2018, 352 p.
The book starts in Maine in 2016 with a death: that of eighty-year old Robbie, who awakes, untangles his limbs from those of his sleeping wife of decades, Emily, gets dressed, writes her a farewell note, then goes down to the ocean to die. He is a retired boat builder, father and grandfather, and his memory is failing him. He is confusing generations, losing things, feeling as if he is in a fog that descends without warning, obscuring all familiarities and, he fears, loosening secrets that he and Emily have held tight for years.
The book then goes backwards to 1990, when Emily's mother dies and, despite years of rejection from her family, Emily returns to her native England for the funeral. Nothing has changed: the anger and hurt that has alienated her from her family still remains. While she is away, Robbie's estranged, alcoholic son William returns, much to the delight of his younger teenaged half-brother Adam, who barely knew of his brother's existence.
Another jump- this time to 1975-77 where the childless Emily and Robbie adopt Adam as a four-week old baby. Robbie has lost contact with his son William, from an earlier marriage, and as an obstetrician/gynecologist, Emily is heartbroken that they have no children. When an opportunity comes to circumvent the bureaucracy and waiting lists, they jump at it - only to find out that perhaps it is not what it seemed.
Back three years to 1972 when Emily and her first husband Christopher return from a stint of medical work in Bolivia, joining her family on a holiday in Florida. Suddenly she encounters Robbie, after nearly ten years separation and they are instantly drawn to each other, prompting huge changes in everyone's lives.
And finally, back to 1962 where they meet for the first time and fall in love. It is an instant, overwhelming attraction that is to last for fifty years.
I can't really say much about this book because of spoilers, but the backward trajectory of the narrative gave you an opportunity to get to know Robbie and Emily, from their old age forward, so that 'the secret', when it is revealed, needs to be held up against everything else that we have learned about their life together. I thought that she captured Robbie's dementia well, and the powerful attraction that they exerted on each other, right from the start, is well described. It is a bit Mills-and-Boonsy - how could it be otherwise?- but I think that Cohen showed real skill in controlling the backward plotting which is such an important part of the book.
My rating: 6.5 / 10
Read because: CAE bookgroup.
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