By Pepper Parr
May 20, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON
First time authors are usually given some room from reviewers. That initial title is looked at for possible potential – maybe this is an author that has more than one story to tell.
Janet Turpin Meyers, local author launches her first title at the end of the month.
Janet Turpin Meyers published “Nightswimming” in 2013 – it was a good read; there was promise and it turned out to be a book that you would both recommend to people and give as a gift to your more discerning friends.
Then book two arrives and it is picked up with both interest and some wondering – what has she had to say this time?
“The Last Year of Confusion” is not “Nightswimming” her first title – it wasn’t supposed to be but for those who so enjoyed Meyers’ first novel there was the hope that this second book would be as pleasurable.
There aren’t as many things to identify with in this second title, at least not for this reader. I was able to identify with many of the “Nightswimming” characters and as I read through that title there was a sense of dread when I began to realize how it was going to end.
No sense of dread with Last Year of Confusion and fewer characters that I identified with – which doesn’t for a moment take away from the book.
When you find yourself with a cast of characters that includes Jesus, John Lennon, Ghandi and Elvis impersonators you know this is going to be different. There are actually two Elvis’s – but I don’t want to give the story away.
When the lead characters have names that are not exactly memorable and bring their own baggage and history to the table – it takes a little adjusting.
Add in the aboriginal police officer with Bigcanoe as a surname and some difficulty fully comprehending the police policies and procedures and this reader settled into what was going to be a different read.
Add in the Easter Island moai and a character who both counts his blessings and write them up in scribblers he has scrounged and while writing up Blessing # 13,890 easily refers to Blessing # 232
A Time Portal and a “blue suede shoe” plus the television crew from a reality TV show – and you’ve begun to get a sense of where Meyers is going to take you.
This second title is a different read – worth the time if only because it gives you a chance to follow a growing author who is clearly going to be writing for some time.
While not yet recognized there are more books coming from Janet Turpin Meyers.
A reception celebrating the launch of The Last Year of Confusion will be held at Cedar Springs on Sunday May 24th
