LW Montgomery

Montgomery’s debut novel grabs you from the very first page in which our protagonist, Greg, writes a letter to his soon-to-be ex-wife to semi-adequately explain his reasons for disappearing. The opening of Promise of Departure—which delineates both the inciting event and numerous conflicts and, thus, is simultaneously satisfying and tantalizing—grabs you from the get-go. We journey alongside Greg as he journeys to Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tries to redefine his idea of happiness. He is armed with little more than his passport (which he promptly loses), his motorcycle, and any essentials that can fit in the bike’s storage boxes. At times pitiable (who doesn’t miss their kids when they’re away?), often infuriating (how could he just leave his very comfortable life and daughter?), always well-meaning (what else can you say about a guy who wants to help the devastated Haitians?), Greg gives us a glimpse of a person who has achieved his dreams—although his marriage has fallen apart—and now needs something else to keep him going. Promise of Departure is a nice story about man’s search for meaning and the paradoxes that present themselves when we are forced to part from that which we love.

Story & Pacing: 7
This is a road-trip novel. Most of the story revolves around Greg’s first week in Haiti and his (mis?)adventures. I enjoyed his recollections about the various events that caused him to give up his job and journey to Haiti. I also liked reading about the different people he meets. There is A LOT of talk on motorcycles—mainly because his bike-fixing skills are what he offers as help to people. There is A LOT of thinking—Greg’s stream of consciousness was tedious at times. There is so much thinking that satellite characters comment on Greg’s tendencies to overthink, too.

Characters: 7
Despite his jibber-jabber, and although some people will never truly understand why he leaves his life in Dallas, Greg is a likable character for the very sole reason that he means well. He wants to help; he has the same insecurities that we do; he is actually in Haiti rather than thinking he should be in Haiti. The colourful cast of characters that Greg encounters add spice to his travels and most are memorable.

Setting: 8
I’m not sure if Montgomery has actually visited Haiti or how accurate his descriptions of the island are, but I enjoyed learning a little bit about the island. Haiti, itself, is like a character, teeming with possibilities and hope in the midst of such devastation. I would have liked a bit more information about Haiti beyond the scenery and the people (presumably Greg would have done some research about the place).

Style & Writing: 7
Montgomery’s prose is easy to understand. His voice shines very clearly in his narrator’s liberal use of italicized/emphasized thoughts, informative asides, and parenthetical ideas. He has long stretches of narrative, which were not always to my liking. I noted a few typographical errors, but none so major to irk the discerning reader. I would happily read more works by this author.

Learnability & Teachability: 7
If you enjoyed Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road or the film One Week, which starred Joshua Jackson, you may enjoy this story!

POTENTIAL TEACHABLES
History and geography of Haiti; the earthquake and its aftermath; motorcycles and motorcycle parts; volunteer organizations like the UN, Doctors Without Borders, etc.; mapping out locales based on author’s description; California-Mexico border tourist spots.… (mais)