Tinkers, written by Paul Harding, is set in New England and tells the story of George Washington Crosby. George is nearing the end of his life and is reflecting on the events of that shaped his existence. He was never particularly successful, but remembers the treasures and moments of joy he experienced throughout his life.
At the start of his life, George was very sickly. As a result, he was in and out of hospitals throughout his childhood. His mother — a deeply religious woman — prayed constantly for his survival. As an adult, George worked as a tinker, traveling from door to door selling and repairing items. He traveled around the late nineteenth century New England countryside, often suffering in poverty and living in small, shabby houses along the way. He married his first wife, Abbie, at the age of twenty-one and had four children, who also grew up in searching for contentment.
The narration switches between George's present and his past, where we learn about his family’s history and his relationship with his father and mother. We also see his developing relationship with his wife, Abbie, and the birth of the children. Despite their hardships, the family creates strong bonds with each other and finds solace in the countryside and nature.
The story slowly reveals that George’s father, Howard, was a tinker as well. He had an intense connection with the natural world, spending hours alone in the woods looking for treasures to tinker with. George also inherits his father’s love of tinkering and his affinity for nature.
As the novel progresses, George and his family struggle to make ends meet, and this leaves them vulnerable to the harshness of the world. Despite this, George is able to find happiness in the simplicity of life and cherishes moments that he spends with his loved ones.
In the end, George dies in his daughter's home, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. In his last moments, George looks back on his life, noting with fondness all the moments that made him content. He reflects on his father and how the tinkering of the past has been passed down to him, leading him to realize that his life was ultimately filled with joy.
Tinkers is a tender and beautifully written novel, depicting how moments of joy can be found in even the most desperate of circumstances. It is a tribute to time, family and the indelible mark that every life leaves on the world. Readers will be deeply touched by the quiet beauty of Harding’s prose and the power of George’s determination.
The novel, written in 2009, is a powerful reminder that the beauty of life and its greatest joys come from the smallest moments. Tinkers is a testament to those moments and to the power of the human spirit.
