“All’s Well That Ends Well”

~ Elizabeth

I remember hearing in a Shakespeare course that a classical comedy begins in chaos and ends in order. In his plays people frequently fall in love with the wrong people, disguise themselves and use clever tactics to try to outsmart their circumstances. But in Twelfth Night, As You Like It, and other plays, things are indeed restored by the end.

Moira Macdonald in her delightful summer read Storybook Ending pays silent homage to the plot pattern. Set in a bookstore with the requisite handsome nerd, Goth would-be writer, anxious owner and others, the story involves a series of notes sent and received by the wrong people. All we know for sure with our knowledge of classical comedy and the hint in the title is that all will come right.

Sometimes, as with Shakespeare, watching how chaos comes to order is its own reward. Such is reading this novel. Sure we know where it’s heading(see the title), but what a fun ride.

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