Books*Reviews*Etc: LOST IN MONTREAL by Gay Walley

LOST IN MONTREAL Brown Divider Modified Clip Art

Gay Walley

SUMMARY

(from Amazon)

Lost in Montreal tells the story of Jacqueline, a lively, undaunted girl of fifteen and the competition between her and Lisbeth, her aloof, beautiful, and seductive Austrian Jewish mother who abandoned her when she was very young. Jacqueline gets involved with her mother's boyfriends as a way of winning her mother's respect. She is aware of her antics but treats them sardonically. Gerald, Jacqueline's fallen, aristocrat British father, who raised her in bars, is a source of both wisdom and problems. She goes to him when she is trying to understand why her mother shows no enthusiasm for her as well as for advice on her other adventures. In her loneliness, she frequently goes out in Montreal looking for attention, and to feel the power of her sexual attractiveness. All the characters: her mother, her father, Jacqueline's friends and suitors all communicate through humor and indomitableness. Like the city itself, their lives are sensual and fun. They pride themselves on being survivors and living their lives bravely and independently, if somewhat unconventionally. Because of the vividness of the characters, Lost in Montreal tells a young girl's unique coming-of-age story with both wit and deep feeling.

Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Incanto Press (July 15, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1941217001
ISBN-13: 978-1941217009

AUTHOR

Gay Walley is the author of two prior novels. Strings Attached (University Press of Mississippi, 1999) was a finalist for the Pirates Alley/Faulkner Award, the Writer's Voice Capricorn Award, and Paris Book Festival Award. The Erotic Fire of the Unattainable (IML Publications, 2007) is being reissued by Skyhorse Publishing in 2014. It was a finalist for Paris Book Festival Award. A film based on the book is currently under production from a script written by Ms. Walley. She is also a Zoetrope finalist for her story, The Naked Maja. Her play Love, Genius and a Walk opened at the 2013 Midtown Festival in New York and was nominated for six awards including best playwright. It is scheduled to be produced Off-Broadway.

REVIEW

This is the story of a 15 year old girl named Jacqueline and her, gorgeous and seductive mother. Her mother was Austrian Jewish and abandoned Jacqueline when she was just a little girl. Jacqueline was left with the harsh and cold reality of a mother like Lisbeth. As cold as the winters in Montreal. Jacqueline thought if she became interested in her mother's boyfriends, her mother would begin to love her. Jacqueline's father who was an aristocrat Brit raised her in taverns. Gerald is a source of good and bad. Wisdom and problems. Jacqueline goes to her father for advice about why her mother doesn't want her and on her other adventures also. Jacqueline seems to be always lonely and unhappy. When she can't bear it any more she wanders the streets of Montreal looking for attention. She knows she is attractive and is looking for attention towards that attractiveness. The author wrote a coming of age story that can be related to by some readers. Life isn't always wonderful. Parents make mistakes at times. Sometimes they have children that they really didn't want. Then it's those children who end up suffering. Sometimes they become just like their parents and others strive to be better. Jacqueline had the ability, she was just struggling to be better. The story carries so much emotion. Emotion that can be felt by readers in different ways. It's sad to think that a 15 year old lovely girl who is coming into her own has resorted to being her mother, the one who deserted her when she needed a mother the most.

I was given a complimentary copy of LOST IN MONTREAL from the author, Gay Walley for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.

I would give this book 5 FLOWERS.