Publisher:
Sparkpress
Publication Date:
N/A
Copyright Date:
N/A
ISBN:
9781684631216
Binding:
Paperback
U.S. SRP:
16.95
A STREAM TO FOLLOW
By Jess Wright
- Posted by IR Staff
- |
Bruce Duncan’s photographic memory served him well in medical school, but in his post-WWII life, recollections of trying to stem the carnage of war play out in excruciating detail in his mind, threatening to derail the restoration of a quiet life as a small-town doctor in Hollidaysburg, PA. Bruce’s love of fishing helps to crowd out the graphic images and his efforts to help refractory plant employees suffering from silicosis get better working conditions gives him purpose, but nothing seems to erase the memories of Amelia Whitcombe, the British heiress he fell in love with overseas. His pain over Amelia choosing to remain in London and marry the man her father approved of is sharp—but perhaps Hollidaysburg’s new lady doctor Sarah Avery might be the salve to that wound?
Jess Wright is a world-renowned psychiatrist and has written a number of medical books, but these types of accomplishments never promise success in crafting narrative; happily, in Wright’s case, he is more than justified in adding “historical fiction author” to his impressive résumé. Protagonist Bruce Duncan is relatable and worthy of an entire novel; his internal and external battles and hard-won decency is the driving force of the story. Wright’s device of Bruce’s photographic memory is clever, both for character development and allowing for an amount of descriptive detail that captivates the reader’s imagination. Historical fiction must work on so many levels, not the least of which is the challenge of bringing the past to life, and Wright does an excellent job of immersing the reader into small town America in the post-war period.
A STREAM TO FOLLOW is at its best when tackling the issues of PTSD (before it was known as such) and the background story of Bruce’s brother, Glen, a former pilot suffering from painful burn scars and even more painful memories, provides a complex and moving counterpart to Bruce’s journey. Likewise, Bruce’s unexpected fight for workers’ rights at a refractories plant, pitting him against an old friend, Lucas, and his challenging wife, Kate, is fascinating and chilling. While Bruce’s longing for his lost love Amelia drives much of the plot, it is actually the least interesting part of the story; Wright takes care to make Amelia a woman ahead of her time—she works for the Secret Intelligence Service and rivals Bruce in her fishing prowess on the legendary Test—but the character never quite lives up to her hype. The female doctor, Sarah Avery, doesn’t have nearly as much page time as Amelia, but still manages to be a more engaging character.
A STREAM TO FOLLOW–Jess Wright’s emotional rendering of a front-line surgeon searching for meaning in post-WWII America–is engaging, well-paced, and has an excellent arc of character, theme, and plot.
~Shari Simpson for IndieReader
Publisher:
Sparkpress
Publication Date:
N/A
Copyright Date:
N/A
ISBN:
9781684631216
Binding:
Paperback
U.S. SRP:
16.95
- Posted by IR Staff
- |
Jess Wright’s A STREAM TO FOLLOW tackles it all — veterans’ recovery, mental health, labor rights, female ambition — but is at its heart about turning around trauma and celebrating resilience. From war-ravaged Europe to a Pennsylvania homecoming after WW2, a battlefield surgeon can’t forget the past, but is figuring out what endures, in this historic love story.
A STREAM TO FOLLOW
Jess Wright
Sparkpress
9781684631216
Rated 4.7 / 5 based on 1 review.