Phantom Siblings

by Carolyn Taylor-Watts

In his youth in Toronto, only child Julian Whitely had to compete with three dead siblings for his mother's attention. On bad days back then, he often saw the ghosts of those infants slide along his bedroom walls, causing him to doubt his sanity as well as his mother's state of mind.
Many years later during his thirtieth wedding anniversary in Vancouver, Julian chances on the snapshot of a teenage love. Recalling his cruelty to the girl, he's propelled on a mission of atonement fuelled by a desire and need to resolve a long-ago infatuation that now, alarmingly, is jeopardizing his marriage, his job, even his very life. Horrified yet ecstatic, Julian discovers he's not who he thinks he is, nor is anything what it seems.

216 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

As in my epic novel, Helena: An Odyssey, my life too resembles a saga. It had its origins in remote, rural New Zealand where I, as a farmer’s daughter, became a registered nurse, married and had children.

I moved with my first husband to Canada. In Toronto I worked for many years as a registered nurse while writing articles and short stories. I married a second time. After an accumulation of years, I made a third marriage and a decision to dedicate my life to writing.

My dream was to write a family saga, a generational tale with a historical backdrop and emotional heft. The material that came immediately to mind was how and why in the 1850’s my forebears left England and the Isle of Man – or fled – arriving in the Antipodes to prosper, survive, or destruct.

And so I began assembling material. About that time I met search and rescue workers in the Canadian Coast Guard, Navy SEALS and Search and Rescue Technicians. They inspired me to write their stories and so my journey began – not with a family saga - but with true stories of heroism, rescue and survival published by Nimbus Publishing and Dundurn Press. A moving and joyous ride it was!

I returned to my original plan to bring my ancestors to life. But quite soon I realized that I already knew this story. It was then I heard Tom Wolfe speak. “It’s been said that you should write about what you know,” he said, “but unless you can write it in a particular and unique way, get to know something else.”

Enter my Greek hair dresser and the tale of her family’s tragic past in Ottoman Turkey and Greece. Learning about Greco-Turkish history became my all-consuming passion. I spent time with Greek people [in Toronto], spent endless days, weeks, months doing research, then travelled with my husband throughout Greece and Turkey.

Who were the ancient peoples who raced across the Anatolian Plateau over thousands of years? I wanted to know.

How did they live? What do today’s populations of Greeks and Turks have in common with them: Hittites. Assyrians. Lydians? If you are a Greek living in Anatolia as your ancestors have done from the beginning of time but you live among Turks, adopt many of their customs, even speak their language, are you a Greek or a Turk? Do you care?

Perhaps not much, until you are forced to. These questions intrigued me. Soon, passionately I wanted to know. As I read, this history took on magical, even mystical proportions.

Reviews

[Igal Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant, heart-wrenching and thoughtful book. It's very well-written, and it is a true treasure for those of you who love reading.

This story is narrated by Julian Whitely, the only child of his parents, living a rather miserable life in Toronto. He has family problems to start with that are off the charts, and only one person to lean on. Carolyn Taylor-Watts tells us about the choices that Julian makes as he tries to heal himself from the past.

I loved the plot, the characters, the pacing, the tone and all the little details, its beautiful prose and the flow of the words. The characters in this novel are expertly described and brilliantly brought to life. The way a teenage boy feels the need to adapt to his mother's mood swings and weirdness. The power of a man to change his destiny. The bonds between people that last a lifetime. The way people age. It has suspense, love, drugs and bravery.

Taylor - Watts knows how to keep readers engaged with a compelling plot, yet the story is about much more than what happens to Julian and the phantom siblings. It's a remarkable read.

The book left me endlessly astonished by its power and brilliance. Everyone should experience this.

[PAUL HENDERSON]

Carolyn's new book Phantom Siblings, almost from the first page, draws the reader into the mind of the main character, Julian Whitely, as he and his wife celebrate their 30th anniversary with some friends.

But he seems a man isolated, detached not only from his guests, but also his wife. As he moves away from his partying friends, he scans a collection of photos arranged by his wife, and spots the image of a high school girlfriend. His reaction to that image is electric...and therein lies the first of many mysteries that develop as we witness Julian relive his childhood and attempt to resolve issues that he has repressed for many of his 55 years.
Carolyn's writing style is direct, a first-person account that involves us increasingly in Julian's life and, ultimately, his happiness. Many of us will find aspects of our own youth echoed in Julian's, and this gives Carolyn's book an authenticity that brings us closer to her protagonist. All in all, an excellent book by a skilled writer: highly recommended

[Lucinda Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phantom Siblings is a summer reading "MUST". From the first page, I was baited and then hooked into this impossibly, possible drama. I marvelled at the arc of the story and the skill with which Taylor-Watts wove the spans of time together without losing a thread. The author writes each character with precision, glorious detail and keeps their secrets until the last page. Julian hides behind his lack of confidence and big ears while Louisa drives him crazy with her heartless flirtations. The consequences are yours to discover. The complexity of the characters is heightened when you realize that similar folks may exist in your
own family or certainly within your network of friends.
There is a beautiful moral message in the final pages------Phantom Siblings is a gripping story.

[Ann.kirkland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book at bedtime and had a hard time putting it down. The entanglement of Julian's "normal" life and the "unusual," if not "paranormal" circumstances surrounding him make this a compelling read. In late middle age, Julian's conventionally successful life in Vancouver's Coal Harbour feels empty. As we do, he casts back in his memory for clues in his growing up years in mid-town Toronto. Little by little, Julian discovers missing pieces to the puzzle of his unsatisfying life. The descriptions of place are particularly vivid. I think Phantom Siblings would make a terrific movie. And the book will hold high appeal to young adult readers and onward.

[AWW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unusual genre for me to read, and a book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Phantom Siblings is very well written, with personalities and issues that in many ways seem peculiarly familiar. This story brought back memories of long ago. I'm sure most aging males remember a certain young lady that might have been the one. The story line with Julian and Louisa certainly provoked memories, although I didn't get to know Yvonne even nearly as well as Julian did Louisa - there's not so much to be told in my story. This is a good read and I look forward to more from this Toronto-based author.

[Martin Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of a young man, Julian Whitely, growing up in North Toronto in the 60s and early 70s is a well-told and keenly-plotted tale. The character development is excellent and the ending comes as a great surprise. There are many mysteries in this tale that keep the reader turning the pages. What is one to make of Julian's mother's mental illness? What has happened to his cousin Steve and why will no one talk about him? What has become of his first love, Louisa? And who, really, is Julian Whitely? The novel concludes with a thoroughly satisfying resolution of all these questions.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. It held my attention all the way through.

This is genuinely a novel that I could not put down. The characters were easily seen and heard in my mind. At some points it was scary. The mother was portrayed on the edge, teetering on insanity and the relationship with her children was chilling. Julian's realisation of his life was unresolved until the end.
The author manages to evoke a range of emotions in the reader. It is a powerful, uplifting, and thought-provoking. A good read. Wonderful, believable characters. I loved this book and I thoroughly recommend it.

[Beth Kaplan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn Taylor-Watts deftly weaves a complex plot and a cast of fascinating characters. She juggles it all with great skill and imagination.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a bad book honestly. I was surprised at the end and was glad the author made certain decisions.

Please find my full review here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...

[Maia Sepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written; an eloquent, moving story of family ties, and hope.