Basso Profundo: Monica Wood

Monica Wood never disappoints. Her easy prose serves her difficult issues extremely well, and while we may be lulled into a sense of security that we really know what's going on, Ms. Wood slyly pitches us a surprise curve at which we swing and miss every time.

Lizzy is orphaned very early in life and her uncle, a Catholic priest, takes over custody and raises the little girl while also tending to his parishoners. The resentful busybody of a housekeeper thinks she sees something untoward, and Father Mike must go away and never see Lizzy again. One thing I really love about this book is that a child services counselor, in her determination to find something wrong, is one of the villainesses.

I think I prefer "My Only Story" among Ms. Wood's work; but as I say, Ms. Wood never disappoints. She deals with issues arising from family crises supremely well. Her characters, major and minor, are full, understandable, and well-shaded. She reliably rewards her readers, and I look forward to getting through all her work.

Monica Wood's company is a deep pleasure throughout "My Only Story." This piece has some of the most expert capturing of gritty and exact details I have encountered. The telling of place and family is so grounded and real, we feel very close to these characters. Motivations and consequences are inevitable in this book, but the denouement bounces us out of our smug seats and takes us on a merry ride.

The main character, a mildly psychic hairdresser, truly loves a man, who loves her in return. However, this lovely character doesn't seem to have a choice but to perpetuate a series of shenanigans against this man's family - all completely harmless - that some things are bound to change. There is a perceptive commentary on mutability as opposed to continuity in the layers of this book, too. A distinct and memorable pleasure.