Author: Mary Fleming
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: October 22, 2019
Book Description: Trevor McFarquhar lives a controlled, contrary existence. Traumatized by early childhood loss, the silence surrounding those losses, and then a sudden family relocation from the United States to France, he has no ambitions or dreams for his struggling Parisian bicycle shop or even for himself. Now in his late thirties, his romantic relationships are only casual―his friendships, few. He’s both aloof and exacting, holding everyone to his own high standards while being unforgiving of their faults.
But then two things happen. The 1995 transit strike forces Parisians through Trevor’s shop door to procure bicycles, and his once-sluggish business suddenly turns around. To his surprise, he is pleased. At the same time, Trevor enters into a relationship that threatens to destroy his relationship with his entire family. Humbled and ashamed, his veneer cracks, and he emerges from his cocoon a different man, ready to reconnect, to rediscover possibility, and ultimately to redeem himself.
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This is one of the most gorgeous and haunting story I have ever read. The Art of Regret really sums up the entire synopsis of this novel.
The book centers around Trevor who is living in Paris after his family goes through major tragedy back in New York. Trevor is now middle-aged and owns his bike shop, but he lives with so much regret and personal blame for the things he thought he was responsible for as a little boy. Because of this, he has trouble with all his relationships, his mother, brother, and any romantic relationships. Let me say this Trevor at his core is a good man who ultimately carries a burden that is almost too much for him to bare. Then another personal tragedy occurs, which leads him to learn the art of forgiveness.
This is literary fiction at its core. This is all about relationships and overcoming the shame one feels. This is some of the most lush writing I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Thank you She Writes Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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