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Jan 08, 2016rpavlacic rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This book, like the others written by Toews, is readable. But I have a big issue with it. True, it talks about two sisters - one, a gifted pianist, the other a down-and out loser, both coming to grips with the modern world and how it collides with their Mennonite heritage. But it also deals with mental illness - particularly, that of the first character, who has a suicide attempt just a few weeks before a major concert tour; and her wish to just put an end to it all. The other sister is thus conflicted when she is asked to find ways of making an exit stage left - including reading "Final Exit" and researching countries that allow mentally ill persons to get active euthanasia. In my opinion, not only is this a terrible choice to force upon a sibling, it also stigmatizes people like me who have mental health issues who are effectively told the only way out is - out. Maybe that was not the author's intent. But it's worth pointing out this was chosen as "the" book to read by the Hamilton (Ontario) Public LIbrary in 2015. This may have been a critics' and fans' choice - but it didn't sit all that well with me.