Albert Lesiak is a discontented man. Contemporary society has disillusioned him and he decides he needs to live a simpler, purer life off-grid on a piece of land he owns in Maine. His wife Mary is equally discontented but in her case she feels she will find purpose in the adoption of 10-year-old autistic twins whom she has discovered on an adoption website. Can these two desires be reconciled? Much of this wonderfully compelling novel is narrated from Albert’s point of view, and what a quirky point of view that is. His world is that of the observer, the outsider, of someone alienated from those around him, even from his wife who finds meaningful communication with him problematic. But he’s a thoughtful and insightful man and his diatribes and monologues are wonderfully entertaining. It’s a slow and deliberate read, one that meanders over various topics and issues, but Albert always has something interesting and relevant to say. At times I found my interest flagging a bit – there’s only so much I can read about building a cabin in the woods in such excruciating detail – but overall I found myself totally absorbed in Albert’s world and watched with fascination as he began to change and grow. It’s an original and unusual book, well-written and well-paced, and one that gives the reader much to ponder on.

This novel looked really promising to me, with many ways in: themes of marriage, parenting, adoption, aging; the Connecticut setting; the promising plot device of a man deciding on whether to chuck it all.

Unfortunately the book did not satisfy me at all (and maybe that was Popielski's point, to induce a strong experience in the reader). It was a wandering tale with forays into great detail on topics such as how to mark lumber for the proper roof angle. And fishing, so.much.fishing. And yet when there is a serious breach in the protagonist's marriage, no attention is given to how (whether?) things are set right. When housing plans are threatened, what happens? We will never know.

The story is further weighed down by a style that is really verbose (for this reader's taste). Hung over vomiting is "matutinal catharsis," "the natural rhythm of matutinal evacuation" refers to morning toileting, and there are five other uses of the word "matutinal."

There are probably some readers out there for whom this is a much better fit. May you and this book find each other!

Thank you to Unsolicited Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my hones

Albert is an English teacher who receives a windfall in acknowledgment of the government’s complicity in his father’s death. His wife, Mary, suggests that they foster autistic twin boys.