Art of the Restless Book

Beginning with a very clever word play title - author Ed Wintle takes us along an amazing nine-month memoir whereby he agrees to foster-parent his thirteen year old 'problem-chile, too-intelligent-for-her-own-good' niece before his sister ends up doing-in either her daughter or herself. Let me say right away that I take my hat off to Mr Wintle for his brave and, dare-I-say foolhardy, venture. I'm admit I've never been a parent, and after getting through to the end of this book - I'm quite certain I would not voluntarily throw myself into parenting a teenager - and especially not when the teenager is street-smart, creative, sassy, drawn to other troubled youth for company and seemingly a trouble magnet.

Wintle writes with a warm and humorous voice, quickly engaging my attention with the details of his family members, his circle of Big Apple friends, his candid flashbacks to his lost loves, heart-breaking family tragedies and unfulfilled ambitions and dreams. This is definitely not a Disney-production storyline - some very explosive and confrontations between uncle and niece are outlined … but Wintle skilfully weaves enough warm fuzzy connection moments into the book to avoid the whole thing sinking into a sturm und drang pit.

Given the age of the niece, I as an avid reader-observer got to experience the almost to be expected battles with an early teenager over internet and mobile phone use, curfews, drug use, appropriate clothing choices, staying over at friends, allowance limits, safe sex, body image issues and best friend woes. Given Wintle's age bracket, I was also privy to a range of financial, career, health, dating and mid-life transitional issues facing a stressed forty-something, good-looking film agent. It would seem the dynamic power in their uncle-niece relationship forces each to look honestly at themselves, their motives and needs and subsequent emotional and personal growth is achieved.

Without giving away anything too much, two thirds of the way into the book, Wintle throws up a curve-ball that I wasn't quite prepared for and it took me the rest of the book to get over this shocking reveal. And so whilst the book ends on a good note for me - there's some sobering elements which stops the final scenes ending with an all-out song and dance sequence through Central Park.

Throughout the book, I laughed, I cried, I rejoiced, I was outraged … and since I was so thoroughly moved - I can only recommend others read this book to discover what it is like to have breakfast with a Tiffany. Wintle does leave the ending open for some kind of a sequel but I'm not sure he's working on such at present.