As kids, Charlie and Whiskey learned the NATO phonetic alphabet to communicate with their walkie-talkies. Cleverly structuring her novel with chapters using each of the 26 words, from Alpha to Zulu, Annabel Smith (A New Map of the Universe) tells a story of love, regret and self-discovery.
Identical twins Charlie and Whiskey were inseparable as young boys. But by the time Whiskey is involved in an accident that leaves him comatose, he and Charlie have been estranged for years. Whiskey's prognosis is uncertain, and the longer he remains unconscious, the less likely it is he will ever recover.
While Whiskey lies unresponsive in the hospital bed, Charlie examines how he and his brother grew so emotionally distant. His soul-searching leads him to truths he was unable to acknowledge through his anger and jealousy, but it also leads to a paralyzing remorse--likely he'll never be able to make amends. How will he live with that for the rest of his life?
Alternating between Charlie's perspective of the past and the present, Whiskey & Charlie tickles readers' funny bones with the rebellious childhood antics of Whiskey and the innocent ignorance of Charlie. Smith then steals their hearts with the raw, intimate pain Charlie endures as he awakens from his emotional unconsciousness. Keep the tissues close for Whiskey & Charlie; beautifully written and delivered with a compassionate genuineness, this is a book that touches the soul. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts