Book Review | Rules for Moving | By Nancy Star

My thoughts

Narrative and Plot

Rules for Moving starts with quite a nostalgic prologue. The story is about a house with a woman who lived with her son – the boy who only talked to his mother. That almost sums up the entire story. Except, the memories of each house is associated with a person’s life. I am someone who moved around a lot in my childhood. Personally, I could relate to this story on that aspect. If I am being honest, I associate each phase of my life with each house. It might sound silly, but I do say goodbye to the empty walls every time I move out of a house for good. I shared this because that is where I come from.

Back to the book, Rules for Moving has a strong and relevant plot. The narrative shifts between Lane and her son Henry. The story is mostly descriptive, but it doesn’t wear you out.

Characters and Conflicts

The story deals with loss and grieving. It explores the topic in deep and if you’re someone who doesn’t want to read about the loss of a loved one, do not go into this. The mother-son relationship in the book is heartwarming.

From the beginning, we learn that Lane is not exactly a people’s person while her job is a contradiction. She is an advise columnist who tells people what to do in life with their tricky situations. The way she grows and becomes her own better version is what the book is about.

The other main character in the book is Henry. His perspective was depicted beautifully. It had the innocence and perception of a six year old. The word play as perceived by a kid definitely makes you think about how careful you should be while talking to children. “Wait and Sea” , “Dream on It, and my personal favourite “Heavens Ache” .

The conflict in the story is mainly about Henry and his sudden silence. It would look like one thing on the outside but reality would turn out to be completely different. It is good that stories like these are being told. It should make people think.

That being said, there were certain parts where the story just slowed down for no reason. The romance was subtle and elegant.

Conclusion

Overall, the Rules for Moving is really a close to heart story for me. It emphasizes in family relationships and the importance of communication within a family. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading about dealing with grief, child psychology and mental health in general.

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About the Author

Disclosure :  1) I received an e-ARC of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   
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