The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring
Dalton, Maine #1
Fiction
2023
Finished on May 5, 2024
Rating: 4/5 (Very Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
It's 1990. In Dalton, Maine, life goes on. Rose goes to work at the diner every day, her bruises hidden from both the customers and her two young boys. At a table she waits, Dr. Richard Haskell looks back on the one choice that's charted his entire life, before his thoughts wander back to his wife, Trudy, and her best friend.
Trudy and Bev have been friends for longer than they can count, and something more than lovers to each other for some time now—a fact both accepted and ignored by their husbands. Across town, new mother Bridget lives with her high school sweetheart Nate, and is struggling with postpartum after a traumatic birth. And nearer still is teenager Greg, trying to define the complicated feelings he has about himself and his two close friends.
The Road to Dalton offers valuable understandings of what it means to be alive in the world—of pain and joy, conflict and love, and the endurance that comes from living.
The Road to Dalton appeared (with high ratings) on several blogs last year, so I bought a copy to give to my mom last Christmas. (One of the many benefits of sharing a home with my book-loving, 91-year-old mother is that she passes her books on to me once she's finished reading them.) After reading three hefty novels last month, I decided it was time for something not only shorter in length, but lighter in tone. Had I read the publisher's blurb before starting Bowring's novel, I would have known that despite its cheerful cover, The Road to Dalton isn't exactly a light, breezy story. And yet, it worked for me.
Reminiscent of Olive Kitteridge (Elizabeth Strout's renowned novel), and also set in Maine, Bowring's debut is a story of the intertwined lives of a small community in which everyone knows everyone's business. While no single resident takes center stage (as in Olive Kitteridge), there are those whose lives intersect more with the community than others. Each character struggles with heavy life challenges, which could make for a bleak story, but as I turned the last page, I felt hopeful for those characters I'd come to know and care about in this character-driven novel. I'm looking forward to Bowring's follow-up (Where the Forest Meets the River), which is due out this September.
The Road to Dalton is a satisfying, poignant read. Recommend!
Oh good review. Now I know better what to expect. I liked the Olive novels so I suspect I'd like this one. It seems similar with its Maine small town setting. Some of the Olive ones are pretty bleak too which surprised me.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I suspect you'll enjoy this one, too. Now that I know how it all wraps up in the end, I may go back and read it a second time before the sequel comes out. I didn't pay much attention to the writing, which is a little odd for me, so I'd like to see if there are any lyrical passages. Maybe the prose was simply straightforward, but I'd like to read with more intention next time.
DeleteExcellent review, Les. This book had my full attention. It's short but powerful with the life stories, some so very sad. I am looking forward to her next book.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Tina! It is a quick read, but very powerful. My heart went out to so many of the characters. Their pain was palpable. I especially felt sad for Nate... and the two women who weren't able to live their true lives... Hard to believe, but it was the early 90s.
DeleteGreat review. Les. I loved this book and Olive Kitteridge is also a favorite, but I never connected the two... good comparison. The second Dalton novel is coming this fall and I'm already looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, JoAnn! I'm looking forward to the sequel, too. I will probably give this one a second reading beforehand, since it's a pretty fast read.
DeleteThis sounds good and I love that you and your mom share books (I am more likely to share with my dad though mom and I tend to overlap on historical fiction).
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, I see you are reading both The Women and A Little Life. They are both so very good and so very different!
I really enjoyed this one, Helen. The characters have been lingering in my mind.
DeleteI'm also enjoying The Women, which brings to mind the TV show M.A.S.H.. I'm only about 50 pages into A Little Life and so far, I'm not that enthusiastic about it, but will stick with it since it's garnered such high praise.
How wonderful that your mom and you can share books! This story sounds like a book I'd enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt is great, Deb, especially since we both enjoy the same sort of books.
DeleteFunny, last night I was thinking of some of the books my mother shared with me. I also try to share, sometimes successfully, favorite books with my daughters. This sounds like something I'd like, and I'm glad you and your mother can swap books so easily!
ReplyDeleteJenclair, I'm lucky that my mom (91 years old this month!) and my husband are both readers. We enjoy talking about the books we're reading and happily swap what we've read with one another. My daughter isn't much of a reader, but that could change over time. She's very busy with her business and only reads when she's traveling.
DeleteThat is so wonderful that you and your mom can share books! You are right, that cover would have made me think I was reading something a bit more light but regardless this sounds like a really good story. I loved Olive Kitteridge so if it reminded you of that then it's definitely going on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteIliana, my husband and I used to share books, too, but he isn't reading nearly as much as he used to. This is a wonderful story and I'm looking forward to the follow-up.
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