by Cynthia Ruff

Created on: November 06, 2009

This Time of Dying, by Reina James, St. Martin's Press, New York, 2006; pp. 296.

This Time of Dying is a novel about how a community reacts to the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918 and how one group of people accept and learn to deal with the changing times during this crisis. Author Reina James dedicates this, her first novel, to the memory of her grandparents who died from influenza in 1918.

One most noted change during these times is that the class structure gradually begins to disintegrate. It becomes irrelevant as people form common bonds and unlikely friendships. It could be stated that with crisis comes change. This is seen through the eyes of school teachers, doctors, undertakers, neighbors, and strangers who find themselves in the midst of something they cannot control. As the dilemma deepens the community comes together to pool its knowledge, share ideas and assist each other.

The book is harshly entertaining, and the characters exhibit a variety of sensibilities and feelings. Some characters develop and leave behind past prejudices and biases while others stagnate and hold on to beliefs and delusions of the past. Many begin to come to terms with who they are, who they want to be, and who they may never be. But it is not without some growing pains.

For example, there is jealousy, rage, wonder, love, regret, grief, confusion. One woman is upset by the brief interest a man takes in a lesbian; another is angry that her nephew is given the opportunity to work in the family-run funeral parlor while she is overlooked; another man is overwhelmed by the illness that is afflicting his entire family. A woman believes her home is being contaminated by a German maid, and later as she is dying insists that she be placed at the altar of her church as a martyr. A woman grieves over the loss a young heroic friend who taught her that it is better to serve others before oneself. A man cannot understand why health officials do not come to the aid of the community. A man has a great love for piano playing and regrets that he never pursued it as a career. A teacher comes to the realization that she is not happy in her profession. A woman allows her maid to live upstairs in a guest room while nursing her ailing lesbian lover.

The novel is written in chronological order beginning in mid October and spanning the period of less than one month. This somewhat gloomy season and how it represents a change in the seasons is capitalized on. For example, there are many references to the chilly, windy, damp, melancholy gray skies. The various settings such as the dank streets, the undertaker's parlor, the teacher's kitchen and the many bedrooms in various homes create a feeling of isolation and loneliness.

One character's journal entries intermingle with third person text to create an interesting exchange that allows the reader to tap into one character's interpretations of people and events. The plot is suspenseful because the reader is never really sure what will happen next, and the writing style, at times, witty. For example, the statement, he looked up at the ceiling as though looking for information when instead he was really looking upwards to reference the area in which a dead person lay upstairs.

This heroic and fascinating book is a wonderful effort by Reina James to depict a time, a place, and a people. Through doing it, she has created colorful, interesting and endearing characters that will have an everlasting impression on the reader. This book should be read by anyone who desires an uplifting novel about the human spirit during the lowest and bleakest of times.

Resources:

This Time of Dying, by Reina James, St. Martin's Press, New York, Copyright 2006.

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