Review: The Moon Sisters: A Novel by Therese Walsh

[khamneithang]

An unforgettable but not easy journey with an ending that is anything but foreseeable, The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh is a toss between the fabulous and the bizarre. It is teetering on the edge of the cliff of insanity and intensity, so difficult to put it in its rightful place that it would not be a surprise if some chose to mistake strength for weakness and fault for forte.

The Moon Sisters follows two young women, the Moon sisters – Olivia and Jazz, as they struggle with the pain of coping with the loss of their mother, Beth Moon. Beautifully told, this sad and poignant story is littered with humor and laughter along the way as the sisters undertake a journey that will force them to confront each other and ultimately discover what is truly important in life.

There are different threads to the story. One thread follows the two sisters over a period of seven months from February to August, narrating their grief and determination to find a permanent resting place for the ashes of their mother who died aged 43 on the third Tuesday of February, 2013. Beth Moon is survived by her husband Branik Moon and her two children, Jazz Marie Moon and Olivia Francis Moon and her mother-in-law, Drahomira Moon. It moves along beautifully as the two diametrically opposite sisters begins the journey of self-discovery.

The other thread follows the relationship between Beth Moon and her father, Orin Howell, who passed away a few days before her own death, without her ever knowing it. Their story is told in the form of letters written by Beth to her father, which were never sent. The letters dating from August 13, 1990 to Christmas day of 2012 portrayed a sharp picture of the relationship between Beth and Orin.

The Moon Sisters is a deeply moving story that will resonate with many readers. It is well-written, absorbing and delightful. You won’t want to miss this thoughtful novel by Therese Walsh.