In a Good Light by Clare Chambers

I absolutely adore Clare Chambers's books.   I've mentioned before that they are the type I never tire of rereading.  They are my perfect comfort reads.  I'm a little reluctant sometimes to use the phrase 'comfort read' as it has a way of sounding the tiniest bit dismissive.  It almost implies that the book isn't as good as something else I might choose, and in order not to be embarrassed by my choice I'll just call it a comfort read and all of a sudden it becomes acceptable reading.  I don't think that's the case at all with Clare Chambers's books.  Her prose is smart, stylish and witty, she's an excellent storyteller and at times I literally laugh out loud as I read.  Maybe I like her books so much because I can relate to them so well, her worlds are usually ones that I understand.  That's definitely not a requirement in my reading (sometimes it's a completely unknown world I want to immerse myself in), but maybe that's why her stories are so 'comforting' to me.  She hasn't forgotten what it's like to view the world through the eyes of a child, and as we're contemporaries, that childhood world is the same one I grew up in, though don't worry, the stories are in no way dated.  And her characterizations are always spot on.  

I've just finished rereading In a Good Light and loved every moment of it.  Although I had read it before most of the plot had faded away and as I was going there was just a vague familiarity to the story, so it was almost like I was experiencing it all for the first time.  I'd be hard pressed to say whether I like this book more than Learning to Swim, which I read again a couple of summers back.  The stories have similar structures--both are told by female narrators looking back on their childhoods to a life altering event in their pasts moving seamlessly from present to past and back again.  Both involve quirky characters and unusual family relations as well as humorous entanglements that sometimes end on a tragic note.

In the case of In a Good Light Esther Fairchild's family is on the unconventional side, much like the Radley household in Learning to Swim.  They live in a converted schoolhouse that is closer to squalid than of the 'genteel poverty' persuasion.  Mr. Fairchild is a prison chaplain at a young offenders' institution and Mrs. Fairchild's work with a mission and The Less Fortunate means her attentions tend to be elsewhere, though both parents are well meaning.

"Our parents were different from other people's, and they had different rules.  They didn't mind if we were noisy or boisterous, or if we traipsed mud through the house, or slid down the compost heap, or caught nits.  They didn't rant and fume when we came home from school with indelible ink on our uniforms, or pockets torn loose, or our shoes scuffed grey.  When we left our pens all over the kitchen floor, Mum and Dad stepped over them, and when we trampolined on the beds and crippled the springs, and left footprints on the wall from sliding down the banisters, they just shrugged."

Esther adores her brother Christian who is older by five years.  The two are almost inseparable growing up.  No doubt it's their eccentric upbringing that makes them such amiable companions--no one else is quite like them.  It's not so much that the family is poor than the Fairchilds are generous with their time, money and belongings--giving to those who need them more.  And it's not unusual for 'guests' that the Fairchilds come across in their charitable undertakings to come stay at the schoolhouse, some being more welcome than others.  A regular visitor is Donovan, younger than Christian but older than Esther, whose mother is a bit of a basket case.  Aunty Barbara, an out of work actress, recently divorced, has good intentions but her life is just too much of a mess to be any real help to her son.  He fits in perfectly at the schoolhouse.

So this is the whirlwind in which Esther, Christian as well as Donovan (at least part of the time) grow up.  When Christian begins asserting himself as an adult, which means bringing home girlfriends, a whole new world opens up to Esther.  You would expect there to be some measure of jealousy, but beautiful and wealthy Penny takes Esther under her wing as her "project" and Esther idolizes her. 

"Before we left she pressed a copy of I Capture the Castle into my hands.  'You must read this,' she instructed.  'It's my favorite book.  I'll draw up a list of others'."

"'I didn't realize I was going to have to do homework,' I grumbled, as we got in the Mini.  Suddenly being Penny's protégée wasn't looking so attractive.  I hadn't read much fiction since graduating from children's books.  In fact the only grown-up book I'd read all the way through was The Lord of the Rings because it was Christian's favorite, but I hadn't enjoyed the experience.  I found I couldn't work up much enthusiasm for non-human predicaments, however well described."

Penny is a natural addition to the family, but it's Penny's young daughter that Esther bumps into some seventeen years later who brings all these fond memories back to mind.  So much so that she contrives a meeting with Penny.  I mentioned a life altering event earlier?  I won't tell you what it is, but it's this chance meeting that sets the ball rolling and the story going.  At the beginning of the novel Esther is thirty-four and in a bit of a rut.  Christian was always the ambitious one.  Esther is contented working as an illustrator by day and a waitress by night meaning she makes next to no money.  She has a fortnightly rendezvous with a married man and her life has become pretty safe and staid.  Somehow a meeting Penny might just shake things up again.

Did I already say I loved this book?  I loved Learning to Swim, too.  Clare Chambers has such a knack for dealing with serious issues in a sympathetic way yet with just the right amount of humor.  You're laughing on the outside but cringing just a bit on the inside as well.  Once again she writes very convincingly about families and growing up, about love and how easily life can change in just a split second, and about second chances.  I didn't want the story to end (as I helplessly raced through it), and I have finally decided to give The Editor's Wife a try.  I have wanted to read more of her work but I've been afraid it won't live up to these two previous reading experiences.  So far so good, though.  I'm trying not to compare or have too many expectations.  The good sign is I don't want to put this one down either.  And I've ordered the rest of her books and have every intention of reading them all as soon as I can!  How's that for a recommendation?  Yes, I absolutely adore Clare Chambers's books.

Comments

[Claire (The Captive Reader)]

I'll admit right now that I've never heard of Clare Chambers but am now vastly intrigued. Will definitely need to find this book! Thanks for drawing my attention to her.

[Dorothy W.]

You make this sound so good! I'd love it if my library had her books on CD to listen to, but I don't think they do. Perhaps I can get her through ILL because she sounds like a perfect commute writer.

[Debby]

This sounds like such an intriguing story from your review, really unusual characters and I love their eccentricities. Must look for a copy of this!

[Verity]

I'm a definite fan of Chambers but haven't yet read this one

[Julie]

I couldn't choose between this one and 'Learning to Swim' either. I've also read 'Back Trouble', 'A Dry Spell' and 'The Editor's Wife'. All very good indeed but the main characters don't shine *quite* as brightly as Esther & Donovan and Abigail & Rad.

[Liz F]

I have had a copy of this on one of my (many) bookshelves for ages and recently found it while ferreting around for something else so this is a very serendipitous post! I will put it in my bag for my work reading as I have had to stop taking library books after an over-ripe pear squished on one accidentally (it was a new book and the pear made a horrible mess so I had to pay for it!).
By the way, I have just finished The Coral Thief having read it fast due to the library wanting it back, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I will have to get hold of a copy of the Tracy Chevalier again and finish it!

[eeleenlee]

have to get a copy of this!

[OolooKItty]

I love her too! I have read all of her books and have yet to be disappointed.

[Danielle]

Claire--You're in for a treat if you seek her out. Her books are such great reads. It's really a pity that she's not more well known.
Dorothy--I'm not sure how readily available she is here--more likely you'll find her in the library than bookstore anyway. She would be fun to listen to while driving--the time would go by in a snap!
Debby--I like quirky characters, and hers are all really well drawn and immensely likable! Well worth searching out!
Verity--I loved this one, so you're saving a good one for last!
Julie--I'm trying not to compare The Editor's Wife, which I am reading now to the other two books. I am really enjoying it, but I know what you mean by Esther and Abigail really shining through. I've got one other book on hand and have ordered her other two titles. I want to read them all this year. I wonder if she has anything new in the works?
Liz--Yes, definitely pull it out and read it next. It's a great read! And I can totally identify with the overripe fruit issue. I've done the same thing--I put my lunch in a paper back and sometimes the fruit gets a little too smashed, and it does make a mess. Only it was my own book that was oozed over. Too bad about the library book--it's nice your honest and replace it--I've seen some truly nasty library books in my days--not everyone is so conscientious. So glad you enjoyed the Coral Thief and I've also pulled out the Tracy Chevalier novel, though I need to wait to read it (too many other books on the go at the moment).
Eeeleenlee--Yes, do look for it. If you're in the UK you should easily find it used or new!
Oolookitty--I'm so happy I still have most of her books ahead of me (and will continue to reread as well)!

[Tara]

Danielle, I ordered this one based on your recommendation and then came across Learning to Swim in a used bookstore - yeah! So, I am really looking forward to delving into these one of these day. And I know what you mean about winter and the snow pile up (same here) and the cold. Today's paper had a story about, 'you probably think this winter is bad but it's not really, based on previous years' blah blah blah. Anyway, it's no fun.

[Danielle]

Tara--I'm glad you have her books. I think you'll like them when you pick them up!! I could happily pick either one up right now and start reading again as weird as that sounds. And I hate it when weather casters (or writers or whoever) has to point out there has been worse weather--it doesn't make dealing with the cold and snow any easier Now! I'm counting down until spring!

[litlove]

You know I LOVE her. And I promise you that I loved The Editor's Wife, too, and had the same trouble of really not wanting it to end. The main problem with Clare Chambers? It can be really hard to find anything to read after one of her novels. Or at least that's what I find!

[Danielle]

Litlove--Isn't she wonderful. I am going to read all her books this year, I've decided. And you're right that it's hard to choose a new book when you've finished one of hers--I felt the same way, which is why I picked up The Editor's Wife! And I'm enjoying that one as well!

[iliana]

I finally read one of her books last summer after hearing about her from you and I really enjoyed the book. I read The Editor's Wife by the way. I am really looking forward to reading more by her. And, I agree, I almost am starting to not like the phrase comfort reads. There are some very well written and engaging books which just happen to be comfort reads but shouldn't just be dismissed as light reading.