Contagion
Description of Contagion
Walt Honerman has just about given up on life. He is thirty-eight years old and lives alone in a small apartment above a hardware store in Billings, Montana. But because of a promise made to a dying uncle, Walt embarks on a cross-country driving trip with two passengers: Moira Kelly, a young woman who had befriended Walt's uncle during his recent hospitalization; and 76-year-old Izzy Dunleavy, a loquacious nursing home resident who wishes to return to his hometown of Crawfish Bay, Maryland.
During their trip, Izzy entertains Walt and Moira with elaborate tales of the grand resort he once owned in Crawfish Bay—a resort with a mythical reputation for being a place of good luck. But when they arrive in Crawfish Bay, a suddenly confused Izzy is arrested on a decades-old embezzlement charge.
After Moira insists on staying to help Izzy, she and Walt discover that most of Izzy's stories are pure fiction. More discoveries occur when they meet Felix, Izzy's former business partner, and Emily, a single mother who worked at the nursing home in Billings and who came to Crawfish Bay because of Izzy's promise of a job at his fictional resort.
This mismatched group, thrown together as much by anger as by nostalgic affection, begins investigating the money Izzy supposedly embezzled when he disappeared from Crawfish Bay years ago. And despite his retreat from life, brought on by a past tragedy, Walt finds himself being pulled into the wake of wild dreamers.
Reviews of Contagion
I loved everything about this book! It's a story of life, death, love, friendship, faith and fate. There is humor and sadness and characters so real you will swear you know them. In other words a story of life told by a master story teller and one helluva talented writer. You will remember this novel long after you reluctantly finish reading the last page.
-John Austin, Host of The Book Club on WTAN, Tampa, Florida
I read this book, and completely re-read it again, for the pure joy of the story and the storytelling. This book is the fascinating study of a bunch of misfits, drawn to each other through the illusions of Izzy Dunleavy, an elderly resident of Oakdale Nursing Home in Billings, Montana. This book is full of introspective reflection and dream weaving. It offers us glimpses into the lives of those who live with a disregard of reality, and the consequences of such disregard. Those who pursue life with the absolute faith and belief that things will simply happen as they need to occur to achieve seemingly impossible dreams, goals and desires—these people whom we dismiss as dreamers, crazy, insane—they also capture our rapt attention, they amaze us, and we find ourselves wanting to be like them, to believe…
-Rebeccas Reads Book Reviews
The writing is as smooth and engaging as in the author's previous novel, In the Shadow of War. His compassion for the many facets of the human experience is again evident, but with the irrepressible Izzy and his tall tales fueling this "road" novel, the movement and shifting locales provide a rowdier ambiance with this mismatched cast of characters trying to unravel a mystery. This is a most enjoyable read, and would make a great movie. What is particularly impressive is Garry's portrayal of his female characters. Moira and Emily each emerge as wholly believable "real" people.
-Writer's Digest, International Book Awards
Contagion, the latest novel from law professor Patrick M. Garry, follows the template of the hero's journey (or monomyth); a hero ventures forth from the every day into the world where the hero must face tasks and trials, either alone or with assistance. Like many prototypical heroes, Walt initially refuses the call to adventure (traveling east) but is soon overwhelmed with pressure by his uncle's friends and ventures forth into the unknown joined by Izzy and Moira. By refusing the call, Walt moves from hero to a victim in need of rescue and cedes the journey's direction to Izzy. The arrest of Izzy, and the resulting mess which must be untangled, is Walt's road of trials and Izzy becomes the father-figure with whom Walt must reconcile.
While the first half of the novel where Garry sets the stage for Walt's journey is slow and occasionally begins to drag, the second half quickly kicks into high gear driven by Moira's determination and Jake's personality (a young man Walt and Moira meet at Crawfish Bay) which carry readers along in their wake.
In many ways, all of the main characters in Contagion are on journeys, each trying to find their way to a home.
-Janelle Martin, book reviewer for Eclectic Closet
Contagion is an engrossing read about how relationships make life worth living. The characters in Contagion are well portrayed and unusual in that they have very casual ties at the start of the story and these ties strengthen as the story progresses. Overall, fans of Patrick M. Garry from his earlier books, In the Shadow of War, Saving Faith, and A Bridge Back will find this book appealing and a quick and easy read, as will many others.
-Sherri Harper, poet and writer (for full review click here)
Contagion is touching and gentle and unabashedly romantic in the best sense of that misused word. I also loved the understated ending, its elegant lack of melodrama.
-Allison McGhee, novelist
Listed in USA Books News "What is Hot, New and Noteworthy in the World of Books."
-USA Book News
Contagion gives readers a "nice cozy mystery."
-Clarion Review
