Dogwood

May 5, 2008
In his ambitious adult debut, Fabry, the author of more than 50 novels for children and young adults, offers an unusual and occasionally confusing story with a twist. In Dogwood, W.Va., wise spiritual sage Ruthie Bowles wants to help prison inmate Will Hatfield and his old flame Karin resolve their tragic pasts. Karin, introduced as a pastor’s wife and mother of three, feels she has settled for a “safe” man “faithful as an old dog but better smelling,” rather than Will, who she believes was the passionate love of her life. She struggles to resolve the lingering regrets that have poisoned her soul. From another point of view, we learn that Danny Boyd survived a horrific accident that took the lives of his little sisters. He blames himself and can’t move forward. The novel starts slowly as readers juggle several points of view, flashbacks and characters, but once the story starts cooking, it’s difficult to put down what with Fabry’s surprising plot resolution and themes of forgiveness, sacrificial love and suffering.

Sweethearts Karin and Will consider themselves soul mates--until Will, tragically convicted as a child killer, is sentenced to West Virginia Penitentiary. Karin can't understand, or forgive, and marries an emotionally distant man but remains haunted by the past. The rich vocal personalities of multiple narrators provide an emotionally charged portrayal of Karin and Will's story of love and redemption. This 2009 Christy Award winner starts slowly but comes into its own when Will returns home to Dogwood. The narrators' textured characterizations of Karin's feelings of conflict and the town's simmering hatred toward Will, which costs him his job, are especially believable. Their powerful depiction of Karin's feelings of guilt and regret won't be easily forgotten. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine