At some point in all of our lives, we experience loss of someone important to us. It is especially difficult when the death of someone close comes at a time when they are in their prime and are someone most people depend.
Photo by Kimberly Donahue
This is the case for Nora Webster, in Colm Tóibín’s novel of the same name. Nora has recently lost the love of her life, Maurice, leaving her four children without a father and herself a widow at the age of 40. Maurice was the primary breadwinner in the household and his absence leaves Nora in complete distress and without someone, she can confide in as she faces a family she claims does not understand her. “The problem for her is that she is on her own now and that she has no idea how to live”. At the same time, she is challenged with becoming reacquainted with her children, especially her youngest sons, who have felt abandoned by their mother in the months leading up to their father’s death.
Readjusting to everyday 1960’s Irish society is almost a near death experience for Nora in the three years the novel follows. Her paralyzing grief makes every decision seem life-altering from joining a worker’s union, dyeing her hair, witnessing the movement for Catholic rights in Northern Ireland learning to sing, and even falling for her daughter’s boyfriend.
Tóibín has discussed the difficulty in writing this almost biographical piece which took him 14 years to finish. He lost his father at a young age and witnessed his mother going through the stages of grief, and wanted to write a story that people could witness someone’s daily coping.
Author Colm Tóibín
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
These stages greatly impacted my feelings towards the title character, with whom I had trouble enjoying as a protagonist. There are times when Nora is completely unlikable, unreasonable, and downright selfish. Yet, this is what makes the novel an authentic representation of what it is like to move on from losing a loved one.
Despite the focus on Nora, the reader is introduced to a plethora of characters who are attempting to move on from a tragedy that they were long expecting. That have distinct traits which are not as closely followed as I would have liked. Nora’s unruly boss and socialite coworker appear to have deeper stories and traumas that shaped them into who they are today but we do not get to learn because they are of no interest to Nora, for the fact Maurice is no longer alive is the only thing worthy of her attention. Some storylines are even completely dropped after the problem seems to be solved, notably the disappearance of her political activist daughter.
However, the novel is refreshing in the way it is honest about the emotions involved with dealing with a tragedy. I am sure many will relate to Nora’s insecurity, inner turmoil, and eventual finding her voice.
Though this was not my favorite story, it is one of the most honest and truthful works I have read in recent memory. Nora Webster is subtle enough to break the hearts of those who have suffered unspeakable loss. Tóibín’s work will leave you wanting more while also giving you the freedom to decide the fate of the rest of the ensemble.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay