An engaging debut... just don't fold the cover the wrong way

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THIS debut novel is an engaging and thoughtful piece of Canadian literature.

Ottawa-based Nerys Parry has written a unique and unpredictable story about a lonely man's attempt to face up to his own past. She explores universal themes of responsibility and guilt, combined with a solid understanding of human nature.

Published by the literary imprint of Winnipeg's Great Plains Publications, Man and Other Natural Disasters balances between historical and contemporary fiction.

The story opens in Calgary 1995 and introduces us to Simon Peters, an intelligent but decidedly neurotic man. Think of a less funny and even more cynical Woody Allen.

Here's how Simon sums up life: "The possibilities for natural disaster and human stupidity are endless. The unimaginable does happen, sometimes to the most unimaginable people. It just works out that way."

Simon is employed as a book repairer at the Calgary City Library, but his real career is hiding from the unbearable memories of his childhood.

His comfortable, if lonely, existence is shaken when he meets Minerva, the library's new summer intern.

Minerva's kindness -- and her eerie resemblance to his long-dead sister -- compel him to open up and begin sharing secrets with her about his mysterious past.

But there are things in Simon's past that don't add up and can't be explained.

And as he grows closer to the young woman, his past refuses to stay hidden and he will be forced to finally confront the horrifying events that happened to him so long ago.

The novel's greatest feat is its ability to make readers care enough about Simon to keep reading and worrying about what will happen to him. His humorous neuroses aside, Simon is at times more pathetic than sympathetic -- as evidenced by his reaction when Minerva dares to fold her own book upside down on his work table:

"I thought you were here to prevent damage, Ms. Walters, not contribute to it... in future, I expect you to take care to handle the books appropriately. I have enough work to do without your help."

The novel does, however, stumble somewhat in its portrayal of other characters, who are less well developed and not particularly interesting or likable.

The beginning drags somewhat, but the rest of it is well-paced, flickering evenly between the present storyline and Simon's memories of his past.

Much of that past is based on real historical events and people in B.C. Be warned. You could find yourself dropping the book mid-chapter and heading to Google at certain points to read up on some of these events.

Though this is her first novel, Parry's writing has aired on CBC Radio and appeared in various publications.

Some of these roots are evident in this novel -- the writing style seems calculated to string along the reader much as a broadcast or print serial would. Parry's prose is enjoyable and elegant and spiced with clever metaphors.

Winnipeg writer Kathryne Cardwell works at the University of Manitoba.

Man and Other Natural Disasters

By Nerys Parry

Enfield & Wizenty, 209 pages, $30

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 5, 2011 J8