Bookish Thoughts: All Stories Are Love Stories for Elizabeth Percer

On the morning of February 14, exactly seven hours, fifty-two minutes, and thirteen seconds before the earth's two largest tectonic plates released decades' worth of strain under a busy suburb just outside San Francisco; exactly eight hours, eight minutes, and fifty-three seconds before the energy dislodged from the seismic shifting triggered an even more catastrophic displacement farther north along the San Andreas Fault; exactly eight hours, nine minutes, and twelve seconds before all gas, power, water, cell, and satellite communications were severed from San Francisco and its environs; exactly eight hours and twenty-two minutes before thousands of tiny sparks and larger ignitions got out from under the valiant efforts of a drought-plagued understaffed fire department and prematurely exhausted volunteers; and exactly ten hours and eleven minutes before the real danger to the old precariously built packed-like-sardines city--fire--proved its indomitable hunger, Max Fleurent was on the phone with his mother.  ~ Opening of All Stories Are Love Stories

All Stories Are Love Stories for Elizabeth Percer

Harper, 2016

Fiction; 368 pgs

I jokingly referred to this novel as a disaster book when first mentioning it to my husband. The novel takes place just before, during and after two catastrophic earthquakes in San Francisco, sparking fire and devastation. At the novel's center are three characters: Max, a twenty-nine year old who is going through the motions of living, let down by those he loved the most; Vashti, who has made a fresh start after the deaths of her daughter and husband, and who has never stopped loving Max; and Gene, a Stanford geologist who is afraid of losing the one person he loves most in the world.  All three of their lives will converge as they face their pasts, come to terms with their present, and do what they can to survive.

Let me start by saying I felt this novel got off to a slow start. Although the writing drew me in, it took me a while before I settled in. Perhaps it was the anticipation of what was to come. I was not expecting such a character driven novel. Somehow, though, this novel crept up on me, my initial distance from it eventually gave way to immersion before I even realized it.

All three of the main characters, Max, Vashti, and Gene have their own quirks and flaws. The disaster that befalls all three brings all of their worst fears, old guilt, and lost dreams to the forefront. The choices they have made in life are not necessarily the ones I would have made--but then, we walk in different shoes. Max's love and protectiveness of his mother shines through, and yet he is clearly scarred by his father's abandonment. Vashti's fears and commitment to her family led her to giving up love for practicality.  Under the circumstances, as a mother, I can understand why she took the path she did. I felt for both Max and Vashti--their story is a sad one, fraught with miscommunication, immaturity, and tragedy. For Gene's part, once passionate about his work, he has become more interested in the next promotion. His love for his partner is overshadowed by his worry about losing him and the life they have together. I admit I got frustrated at times with Gene in the aftermath of the earthquakes. No one would call him selfless. But is it really fair to judge him so harshly, I asked myself as I was reading? We are human after all.

There are other characters scattered throughout the novel from a homeless man on the street to a nun, Father, and three children trapped in the wreckage. Their stories are just as compelling. I would like to have known more about Phil, a boy, who has the spirit of a hero.

San Francisco has always been one of my favorite cities. I remember well one of my many visits there, this one with my church confirmation class. We toured several churches and community programs throughout the city; It was a very eye-opening experience, cementing my decision to take the career path I did. I still remember how excited I was to see the beautiful Grace Cathedral, which is mentioned a couple times in the novel. Author Elizabeth Percer made me fall in love with the city all over again in her novel All Stories Are Love Stories. Such a beautiful city with so much history, so many faces, and one full of hope even when faced with the worst disaster. San Francisco is very much its own character in this novel. So strong and yet so fragile.

Percer writes in such a way as to make the reader feel the scenario described in her book is very possible, right down to the science, including the destruction of an entire city, or near to it. It's a frightening prospect, especially at the magnitude she describes. Having lived through two major earthquakes in California myself, seeing the devastation caused, I can only imagine how much worse it could be. We always hear about how the "Big One" is coming. I think most of us fluff it off--yes, we know, but it won't be today. We have time, we think. But do we really?

This is my first novel by Elizabeth Percer, but will not be my last. All Stories Are Love Stories struck the right chord with me. It's a novel not just about romantic love, but also the love between parents and their children, love between siblings, and the love between friends. I ended up really enjoying it.

To learn more about Elizabeth Percer and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads and Facebook.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about All Stories Are Love Stories on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

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