My Never Ending List

Jace split and he’s standing at the door at his older brother’s apartment, or he thinks he is.  His last name is Witherspoon only there is no Witherspoon’s listed on the column of names, so which button does he push?  This address on the envelope along with a bundle of small bills tucked inside, he obtained from his mother as she peered at his face through the open window of his car nineteen hours ago.   This is the last memory he has of her as he sped off leaving her behind. His father voice still lingers in his head, “Come back, and I’ll kill her.” These first few pages of Swati’s novel had me inside Jace’s world and this world was filled with hope, determination and confusion.   

Christian, Jace’s older brother, has built himself a new life leaving his previous one behind.  Christian has a new job, a new girlfriend and new responsibilities. Mirriam, his girlfriend knew nothing of his previous life nor who Jace was when he showed up at their apartment complex.   How an individual can erase his younger sibling and his mother, who are still at the hands of an abusive person, is beyond me but Christian, he left everything behind.  Christian had left five years ago after being the target of abuse for many years and he is not surprised to see Jace at his door. Nervous of the repercussion of his father, Christian is cautious of Jace’s arrival though.  There is so much silence between the brothers; you just wish someone would speak, as so much needs to be said.  The brothers need each other but their past and their secrets, keep them from each other. They’re on edge, tensions are high please someone do something before it’s too late.  In walks, Mirriam.  Her comforting ways help but some walls needs to be broken down if the

The story is gripping from the beginning pages and I wondered how Christian was going to accept Jace.  Five years is a long time with no contact and to write your family off is a hard concept for me especially if you left your younger sibling and a mother to an abusive parent. Why not call someone to check in on them? Why not call an agency to do something? Christian was a smart person; I see that as I read about him so I don’t really understand why he couldn’t do something like that.  Christian accepting Jace and their relationship at the beginning was like time stood still.  Hanging out, sharing things and getting along, I thought things would continue like that.  Jace thought things would work out and he pushed away all the negative aspects of what could go wrong for the time being.  Jace had a lot to deal with, his ex-girlfriend, his mom, where he fit in, where he was headed, etc. and he really needed someone to talk to but Christian just wanted to go about his day with a new roomie.  If they just could have kept talking about things and not be so judgmental, things might have been different. The imagery in the book was terrific with Jace’s frustration in the apartment and his moments with Mirriam, you got to see two different sides of Jace.