Ring
André Alexis ruminates on romance and matrilineal legacies in his eloquent novel Ring, in which Torontonians’ lives are touched by a mysterious ritual.
Fusing chance encounters with myth, poetry, and questions of faith and love, this original tale begins during a picturesque winter, when twenty-nine-year-old Gwen meets Olivier and Tancred. She’s introduced to their mutual friend, a wealthy doyenne, as well. The quartet experiences gourmet dining, art, and a poetry reading, throughout which Gwen observes Tancred. When Gwen’s mother intuits that Gwen has fallen in love, she decides Gwen is ready to receive an heirloom ring with the power to change three aspects of a woman’s beloved.
The understated narration grounds the otherwise fantastical elements. The ring’s history, and details about Gwen’s ancestors, reveal the unpredictable outcomes of desire. Women make sacrifices in exchange for the ring’s use, and these are thought-provoking riffs on the classic adage to be careful about what you wish for—with the refreshing twist that, most often, the wishes do work out. Still, through fascinating philosophical inquiries and cross-generational translations, observations, and refutations, the women avoid determining whether the ring is a curse or a divine gift.
Evoking the pleasure and hesitancy of Gwen and Tancred’s early relationship as they ascertain each other’s feelings, the ethereal novel is full of quiet humor. Gwen weighs the possible consequences of her wishes in ways that are both absurd and wise; she faces Tancred with uncertainty, hoping for confirmation. And the couples who surround Gwen make her think about people’s tacit relationship negotiations, and how love is seldom a certain act.
Told with a sense of inevitability and fate, Ring is an enchanting and sophisticated fable in which love is transformative.
Reviewed by
Karen Rigby
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
