The Untimely Resurrection Of John Alexander MacNeil is the second book by Canadian author, Lesley Choyce to feature John Alexander MacNeil, and is set ten years on, still near the town of Inverary on the isle of Cape Breton. Living alone in his rundown Deepwater farmhouse, John Alex is ninety when his breathing (and loud snoring), then his heart, stop one night, but his sheer cussedness and strong stubborn streak wills it to restart. This results in a confrontation in his kitchen with Death, who looks like a cross between Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe, and is puzzled as to how it happened.

John Alex isn’t sure it did. He goes to see one-hundred-year-old Flossie Henderson who reasons that “What you believe to be real is real … or at least might as well be real.” He talks to his good friend Sheila LeBlanc, who recommends a visit to the new doctor in town. John Alex is shocked to find that Dr Holbrook looks exactly like Death, although he denies ever having met John Alex.

When Death does return to the farmhouse, still looking exactly like the doctor, he says that he’s intrigued by John Alex’s resurrection. He explains that everyone has a circle, an affinity group, tells John Alex who comprises his, and offers what John Alex sees as an unacceptable ultimatum.

“One of my favourite pastimes since I turned ninety, I must admit, was napping. I had learned that here was a hobby for which you did not have to study at length, read any how- to books, or look up on the damn internet to figure out. If they included napping in the Olympics, I would say, I could possibly win a gold medal. Finally, here was something I was good at.”

But napping will have to wait. Circumstances bring him in close contact with each surviving member of his circle: concerned for him, Sheila stays over at John Alex’s home; Emily and her serious sensitive, intuitive and weird ten-year-old daughter, Evie come to stay; the reclusive island-dwelling son of an idealistic hermit friend needs a safe place to heal; an apologetic meth addict, vowing to reform, joins them. Coincidence? Or Death’s doing?

Choyce easily sets his Nova Scotia scene; interesting vignettes describe characters with depth and appeal and some endearing quirkiness; he gives them wise words, gentle philosophy and insightful observations. All against a background of the country’s southern neighbour going more than a bit crazy with their new leader, and reports of a nasty Chinese flu …

Before we reach the final page, there’s a well-meaning kidnap, an assisted suicide, the fire bombing of a meth lab, a midnight flit, a case of corona virus within John Alex’s circle, a puzzling suicide, and a few incidents that have John Alex, and others, wondering about his mental state, and these topical themes are all handled with sensitivity and humour.

Choyce’s descriptive prose is often gorgeous: “I studied the dust motes drifting in the sunlight like it was a micro ballet” and “my brain corrugated with a million thoughts about what was and what wasn’t the right thing to do” are examples.

His protagonist is delightfully self-deprecating as “I was a little surprised that Sealy was getting impatient with me, but I guess I was working too hard at being the stubborn old goat I aspired to be” and “You sure you know what you are doing?”
“Of course not,” I answered. “Never did. Life just throws stuff at me. That’s the way it’s always been. And I make a decision — almost always a gut decision, and not always the correct one, I admit” demonstrate.

While there are likely spoilers for the first book, this one can easily stand alone and, for those familiar with that book, will be a welcome update on the cast. Heart-warming and uplifting
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Fernwood Publishing.

This little story somehow wormed its way into my heart, after a less than auspicious start. The protagonist is a really very obnoxious ninety-year-old man at the beginning of the novel, who happens to die and then mysteriously will himself back to life. Right after that, though, as if that isn’t enough, he meets Death, who he finds sitting in his kitchen. The story takes increasingly absurd and amusing turns from there, and some of its more colourful characters include a kind pharmacist, a one hundred-year-old woman in a nursing home, the new doctor in town who has secrets and mysteries of his own, a hermit/recluse on a nearby island, a conscientious Mountie, and a precocious ten-year-old and her naturopath mother.

It’s the unexpected turns that turned this story into a real experience for me; I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The curmudgeonly protagonist turns out, as you might expect, to not be as awful as he seems at the start of the book, and it was a relief for me when I started to feel affection for him. As for his adventures—I’m adding Cape Breton to my bucket list, just to see this colourful place.

In all, a delight. Thank you to NetGalley and to Roseway Publishing for access.

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

The writing flows well, the premise is interesting, and most importantly, it will leave you thinking.

There's a bit of absurdity, and bit of comedy, and more than a bit of "what the heck?"

Overall, it's a fun and interesting read, and it's definitely not for everyone, but everyone should give it a shot anyway.

John Alex is the third oldest person in his town at 90.

One night his heart tries to stop, but his stubbornness doesn’t allow it. Then he’s visited by a man who appears to be Death to him, and to everyone else is a new doctor in town.

During this book we meet all those who care for John Alex and witness love, growth, illness, recovery, death, and more.

This definitely includes my fav trope of found family and you feel like you’ve just made new friends by the end.

I recently reread The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil, a book I loved. I was thrilled to receive the ARC for its sequel, The Untimely Resurrection of John Alexander MacNeil, with thanks to NetGalley and Fernwood Publishing. The publishing date is scheduled for September 28.
The book engaged a whole gamut of emotions in me, and I sometimes cried and laughed out loud. The story takes place in John Alex's blessed isle of Cape Breton ten years after the first story. He is now age 90, lives alone, and considers himself lonely but doesn't care. Each morning, he fixes a cup of tea for his wife, who has been dead for decades, and he talks with her. He is stubborn, grouchy, and healthy for his age. He worries about developing dementia. The dialogue seems very authentic for the place and age of the protagonist.

The story contains many interesting and thought-provoking themes and moves smoothly from tragedy to hilarity and back again. Some of the subjects include the nature of reality, an affinity group of connected people, suicide and assisted suicide, death, severe illnesses, possible hallucinations, drug addiction, arson, naturopathic versus scientific medical practices, destiny versus life choices, vengeful drug dealers, responsibility to others, the degradation of the natural environment, the aging process, damaging suspicions, love and friendship, a gay relationship, strict adherence to rules, and the beginning of the COVID pandemic. So much in a book of average length that I won't attempt to describe this multifaceted story fully.

The cantankerous John Alex dies ( ?) at the story's opening but forces his heart and lungs to start functioning again through sheer willpower and stubbornness. He finds Death sitting at his kitchen table, Baffled about what happened. He describes Mr. Death as resembling Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe mushed together and wearing a baggy business suit.

Troubled about what has occurred, he visits an old crush, Flossie, a hundred-year-old woman residing in a nursing home. She had been John Alex's babysitter when he was a tiny boy and later became a philosophy professor. They discuss the nature of reality, and she suggests that what happened to him might not be a hallucination or the start of dementia but to accept this as his own reality. She mentions how Death manifests itself in various cultures as a living thing. She also says that people were looking for a proper Devil in America. They elected him president when he appeared in person and cheered when he tried to destroy the nation. John Alex considers Flossie's mind still sharp but is saddened to learn she has several fatal illnesses.

Still concerned about seeing Death and conquering him on the night he 'died,' John Alex visits a kindly neighbour, Sheila. She is a retired librarian who got him interested in reading and was also a former nurse who assisted in the birth of a baby in his home ten years earlier. He confides in her what happened the night he died and the apparition that appeared in his home. She is concerned that he may have a tumour or other medical condition, as he seems to be losing touch with reality. She takes the reluctant John Alex to the new doctor in town. It is many years since his former doctor died, and he has not visited a medical clinic since. To his horror, Dr. Holbrook's appearance is identical to Mr. Death's. Of course, the new doctor objects to being called Death and insists they have never seen each other before.

There is another visit from Death in his home. Mr. Death is trying to clarify why John Alex is still alive, as such a miracle has never happened before in his presence. He also informs John Alex about being part of a Circle where people are connected with him and are responsible for one another. Death mentions Sheila and Flossie, Em and her daughter Evie, born in his house; Brad, the local pharmacist from Ontario; Jenko, who was injured in a tavern robbery; Fowler, the drug-enraged robber who injured him; Mason, the son of a hermit from his past who lives isolated on a small island; and Sealy, the local RCMP officer considered boring for his strict adherence to rules. Death states there may be others, but he forgot to bring his list. Some of these people linked to John Alex he already knows and others he has not yet met or interacted with.

Next, he is approached by Dr. Halbrook, who tells him that he doesn't understand but that John Alex seems to be linked with many others who want his advice and support. This further increases his suspicion of the doctor as the doppelganger for Death, as they both have referred to his Circle.
Although he had not set eyes on the doctor until after seeing Death, it had been explained to him that time is not linear. Dr. Halbrook wants him to accompany him to the tiny island where Mason has become a hermit like his father. The doctor has been told to check Mason's welfare and probably turn him over to social services. John Alex agrees, now understanding that he is responsible for Mason as part of his Circle.

Em and her daughter Evie are now visiting his home. Evie is now a 10-year-old prodigy who adores John Alex. She is delighted to be left behind when her mother returns to Halifax to continue the study of naturopathic healing. Why is Mason now living in John Alex's shed? One night, a drug-crazed robber, Fowler, enters the house wielding a knife and threatens John Alex. Mason enters the house, injures Fowler, and ties him up while Evie calls the police. The RCMP officer, Sealy, places the restrained Fowler in the police cruiser to take him to jail. Why does he return Fowler and suggest any burglary charges be dropped? Why is this drug addict now living in John Alex's shed?
A house where illegal drugs are manufactured is burned down, and one of the dealers threatens John Alex. Why? The doctor saves him, but John Aex, still suspicious, refuses to thank him.
COVID is coming. Evie, now in Halifax with her mother, becomes seriously ill. Her mother refuses any medical help and abhors hospitals and modern medicine. Sheila goes to Halifax to save Evie from an almost certain death. She brings John Alex to try to talk some sense into Em. He fails to do so. Does Evie thwart a visit from Death?

This compelling story provides much entertainment and food for thought—highly recommended!

Synopsis

John Alexander MacNeil is back with another astonishing adventure. The ninety-year-old still lives alone on the blessed isle of Cape Breton. He still sometimes makes tea for his wife, who died decades ago. He accepts his lonely life, ignoring the world changing around him. But one night, he feels his heart stop. After willing himself back to life with sheer stubbornness, John Alex finds Death himself sitting at his kitchen table, perplexed and intrigued by his victim’s recovery. What follows is a tale on the edge of reality, full of love, doubt and the inexplicable details of an extraordinary life. Keeping what wits he has about him, John Alex needs to muster all the wisdom and courage he has to protect those around him from the dangers of an ever-changing world and the grim reaper he has come to know.

I completely enjoyed this book from the first page to the last. Made me download several other from this author. Characters were fully developed and the story flowed like butter. Makes you think, makes you feel deep down how he felt. I would highly recommend this book! Thank you for allowing me to have the ARC.

I was really intrigued by the concept of this one. So much so that I went online and hunted down a copy of the first book, which was difficult to find. Unfortunately, I just don't think the author's writing style in my reading style mesh well together. I found this second book to be more engaging than the first, but still not quite enough so to really hold my attention despite a fascinating topic and my tendency to engage well with curmudgeonly protagonists.. This one just wasn't a good fit for me.

The Untimely Resurrection of John Alexander MacNeil
by Lesley Choyce

What a great read. You will laugh, cry, and cheer John Alexander MacNeil. I did not want this book to end. It was a very brilliantly written book, and everyone should read it. Bravo to Lesley Choyce!!