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Reviewed by Lorraine Cobcroft for Readers' Favorite
Quigley Tree, the protagonist of Linda A. Lavid’s novel of the same name, is a young woman with an odd name. A college dropout from a dysfunctional home, and recently escaped from a relationship with a narcissist, Quigley needs to find a new place to live, quickly. A unique idea sets her on a path to find accommodation in a motel in exchange for providing marketing help, but she eventually must admit she has no idea what she is doing. She is a complete mess and has no faith in her ability to do anything useful with her life. Yet a kindly couple takes her on, and, with their help, and the help of an elderly lady she befriends, she begins to reshape her life and overcome her self-destructive attitude.
Quirky is the best adjective to describe this work by Linda A. Lavid. Quigley Tree is as quirky as the protagonist’s name. Q (as Quigley calls herself) grew on me and won me over. I empathized with her deep feelings of insecurity and her struggle to come to terms with a fractured family and a chaotic childhood. As the story progressed, there were poignant moments, and Lavid presented some interesting perspectives on life. There were also touches of whimsy in this tale of resilience and determination. In classic literary fiction style, Lavid focuses her novel on the character and theme rather than the plot. Quigley Tree, the story, ambles along at a leisurely pace, tracking Q’s growth and gradual acceptance of herself and adjustment of her attitude toward her defective mother. Pearls of wisdom are scattered in conversations with her elderly friend, her employers, and the man who eventually wins her affection. The ending tempted me to shed a few tears, touched by Quigley’s care for her toddler sister and Doris and George’s kindness, and thrilled at the prospects for a happier future for Quigley. This is a classic work of literary fiction and an immensely enjoyable read.
