These are a pair of gorgeous stories about a woman growing up and her various boyfriends. Yes, it’s a love story, but not in the ‘trope’ sense (and God knows why anyone would read a ‘trope’). Straight away you know you’re in clever hands by the way King describes a character by the clutter in his garage: ‘…all the crap Adam has in here: old strollers, high chairs, bouncy seats, mattresses, bureaus, skis, skateboards, beach chairs, tiki torches, foosball. His ex-wife’s red minivan takes up the rest of the space.’ You know the guy already. Of her mother: “we talked on the phone, talked for hours sometimes. We’d pee and paint our nails and make food and brush our teeth.” You’re right there with the characters, in the scene. I made copious notes from these books in case someday I get to teach a writing class on character .
Heart the Lover comes first chronologically, though Writers & Lovers is the more recent prequel. Doesn’t really matter which you read first, the story works well either way. I read the second first and enjoyed the little bit of fore-knowledge.
Casey is a waitress and student, struggling economically. In her early university years she hangs out a house with a couple of very academic kids: Sam and Yash, and they play cards and share meals and Casey is going out with one but attracted to the other. Teenage problems, hey. She seems to learn more on the waitressing side than uni, noting quirks and behavioural patterns, balancing fraught relationships with bosses, customers and other staff, reciting complicated orders by heart. If you’ve ever been a waitress, these scenes will take you back. She wants to write a novel and is observing real life over the plates of herb pasta. With a friend she attends a workshop at the house of an older, well established writer and, for a while, becomes part of his ‘scene’ while another boy hovers.
Are any of these men Mr Right? We’re not following the classic ‘will they won’t they’ or even ‘love triangle’ story here. It’s just a woman who has a succession of boyfriends over the years, the way she falls in and out of love, misunderstandings, longings and regrets and what happens to love after time.
I enjoyed the ‘lit’ background in the book, the discussions on writers and reading, some writing craft work and the struggles Casey has with her writing. Perhaps the ending of that particular plot line is real in America. I’d like to believe it.
Recommended to friends who like a good romance but feel the urge to step up a bit. Here’s a pair of good stories, with warm characters and recognisable dilemmas, well written, nicely paced, lots to enjoy.
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