Lifelines

April 15, 2019
Diehl’s elegant debut weaves together the story of a woman whose past and present collide when she attends the funeral of her former mother-in-law in Germany. Louise, who left home in Oregon to study art in Düsseldorf in 1971, fell in love with Dieter Hinterkopf, a German drummer. It was a heady and tumultuous affair, both of them drunk on their artistic connection and youthful feelings of invincibility. But when Louise gets pregnant, the relationship grows rockier, and she leaves, bringing baby Elke home. The longer she stayed in Oregon, the more “the days piled up into a choice.” Louise goes on to build a solid life, get married, and have a second daughter. Then, in 2008, Elke asks Louise to attend Dieter’s mother’s funeral. But as Louise braces herself to confront old relationships, she finds that the trip teaches her just as much, if not more, about her new ones. Diehl finds the bittersweet heartache of retrospection, and compassionately explores how art helps heal. This complex, intimate story memorably portrays what it looks like to reckon with one’s choices and to feel both uncertainty and peace. Agent: Marya Spence, Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

This appealing audiobook offers a new view of timeless concepts. As narrator Christa Lewis recounts the lives of Louise and her extended family members, the impact of time, art, and history echo through this novel. When a funeral reunites people long separated, the past is explored alongside the present. There is something welcoming in the broad expanse of human interaction--parents and children, spouses present and past. Lewis is an excellent narrator who provides a confident pace and impressive skill with enunciation and accents. Her ease with the text creates an easy listen with no discernible weakness. Her phrasing makes even the most complex sentences come alive and draw the listener closer. This is an excellent production for both critical and casual listeners. L.B.F. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine