“Cattail Lane” by Fran Kimmel – Book Review @ecwpress.bsky.social‬ #CattailLane #FranKimmel #CanadianFiction #BookReview

Written with empathy and compassion, this was an uplifting family drama.

The novel is set in Alberta, Canada and features two single parents struggling to keep their families together.

Nick Ackerman has carried guilt around with him for the past fifteen years. He has become estranged from his beloved parents because he blames himself for ruining their lives and their livelihoods. He works as a building inspector and lives alone in a run-down house. When he discovers that he has a fourteen year old son, he could not be less prepared for fatherhood. Billy, his son, was conceived when Nick was only seventeen. A one night stand of teenage lust. Now it seems, Billy needs him to step up. Billy’s mother died when he was just an infant and he has been brought up by his maternal grandmother, who he adores. Evie, his grandmother is suffering from dementia, and Billy can no longer care for her ever worsening needs. So… Nick moves Billy into his house and Evie into a nearby care home.

One of the housekeeping staff at this care home is Sarah. She is also a single parent to a five year old, rambunctious, talkative, and intelligent boy named Carter. Sarah is studying to become a nurse and she is compassionate and kind to the dementia sufferers on her ward.

This is so much more than a love story. The topic of dementia is treated with empathy and intelligence. The therapeutic qualities of art plays a major role. Also, there is a theme of environmentalism running in the background. The challenges of single parenthood are explored in an authentic way.

Second chances, atonement, redemption, moral dilemmas, and forgiveness feature prominently in the novel.

In all, I loved this novel and didn’t want it to end. Uplit that is both heartwarming and at times heart-wrenching. Highly recommended!

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from ECW Press via Edelweiss.

ISBN:  9781770417878 –  ASIN: ‎B0DN6X5LCY –  288 pages

Fran Kimmel writes novels, short stories, and plays for both theatre and radio. Born and raised in Calgary, Canada, she now writes and teaches in central Alberta. Fran’s novels are family dramas in small town settings. THE SHORE GIRL won the Alberta Readers’ Choice Award and was selected as a Canada Reads Top 40 book.

Connect with Fran Kimmel via her website; or Facebook.