Edgar & Lucy    by Victor Lodato Order:  USA  Can Picador, 2018 (2017) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book      Reviewed by Barbara Lingens Edgar and Lucy are son and mother, each unique individuals. Edgar, at eight, shows great sensitivity to those around him, probably due to the influence of his grandmother Florence. He is an albino and seems to have a mild form of autism. Lucy was a very young mother with lots of family issues. She is very impulsive, but because she and Edgar live with the grandmother, Lucy has to control herself at least a bit. Then the unthinkable happens - Florence dies. The rest of the novel tells how these two come to grips with their grief and their new relationship, since Florence can no longer mediate. In the process, Edgar and Lucy lose each other for several years because of a man named Conrad, and the story of how that happens and how they get back together is very moving. Author Lodato has an amazing ability to get inside his characters so that we see the world as they do. He also has great control over the plot, moving back and forth in time very smoothly to give us a chance to understand what is happening. Besides the main characters there are wonderfully idiosyncratic people who are family members, neighbors and strangers. The author's treatment of the physical and mental issues in his characters is amazingly moving because we only know about them from these individuals' points of view. This unusual and haunting story deserves a wide reading for its sensitive portrayal of characters. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews