Loneliness and the strange ways of the heart
Tulip Chowdhury is moved by the poignance in a tale
Where the Heart Is comes with stories of people who live their lives through tears and joy. Novalee Nation, the protagonist of the story, lives in a chaotic world riddled with problems. Novalee, just seventeen and seven months pregnant, finds herself abandoned by her boyfriend Willie Jack. This happens to be the tip of the iceberg for henceforth each and every sunrise seems to come with more trouble for her. Billie Letts, with her mastery of story craft, brings into the scene the kind, good hearted people who show how sharing and caring can make a world of difference for Novalee. With these people Novalee is able to smile through her tears. The author sews into the story line unique tales of how people can together overcome mountains of trouble. Among these people are those who are happy and some who are unhappy. And yet they are eager to help the homeless girl. The reader will be touched by Novalee's life, for she is a troubled teenager, a good soul who does not foresee the cruel blows of life. Novalee is not superstitious until the unlucky number seven strikes her. Her history of striking it bad about "seven" begins the day Moma Nell runs away when she is seven years old. And then when Novalee is in the seventh grade her only friend gets caught in a case of car lifting by mistake and is sent to jail. And now at seventeen, seven months pregnant and seven pounds overweight, she is alone in the big world. She works as a waitress at Red's and is just sailing along till on the seventh of July she gets stabbed in a break-in at a shop. Then Novalee has enough of "sevens" and takes to the road, hitting for California with Willie Jack, her boyfriend. Willie, a musician, dreams big and there are promises of having a home with real silver and china. However, unlucky "seven" still chases her and Willie, taking her car, abandons her in Sequoyah, Oklahoma, and that too at seven in the morning. The story moves on. On a day out of Wal-Mart Novalee strikes up a conversation with a young boy Ben Goodluck who is sitting in a truck while the driver has gone for some soda. Ben gives her a small buckeye tree, saying that it will bring her good luck. Novalee is touched and wants to hold on to the boy's beliefs. The buckeye tree gives her hope for better days. Novalee visits the public library and on her third visit she meets Forney. The library is housed on the ground floor of Forney's house while he lives upstairs. Forney takes an instant liking to the young, troubled girl. He gets to know the date of her birthday and gives Novalee the very first birthday party of her life. With the two of them enjoying a quiet home cooked dinner Novalee is impressed and touched. No one had ever attached so much importance to her before. The story starts its climb to the climax when Novalee's baby is born inside Wal-Mart. It is a baby girl and Novalee names her Americus. Americus becomes a celebrity and is called the "Wal-Mart Baby". One morning Sam Walton comes walking into the hospital room to meet Novalee. He informs her that he has a job waiting for her at the store. He leaves $500 for the baby. Novalee wants to pay back all the goods she has used from Wal-Mart but Sam Walton refuses to take any payments. Novalee's curse of "sevens" seems to be still chasing her. Many people send greetings and some send money too. When Americus is seven days old, Moma Nell appears from nowhere and declares that she is there to take care of the baby. Novalee hands her all the money she has received so that she can find them a home. Moma Nell disappears with the money. On the day of her release it is Sister Husband who drives up to take Nomalee and the baby to her trailer home. Novalee settles into her job. Her neighbours babysit for Americus while she is away. Forney is constantly by her side helping with the baby. However, Novalee meets Troy and starts dating him. Life goes on with its ups and downs. Novalee is yet to find the surprises that come her way as she settles down in the small town. She buys a camera that is on sale and starts on her big dream, photography. Soon her pictures are the talk of the town. But the joys are smeared with tears when Americus is in trouble. The story continues with deft twists and turns. Billie Letts throws herself into the voices and hearts of her characters. The story spans out, taking the reader on roller coaster rides as the protagonist and the other characters of the story play their parts, revealing the ways people can grow and be nurtured. Imaginations are stirred and curiosity aroused. Will Novalee Nation, the homeless girl, become a celebrity for her photography? There is Forney waiting for her with all his patience; where will this sweet, budding love lead? The neighbours, the characters that are palpably real, will they continue to stand firmly by Novalee? Will she, a single mother, be able to bring up her daughter? And will her curse with the number seven continue to chase her? The greatest question that stirs the imagination of the reader is: What happens to hundreds of other homeless girls in reality? It is Letts' special skill that she can make us feel the distinct yearnings of her characters, where nothing else matters, and allow us to stand back and perceive the parts they play in a larger collective pattern. Where the Heart Is has found its place in Oprah's Book Club. Letts has created characters that are so fully realised that one feels as if they have known them over the years. The romance between Novalee and Forney is deep and touching. In fact, prize-winning writers like Clyde Edgarton, E. Annie Proulx and Barbara Kingslover may have to move over to make room for Billie Letts. Where the Heart Is has been made into a major film by 20th Century Fox. It is a work that will not fail to cause smiles to bloom and tears to follow while you read.
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