Juliette and George Morgan know all about Living the Good Life. As the town’s newest ‘it’ couple, they succeed in transforming the otherwise sleepy farming community of Rickshaw into a hotbed for musical talent and social enterprise. A poignant and beautifully layered tale, the Day Before Tomorrow is a portrayal of an era once removed, yet not forgotten – from the early to late seventies – with much of the story taking place within the Morgan family’s domestic locus and the community in which they live. Relationships become so intricately woven, adult and adolescent lines become blurred and an illicit connection between teacher and student builds into hidden, often disturbing scenes of love, secrets and human experience. When the Morgan’s future essentially falls down in mid-flight, the family is forced to cope with not only trauma, but coming of age and ultimately moving away from their safe haven of Rickshaw. An indictment of survival, shattered innocence, death, love and optimism, this tale is one that will transport your mind, speak to your heart and stay in both long after you have closed the cover.
August 1979
Juliette can see for eternity in the cerulean sky and, in that moment of quiet wonderment, she feels an unexpected rise in her spirit – her awareness is unencumbered by thought, rapt with being alive.
The window is halfway down, George’s finger on the wheel.
The road, patched and re-patched before them, cuts the countryside in half. Juliette watches the prairies pass by like a motion picture: green wooded foothills, whimsical corn fields as tall as men, harvested clearings, dense undeveloped thickets, jagged and uninviting. She pictures what the land would look like from a skydive – tiled with russet, emerald, goldenrod, and their van, the size of a beetle, inching along with a destination in mind.
The dashboard starts its rattle again. George gives it a good swift thump. “Now stay that way,” he says and swings out to pass a truck. There is no shortage of honeybees this year, judging by the bounty of wildflowers competing from beneath shale and rock. Showy blossoms of bergamot, tall and dignified, ecstatic to have burst from the ether into here and now.
Review
Well, this story certainly had no lack of intense situations. Not what I typically read, but this story of a family saga filled with illness, uncertainty, and secrets was fascinating to read and startling in the ways it unfolded. There was some jumping back and forth through the lives of the characters, which sometimes threw me off. Not sure why as I don’t usually have trouble with time jumps, but even so, those jumps felt like they added to the story in ways I can’t quite describe.
All in all, a tale for those seeking thought-provoking concepts and relationships. There’s a lot to uncover in this story that’s partially based on reality, and it makes you wonder about the world you live in, the people you know, and the truths you tell yourself. Recommend for those who want a slower (as in not packed with action sequences) story and to those who don’t mind having their mind opened.
Monique Britten is an emerging author known for her ability to craft compelling stories that resonate deeply with readers. With a passion for capturing the essence of different eras and the complexities of human relationships, Britten’s writing leaves a lasting impact on those who delve into her novels. “The Day Before Tomorrow” offers a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
To check out the other stops on the tour, visit the tour page here.