Book Review No. 2

The Matter of Sylvie by Lee Kvern

Reviewed by Emily McIvor

The Matter of Sylvie is warm and vibrating with life. It is a story of family tragedy and learnig to cope with pain. The story is about Lloyd, Jacqueline and their four kids. Told by turns in the voices of Lloyd, Jacqueline and eldest daughter, Lesa, the matter of Sylvie is unraveled with excruciating delicacy.

Sylvie is the second of Lloyd and Jacqueline's loved and longed for children; the one whom they cannot care for. Her needs are overwhelming. We go up against the wall with Jacqueline as she does her best just to keep Sylvie safe in the face of Lloyd's absence. His work for the RCMP, alcohol use and other women steal him away from his family when they need him most. Jacqueline loves him though and as he tells his own story and that of one of his most needy subjects, we come to love him too.

Lesa, now in adulthood, lives out the anguish of both her parents' addictions as well as the confusion of a child whose little sister becomes institutionalized. She is bright and lucid however, and it is through her that we finally resolve the matter of Sylvie as well as her imperfect parents.

This book expanded my mind. I came through it loving each of the characters and having intimately shared an experience which I might otherwise not have the chance to: the pain of giving up a child. The texture of the writing is seductive, the insights shared with patience and good humour and despite the anguish of the characters, its atmosphere is lively and coursing with hope.