Early Morning Riser – Katherine Heiny
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: Over 17-years we check-in with Jane, an Upper Peninsula Michigander, as she navigates love, career and the benefits — and drawbacks — of life in a small town.
Expectation: A breezy romantic comedy.
Reality: A surprisingly funny and sentimental story of chosen family that had me questioning some of my own choices in life.
Recommended For: Fans of J. Ryan Stradal’s brand of storytelling.
Why I Read It: My husband and close friend both raved about it.
My Take:
I went into “Early Morning Riser” with low expectations, since the consensus on this novel seems to be you either love it or loathe it. Surprisingly, I’m in the love camp.
The chief complaint from others is that nothing happens. To me, that’s entirely the point. This isn’t a novel for entertainment — although I did find it entertaining, mainly because of the cast of quirky townspeople — it is a novel for introspection and reflection.
Maybe that’s giving too much credit to the story, but not acknowledging the talent it takes to seamlessly pull that off without emotional manipulation or plot-driven drama is disingenuous to Katherine Heiny.
Rather than anchoring Jane, our main character, in her present and following along as she reminisces about past experiences, we first meet her in 2002 as a first-year teacher full of enthusiasm and promise for what her adult life will be.
Within each chapter — each skipping a few years or several — we learn that life hasn’t always been to her idealistic plan, and when “Riser” closes in 2019 on a borderline overwhelmed middle-aged parent of two, she has a resolve and peace with her journey that feels complete.
On that journey we meet her on- and off-again lover, Duncan, who seems to have slept with most of the women in the Upper Peninsula. His ex-wife Aggie and her husband, Gary; Jimmy, Duncan’s coworker with a cognitive disability; and Freida, Jane’s best friend that’s never far from her mandolin.
Even with a slightly crowded roster, each of the characters enhances the story and fit organically into the narrative, giving “Riser” a “Parks and Rec” or “Schitt’s Creek” vibe. It’s also through these relationships that Heiny adds moments showing how quick judgement lessens our ability to connect — a reminder we all need right now.
I’ll be fair to the critics — there’s nothing gasp inducing that occurs, but there are enough plot points to keep you hooked, especially as you learn more about the characters. Throughout, the story zigged when I thought it would zag and kept me pleasantly engaged.
Which probably was the most surprising thing. Within the first two chapters I wanted to give up on “Riser.” I found Jane to be a selfish and entitled character, and I didn’t want to spend the time investing in someone who felt she deserved more than she was given.
But, when you think about yourself at 23-years-old and the humongous shifts in world understanding you gain once reality slaps you in the face — how could you not want to see how this story ends?
The audiobook was narrated by Kate Rudd, who did solid work here, giving all our characters a personality without schlocky impressions or exaggerated deliveries that detract rather than add. Given the length of the chapters, this method would be recommended for readers that like shorter sections.
In the end, my one complaint would be Heiny was a bit uneven in tone throughout. This often manifested when a supporting character — some not getting the development they deserved — was used for comic relief during a moment that didn’t need one.
Still, if you are fan of J. Ryan Stradal’s “The Lager Queen of Minnesota” or “Kitchens of the Great Midwest” or Curtis Sittenfeld’s “You Think It, I’ll Say It,” or to some degree, Elizabeth Strout’s “Olive Kitteridge” series — add this to the top of your to be read list.
Rating (story): 4.5/5 stars
Rating (narration): 4/5 stars
Formats: Audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: November 15 - 21, 2021
Multi-tasking: Good to go, but I’d recommend activities that still allow you to concentrate.
