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Reviewed by Jeff Needle
4/17/2009 12:35:55 AM
A few months ago I received a solicitation from a company that publishes a magazine called “Reminiscence” (or some such thing). It was a three month trial, so I figured, what the heck. After three issues, I figured out that my fondness for the “good old days” wasn’t what I thought it would be.
Indeed, we have a tendency to think that the world in which we grew up, or perhaps the world our parents knew as children, was so much better, so much simpler, than what we must cope with these days. Not surprising, then, that the pining for better times is nearly universal.
Borrowman’s latest effort takes place in Depression-era Boise, Idaho. A young man named Artie Call is left without parents very early in life. Raised by his grandfather, he finds himself having to steal food to ensure they always had something to eat. And the more he stole, the easier he found it to just make off with items not necessary for survival.
It comes as no surprise that Artie is always in trouble with the law. After one particularly bad episode, a judge sends Artie to live with the local banker and his family. The banker, David Boone, turns out to be a harsh taskmaster, and loses no time in getting rid of Artie as quickly as possible.
A turning point comes when Artie and two friends break into the home of Mary Wilkerson. It is known that she keeps valuable gold coins in her home. After casing her home for a time, they discover a pattern to her movements. They break into the house when they believe she isn’t home. But Mary is indeed home. When she hears the boys rustling about, she tries to stop their thieving and is met by a hard blow by one of the boys. When it’s clear they need to run, Artie stays behind to make sure Mary is okay and receives medical treatment.
Later, when Artie is dragged into court as one of the thieves, Mary surprises everyone by dismissing the charges against him and offering to take him into her home as her ward.
And so begins Artie’s long and difficult journey into a life of honesty and integrity. And it doesn’t come easily. Time and again Artie is tempted to return to his thieving ways, despite Mary’s provision for his every need. She believes in Artie, and wants nothing more than for him to grow into a trustworthy and mature young man.
Borrowman writes the kinds of books that Mormon audiences come to expect and love – warm human interest stories that feature the Church and those who claim Mormonism their heritage. “One Last Chance” is no different. It’s a pleasant, leisurely stroll through early 20th century America, with all its delights and faults, all its rewards and challenges.
Borrowman does a good job of fleshing out his characters, in particular Mary Wilkerson, Ray McCandless (Mary’s chauffeur and friend), and, of course, Artie himself. He tends to get a bit preachy at times, but the story moves along at a good pace. You can blink at the righteous sniffs that pop up here and there and still enjoy the story.
The book ends a little differently than I had expected. This is always a good surprise for readers like myself who like to be kept guessing. And the entire story takes on something of a mythological morality tale placed in an actual historical setting. It all seems to work together, an achievement that is not always attained.
I don’t know what direction Borrowman’s writing will take. He is a good writer, with a sound sense of plotting and dialogue. I hope he decides to take more chances with his next book. It would be nice to see him combine his skill as an author with his willingness to step out to the edge and peer over to see what’s happening there.
Most LDS readers will enjoy this book. Perhaps there’s a little bit of Artie in all of us – a constant battle between the good we know we should be doing and the evil that sometimes overtakes that good. We, like Artie, seem so anxious to nibble at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The key is to keep our eyes focused on the Tree of Life.
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