Somewhere Along the Way

“Christine Brae’s The Year I Left is a masterpiece of women’s fiction, detailing an extraordinary period in Carin’s life through a poignant narrative. Brae’s pose is pointed yet lyrical, and the interesting stylistic choice of including passages addressing Matias directly in the first person narrative works astoundingly well. The symptoms and effects of depression are accurately conveyed and while the reader may not be able to relate to Carin’s troubles consistently, it’s impossible to avoid feeling compassion for this desperate and brave character. The Year I Left takes an unexpected turn that leads into the snarled complexities of running away from problems before reaching a delightful conclusion.”