Joanna Goodman Harmony

Harmony

Joanna Goodman

NAL, Aug 2007, $13.95

ISBN: 9780451221339

In Toronto, after recently giving birth to a son Evan, Anne Mahroum counts her blessings as she has a wonderful husband Elie who cherishes her, they live a luxurious life and her art business is thriving. However, there is one problem that disturbs the new mother; Evan was born with a deformity, with club feet.

Her negative feelings lead to even greater negativity as she feels guilt over her reaction to her imperfect child, who she loves, but plans to have his feet corrected. She begins to think about her mom, Jean who when Anne was five years old fled British Columbia with her without looking back; mom refuses to explain why. Anne never met her father or other family members but yearns to do so.

Anne owns the story line as her introspection enables the audience to comprehend the pressure society places on individuals and family to achieve certain acceptable levels in a kind of keeping up with the neighbors. Anne is an interesting character as her need for the perfect offspring leaves her obsessively filled with despair and guilt in a realistic manner. Although extremely passive with long intervals of introspection and no hint of action, fans who appreciate a poignant family drama that looks inside the soul of the matriarch through her thoughts will enjoy Joanna Goodman's fine tale. Harriet Klausner