Review: A Solitary Walk on the Moon

Title: A Solitary Walk on the Moon

Author: Hilde Hinton

Publisher: 30th March 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 283 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: contemporary

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Evelyn went to the third drawer down in her dresser. It was her drawer of things past ... she had an item from each of her previous lives. Evelyn was good at reinventing herself, becoming who she was going to be next, but she still kept one thing from each life. Never two.'

For Evelyn, mornings pass as mornings always do. She ticks off the jobs at the laundromat and gives welcoming smiles to those who come in. If they've earned one.

Evelyn knows what is going on in her community because she pays attention. She sees the weariness of the frazzled shop owners, the woman with the nasty boyfriend, the nice man with the curly-topped dog, the car parking war and the forgetful man. The community might not notice Evelyn, because it is easy to overlook the seemingly ordinary. But Evelyn is far from ordinary. She isn't afraid to put things right, and is always ready to find lost property or lost people - even if that means breaking the rules.

For a boy with a struggling mum, and a lonely man with a smile in his eyes, Evelyn is going to make a difference, whether they like it or not. She will teach them that you don't have to be blood to be family. And they will remind her of what comes from loving someone. It is up to Evelyn if she can pay the price.

My Thoughts

‘Things aren’t always as they seem, Evelyn,’ Phillip said kindly. She rankled when he suggested she listen rather than act; to let things take their own course because answers only bob up when there is space. 'Be open minded and try not to 

jump to conclusions.’

I was drawn to this book as the blurb just seemed so relatable - that smile when passing a stranger could truly make a difference. This book proves it - particularly if you happen to be Evelyn!

A Solitary Walk on the Moon is a unique and lovely book where some things, many of them so seemingly simple, can be the instigator for something much greater. Hilde cleverly captures and presents an unfolding tale of life’s complex emotions and interactions with one another. 

That being said, it took quite a bit of reading between the lines. Few things are made explicit, especially when it comes to Evelyn; her history shrouded in innuendo. There are also questions left unanswered by the end, that I found a little frustrating given the inferential nature of much of the story. Just a few more understandings would have fulfilled the potential and made this tale a true revelation. 

‘Evelyn had always prided herself on doing just that when she went from one life to the next. Although, she suddenly realised, perhaps she carried everything forward. Perhaps she ran and ran with an ever-growing weight, becoming less and less able to love the further she went.’

The writing is lyrical, the sentiment filled with compassion. Perhaps it is life’s secrets - things best left unanswered - that demonstrate how sometimes in life, people come into your life for an untold reason or a season. Bottom line, being kind, lending a helping hand and that random smile can make a world of difference. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.