Book Revue: The Sweet Hereafter, Tuesday, Nov. 22
by Meghan Junke
"The Sweet Hereafter, by Russell Banks, is the kind of novel we need because it recognizes that we can’t explain away the very worst things that can happen, we can only go on living with them.” – The Globe and Mail
In the wake of a tragic School Bus accident in the small town of Sam Dent the community mourns the loss of young life and, in accordance with the stages of grief, lashes out in anger at the possible causes of this devastating event.
The novel is told from the point of view four characters: Dolores Driscoll the kind and nurturing bus driver; Billy Ansell a local hero and father of two children lost in the accident; Mitchell Stephens the big-city lawyer who convinces the survivors to unite in a lawsuit and Nicole Burnell one of the only children to survive the accident.
Not only does each of these characters offer a unique perspective on the accident, they all provide insight into the warped relationships and differences between ordinary men and women in small towns. To put it in other words, author Russell Banks effortlessly captures just how claustrophobic it can be to live in a place like Sam Dent that is bursting with hidden secrets and bitter truths.
The Sweet Hereafter is an unforgettable novel that compels the reader to reflect upon personal tragedy but also reminds us of how hope, love and human resilience can aid the fractures loss leaves behind. The film adaptation written and directed by Atom Egoyan is rich with tender emotion and should forever be used as a model for future screen adaptations of classic novels.
The Book Revue looks at film adaptations, and provides for a discussion of each with Geoff Pevere.
Coming up:
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