The prose in The Red Car zooms across the pages, not in a hurry, but careening, almost out of control. Marcy Dermansky's novel is a sort of coming-of-age tale, which I normally avoid like election year politics. But, the reader quickly gains affection for our hero, Leah, as she pings through life. The cadence of Dermansky's prose
feels like Vendela Vida's first novel, which I enjoyed. But, this writing is much more free and with a good natured sense
of humor. Written in the first person, the story unfolds with a lot of internal
monologue. Yes, this can be an annoying affectation, but in this case works very well...We like her. Leah is living in Queens with her husband that she met in grad school, finishing her first novel on her laptop. The marriage might be a green card event. Her boss Judy, from years ago in San Francisco, dies suddenly. Leah had loved her, a confident, brash, mother figure for her, a big support system, wise-eyed, worldly. Leah makes quick plans to go to the funeral, and her husband chokes her as they argue about this...she probably needs to make some changes. Judy left her the red car she died in, a car that Leah always hated. At a mechanic's shop in San Fran, she finds her old
journal under the front passenger seat with a letter from her boss taped inside, a suicide note and advice from beyond. Follow the clues, Judy tells
her regarding life. And she does. She drives to a speaking engagement of an old boyfriend who is an internet success, with
another college friend. By the way, the book opens with quite a scene with him at college, sorry, no spoiler. She stays at an inn that her mother had loved and edits her novel. The clerk at the inn, a beautiful young Japanese girl, a writing student, steals the red car. Leah goes back east for the bat mitzvah of
Judy's niece, as requested in the letter, without going home. There are many other characters and twists along the way. Ping ping ping. Amidst this crazy journey, which is fun for the reader, Leah gains insight into herself and the confidence to follow the clues. As the book closed, I wished her well.
