A Report from Winter
Wayne Courtois
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Blurb
A Report from Winter is a death-in-the-family story, a love story, and a meditation on the meaning of ''winter''--as a season and as a metaphor for family relationships.
It's January 1998, and southern Maine is recovering from one of the worst ice storms in history. Into this unforgiving environment comes the author, flying home from Kansas City after a ten-year absence. His mother, Jennie, is dying of cancer. Though receiving excellent care in a nursing home, she has lost the ability to communicate. Needing support, Wayne makes an SOS call to Ralph, his longtime partner. Ralph boards a plane to Portland for his first exposure to a Maine winter, and to Wayne's family as well, including a feisty aunt and an emotionally distant brother. The contrast between a nurturing gay relationship and dysfunctional family bonds is as sharp as the wind sweeping in from the sea.
Stubbornly unsentimental, A Report from Winter weaves childhood memories of winter with the harsh realities of living in a family where there's not enough love to go around. The memoir is a tribute to hard-won relationships built on mutual trust and understanding, defying an uncaring world.
ReviewThis wonderfully written memoir tells the story of the author's journey back home to be at the bedside of his dying mother. It's January 1998 and Wayne Courtois is back in Maine after a ten year absence during which he has had only minimal contact with his family. Having grown up in an emotionally closed off family with barely any love or attention shown by his parents or older brother Wayne has dealt with mental health issues, including a suicide attempt in his twenties, that apparently with the help of his partner of nine years, Ralph, he's been able to deal and live with.
While the main focus of the story is his mother and dealing with her impending death the author also shares a few memorable parts of his earlier life. In particular is the recollection of a winter storm that strands the family at his aunt's house and how they all, his mother, father, brother, aunt and himself, dealt with their time together. Those scenes, spread throughout parts of the book, help to show the pattern of their family life. An unhappy and often angry mother, a distant father and a brother who never wanted to connect with his younger sibling, not even over their shared sexual orientation.
In contrast are the times when Wayne thinks about Ralph and their live together. The author shares glimpses of their loving relationship, especially the story of their first date and his reactions afterward, and so when he is having difficulties dealing with his emotions we know it's perfectly natural for him to turn to Ralph. When Ralph assures him, "We are one" during a phone call before he arrives in Maine, it highlights Ralph's support and their love and also helps to show the difference between his disappointing and dysfunctional familial relationships and the happiness he's found with Ralph.
While this emotional story deals with loss and regret the author manages to paint a vivid and multi-layered picture that also shows love and hope. This is not a 'feel good' 'happily ever after' story rather it's an honest and unflinching account of the author's life and his relationships with the people it in.
Wayne Courtois' writing style is wonderfully descriptive and engaging. I've never been to Maine or experienced a winter storm yet was able to picture both clearly from reading his words. The nostalgic feeling of returning to the town where he grew up and finding the small and not so small ways in which it's changed and the attention to detail the author takes with his stunning descriptions of the cold, harsh winter help to create a truly memorable story.
Rich in detail and emotion this is a very well written, gripping and honest look at the author's life and while the circumstances are sad the book leaves the reader with a feeling that Wayne has come through the dark and is finally emerging into the light. While there was no quick fix in the author's relationships with his family, after all this is real life not fiction, there is nevertheless a feeling of some closure being achieved and a sense that Wayne and Ralph's bond actually grew stronger as the author realized that when someone truly loves you they will be there for you when you need them.
I very rarely read non-fiction, much less memoirs, as I prefer the escape from the everyday that romantic fiction offers but I'm very happy to have read
A Report from Winter. It's a story that may not appeal to everyone but I highly recommend that you give it a try. I truly think anyone who reads this story will in some way or another truly appreciate having done so.