Good To a Fault: A Novel [Hardcover]

Clara Purdy was living a quiet life in Saskatoon, working in an insurance office and living by herself in the home she grew up in. Then she ran her car into a Dodge Dart owned by a family that was moving to Fort MacMurray. They had been living in the car for a while as they had very little money. The family consisted of father (Clayton), mother (Lorraine), Clayton's mother Mrs.Pell, children Darlene, Trevor and Pearce. No one was badly hurt in the accident but while at the hospital it was noticed that Lorraine had some peculiar bruises, not caused by the crash. After some tests she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma which would require extensive treatment. Clara decided to open her house to the family so they would have a place to stay while Lorraine was receiving treatment. Little did she know what she was getting herself in for. After one night Clayton disappeared in Clara's mother's car. Mrs. Pell can not be trusted to look after the children while Clara goes out to visit Lorraine. It becomes clear to Clara that she has to take a leave of absence from work. Fortunately Clara (who is soon called Clary by the children and everyone else) has some assistance from her next door neighbour, Mrs. Zenko (everyone should have a next door neighbour like her) and her cousins who live just outside of Saskatoon. Clayton manages to get in touch with Lorraine's brother, Darwin, (by using Clara's phone calling card) and he comes to stay in Lorraine's room at night which removes some burden from Clara. And then there is the Anglican priest at Clara's church, Paul Tipett, who has personal problems of his own but manages to provide some support for Clara.

I really loved how all the characters grew throughout the book. Darlene discovers the solace that books can give and what book lover could resist that even though Darlene is also a sneak and a thief. Clara is not just a person who helps others, she is also using them to enrich her own life. Even Mrs. Pell, a disgrace to grandmotherhood, has some emotional depth.

I think this would be an excellent book for a book club. There is lots of room to discuss everyone's motives and the ending should provide lots of fodder for discussion too. I imagine one of the questions would be "What would you do in a situation like this?" I doubt if I, personally, would be able to step up like Clara did. I wouldn't want my comfortable life changed to the extent that hers was. I hope I would try to put the family in touch with agencies that could help them and I would check on them from time to time but I wouldn't take them into my home. But then I wouldn't have the kind of enriching experience that Clara had.

What I'm most interested in as a reader are two simple things.

1) A story that engages, captivates.
2) A writer with not only 'style', but a distinct voice.

This novel has both. (Although, to be honest, 'Good to a Fault' is less a 'story', than a 'situation'.)

The premise is compelling. The characters are all so nicely drawn. (I HATED Clayton.) The pacing is measured, but not unduly so, with some absolutely memorable moments. And Ms. Endicott has a way with language that put a smile on this writer's face.

Having just read an absolute piece of dreck ('The Memory Keeper's Daughter'), I was relieved to have my faith in the possibilities of good writing restored.

Highly recommended.

Clare Purdy is a 43 year old divorced, childless and lonely person. Since the death of her parents she has questioned many things in her life. While leaving her house one afternoon, Clare is not paying attention and is involved in a collision. Clare learns the family were living in their car driving to Fort McMurray. What she doesn't realize is her life is about to change in many drastic ways. When Clare arrives at the hospital she learns the family is all well except the mother has a fever and bruising that needs to be investigated. We learn very soon that the mother Lorraine has cancer and will need to stay in the hospital for extensive treatment. Clare opens up her home to the children, their father Clayton and his mother Mrs. Pell. Clare soon becomes their pseudo-mother, when Clayton runs off with her mother's car, money from her wallet, her calling card and the Silver teapot. Mrs. Pell is too caught up in her own needs to even think of the children and help out. She does administer Benadryl to baby Pearce to keep him sleepy and not interfere with her. Clare struggles to take care of Darlene, Trevor and baby Pearce. Clare feels forced to quit her mundane job and focus on the children. Financially and emotionally she is burden with their care. Lorraine's brother Darwin comes to town to assist with Lorraine, and begins living with Clare as well. Some of Clare's church members admire her actions, and others scorn her. Some believe she isn't doing this for the children't good, she is doing this for her own selfish needs. We clearly see that Clare has a sense of purpose and need in her new role.

Endicott writes the story from multiple perspectives. We have Clare who is emotionally drained and worried about the children constantly. Darlene, the oldest daughter loves Clare but is very careful to keep her distance and separate from her mother. She is very careful not to get too emotionally attached to Clare but know she must make sure she is dependable if her mother does die. Trevor is young but he missed his real mother and father. He loves Clare but is too afraid to admit it, afraid to loose his mother. Baby Pearce loves Clare and has no real trouble transitioning from Lorraine to Clare. Lorraine is powerless and has no choice but to accept the help from Clare. She does feel grateful but at the same time she is watching her children's attachment to Clare grow. She can't help but be a little bitter. She feels Clare believes she is the better parent and person.

Each character is very well written. The plot is slow moving but I think it gives us more of an understanding of Clare's everyday world. There is a little romance in the novel when Clare becomes involved with her minister who is going through a divorce. I enjoyed the different points of view, Darlene's (Dolly) perspective was most interesting to me, as the oldest and most independent it was interesting to see her try and survive and make sense of her new living arrangement.

I really enjoyed this novel, and I do highly recommend it. I laughed at the regular church members who were giving Clare a hard time about the children. Especially when Mr. Bunt would come out of his house yell at Clare and then proceed to drive to church. Great book filled with lots of interesting characters.