Jim Neat

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Mary J. Oliver's debut uniquely blends prose, poetry, found documents, and photographs to explore the life of her father, Jim Neat (b. 1904), against the backdrop of 20th century England and Canada. Adopting a legal framework, she makes 'the case' for Jim's worth. Leaving England as a young seaman, Jim's journey takes him to South Africa, Australia, and eventually Canada during the Great Depression. In Saskatoon, he meets Lizbietta at a bookshop, but tragedy strikes when she dies in childbirth while he is working in Regina. This loss leaves Jim ill and destitute, leading to his hospitalization in Ontario. His story unfolds through hospital case notes, his therapeutic writings, and correspondence with his sister Queenie in England. After being repatriated, Jim meets the author's mother during the war, and their tumultuous marriage adds another layer to the narrative. Despite having children and living together until Jim's death in 1983, his life remains overshadowed by the loss of Lizbietta and their child. The author skillfully uncovers the past, evoking a fractured life filled with emotion and complex relationships. The narrative captures both the exoticism of Jim's experiences and the harsh realities faced by individuals at the mercy of indifferent forces, reminiscent of Annie Proulx and Joyce Carol Oates.