Andrew Day embarks on a bicycle trip from Halifax to Kingston, his childhood home. As he goes, the dual narratives of Andrew's life emerge: the slow, painful death of his father and the disappearance of Betty, who may be lost to him forever. He contemplates, too, the nature of desire.
En route, Andrew sloughs off his fears, material goods, and attachments. In episodes of intensifying violence, he leaves the highway and rides the back roads under the cover of night. By the time he arrives home, an epiphany greets him.
Darryl Whetter writes with compelling intensity of athleticism and degeneration, isolation and community, the weight of desire and the joy and anguish present in all things.
" I found myself drawn into Andrew’s story, almost against my will. That says something for Whetter’s skill and talent."
"What strikes most about The Push and the Pull was a feeling of authenticity. Though it thrums at a high volume, full of grief, desire, joy and regret, the story and its characters are believable."
"Whetter writes like a dream and he deserves our attention. He takes readers on a ride that is often bumpy but no less satisfying when you reach the final destination."
"Whetter’s story will surely pull you in with its poignant portions."