a house where a lady in a flowing, long pink gown is standing in the garden, or on the veranda of the house. As time goes by her curiosity gets the better of her and she introduces herself to the owner of the house, in order to try and find out who this lady is and if she live there. This also turns out to be other than what Frances expected.

The sparing use of language, or rather words in this remarkable look at the human psych is almost chilling as we are introduced to a period of time in Frances’ life that changes everything, but in reality changes very little.

It brings a haunting uncertainty to how life is lived and the perceived effect.  Just who is the Ghost; is it Frances’ conscience or is it another aspect to her life she has yet to discover.

The paradigm of Frances’ life has already been established but in her desire to change, move on and discover, she has not yet realised just who she is and will become on this pathway; a lonely women always looking for that something else – that analogy, that difference.

Beautifully descriptive of place and emotion, you are immediately transported to the pavements of Sydney, the waiting game in an airport, the depth f feeling on the death of a loved one and the power of self-absorption and reflection.

Once read, Springtime – a ghost story, will not easily be forgotten. Such can be the power of the written word.

Fiction