Her new novel is one that seemed to steadily snowball events and misunderstandings, showing ''perfection'' can be easily flawed. It does suggest, however, that small acts of kindness and the redemptive nature of time can allow some easing of the pain and great sadness developed in some lives.
This tale is split s between 1972 and the present day, following schoolboys Byron Hemmings and his friend James over a very sensitive summer and then today, when we find Jim in a very bad way with obsessive compulsive routines, stammering his way through a world where he is scared he will hurt people.
Two seconds were added to world time in 1972, a notion that haunted Byron and made him question whether he really saw his mother have an accident with her car or imagined it.
''Operation Perfect'' was set up by the two young boys to try to find the truth.
As adults they both appear to have mental health issues and burdens, while Byron's mum has declined from her former ''perfect'' image.
I did not enjoy following this strange tale of friendships in its great detail; others might appreciate the characterisations and find it a hauntingly sad account of decline in the circumstances of some humans.
- Geoff Adams is a former ODT editor.
