It is hard to believe that this story is real. The Erratics is testimony to the saying truth is stranger than fiction. Vicki Laveau-Harvie presents us with a most unusual memoir about her ageing parents. She thinks her mother’s madness might eventually kill their father and forms a plot with her sister to try to have her put into care to save their father. However, her mother is sharp, tricky and cunning as a fox and they need to outsmart her.
Having listened to the eAudio version of The Erratics and hearing Laveau-Harvie’s Canadian prairielike accent, it reminded me of Fargo (the movie). With her dark humour, calm and impeccable delivery, I was completely entertained and enthralled in her story.
It flicks between Laveau-Harvie’s memories of her childhood with her parents, the odd things her mother did and the present situation, as she deals with her parents health and delusions. Her mother is strange and makes up stories, for instance, she says she never had any children or at least Laveau-Harvie does not exist in her mind. How do you convince the doctors she is narcissistic and dangerous when she knows how to manipulate and engage them? It is a very interesting and compelling memoir deserving of the 2019 Stella award.
The Erratics is available in several formats including BorrowBox eAudio and eBook
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