Midwinter Break, a portrait of a marriage
Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty is aptly titled in that it deals with both a holiday and the crisis in a marriage that is well into its late stages.
Gerry and Stella Gilmore are on holiday in Amsterdam. Originally from Belfast, but now living in Glasgow, they have been married for almost 50 years. Both are retired and have slipped into the routines of a long established marriage.
Outwardly they are a loving couple and appear to have settled into a contented old age. They visit museums, dine together in restaurants and stroll arm-in-arm taking in the sights of the city. There are, however, issues rooted in past events and present behaviour. What at first glance appears to be a solid marriage is slowly revealed as facing major challenges.
Stella is a deeply religious person and her faith is an important part of her life. Gerry, however, is dismissive of religion and his open mocking of her faith adds to the tensions between them.
Gerry drinks, and it is having an increasingly negative impact on their marriage. He thinks that Stella is unaware of how much he consumes until she confronts him, “You think I don’t know how much you drink? Do you not think I have a nose? Or a pair of eyes? You could go on doing it behind backs until you’ve no liver left. And it’s not just the drinking it’s all the deception that goes with it.”
At the same time, Stella is undergoing a spiritual crisis. Gerry and Stella left Belfast during the Troubles after she was shot during a sniper attack. She was nine months pregnant when this happened. Both she and the baby survived but the incident has haunted her.
At the time of the shooting, as she lay on the pavement bleeding, Stella vowed, “Lord, let my baby live and I will be in your debt for the rest of my life”. Stella believes she has never honoured this vow. In fact, she has come to Amsterdam with the intent of leaving Gerry and joining the Beguines, a Christian lay religious order. She believes that this will give new meaning to her life and atone for her failure to live up to the vow.
The memories of the shooting haunt Gerry as well and it becomes apparent that he is deeply troubled by the shooting and what he almost lost on that day in Belfast.
Midwinter Break provides an intimate, detailed account of a relationship in trouble. The dialogue between Stella and Gerry is sharp and rapid fire and MacLaverty is adept at revealing their inner thoughts and motivations and fears at the prospect of starting over after almost 50 years of being together.
The novel ends with Gerry and Stella at the airport waiting for the flight to take them back home and the reader is not entirely certain about what they are returning to.
Basil Guinane is a retired associate dean of the School of Media Studies at Humber college, a former librarian and an avid reader.
