I have been meaning to read this book for upwards of 25 years. I was delighted when I found out that it was being reissued.

On the surface it is a very strange book, but once you get settled in it starts to make sense. Larque has a unique “talent” (in quotes because I’m not - and neither is Larque - sure that it is one). She creates living breathing alter-egos of herself and virtually anyone she’s close to. Her mother also has one: if she doesn’t like something or someone, she can blink them into a version more palatable or into oblivion, whichever works. These abilities wreak havoc on them, especially on Larque, so much so that she has a pretty dramatic mid-life crisis. And that’s all I’ll say about the plot of the book.

Deep down this book is about identity and recognizing oneself in all our glorious contradictions. We all are multifaceted and there are parts we may not want to look at or recognize and let live. This book shows us how dangerous that can be and how beautiful we are if we accept and nourish those sides of ourselves.

Also, it’s funny, absurd, glib and irreverent. But otherwise it would be heartbreaking.

Larque on the Wing by Nancy Springer

251 Pages
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media, Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Release Date: December 23, 2014

Fiction (Adult), Sci Fi, Fantasy

Larque is an artist living with her husband Hoot, her three sons, and dog. She has the ability to create doppelgangers but the latest one is different. This little girl is dirty with a snotty nose and an attitude. She is Skylark at ten years old. She makes Larque realize that she is not living the dreams she had as a child. She wanted to be a cowboy, have courage, and fight the bad guys. Instead, Larque paints cows and countryside settings. Skaylark takes off and Larque goes after her. She finds another part of town, full of mystical places. In order to be true to herself, she must find Skylark and make amends.

The book has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. The author has a captivating writing style. She made me realize that we all have three parts within ourselves and we must embrace all of them to be true to ourselves. If you like grown-up books with adult themes and a mystical twist, you will enjoy this book.