Hi, I'm Beth from AbeBooks, and today I'm here to recommend "Y", by Marjorie Celona. The story opens with a man sitting outside the YMCA in Victoria, BC, waiting for it to open. From the shadowy recesses of his van, he observes a young woman leave a baby outside the doors and leave.
This is where the story truly begins for Shannon, the abandoned baby, and Yula, the desperate mother who left her behind. The story unfolds in bits and pieces, through flashbacks and present day, in the strong, distinct voices of Shannon and Yula. We get to know Yula and understand the events and choices that led up to her abandoning Shannon, and we see the young woman Shannon has become as we follow her through her life.
It is Celona's first novel, and was published in August of 2012. Since then it has been nominated for the 2012 Giller Prize, enjoyed several weeks on the Maclean's Magazine bestseller list, and has been celebrated by critics far and wide. If you're a lover of compelling fiction with unforgettable, fully realized characters, this one is not to be missed. My only complaint is how difficult it was to put down.
