A Year and Six Seconds

Author: Isabel Gillies
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Voice, 2011
Pages: 256
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: A Year and Six Seconds opens on the winter day Isabel Gillies arrives in Manhattan, two young sons in tow, after her husband has left her; she's moving back in with her parents until she can figure out what to do next.In scene after sweet, hilarious scene, Gillies exposes her attempts to feel strong and lovable and to cross items off a staggering to-do list that includes: break down only in front of best friend, not in front of children; get along with parents in tight quarters; find preschool spot for son mid-school-year in Manhattan; receive one great, romantic kiss. She makes lists, she dates, she cries; she and her whole crowded family get the flu; then, just when Gillies least expects it, she falls in love. A Year and Six Seconds is a buoyant, true romantic comedy with a universal human undercurrent reminding us that we can all struggle and stumble, but somehow come out just fine on the other side.

Review: I read Happens Every Day shortly after filing for divorce from my ex-husband and thoroughly enjoyed it. A Year and Six Seconds, while very good, was not exactly what I expected. I wanted to know more about the "after" and not so much about recovering from a divorce.

That said, there were a couple lines that jumped out at me:

• Everyone has value; you just have to know what to take away.
• Finding love might be more about being willing than ready.

I'm in a serious relationship now too - two years after leaving my ex. Sometimes I wonder if it's too soon to be talking about marriage and starting over, but like Isabel points out it's a leap of faith no matter when you do it and when it's right, it's right. I know my first marriage was very very wrong. Time has given me ample opportunity to look back and see the problems that should have been so obvious, but weren't to my 20 something self.

If I do this again, I am in a much better place and not so naive. I've suffered enough because of bad decisions in the past. Maybe this is my reward.