Book: Terry Fallis: novel “No Relation”

Canadian author Terry Fallis delights once again with his fourth and latest novel, “No Relation”.

In his wry, light-hearted way he looks at what it’s like for those ordinary folk

who are burdened with the same name as people who have become internationally famous.

Imagine the taunts throughout your life being named Mario Andretti, famous race-car driver, but you are a terrible driver.

Or the case of the main character whose name, but for a couple of letters, is that of renowned novelist Ernest Hemingway, and you are striving to be a writer yourself.  Adding to that particular burden is the pressure from your father to give up the writing dream and follow tradition by taking over as head of the family manufacturing business.

Then there are the subtle differences of having a perfectly ordinary name for much of your life, until your namesake becomes famous and your name suddenly becomes a burden or joke, compared to those who were tagged with a famous name after the other name has already been famous.

And of course there is the everpresent anxiety that comes with knowing the reaction of disbelief or smirks you’re guaranteed to get every single time you have to mention your name to someone new, and especially so if that is someone with a bit of authority.

And of course there’s love and loss, and frustration, and companionship  and through it all, plenty of humour all mixed in in this delightful new novel.