My thoughts on Rush Home, Road are varied. I will attempt to review this book in the most concise way possible, which I may find difficult with all these ideas I have. I will start with--I very much enjoyed this novel. Obviously I must have a morbid taste in books, because I find sad stories to be the most interesting reads. However, I must not be the only person that feels this way; there's a reason why these books are so popular.Other books that I could compare "Rush Home, Road" to are Someone Knows My Name: A Novel (The Book of Negroes), Secret Daughter and Brick Lane. There is nothing specifically alike within these books, but the themes of perseverance and hardships link these together in my mind.Adelaide "Addy" Shadd is the likeable protagonist of RHR. When we are first introduced to her, we meet through the eyes of six-year-old Sharla Cody, a girl who lives down the lane from Addy in their trailer park. The picture that Lansen paints of Sharla's life with her neglectful mother is heart-breaking. Addy agrees to take care of Sharla for two months in the summer, but Sharla's mother Collette tricks Addy and disappears, leaving the elderly Addy to care for the child on her own for any indeterminate amount of time.The beautiful thing about this story is the intertwining of Sharla and Addy's thoughts. We slowly learn about Addy's life, the difficulties she suffered through and the way they made her the person she is. Sharla's learns many important lessons from Addy as she adjusts to being loved and taken care of.Learning about Addy's tragic life is probably the most endearing part of the novel, especially as we note how Addy's relates to Sharla based on her past. Their unique relationship warmed my heart and I found myself rooting for them, even though I knew that Addy's age alone would not guarantee a happily-ever-after for them together.The most interesting technique I discovered about this book was the blurring of the lines between Sharla, Addy and the past. Addy begins to see Sharla as her long lost daughter and the chapters based on her past begin to trickle into chapters written in current time. I cannot think of much more that I could say without ruining the novel for any potential readers; it is a book that spans a life time and is full of beautiful little moments. My only complaints were these: First off, why do authors who write historical fiction tend to create characters who suffer their entire lives? Does the tragedy make the story that much more poignant? Can there never be a truly happy moment for them that will not be ruined?Secondly, though I felt this was a great read, I felt disturbed that the sexual aspect of the book was so graphic. To clarify: there were no Harlequinesque scenes written, but the sexual inferences were graphic enough to have it removed from any high school reading list. In some ways, I wish that Lansen hadn't awkwardly inserted these random sexual occurrences.In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book and I gave it four out of five stars. It was enjoyable to read a novel that is set in a nearby town, especially considering that rural Ontario doesn't often feature in fiction. The last chapter caused my breath to catch and a small pricking to begin behind my eyelids. It was a compelling finish and I hope you read this novel.
I really enjoyed this plot driven novel by Canadian writer Lori Lansens.When I started reading this Novel I found that by the end of second chapter I was totally drawn into the story and was captivated by the characters and the premise of the story.The novel is set in the 1920s and 1970s in a trailer park in a small town in Canada and tells the story of 70 year old Addy Shadd. A fellow neighbour Collette drops her 5 year old Sharla off with Addy and disappears. Addy reluctantly steps in as guardian to care for the child. The two form a tight bond and Sharla experiences unconditional love for the first time in her short life. At the same time, the young girl triggers Addy's childhood memories. These memories are full of hardships and trials. Memories of Addy's childhood days in Rusholme, a Canadian border town settled by runaway slaves in the 1800s come rushing back and carry the reader away. Addy recalls intimate details of her family, past lovers and the many people who loved and betrayed her.I really enjoyed the characters in this novel and fell totally in love with Addy. I felt the author did a fantastic job of making clear and precise transitions between the past and present and I never found myself getting lost in this fast paced novel. I think Lori Larsens does an excellent job of telling this tale and I love the sense of time and place that she creates.I found this book a really interesting and an easy read and would recommend it for anyone who enjoyed Novels such as The Kitchen House or The Help. I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartbreaking and yet a heartwarming tale.
What do You think about Rush Home Road (2005)?
A great read!!From the dust jacket:"This novel tells the life story of Adelaide Shadd, who was born in southwestern Ontario in the first decade of the 20th century in an all-black town settled by fugitive slaves. She's forced to flee her beloved Rusholme as a teenager but the place will call to her for the rest of her life. After a brief sojourn in Detroit, Addy settles in Chatham, where she finds love and home and family. Tragedy strikes, more than once, but Addy Shadd endures.Now an old woman, she lives a quiet existence in a trailer park not far from her birthplace. Her whole world is turned upside down when five year old Sharla Cody is abandoned on her doorstep. Addy is not sure she's up to the job of mothering the little girl, but she takes the wilful, curious child into her home. Sharla helps Addy open a door to her past - to memories of the strawberry fields, the church graveyard and her first love, the bootleggers and Detroit City, and the strange thing she saw that night in the woodshed. In reliving her life, Addy finds forgiveness, and is finally able to make the journey home again."
—Louise
This was one of those life-changing books. I felt like I got to know the main character, Addy, so well, that I missed her when I finished the book. What made this a memorable book for me was that the author was so good at painting scenes in many dimensions. The books centers around and old African American woman who grudgingly agrees to take in a ragamuffin white child who is homely and unwanted. Okay, the theme could be hackneyed but Lansens does such an outstanding job of telling the tale. As time passes, the woman grows fond of the child and the little girl blossoms into someone sweet and lovely. Again, we've heard that plot before. But again, Lansens' writing is so well crafted that it's like reading your first really good novel. The author also very creatively switches back from present tense to past tense and we learn of all the things (mostly sad) that happened along Addy's path that made her who she was as an old woman. But never is the sadness overwhelming. It's like Addy's strength and courage and simplicity buoy the reader. I'll say no more except that I think you should pick up this book and read it.
—Linda
I remember writing a story in high school that was much like this one (not nearly as eloquent as this but with a similar theme). I remember being cut to the quick by my teacher's comments: A bit trite but enjoyable and well-written. And I remember my inner outrage, wondering what was so trite about the beauty and innocence of a loving relationship between a child and an old person set in a rather ugly world?I suspect that if I had read this novel at another time in my life, I might have had the same comments as my teacher did about my story. I might have said it was trite. I might have rolled my eyes and said Lansens all too obviously plucks at my heartstrings with her story of an old, near to dying, coloured woman - her past filled with seemingly endless, unbearable tragedy, cruelty and hardship - having enough love in her heart for a needy, neglected and abandoned five year-old girl, to whom she is not even related. I might have said that. In fact I do say that. And yet, it seems I read this story just when I needed to. It left me believing that despite this often careless, impersonal and downright nasty world there is still human goodness and kindness for and from whom you might least expect. Maybe we all need a Hallmark moment now and again.This is a BookCrossing book received from "loveamystery" in BC. So, I'll be sending it along on its journey sometime soon.
—Pooker
