Mercury

I have been striving to find a quiet yet thought-provoking work of literary fiction ever since finishing Dirt Music last year. Mercury hit all the points I was hoping for and more.    Marley is a newcomer in the small town of Mercury. Before long, she is involved with the Joseph family. Having been raised by only her mother and longing for the experience of a full family, she tries to make a place for herself at their table. She becomes Waylon's wife, Mick and Elise's daughter-in-law, Shay and Baylor's sister-in-law, and Theo's mother. Instead of finding the stability of a family, she is thrust into a life of secrets and pretense. What does it mean it be a Joseph?    Though the book is quite eventful, it's told in a quiet and calculated way. We get a good glimpse of all of the characters, granted, some more than others. Each ends up with their own perceptions of certain events and relationships that all weave together by the end of the story.    Shay had my heart throughout so much of the book, but toward the end found myself completely latched onto Baylor. Marley was a strong protagonist, too, and her dominant point of view was strong. I enjoyed the subtle (and some less subtle) effects of complex family trauma and the characters navigating their dysfunctional family unit. I do feel like there were a few matters that fell by the wayside and never got resolved, but it didn't hinder the overall story. 

A lyrical examination of a close-knit midwestern family. The father and three brothers own a roofing company and we follow their lives across decades, as Burns takes us into the intergenerational conflicts and couplings, focusing on not primarily on the four men but instead the two strong and challenging women who come into their lives and change it for better or worse. I fell in love with virtually every character in this story and hated to see the book end.

Burns writes in a clear voice filled with heart and insights into the human condition. While there are stunning events, including one death, that serve as stepping stones in the narrative, it's the interpersonal connections that offer the touching resonance that make this one a top read.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.