THE BOX GARDEN by Carol Shields

Finished Th 5/24/18

Last week I re-read THE STONE DIARIES and was blown away- again. This is probably one of my favorite novels of all time.
Many critics viewed this book as a kind of documentary of an unsuccessful life. But, I felt like it was more of an exploration of making the ordinary, 'extraordinary'. 

Charlene is divorced with a fifteen year old son, Seth living in Vancouver, CA during the late 1970's.
Her mother living outside of Toronto, is getting married and Charlene and her orthodontist boyfriend, Eugene are traveling by train to witness the event.

Charlene works as a kind of editor for a botanical journal. Doug Savage, a friend from when Charlene and Watson were married, runs the publication.

Louis Berceau (Louie!) is the groom. They met when they were both undergoing cancer treatments. Charlene's mother has lost her breast and Louis has some kind of breathing condition- lung cancer? Both are in their early seventies.

Charlene's mother is very controlling, and most of all, very, very cheap. Probably due to her Depression Era upbringing; A grim and stingy outlook on life.

Judith, Charlene's older sister, and her husband, Martin are also at the wedding. 

'The Hook' is that Charlene's only true confidant is a man named Brother Adam. She has exchanged letters with this priest for many years and he has sent her a box to grow grass. He loves grass and feels that this is the basis of all life and civilization.

Brother Adam is actually Watson, Charlene's ex-husband who left many years ago.

Watson left because he never could mature enough to accept adult responsibility, and Eugene's wife left him because of the Feminist Movement.

When Charlene and Eugene arrive in Toronto, they learn that one of Charlene's friends, Greta Savage, has kidnapped Seth and no one knows where they've gone. Greta only wanted to bring Seth to Watson so they could get to know each other. 

Everyone is reunited, and the novel ends. A slim novel and Carol Shields reminds me a little bit of a Canadian Anne Tyler, but just not quite as good.
But, it's good enough that I'd read anything by Shields.