The Solace of Leaving Early: Haven Kimmel

Haven Kimmel’s debut novel The Solace of Leaving Early is much darker than her memoir A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Moorland Indiana, which was a complete pleasure to read. Although Solace has Kimmel’s signature humor throughout, the subject matter, and religious references make it a far more serious book. The main premise is how two completely different people, facing their own issues of uncertainty and disappointment in life, unite in order to care for two young girls left orphaned after their parents are tragically killed.

It starts with a 30 year old woman, Langston Braverman, who drops out of her PhD program during final exams, and returns to her small hometown of Haddington, Indiana to live with her parents in the home she grew up in. She is having a hard time facing the world at this point, and would prefer to hide from it altogether, while she figures out where to go next with her life. Her mother, however, has different plans for her.

The other protagonist is the town preacher named Amos Townsend, who was recently sent to Haddington’s church. He feels tremendously guilty about the tragic event that unfolded, feeling he could have prevented it. He befriends Langston’s mother, AnnaLee, and we learn a lot about Langston through this relationship as she explains Langston’s various issues to him. This leads to Langston becoming involved, unwillingly at first, in caring for the two girls, along with Amos.

The story is slow to start, then rolls along well, but eventually burns out a bit. The excessive religious references become bothersome, especially towards the end, as feelings of guilt and loss are explored. However, the book is thought provoking and philosophical, and the characters are fully developed. The small town in Indiana is described well and inspires cozy, nostalgic feelings towards simpler times. The ending is a bit too tidy, and seems like a stretch based on what we know of the characters personalities by that point. Although it has it’s flaws, it is a good book and I recommend it. Kimmel is a talented new author and I’m looking forward to her next novel.

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