Fight Night

I'm always up for a book by Miriam Toews.The subject matter is usually difficult but Toews writes with a cleverness that lightens the dark bits. Swiv is a nine year old girl who has been suspended from school for fighting and is caring for her ill but feisty grandmother, Elvira, while her unstable pregnant actress mother is working on a play. The book is written in Swiv's voice in the form of a letter to her father who has abandoned the family. The snappy patter is hilarious but after awhile it seemed like it was going nowhere. Luckily the story takes a new turn when Grandma decides to  to visit two of her nephews in Fresno, California before her daughter's baby is born. Swiv can't stay home alone so she goes along to oversee her grandmother's medications, push her wheelchair, put on her pressure socks, etc. The nephews, to Swiv's surprise, turn out to be a pair of old hippies. Ken has a girlfriend and Swiv is fascinated and a bit disgusted that they have a sexual relationship, drink a lot of wine and massage each other with eucalyptus oil. There are adventures galore. They visit Elvira's friends in the nursing home and make some new friends as well because everyone is completely charmed by Elvira. They're having a great time until Elvira injures herself when she takes a fall. They cut the trip short and return to Canada because they cannot afford medical care in the US. The book continues on at a manic pace then winds up quickly at the Toronto hospital where Elvira is receiving care for her injuries and Swiv's mother goes into labour. 

I was left reflecting on the hard lives all three generations have had. There are allusions made to the suicides of Elvira's husband and her other daughter and a menacing figure named Willet Braun, perhaps a religious elder, is mentioned several times. Swiv is frightened by her mother's volatile behaviour and fears that she may also take her own life. The pressures are great on all of them and the responsibilities are more than any nine year old should have to bear but their little family is a loving one. They face life head on as a team and one gets the feeling that Swiv will be okay.