A fossilizing Olivier finds his world of Library Association meetings and Mozart recordings electrified by Tessa. Tessa takes advantage of his many flaws. As Tessa takes over his heart and home, he retreats to his basement. Yet readers will find themselves, perhaps unwillingly, caring about Olivier and his disintegrating little world, because of the depths of the gentle librarian's thoughts. It is an experiment in examining the politics of one man's innermost feelings.
Brink succeeds in making that one haunted life worth examining and sharing.
Jackie Loohauis writes about arts and entertainment for the Journal Sentinel. Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on April 22, 2001. Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.