The Rundown
It is slightly over a week since Calvin Greenwood lost his wife Mellie (Emily) to Parkinson’s disease. With apparently nothing else to live for, the eighty-four-year old makes a phone call to his daughter Bethany to say good-bye. Although she interprets her father’s message to mean that he’s finally leaving his condo, Bethany asks her brother-in-law Edward White to check in on Calvin. Without causing alarm, Edward dutifully carries out Bethany’s request knowing full well that Calvin’s farewell message to his daughter means only one thing: that he has serious intentions of suicide.
Edward has known the Greenwoods since he was a kid. Yet it isn’t until his adult years that he becomes acquainted with the Greenwood family dynamics, especially when Calvin cares for suffering wife. Slowly building a relationship with Calvin, Edward hopes that he can convince the old man to abort his self-destructive plans. But persuading Calvin to see the advantages of living over dying are easier said than done because of Calvin’s obstinate persona.
Calvin’s hard shell, though, is a mere facade. Riddled with guilt from past mistakes (i.e., horse race gambling, bad relationships with his three children) Calvin has plenty of unresolved conflict to last another lifetime. Considering Calvin’s precarious situation, if Edward can’t get Calvin to change his mind at the very least he can stall him. Edward engages Calvin in a lengthy conversation. Their discussion sparks a flurry of stories from the past. Although he is certain that he can outwit the old man, Edward is caught off guard when their talk evolves into well-kept secrets that includes one specifically directed toward Edward.
Cole takes readers into the complex world of the aged in his debut novel. While a work of fiction, Cole’s narrative reflects the harsh qualities of reality that often accompany the elderly as their lives draw to a close. Besides unresolved conflict, Cole covers themes that deal with fear, anger, and most especially loneliness. Although the story is centered on Calvin, Cole takes the liberty of unfolding his plot by alternating between the viewpoints of his two highly developed and main characters: Calvin and Edward. Shifting between past and present scenes, Cole slowly builds up to a totally unexpected closing.
The Recommendation
Cole’s human-interest story is definitely not a light read. Focusing on one man’s dysfunctional life and family, Cole’s plot presents life in the raw. Weaving in constant tension resulting from a lifetime of strife, readers may capture an overriding dystopian ambiance to Cole’s plot—and rightfully so since aging has its difficulties. Although well written and highly thought provoking, Ripples Through Time will not appeal to all, especially those who are faint of heart.
