Tinkers by Paul Harding

Tinkers by Paul Harding, 191 pages, Fiction.
I first heard about this one at ALA-Midwinter, where it was selected as one of the Notable Books for 2009. I finally got around to reading it and it was freakin' lovely (I had to add the adjective 'cuz as a guy, I'm uncomfortable just calling a book lovely. Even though it was). The story follows George Crosby through his final days, after his long life. And then it jumps back and tells of his father, Howard, a tinker and an epileptic. Howard veers toward a decision that changes his own life, and the life of his son, as he ponders relationships, trust, and betrayal. In the present, George's family has gathered and what he sees and what he thinks he sees and what he remembers takes us back through his time fixing clocks, and back to his childhood and the loss of his father. The story unfolds in glimpses and colors and impressions. We get information on clocks and on George's and Howard's thoughts and wonders. It is a beautiful little book.--Patrick