Heather’s Bookshelf: Ursula Major
Author: B. Robert Conklin
Released: 07/31/25
Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction
“And then, somewhere in there, I began to realize that many of my memories from this period are manufactured. I had—and have—a difficult time separating what’s real from what’s not so real. At least, this is what my therapist has told me, and I’ve come to believe her.”
“Ursula Major” follows Jeremy Hilary Jones, as he recalls his childhood starting at the birth of his sister, Ursie, in 1974.
As his parents are attempting to work through a crumbling marriage, Jeremy feels the pressure of being the responsible older brother. A car accident leads to changes in mental health and the family dynamic. Their mother seeks solace in the church and their father seeks comfort while on the road as a truck driver and salesman.
Eventually, the rift results in his father abandoning the family for salmon fishing in Alaska. Their mother takes a job in home health leading to a series of events that will forever change their lives.
Will the siblings find their way through a challenging childhood and terrible circumstances? Will they find solace in seeking revenge? How will their past affect their present and future?
Trigger Warning: violence, sexual situations, rape, assault, kidnapping, adult language
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Do not be deceived by this book’s cover. This is not a lovely little fluffy story. There’s some dark stuff here and after reading the story, I found the title to be a bit off from the focus of the tale. Regardless of this, I couldn’t put it down. The format was fantastic for the content and the suspense. The story is mostly told through the main character, Jeremy, as he recalls his past through sessions with his psychiatrist. As the story surrounds the past, a majority of the tale is actually with Jeremy as a juvenile. I found Jeremy as an adult to be jaded and broken. After reading what happened to him as a youngster, I completely understand why. When the reason for this man to seek professional help is also revealed, it brings everything from the tale together and it’s heartbreaking. The only thing that didn’t quite work for me was the ending- it felt abrupt and a little unfinished. However, the emotional connection to these characters could not be denied. Every character in this story had a purpose, a background, and individual traits that were important. I especially enjoyed the depictions of Ursie, Judith, and Bill. Even the psychiatrist, was quirky and flawed, bringing to attention the likely possibility that Jeremy may be a unreliable narrator- or was he?
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A contemporary literary fiction following the sometimes happy and mostly challenging childhood memories of an older brother. A page turner with captivating characters, but it gets dark…
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Check out my interview with B. Robert Conklin
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