Magda Eklund is equal parts avoidant and ornery, and her wry humor propels a novel of identity, sexuality, and grief. Author Anna Montague deftly lightens the mood while digging into weighty subjects in her first novel, How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund?
When her best friend, Sara, dies, New York City psychiatrist Magda is left with the unresolved conflicts of a relationship cut short. Sara's character, portrayed in absentia, comes through in vibrant, complex shades--full of energy and love, but with an impatient, sometimes cruel edge. As Magda sifts through her friend's possessions, she finds Sara's plan for the two of them to take a road trip for Magda's upcoming 70th birthday. She puts her work with a collection of hilariously irritating yet endearing patients on hold to complete the wide-ranging trip, with urn in hand.
The novel follows Magda as she meets a series of memorable characters, such as the owners of a bed-and-breakfast. Barb is amiably determined to be a good host and tries to rein in her partner, Nancy, who continually rags on therapy and the medical profession in general. "Doctors are there to make you miserable," Nancy asserts at one point. Eventually, Barb reveals that Nancy was forced into "conversion therapy," a poignant note in the novel's exploration of sexuality.
Magda gradually circles the conflicts she's been avoiding and cautiously approaches her own unacknowledged desires, making this a cathartic read. How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? is quiet and thoughtful, taking readers on an introspective journey complete with humor, redemption, and road-trip coffee. --Carol Caley, writer