Jamie Harrison's new novel "The Center of Everything" places you firmly in the mind of its central character, Polly, and her life in Livingston, Mont., with flashbacks to earlier years on Long Island.
Harrison will be reading from her novel at Alpine Artisans's Open Book Club event at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Seeley Lake Community Foundation.
The book begins with Polly recovering from a brain injury caused by a bike accident, and she repeatedly asks, "Am I losing my mind or am I seeing things more clearly?" Polly is in equal turns a restaurateur and literary editor, and is surrounded by family and characters that inhabit a chaotic yet productive lifestyle. But tragedies challenge this family at every turn – as Polly's mind works to unravel what is real.
Harrison's novel works in two time frames: 1968, when Polly is 7 years old in Long Island, and 2002 in Montana. Polly's observations are challenged by her mother, who states that her memories aren't real – but derived from photographs of the time.
Yet, one by one, family secrets arise that need answers. Why did her grandmother drown? Who was Polly's grandfather? Was their babysitter murdered, or was it an accidental drowning? Does she really recognize people in today's world who have passed away?
To make sense of the world around her, Polly deduces "that people had always gone mad, and sometimes it wasn't malevolent. That you couldn't fault anyone for pretending there might be good news."
Yet the world Harrison builds for Polly is one of an extended family, life on the river, epicurean meals and joy in everyday life. The setting is reminiscent of the life of her father, renowned author Jim Harrison.
The novel builds toward a Fourth of July birthday party for her favorite aunt, and through it all, Polly uncovers life-changing secrets as her own memories serve her well.
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