by Ann Packer
Duty over desire. One young woman's struggle to be
true to herself, when tragedy strikes, and her life is
turned upside down
Reviewed by: Helen Harvey
About Helen Harvey
This is one of the few books that I have read this
year that has been totally engrossing, and that I have
been reluctant to put down, hurrying through other
tasks at hand, to get back to where I left off.
Perhaps this book could best be described as an
endearing young woman's coming of age, immersion into
womanhood and realization of self-worth. No reader
can fail to dream Carrie's dreams, and want so much
more for her than her destiny offers.
Carrie Bell has lived in Madison, Wisconsin all her
life. Her days follow the same routine, she has the
same friends, and her childhood sweetheart, Mike, is
now her fiancé. Nothing changes, and, understandably,
boredom sets in. Carrie has dreams and aspirations -
she wants to live a little, yet she feels stifled by
the claustrophobic atmosphere surrounding her. At 23
years old she feels she should be on the threshold of
all that life has to offer, yet she is not. Who,
having survived their twenties, cannot relate to the
restlessness and need for self-discovery of this
extremely likeable protagonist?
At the community's usual Memorial Day picnic at
Clausen's Pier, Mike dives off the pier, into water
shallower than usual, sustaining an injury that leaves
him paralyzed, and barely clinging to life. During
the months that follow, Mike makes slow progress in
his rehabilitation, and Carrie becomes increasingly
desperate, fearing all hope of fulfilling her dreams
has gone, as the expectations of those around her
threaten to trap her. Had the accident not
happened she would probably have ended her
relationship with Mike, now, must she be dutiful, and
give her life to nursing him?
Terrified and confused, Carrie flees to New York,
where, living in a shared house of would-be artists
and writers, she begins to explore her own needs and
talents, falling into a relationship, perhaps,
inevitably, with an older man.
The tale unfolds unexpectedly, and, to the end, is not
without its surprises. Written wistfully, and with
subtlety, Packer explores the dilemmas, possibilities,
and inevitabilities faced by this vulnerable young
woman. The characters are so real, that you cannot
help but to take sides, and root for the ending you
want.
Packer's debut novel is a beautifully executed and
poignant tale, teaching us just how uncertain and
precarious life can be. Must compromise and duty be
the death knell of hope and dreams, or can aspirations
be fulfilled, while duty is carried out? Perhaps, we
shall never know, until faced with such a dilemma
ourselves. Sometimes actions are far easier spoken
of, than done.
Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: The Dive from Clausen's Pier
Copyright © by Helen Harvey, 2002
Reviewed by Helen Harvey:
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