One of the things I love about reading is experiencing something new and fresh. I’m not one to enjoy formulaic writing, which is one reason I tend to shy away from pure romance. Too often, the story is predictable and stale. However, if I know there is more to the characters than a search for the perfect mate, I’m in.
This is one of the several reasons I enjoyed Becalmed: A Carolina coast Novel by Normandie Fischer. The setting is a favorite of mine (the south—North Carolina to be exact) and the characters were fresh and unique. Sarah (Tadie) Longworth loves nothing more than to sail, and the author draws the reader into her world with what seems little effort. She’s a mid-thirties woman surrounded by people who love her, although she has no biological family left. The reader is able to get a true sense of her loss. Tadie has never been married, and never been touched. That alone is unique in a novel. Not only did I learn a lot about sailing, but the character is a jewelry artist, so there was some of that woven into the story, as well.
William Merritt is a single parent to his seven-year-old daughter, Jilly. His wife, Nancy, died nearly two years before the story begins, yet he understandably continues to grieve the loss of her. He, too, has a passion for sailing, which is what eventually connects him to Tadie. His boat, the Nancy Grace, is now home for he and Jilly, as they travel the seas with nowhere to call home.
I loved the character of Jilly. Poor thing has a load to carry on her tiny shoulders. I also loved the main characters, although there were times when I got lost in their banter. Inside jokes are well and good, but if the reader isn’t clued in, it’s just confusing. There was also a lot of descriptors that were unnecessary. I call that a bed-to-bed moment. Every movement, every dish served, even down to the ingredients in Tadie’s salad. Just not necessary.
I also found the novel had a lot of narrative—pages of internal monologue with no actual dialogue—which I’m not used to. It’s not bad, just different. Ms. Fischer uses deep point of view to keep the reader inside the head of the characters, so it felt real. It seemed as if the “love” they felt for each other happened very quickly near the end, especially on Will’s side, but then I personally know people who met and married within a month. It’s not unheard of.
Although I would categorize this as women’s fiction with a strong element of romance, some might say it’s a romance novel. Either way, I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Four out of five stars.
