Angie Vancise’s “Cry of an Osprey” is, in short, an emotional roller coaster. Although the main theme appears to be an alternate love story, this is just the backdrop to a larger picture that each reader can relate to to some degree. It is a story about family ties, solidarity and the loss of a loved one.
At the center of the story is Jax Vanbeerman, who only at the age of 48 suffers a stroke. This is the trigger that unites a dispersed family, a current and former lover and many more people to share a couple of agonizing days in closed places. At that moment there is a temporary bifurcation, on the one hand we are in the present with Jax in the hospital together with loved ones, but also in the past, reliving memories of the good times. It is in this process of remembering that regret creeps in as the characters wonder about alternative decisions and actions, what might have been. In fact, as Jax fades from the living, he grows stronger and stronger in the hearts and memories of the people who loved him. Perhaps this is the most important lesson in the book.
One of the interesting stylistic features of the novel is the approach the author takes. She allows readers to learn about Jax only through other characters; her sister Amelia and her ex-lover Ben. Each chapter is presented from the perspective of one or the other as we gradually become familiar with and draw closer to them. Jax represents the overlap between two very different people and stories; It is interesting to explore his different facets, but also the constants of his character from the point of view of the most important people in his life.
The book should attract a large audience, especially since the story is told from the point of view of both genres, but above all because of the topics it covers. It is about much more than an alternative lifestyle, the LGBT community and its struggle, it extends into the colorful spectrum of human relationships, hardship and solidarity. However, it must be said that the novel does contain some explicit content and language, so it is not appropriate for readers of all ages. All in all, Angie Vancise’s debut novel “Cry of an Osprey” is a very personal piece with a strong gravitational pull. There are many noteworthy aspects, but above all it is the sincerity and vulnerability that seduces the reader and makes him resonate with the characters. In addition, the cover of the book is painted by the author herself, wrapping her writing in a purple haze.