“The Last Sane Woman” by Hannah Regel

How long do we hold on to our dreams? Some let go when they “grow up”, move on, and never look back. Many (most?) others, let go though followed by eternal questioning, wondering, longing, and often regret. And then there are some, relatively few, that don’t let go, continue to persevere, manage the doubters, trudge on- for better or for worse.

We often hear about those who eventually become wildly successful, defying the odds, “overnight sensations” after years, decades of struggle. Hannah Regel isn’t focused on these spectacular stories in her striking debut, “The Last Sane Woman”. Instead, she is interested in the struggle, especially artists’ struggles, mostly especially female artists’ struggles. She is interested in the quotidian encounters, the daily steps forward, and constant setbacks.

Regel gives us a lot to keep track of. There are many characters, all with subtle nuance and vital information. There are multiple time periods and settings that can quickly weave in and out. There are those letters that bear close reading. Finally there is the language, the language of a poet. “The Last Sane Woman” is not a novel to rush through, rather one to savor.

We all harbor dreams; we all house a piece of the artist inside. We love to read about, experience, and enjoy the work of writers, painters, film makers, musicians, photographers, dancers, instrumentalists, singers. Sculptors have always seemed to hold a special space — even a little less “grounded in reality” in order to commit to their work. “The Last Sane Woman” is all about women that take on that challenge . You will not soon forget them.

Thanks to Verso and NetGalley for the eARC.