The View From Mount Joy
by: Lorna Landvik
Published by: Ballantine Books
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Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann
This is Landvik’s seventh book, and her best–but then I have said that about each of her books when it came out.
Joe Andresen moves to Minneapolis from Granite Falls, Minnesota with his recently widowed mother and starts a job at Haugland’s Foods, and high school at Ole Bull High in Minneapolis. Joe is an excellent hockey player and attracts the fleeting, flattering attention of mesmerizing (like a poisonous snake) head cheerleader Kristi Casey. He also attracts the friendship of awkward artist and activist Darva Pratt. They all graduate in 1972. These two women, and his work at Haugland’s, become a big part of his life.
Darva goes on to fullfill her dream and travel and study art in France; Kristi travels to find herself; and Joe graduates from the University of Minnesota and takes on the job of assistant manager at Haugland’s. Life throws them all for a loop occasionally. There are some horrendous tragedies in Joe’s life; and some incredible joys. We follow Joe’s life through to the climax–his beloved wife’s 50th birthday party, where he acknowledges how much joy and fulfillment his life holds.
Landvik has created a small town’s worth of wonderful authentic characters in her writing life, and this book has its share: Joe, a good man with integrity and a flair for helping others; Darva, a talented artist, and a good and loyal friend; Kirk Casey, Joe’s younger co-worker at Haugland’s and Kristi’s younger brother; Joe’s mother Carole and his aunt Beth, and Beth’s love Linda; and Carole’s second husband, teacher Len Rusk. Kristi Casey is the odd one out–shallow, selfish, mean spirited, and attracted to the limelight. She uses sex and her beauty to manipulate and control the people around her. Of course the customers and staff at Haugland’s and Joe’s philanthropic spontaneous contests are part of the story as well.
Armchair Interviews says: Linda Landvik does it again.
Author’s Web site: http://www.LornaLandvik.com
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