Douglas McCombs has been waiting out his life since he lost Hope (his wife who had Alzheimer's). A friend of his tries to help him to live again by taking walks with him and encouraging him to resume his ancestry research. In so doing, Douglas meets Suzy Hamilton, a librarian who he falls for (almost literally), and the story splits between his Scottish/Irish/North American ancestors and his relationship with Suzy. In this, he confronts his past in more ways than one.

It appears to be a semi-autobiographical novel, and the history mixed in suited me. Anyone who has looked into their ancestry at one point might like this story, though it also explores the fact that not everyone can trace their roots. The story flowed pretty well and was a quick read, but I found it maybe a bit too sentimental and sweet for my tastes, or maybe just my current mood. Suzy is a good character, though presented as too perfect. I suppose in Douglas' eyes that would be true, though he comes across as an unreliable narrator. 3.5/5 stars… (plus d'informations)

2.5 stars
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Thank you to LibraryThing and Greenleaf Book Group for providing me with an ARC of this book.
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I requested this book through LibraryThing because the blurb made me think it was right up my alley--a man writing about his genealogy research.

Only this is a novel. An autobiographical novel? It is unclear. The author is Norman McComb. The researcher in the book is Douglas McComb. Is Douglas a fictionalized Norman? All proceeds are donated to the Alzheimer's Association--and Douglas-the-protagonist's late wife died of Alzheimer's. But Douglas-the-protagonist realizes his late wife was quite controlling and their lives together always revolved around her. Is that part fiction and why the name is changed?

The chapters alternate between stories of Douglas's ancestors--to a level of detail that cannot possibly be known, including feelings and dialogue--and the tale of Douglas's growing romance with a librarian he met while researching. It is all very sweet and sappy and totally not my kind of story.

As a genealogist I want to know more about these stories. Are these letters real or made up? Is this dialogue all imaginary? Is ANY of this actual research, an actual line, real people? Why are the women's birth/death dates not included? Why are most of the women given their husband's surnames as their own--that's bad genealogical practice. Even if this is completely fiction, and I truly have no idea.… (plus d'informations)