What do you think?
Rate this book
The Crooked Heart of Mercy
From acclaimed Canadian novelist Billie Livingston comes this powerful U.S. debut that unfolds over a riveting dual narrative—an unforgettable story of ordinary lives rocked by hardship and scandal that follows in the tradition of Jennifer Haigh, A. Manette Ansay, and Jennifer Egan. Ben wakes up in a hospital with a hole in his head he can't explain. What he can remember he’d rather forget. Like how he’d spend nights as a limo driver for the wealthy and debauched….how he and his wife, Maggie, drifted apart in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy…how his little brother, Cola, got in over his head with loan sharks circling.
Maggie is alone. Again. With bills to pay and Ben in a psych ward, she must return to work. But who would hire her in the state she’s in? And just as Maggie turns to her brother, Francis, the Internet explodes with video of his latest escapade. The headline? Drunk Priest Propositions Cops. Francis is an unlikely priest with a drinking problem and little interest in celibacy. A third DUI, a looming court date.…When Maggie takes him in, he knows he may be down to his last chance. And his best shot at healing might lie in helping Maggie and Ben reconnect—against all odds. Simmering with dark humor and piercing insights, The Crooked Heart of Mercy is a startling reminder that redemption can be found in the most unlikely of places.
Maggie is alone. Again. With bills to pay and Ben in a psych ward, she must return to work. But who would hire her in the state she’s in? And just as Maggie turns to her brother, Francis, the Internet explodes with video of his latest escapade. The headline? Drunk Priest Propositions Cops. Francis is an unlikely priest with a drinking problem and little interest in celibacy. A third DUI, a looming court date.…When Maggie takes him in, he knows he may be down to his last chance. And his best shot at healing might lie in helping Maggie and Ben reconnect—against all odds. Simmering with dark humor and piercing insights, The Crooked Heart of Mercy is a startling reminder that redemption can be found in the most unlikely of places.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2016
48 people are currently reading
1244 people want to read
About the author
Billie Livingston
14 books63 followersBillie Livingston is a fiction writer, poet, and essayist. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, she grew up in Toronto and Vancouver, and has since lived in Tokyo, Hamburg, Munich, Los Angeles and London, England. Her first employment was filling the dairy coolers in a Macs Milk. She went on to work varying lengths of time as a file clerk, receptionist, cocktail waitress, model, actor, chocolate sampler, and booth host at a plumber’s convention.
Livingston's writing has been nominated for a National Magazine Award for journalism, the Journey Prize for fiction and the Pat Lowther Award for poetry. Greedy Little Eyes, a collection of short stories, was cited by The Globe and Mail and The Georgia Straight as one of the year's best books and the collection went on to win the CBC's Bookie Award as well as the Danuta Gleed Literary Award for Best Short Story Collection. Her 2012 novel, One Good Hustle, was long-listed for the Giller Prize and became a year’s best book selection for several publications including The Globe and Mail, Now Magazine and January Magazine. In 2014, her story, “Sitting on the Edge of Marlene,” was adapted to film by director, Ana Valine and starred Suzanne Clément, Paloma Kwiatkowski, and Callum Keith Rennie.
She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her husband, actor Tim Kelleher.
Livingston's writing has been nominated for a National Magazine Award for journalism, the Journey Prize for fiction and the Pat Lowther Award for poetry. Greedy Little Eyes, a collection of short stories, was cited by The Globe and Mail and The Georgia Straight as one of the year's best books and the collection went on to win the CBC's Bookie Award as well as the Danuta Gleed Literary Award for Best Short Story Collection. Her 2012 novel, One Good Hustle, was long-listed for the Giller Prize and became a year’s best book selection for several publications including The Globe and Mail, Now Magazine and January Magazine. In 2014, her story, “Sitting on the Edge of Marlene,” was adapted to film by director, Ana Valine and starred Suzanne Clément, Paloma Kwiatkowski, and Callum Keith Rennie.
She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her husband, actor Tim Kelleher.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
March 24, 2016
“Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.”
----John Green
Billie Livingston, a Canadian author, pens an emotional and stirring family drama in her new book, The Crooked Heart of Mercy that unfolds the story of a couple coping with a sad tragedy and how it tears them apart and how their families try to contribute towards their hearts' reunion, whereas on the other hand, this couple separately tries to help their family from their troubles in their own way. The story is all about forgiveness, grief, and love.
Synopsis:
Ben wakes up in a hospital with a hole in his head he can't explain. What he can remember he’d rather forget. Like how he’d spend nights as a limo driver for the wealthy and debauched….how he and his wife, Maggie, drifted apart in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy…how his little brother, Cola, got in over his head with loan sharks circling.
Maggie is alone. Again. With bills to pay and Ben in a psych ward, she must return to work. But who would hire her in the state she’s in? And just as Maggie turns to her brother, Francis, the Internet explodes with video of his latest escapade. The headline? Drunk Priest Propositions Cops.
Francis is an unlikely priest with a drinking problem and little interest in celibacy. A third DUI, a looming court date.…When Maggie takes him in, he knows he may be down to his last chance. And his best shot at healing might lie in helping Maggie and Ben reconnect—against all odds.
Maggie is a cleaner for the rich old ladies with her husband, Ben, trying to get better while living in a mental ward, who used to work as a limo driver for the rich. Their life as well as marriage is now hanging from a thin spool of thread as a painful catastrophic event changed the course of their struggling yet satisfied lifestyle. While descending through their own downward spiral, both Maggie and Ben had to deal with their troubled family members, especially siblings. Francis, Maggie's brother, ends up living with Maggie after his scandalous stint with the police and turns towards her for her help. Cola, Ben's brother, is another a guy who has lot of debts on his head from the notorious money-lenders. Francis takes up the opportunity to reunite the grieving souls and do his part as a priest at least for once. But will he be successful?
The author's writing style is exquisite and quite unique, as the book is centered around pain, loss and grief, yet the author layered the tone of the book with dark humor page after page. The narrative is simple and free-flowing and the story is told from both Ben and Maggie's POV. Ben's POV though it is tough to comprehend with as he is suffering from mental trauma, yet it was interesting to ponder over his thoughts. Maggie's POV has humor and pain and it pulled me into her imperfect world with lots of sympathy.
The pacing is not too fast or too slow as the story is quite short, it can be easily read within few hours and not to mention as the story develops, it enveloped me with heartache for both the characters. But at times the story perturbed me with so much challenges thrown on the way of these two grieving characters. The story is quite engaging and I found myself getting glued to it midway into this story.
The characters are well developed and are interesting to read about as their stories unfold. The main characters, Ben and Maggie, both are projected with their goodness in their heart and that made me feel their sorrow too deeply. Francis on the other hand, is a priest who needs to find absolution because of his unholy acts. I loved the character of Francis as he is depicted with his flaws and how he tries to evolve himself from the bad light towards goodness. Cola is another such character who is lazy and always on the lookout for shortcut and that is which draws him into life-threatening troubles but his demeanor is cool and calm devoid of any fear. Lucy is the friendly old lady who too helps Maggie in a lot of ways.
This book has so many multi dimensional characters and each one had their own story to foretell and that gave more depth to Ben and Maggie's story. Overall, this is a poignant story where the author explores so many various relationships and challenges in such relationships.
Verdict: Literary fiction fans will find this novel engrossing as well as heart-touching.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Billie Livingston, for giving me an opportunity to read and review her novel.
----John Green
Billie Livingston, a Canadian author, pens an emotional and stirring family drama in her new book, The Crooked Heart of Mercy that unfolds the story of a couple coping with a sad tragedy and how it tears them apart and how their families try to contribute towards their hearts' reunion, whereas on the other hand, this couple separately tries to help their family from their troubles in their own way. The story is all about forgiveness, grief, and love.
Synopsis:
Ben wakes up in a hospital with a hole in his head he can't explain. What he can remember he’d rather forget. Like how he’d spend nights as a limo driver for the wealthy and debauched….how he and his wife, Maggie, drifted apart in the wake of an unspeakable tragedy…how his little brother, Cola, got in over his head with loan sharks circling.
Maggie is alone. Again. With bills to pay and Ben in a psych ward, she must return to work. But who would hire her in the state she’s in? And just as Maggie turns to her brother, Francis, the Internet explodes with video of his latest escapade. The headline? Drunk Priest Propositions Cops.
Francis is an unlikely priest with a drinking problem and little interest in celibacy. A third DUI, a looming court date.…When Maggie takes him in, he knows he may be down to his last chance. And his best shot at healing might lie in helping Maggie and Ben reconnect—against all odds.
Maggie is a cleaner for the rich old ladies with her husband, Ben, trying to get better while living in a mental ward, who used to work as a limo driver for the rich. Their life as well as marriage is now hanging from a thin spool of thread as a painful catastrophic event changed the course of their struggling yet satisfied lifestyle. While descending through their own downward spiral, both Maggie and Ben had to deal with their troubled family members, especially siblings. Francis, Maggie's brother, ends up living with Maggie after his scandalous stint with the police and turns towards her for her help. Cola, Ben's brother, is another a guy who has lot of debts on his head from the notorious money-lenders. Francis takes up the opportunity to reunite the grieving souls and do his part as a priest at least for once. But will he be successful?
The author's writing style is exquisite and quite unique, as the book is centered around pain, loss and grief, yet the author layered the tone of the book with dark humor page after page. The narrative is simple and free-flowing and the story is told from both Ben and Maggie's POV. Ben's POV though it is tough to comprehend with as he is suffering from mental trauma, yet it was interesting to ponder over his thoughts. Maggie's POV has humor and pain and it pulled me into her imperfect world with lots of sympathy.
The pacing is not too fast or too slow as the story is quite short, it can be easily read within few hours and not to mention as the story develops, it enveloped me with heartache for both the characters. But at times the story perturbed me with so much challenges thrown on the way of these two grieving characters. The story is quite engaging and I found myself getting glued to it midway into this story.
The characters are well developed and are interesting to read about as their stories unfold. The main characters, Ben and Maggie, both are projected with their goodness in their heart and that made me feel their sorrow too deeply. Francis on the other hand, is a priest who needs to find absolution because of his unholy acts. I loved the character of Francis as he is depicted with his flaws and how he tries to evolve himself from the bad light towards goodness. Cola is another such character who is lazy and always on the lookout for shortcut and that is which draws him into life-threatening troubles but his demeanor is cool and calm devoid of any fear. Lucy is the friendly old lady who too helps Maggie in a lot of ways.
This book has so many multi dimensional characters and each one had their own story to foretell and that gave more depth to Ben and Maggie's story. Overall, this is a poignant story where the author explores so many various relationships and challenges in such relationships.
Verdict: Literary fiction fans will find this novel engrossing as well as heart-touching.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Billie Livingston, for giving me an opportunity to read and review her novel.
March 15, 2016
**We received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
This novel had a lot of things going for it. It was rhythmic, and almost poetic as the author uses several words to encompass how Ben is trying to cope. They almost all seem insane as Maggie and Ben are forced to analyze everything around the terrible accident that killed their only son, Frankie.
Even though they're two different people who've grown up in two different households, there are a few things that mirror each other in Ben and Maggie's lives. They each have a troubled sibling, one that causes problems, and sometimes drag them down with them. They're not bad people, just trying to understand their place, but in a heated time where two people are grieving their baby, it's where these people can either hinder or help.
It was heartbreaking, but also rewarding to see how they went through everything any normal person would seek when trying to find themselves again. They dabble in faith, humanity, insanity, and court death just to find out where they now fit. As a family, they knew where they stood, things were solid in their world, but as soon as Frankie died, they had to hit a restart button, which had a lot of baggage to carry.
I thought the writing was really smooth, and the characters well rounded. Those that they met only added to the story, and created a whole new perspective for both the reader and the characters.
CONCLUSION
I found myself really drawn to Maggie and Ben. They weren't flawed, good people, and in that, seemed human. The book, though having a dark underbelly, isn't doom and gloom and entirely depressing, in fact, I found it enlightening and lifting as they slowly climbed back to their feet. Time flew while reading this book, that's how I know it was a good one.
This novel had a lot of things going for it. It was rhythmic, and almost poetic as the author uses several words to encompass how Ben is trying to cope. They almost all seem insane as Maggie and Ben are forced to analyze everything around the terrible accident that killed their only son, Frankie.
Even though they're two different people who've grown up in two different households, there are a few things that mirror each other in Ben and Maggie's lives. They each have a troubled sibling, one that causes problems, and sometimes drag them down with them. They're not bad people, just trying to understand their place, but in a heated time where two people are grieving their baby, it's where these people can either hinder or help.
It was heartbreaking, but also rewarding to see how they went through everything any normal person would seek when trying to find themselves again. They dabble in faith, humanity, insanity, and court death just to find out where they now fit. As a family, they knew where they stood, things were solid in their world, but as soon as Frankie died, they had to hit a restart button, which had a lot of baggage to carry.
I thought the writing was really smooth, and the characters well rounded. Those that they met only added to the story, and created a whole new perspective for both the reader and the characters.
CONCLUSION
I found myself really drawn to Maggie and Ben. They weren't flawed, good people, and in that, seemed human. The book, though having a dark underbelly, isn't doom and gloom and entirely depressing, in fact, I found it enlightening and lifting as they slowly climbed back to their feet. Time flew while reading this book, that's how I know it was a good one.
January 29, 2016
Won in the First Reads giveaway.
It was a really good book, sometimes really sad, sometimes funny. I'm glad the characters were not suburbanites, I wouldn't have been able to care. But saying Angela Lansburys' face is like a bag of porridge? How dare!
It was a really good book, sometimes really sad, sometimes funny. I'm glad the characters were not suburbanites, I wouldn't have been able to care. But saying Angela Lansburys' face is like a bag of porridge? How dare!
January 7, 2016
Billie Livingston is now on my watch list for future reads. A truly great read.
See my full review here - http://livinginthekitchenwithpuppies....
See my full review here - http://livinginthekitchenwithpuppies....
January 15, 2016
I was absolutely absorbed by this novel. No glancing at my phone, no reaching for the trashy mags at the salon. It is rich and beautiful in so many ways. Told from alternating points of view of a husband and wife, whose marriage has been broken by tragedy, it considers other sources of pain including their difficult childhoods, money issues, sibling relationships, mental illness, and religious hypocrisy.
Livingston's writing is gorgeous and at times playful. It reminds me of Dorothy Ellen Palmer's voice in When Fenelon Falls.
The opening paragraphs:
"Do you know what day it is today?"
The man just got here and he wants to know what day it is. A day late and a dollar short? A cold day in hell? It is a timeless question - it suits the room. A white, white room. White as a scream, floor to ceiling, bed to nightstand. Maybe it's supposed to feel clean. It feels more like we're locked in an instant that never ends.
Completely deserving of 5-stars.
Livingston's writing is gorgeous and at times playful. It reminds me of Dorothy Ellen Palmer's voice in When Fenelon Falls.
The opening paragraphs:
"Do you know what day it is today?"
The man just got here and he wants to know what day it is. A day late and a dollar short? A cold day in hell? It is a timeless question - it suits the room. A white, white room. White as a scream, floor to ceiling, bed to nightstand. Maybe it's supposed to feel clean. It feels more like we're locked in an instant that never ends.
Completely deserving of 5-stars.
Read
December 24, 2022Poor Ben wakes up in a hospital with a hole in his head. Maybe he was reading this book. It certainly left a cavity in what passes for my brain. Ben's wife is too distraught to function, but wait, what's this? Oh no! Her closeted gay alcoholic priest brother has been caught propositioning cops! (no, the brother's not also transgender, albino and deaf, the author dropped the ball there). I can't call any of the above spoiler material, because it's right there on the back of the book jacket, along with about half of the rest of the plot. But yes, I purchased this thing. I've absolutely got to stop buying books at the Salvation Army. The 50 cents I paid for this drivel coulda done bought me half a nice cold diet coke with ice. With ice! Cuz lord, it's hot up in here.
June 24, 2016
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book.
This book took my breath away. It is the story of Maggie and Ben, grieving parents whose 2-year-old son has just died. The story is told in alternating chapters from Maggie's and Ben's perspectives, and the writing is clever, darkly witty, and poetic. As the two work through their grief, we learn about their troubled childhoods and what led them to each other. I was completely immersed in the story and didn't want the book to end. As tragic as the story was, I was left with an immense feeling of hope in the end.
This book took my breath away. It is the story of Maggie and Ben, grieving parents whose 2-year-old son has just died. The story is told in alternating chapters from Maggie's and Ben's perspectives, and the writing is clever, darkly witty, and poetic. As the two work through their grief, we learn about their troubled childhoods and what led them to each other. I was completely immersed in the story and didn't want the book to end. As tragic as the story was, I was left with an immense feeling of hope in the end.
May 20, 2016
Amazing, wonderfully compelling characters. Strength comes from embracing the truth, but that's easier said than done for Maggie and Ben.
It's sad in the rereading-the-sentence-over-and-over-just-to-torture-yourself sad; you're almost forced to empathize with their loss.
I love it for its particular sort of sadness, the humour that exists in sadness. It's realistic and wholly original.
It's sad in the rereading-the-sentence-over-and-over-just-to-torture-yourself sad; you're almost forced to empathize with their loss.
I love it for its particular sort of sadness, the humour that exists in sadness. It's realistic and wholly original.
July 17, 2016
This novel completely sucked me in and I was unable to put it down. The Crooked Heart of Mercy is a beautifully written story about forgiveness and grief, brokenness and second chances. Billie Livingston's use of multiple points of view is brilliant; her characters all deeply flawed but loveable and authentic. I devoured every page of this and can't wait to read more of her work!
March 20, 2016
The Crooked Heart of Mercy by Billie Livingston is a very highly recommended novel about broken, disenfranchised people trying to recover. I'm not saying this gem is an easy book to read. It's not. The characters are heartbroken, suffering, grieving, depressed, and fragile working class people who must find a way back from an unthinkable accident. The Crooked Heart of Mercy is a great title for an unforgettable book.
Ben and Maggie were happily married, toiling away at their jobs to make ends meet and take care of their two year old son, Frankie. Maggie cleaned houses and ran errands for elderly women. Ben drove a limousine at night for wealthy tourists. When the unimaginable happens and Frankie dies by accident, they are left to cope with their brokenness and grief. Understandably, this puts a strain on their marriage and the two separate while trying to find a way to mourn Frankie through their grief and depression. To add to their individual stress, they both have siblings who need help from them and Ben has a father in failing health who needs assistance.
At the beginning of The Crooked Heart of Mercy Ben wakes up in a psychiatric hospital in a dissociative state after what appears to have been a suicide attempt. He can't even say that he is Ben. Maggie knows she needs to try and get some work again, but it is hard to not break into tears over the littlest things that remind her of Frankie. If these two can recover and salvage their marriage, they will have plenty of scars to add to their already existing scars.
It could be easy to harshly judge these broken people, sitting from a safe, secure, stable situation. From my perspective, and perhaps that is based on age and life experiences, that critical judgement would be unwise. Mercy is required. A measure of sympathy needs to be extended as these people strive to come to terms with grief, mourning, and how hard it is to forgive. Life can be fragile, accidents happen, people make mistakes, and sometimes their mistakes appear foolish. But the death of a child is a grief from which it is said you never really recover.
Livingston does an excellent job telling this poignant story in the alternating voices of Ben and Maggie, exploring both their present and past. The characters of Ben and Maggie are both well developed. Ben's voice, in the beginning, can be challenging to follow because he is in the dissociative state and won't admit he is Ben or come to terms with everything that has happened. His early chapters focus on his sessions with his psychiatrist. Maggie's voice, while often heart breaking, is also funny, resilient, and determined. Only the most merciless could make it through Maggie's description of feeling Frankie in her lap without shedding a tear and feeling great sympathy and compassion for her.
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from HarperCollins for review purposes.
Ben and Maggie were happily married, toiling away at their jobs to make ends meet and take care of their two year old son, Frankie. Maggie cleaned houses and ran errands for elderly women. Ben drove a limousine at night for wealthy tourists. When the unimaginable happens and Frankie dies by accident, they are left to cope with their brokenness and grief. Understandably, this puts a strain on their marriage and the two separate while trying to find a way to mourn Frankie through their grief and depression. To add to their individual stress, they both have siblings who need help from them and Ben has a father in failing health who needs assistance.
At the beginning of The Crooked Heart of Mercy Ben wakes up in a psychiatric hospital in a dissociative state after what appears to have been a suicide attempt. He can't even say that he is Ben. Maggie knows she needs to try and get some work again, but it is hard to not break into tears over the littlest things that remind her of Frankie. If these two can recover and salvage their marriage, they will have plenty of scars to add to their already existing scars.
It could be easy to harshly judge these broken people, sitting from a safe, secure, stable situation. From my perspective, and perhaps that is based on age and life experiences, that critical judgement would be unwise. Mercy is required. A measure of sympathy needs to be extended as these people strive to come to terms with grief, mourning, and how hard it is to forgive. Life can be fragile, accidents happen, people make mistakes, and sometimes their mistakes appear foolish. But the death of a child is a grief from which it is said you never really recover.
Livingston does an excellent job telling this poignant story in the alternating voices of Ben and Maggie, exploring both their present and past. The characters of Ben and Maggie are both well developed. Ben's voice, in the beginning, can be challenging to follow because he is in the dissociative state and won't admit he is Ben or come to terms with everything that has happened. His early chapters focus on his sessions with his psychiatrist. Maggie's voice, while often heart breaking, is also funny, resilient, and determined. Only the most merciless could make it through Maggie's description of feeling Frankie in her lap without shedding a tear and feeling great sympathy and compassion for her.
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from HarperCollins for review purposes.
July 24, 2016
This book was beautiful.
Yes, it was achingly sad and some parts were gritty and just made my heart ache but my lands it was written beautifully.
What would you do if your child died? It was an accident, nobody's fault, small children are curious and have no fear and don't understand the world and things just happen and that's what happened to poor Frankie in this story.
Maggie and Ben are young parents, a lower working class couple who are torn apart by his death. Ben's father is terrible. Ben and his equally as terrible brother Cola have to try to take care of their awful father throughout the story... Ben was hoping that Frankie would be his redemption, the joyful father-son relationship that he never had. After Frankie's death he attempted suicide, not knowing what else to do.
Maggie cleans houses and continued to do so as she mourned, though only for one lady. It's really all she can handle because Maggie's gay priest brother keeps getting DUIs and needs a place to stay after leaving the monastary but before he goes to rehab.
It may take longer than expected but family comes together in the end. This book proves it isn't easy, but you'll get there.
Yes, it was achingly sad and some parts were gritty and just made my heart ache but my lands it was written beautifully.
What would you do if your child died? It was an accident, nobody's fault, small children are curious and have no fear and don't understand the world and things just happen and that's what happened to poor Frankie in this story.
Maggie and Ben are young parents, a lower working class couple who are torn apart by his death. Ben's father is terrible. Ben and his equally as terrible brother Cola have to try to take care of their awful father throughout the story... Ben was hoping that Frankie would be his redemption, the joyful father-son relationship that he never had. After Frankie's death he attempted suicide, not knowing what else to do.
Maggie cleans houses and continued to do so as she mourned, though only for one lady. It's really all she can handle because Maggie's gay priest brother keeps getting DUIs and needs a place to stay after leaving the monastary but before he goes to rehab.
It may take longer than expected but family comes together in the end. This book proves it isn't easy, but you'll get there.
May 11, 2016
I just finished this book and it's my favorite of the 3 I've read by Billie Livingston. Every one of these people felt incredibly real -- from the lead characters right down to the most minor. Their world is emotionally in-your-face honest and yet buoyant and hopeful. The dialog is sharp and funny -- some of the conversations between Maggie and her brother, Francis , the drunk, gay not-very-celibate priest are especially hilarious. I loved the old lady, Lucy, who Maggie takes care of. The scenes with the mediums and the spiritualist church were great. All of these people were searching for spiritual meaning and I love that the author was able to tell their stories with grace and beauty and humor.
January 23, 2016
Billie Livingstone writes beautifully, capturing the vulnerability and fragility of her characters, and finding the possibility of hope beneath sometimes broken lives. I met her while I was volunteering at the Sandwich Project, a feeding program for street people in downtown Vancouver; she was doing research for her first book, and we worked side-by-side that day. I found her own life story compelling, and read her first book with interest, and empathy, and admiration for how she was able to bring the heart of her own experience to the page. She has only gotten better with each novel. She also wrote one book of poems, and her novels are a testament to her poetic use of language.I highly recommend her writing.
November 25, 2015
I know it's a cliche, but Billie Livingston has such a way with words. Her poetry background shines through. A vivid portrayal of life gone way, way off the rails. I had an inescapable, sad pressure in my chest as Billie brought to hauntingly clear light the sadness in Maggie and Ben's hearts. I felt like a ghost in the room in every scene. I was truly lost in the times and places Ben and Maggie were inhabiting - they felt so real I could touch them. Remarkable.
June 2, 2016
This was a startling book from beginning to end. Livingston has created characters who live and breathe and bleed — they are us. The book is told in alternating perspectives, Ben chapters and Maggie chapters. And Maggie's brother, Francis the priest — I've never read a fictional priest anywhere so well-drawn, so real and human. The love between these people is palpable which is what makes the the dialog so great and so very funny! The ending was one of the most beautiful things I've read.
November 26, 2015
I was completely surprised by this entire book. Anyone with a little one in their life will feel the anguish.. without saying too much, the description of feeling a child in your lap was so vivid it brought tears to my eyes.
This is extremely different. and very touching. and you will carry it with you well after you have finished!
This is extremely different. and very touching. and you will carry it with you well after you have finished!
November 6, 2016
Livingston's deeply humane treatment of living, breathing, loving, swearing,scared, flawed characters in extreme situations is remarkable. To be human is to be flawed, to question, to fall, to get up if you can. Compassion is at beating heart of this novel. How do we forgive each other--and ourselves?
If you have ever pondered this question, Crooked Heart is a must read!
If you have ever pondered this question, Crooked Heart is a must read!
January 21, 2016
I won this book on Goodreads!
Beautifully told tale of love, loss, hope and redemption.
I don't like to say too much about the story in reviews. It's much more fun for the reader to discover that for themselves.
I will say that all the characters in this novel and the story itself feel REAL.
And that's good...really good.
Will read more from this author.
Beautifully told tale of love, loss, hope and redemption.
I don't like to say too much about the story in reviews. It's much more fun for the reader to discover that for themselves.
I will say that all the characters in this novel and the story itself feel REAL.
And that's good...really good.
Will read more from this author.
May 4, 2016
What I loved about this novel is that many chapters read like poetry to me. I allowed myself to be drawn into the images presented, rather than just the linear logic of plot. This occurred in the hospital scenes with the character Ben and created the perfect effect. A powerful, deftly written book. At once heartbreaking and ultimately joyful.
February 13, 2016
I love Billie Livingston's writing, but I have to say this may well be my favourite of her books. Tough material initially to deal with, but she moves through the story with her usual black humour, tough insight, and grace. Exceptionally beautifully written, moving and important. Thank you, Ms Livingston for this gift!
January 21, 2016
This was a book that I couldn't seem to put down. She has such a way with words and it's been quite a while since I've read several pages and shed a few tears. This story describes pain, loss, emptiness and that there's always a tiny bit of hope even when there's no light to be seen.
January 31, 2016
This is my favorite book of Billie's so far. It was riveting from the first line. Highly recommend.
February 1, 2016
I loved this book! Wonderfully written with excellent dialogue and scenes. Billie Livingston has grown into a stellar novelist.
November 1, 2016
A raw and lovely novel of healing and hope. Definitely a new favorite!!
July 20, 2018
A hard book to review....I really liked the author's writing style. The story was mostly very sad & covered quite a bit of dysfunction.
A young couple have something tragic happen to them & they each fall apart in their own way.
Their family members are a part of the story also & no one seems to be living a stable life.
Grief is a strong part of this book...
I will certainly read more by this Canadian author....
A young couple have something tragic happen to them & they each fall apart in their own way.
Their family members are a part of the story also & no one seems to be living a stable life.
Grief is a strong part of this book...
I will certainly read more by this Canadian author....
April 25, 2016
The Crooked Heart of Mercy is an emotional and heart-breaking novel that tells the story of Ben and Maggie, a husband and wife who have suffered a tragic loss. The novel alternates between two perspectives, those of Ben and Maggie and their individual struggles in dealing with this loss. They are living apart, with Ben reaching a breaking point that leads to a stay at a psych ward and Maggie attempting to get a job and regain some sense of normalcy, which is made all the more challenging with her brother Francis facing his own scandal.
This story is one of hope, grief, and forgiveness. It asks and seeks to answer the question, when your world falls apart, how do you put the pieces back together? The alternating points of view work very well, illustrating two people who fell apart, their intrapersonal conflicts, and their journey to heal and find each other again. What makes this novel work so well is the author’s writing style, which is outstanding in its simplicity and free-flowing nature. This is most evident in the sections with Ben’s point of view where the line between his internal dialogue and what he actually verbalizes to other characters is unclear. His state of mind, internal struggle, and sense of loss are effectively portrayed and presented.
Each characters’ story does not stick strictly to the present but also flashes back to key moments in their lives, both joyous and difficult, providing understanding of their past lives as they battle for a future. The Crooked Heart of Mercy is a beautifully written book that deals with life’s tragedies, struggles, and the strength we find in one another.
More reviews @ aboutabookreviews.com
This story is one of hope, grief, and forgiveness. It asks and seeks to answer the question, when your world falls apart, how do you put the pieces back together? The alternating points of view work very well, illustrating two people who fell apart, their intrapersonal conflicts, and their journey to heal and find each other again. What makes this novel work so well is the author’s writing style, which is outstanding in its simplicity and free-flowing nature. This is most evident in the sections with Ben’s point of view where the line between his internal dialogue and what he actually verbalizes to other characters is unclear. His state of mind, internal struggle, and sense of loss are effectively portrayed and presented.
Each characters’ story does not stick strictly to the present but also flashes back to key moments in their lives, both joyous and difficult, providing understanding of their past lives as they battle for a future. The Crooked Heart of Mercy is a beautifully written book that deals with life’s tragedies, struggles, and the strength we find in one another.
More reviews @ aboutabookreviews.com
March 20, 2016
Phenomenal. For me, this book had everything. It tackled harsh realities but like other books I've read by Billie Livingston, there's still this streak of humor through it all. The writing is wild, especially the parts from Ben's POV.
Update:
I just read Crooked Heart of Mercy again because I've been having weird dreams ever since! I got it from the library the first time and then I ordered it after reading this review online http://www.washingtonindependentrevie...
My favorite parts were the Ben chapters -- all the stream of consciousness word play, the way he's running from his shame and the feeling that he wasn't man enough to save his son and his marriage. He's in a dissociative state -- he's literally not himself. He says "Ben" is lost in the desert wrestling with Jesus and all that's left is a black hole. Fek!
And I loved the Francis so much, I wanted to bring him home and take care of him. He reminded me of a priest who was at the church I used to go to. Really funny and gentle and clearly gay. There was a rumor that he left the priesthood and married a man. I hope it's true. Like Francis, I hate to think of him living his life without someone who loves him.
Update:
I just read Crooked Heart of Mercy again because I've been having weird dreams ever since! I got it from the library the first time and then I ordered it after reading this review online http://www.washingtonindependentrevie...
My favorite parts were the Ben chapters -- all the stream of consciousness word play, the way he's running from his shame and the feeling that he wasn't man enough to save his son and his marriage. He's in a dissociative state -- he's literally not himself. He says "Ben" is lost in the desert wrestling with Jesus and all that's left is a black hole. Fek!
And I loved the Francis so much, I wanted to bring him home and take care of him. He reminded me of a priest who was at the church I used to go to. Really funny and gentle and clearly gay. There was a rumor that he left the priesthood and married a man. I hope it's true. Like Francis, I hate to think of him living his life without someone who loves him.
March 21, 2016
I loved this story. It was so sad and so gut wrenching but a testament to love and faith in the face of the worst tragedy. I loved all of the characters and the perspective of their different voices. An easy read- read it in 2 days
May 9, 2016
I enjoyed this character study of a couple who lose a child and in the process their relationship and themselves. This is by a Canadian author I hadn't read before but I'll keep an eye out for more of her work.
March 30, 2023
I was so caught up in this book that I had my head buried in it all day. It tackles grief and loss and yet is so hopeful, funny and full of life. Really loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews