This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison is a somewhat whimsical little book of fiction based on the author’s experiences living with generations of strong women in his life who missed out on the freedom and opportunities most of us enjoy today. As a baby boomer, we may find ourselves reflecting on the lives our mothers and grandmothers lived and wondered how different their lives might have been if they had the education, the economic independence, and options we enjoy today.

The book is written in short, dramatic chapters that zip back and forth between various decades of Harriet’s life. In the beginning, she is mourning the recent death of her husband who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease. Being the carer and support person for a spouse suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s is never part of anyone’s plan when we get married, but traditionally, women have stepped up to the plate when needed, regardless of what kind of husband he may have been.

In the course of telling her story, Harriet is visited by the ghost of her late husband, Bernard, who is seeking forgiveness and redemption for his short-comings as a husband. Bernard also appears in scenes of reckoning with a higher power at the pearly gates which reminded me of the scenes in It’s A Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart where George Bailey is reined in by his guardian angel Clarence.

Harriet’s life was not without its own mistakes and complications. She too was not perfect, and her two adult children could never be described as well-launched and successful. Whose fault was that? She accepts her failures as a mother, and despite trying to make amends in her seventies, the damage has been done. She has a complicated, troubled daughter and a son who keeps secrets from her.

This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance starts slowly and picks up momentum as you get into the book. Don’t give up, as the plot thickens right up to the very end. My only itsy, bitsy complaint is perhaps a generational observation. In the book, Harriet is almost the same age I am now —she’s seventy-eight for most of the story, and I’m seventy-seven. I did find her way of speaking rather archaic. I don’t know any women our age who speak in such a deferential way, finishing sentences with the word “dear”. But, that’s relatively insignificant. Harriet was born eleven years earlier than me when the book was written and that generational peculiarity may or may not be accurate. Or maybe it’s peculiar to the Seattle region where she lived.

The story comes together on an Alaskan cruise that Harriet takes after Bernard passes away. If a cruise is not in your budget, the descriptive detail provided by the author could save you spending money on such a trip. The stops along the way and the amenities of the ship are described in perfect detail. It’s like a mini-trip without leaving my La-Z-girl.

The challenges faced by Harriet are relatable for most baby boomers, whether we’re experiencing them personally or watching our parents going through the aging process. This book is a fun read, and it’s quick. Take a break from the world’s problems and treat yourself to a little fantasy trip.

If you are not able to obtain This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance through your local bookstore or library, click on this link to have to delivered directly to your door from Amazon.

(Disclosure: I may receive a teeny, tiny commission. Thank you.)