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The Ash Wednesday Supper: A Journey Through Love, Loss, and Redemption

Dean Butler

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Published in The Ash Wednesday Supper: A Novel

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The Ash Wednesday Supper is a novel by Ethan Canin that tells the story of a family's struggle to come to terms with the death of their beloved patriarch.

The Ash Wednesday Supper: A Novel

by Arthur Versluis

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	420 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	304 pages

The novel opens on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The family is gathered for their annual Ash Wednesday supper, a tradition that has been passed down for generations. But this year, the supper is different. The patriarch of the family, John, has recently died, and his absence is felt by all.

The novel follows the family as they try to come to terms with John's death. Each member of the family grieves in their own way. John's wife, Mary, is withdrawn and distant. His son, Peter, is angry and rebellious. His daughter, Sarah, is trying to hold the family together, but she is struggling to cope with her own grief.

As the family struggles to heal, they are forced to confront their own relationships with John. They begin to realize that they did not always appreciate him the way they should have. They also begin to realize that they need to let go of their anger and resentment in order to move on.

The Ash Wednesday Supper is a moving and insightful exploration of love, loss, and redemption. It is a novel that will stay with readers long after they finish the final page.

Characters

The Ash Wednesday Supper features a cast of complex and well-developed characters.

John is the patriarch of the family. He is a kind and loving man, but he is also flawed. He is often distant and emotionally unavailable, and he has a tendency to put his work before his family.
Mary is John's wife. She is a devoted and loving wife, but she is also lonely and resentful. She feels that John has never truly understood her, and she longs for a deeper connection with him.
Peter is John and Mary's son. He is a rebellious and angry young man. He feels that he has been overshadowed by his father, and he resents the fact that he has never been able to live up to his expectations.
Sarah is John and Mary's daughter. She is a kind and compassionate young woman. She is the glue that holds the family together, but she is also struggling to cope with her own grief.

Themes

The Ash Wednesday Supper explores a number of important themes, including:

Love: The novel explores the different kinds of love that exist in the world. There is the love between a husband and wife, the love between a parent and child, and the love between siblings. The novel shows that love can be complex and messy, but it is also one of the most powerful forces in the world.
Loss: The novel also explores the theme of loss. The family is grieving the loss of their patriarch, and they are struggling to come to terms with his death. The novel shows that loss is a painful and difficult experience, but it is also an important part of life.
Redemption: The novel also explores the theme of redemption. The family is able to find redemption through their love for each other. They are able to forgive each other for their past mistakes, and they are able to move on with their lives.

Writing Style

Ethan Canin is a gifted writer, and The Ash Wednesday Supper is a beautifully written novel. The novel is full of lyrical and evocative prose, and Canin has a keen eye for detail. The novel is also very well-paced, and Canin keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

The Ash Wednesday Supper is a moving and insightful novel about love, loss, and redemption. It is a novel that will stay with readers long after they finish the final page.

The Ash Wednesday Supper: A Novel

by Arthur Versluis

4.2 out of 5