Egloff, Z. Verge. Ann Arbor: Bywater Books, 2009. paperback. 280p. $14.95. ISBN: 9781932859683.

Claire McMinn is a young aspiring filmmaker struggling to find direction, stability, and identity while in recovery. In some subtle and not-so-subtle ways, we journey with Claire soon after she’s become sober, and begins coming to terms with mistakes made before her recovery, with the limitations of the people in her life, and with her own identity.

We begin with Claire being fired from her teaching assistant position by her film professor, who has just learned of Claire’s affair with his wife. Claire then arrives home to find that her best friend, Shelley, has been abused again by her husband, and needs to go to a safe house. These two events bring Claire to Sister Hillary, who runs a community center in town, and who loans her the camera she needs to complete her course work. What Claire does not count on is her attraction to Sister Hillary.

Verge is Egloff’s first published novel. Despite some of the prose and dialogue sounding forced, Egloff manages to weave several complex and realistic characters together. Claire is a likeable protagonist because of her flaws, and her new, almost clumsy attempts at self-examination. Claire’s dealings with friends and an alcoholic family who aren’t always able to take care of themselves, present us with a character that doesn’t always say or do the “right” thing, which is refreshing. The language can be cumbersome at times, especially in the beginning, but the story is compelling.

Recommended for those looking for a quick and entertaining read.

Reviewed by, Jesse Nachem
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