We Begin at the End

Marlita Walker Reviews WE BEGIN AT THE END

By Chris Whitaker

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

- Desmond Tutu

My family’s much-anticipated California Thanksgiving fell flat when I tested positive for COVID-19 within a day of arriving at my daughter’s home in Santa Cruz. Dubbed a “breakthrough” case, it didn’t feel like I was breaking through anywhere as I quarantined; unable to visit our son’s home, unable to travel to the mountain cabin as we had planned, unable to hug or kiss any of my six grands. Hopeless feelings simmered just under the surface of my “it will be ok” facial facade. I am not a fan of disrupted plans. Enter Chris Whitaker’s novel, “We Begin at the End,” highly recommended by my daughter. The book happens to focus on a continuing saga of disrupted plans. As the book’s synopsis states, “Chris Whitaker has written an extraordinary novel about people who deserve so much more than life serves them. At times devastating, with flashes of humor and hope throughout, it is ultimately an inspiring tale of how the human spirit prevails and how, in the end, love - in all its different guises- wins.” I was rather unaware that it was billed a mystery-thriller by some. However, I fell in love with the unusual characters while the ever-unraveling plot sucked me in. Foulmouthed Duchess, the thirteen-year-old protagonist, lashes out at everyone except her six-year-old brother, Robin, whom she ferociously defends and protects. There’s their beautiful and fragile mother Star, desperately loved by the two; but Star has never recovered from her own deep losses, so she is unable to provide the love and security they crave and require. Robin turns inward while Duchess proclaims herself an “outlaw,” and builds a large wall of distrust around her heart. A personal article in The Guardian by Whitaker provided me with a greater understanding of the depth of pain he has lived through. That transferal of pain to his characters jumps right off the pages and into reader’s hearts. Many times, I found myself shedding tears of empathy for these wounded individuals. As I turned the final page feeling depleted and wrung out from the complicated twists and turns of the narrative, I realized that Whitaker managed to keep me hopeful in the midst of disastrous circumstances. Hope came, as it usually does, in the form of loving folks who allow Duchess the space she needs to grieve, to heal and to let go. Grandpa Hal offers a second chance to the family he had long ago deserted. Spirited Dolly doesn’t allow Duchess’ crusty exterior to chase her away. Police Chief Walk overlooks flaws in the community members as he serves them tirelessly and gives much grace to Star’s family over the years. And tenacious Thomas Noble “sees” the real Duchess the first time he sets eyes on her...and loves her anyway. For my own hopeless-feeling Thanksgiving, it took a while for my hopelessness to dissolve. I blame that on my daughter. She reassured me that it was still good to see us even without hugs; that our Turkey Day celebration was still a celebration without the bigger table of people that we had anticipated; and that my milder symptoms of the virus gave cause for all of us to be grateful. All true. She elicited that same hopefulness Whitaker provided for his characters, into my spirit with her loving words.

Marlita Walker

Marlita is a native Michigander, who returned back to the area after 18 years spent in IL & PA. When not on cruising adventures with her hubby in their vintage Roadtrek camper van; she relaxes by re-arranging her home decor, walking with friends, and connecting with her 10 grands who live in TN and CA. Read more book reviews at litaslines.blogspot.com.