Geist delights in The Mitochondrial Curiosities of Marcels 1-19

'Dree is a scattered, lovable, totally weird teenager who sometimes makes such unexpected connections that it’s hard to keep up with her thoughts and actions. She is the heroine of Jocelyn Brown’s novel The Mitochondrial Curiosities of Marcels 1-19 (Coach House), and yes, by the time you finish the book you will understand the title. Dree’s dad has just died and she and her browbeaten mother and perfect sister are stranded in gross Edmonton weather and late for the memorial pancake brunch, which kind of sums up their lives. Dree knows her dad was far from perfect, but he could organize a killer treasure hunt and had promised her a bit of money to get to a big craft fair in Toronto. For Dree it is craft or die, which is how she meets Jessie, a kindred spirit whose father’s suicide turns out to be connected to a whole string of family secrets that will finally help Dree find her niche. Brown’s complex characters, unusual narrative style and fabulously quirky dialogue make this a fun book with layer after layer to uncover.'