Water Wings

June M. Blurton is a retired speech/language pathologist.

When Mick is killed in a bizarre boating accident he leaves behind his
ex-wife, Darlene, and two daughters, Vivian and Hannah. They live in a
small Ottawa Valley town with their cousin, Wren, and Stuart, the boy
next door.

Fourteen years after Mick’s death, the beautiful Darlene surprises
everyone by deciding to marry again. As they congregate for the wedding,
Vivian and Hannah reminisce about their past. “The purpose of memory
is not to be an accurate account of a life but rather to convey the way
whatever happened in your life made you feel,” says Hannah. As they
recall their youth and their father’s death, long-buried feelings are
revealed and differences emerge. Vivian is determined to keep the memory
of their father alive, while Hannah still hasn’t come to terms with
his death.

The author really knows her characters and has done a fine job of
conveying them. Vivian is bright and aware and generally keeps her
feelings to herself. Hannah sees the days of the week in colors and
lives inside herself. Wren has webbed hands and loves nature. Stuart
grows up to be a danger to the public. Darlene gets what she wants by
being beautiful.

The story is delightfully told, holding the reader’s attention from
beginning to end. Incidents are recounted with insightful detail and the
storyline moves smoothly between the past and present. Water Wings is
Kirsten den Hartog’s first novel; this reviewer looks forward to the
next.