In 2000, Leona Theis’s first book, Sightlines, won two Saskatchewan Book Awards but failed to garner much attention outside her home province. Her newest offering, The Art of Salvage, may very well follow a similar pattern.

Set in Saskatoon, The Art of Salvage depicts the difficult relationship between a mother and daughter. The book is divided into four parts, the first two of which are compelling. In the opening scene, 25-year-old Amber encounters her mother, Del. The tension created by their brief conversation is sufficiently intriguing to coax one into the story.

The second part of the book is particularly vivid, as Del relives her early days in Saskatoon. It is in this section that Theis is at her best. She makes the Saskatoon of a generation ago breathe again as a vibrant city. The descriptions of the places and people in Del’s life are woven together to form a convincing portrait that is reminiscent of David Bergen’s early work. Though this section is at times amusing, there is also an emotional undercurrent, as Del first becomes pregnant and then finds herself alone.

However, as the book progresses through its third and fourth sections, the intrigue dries up. Not content to let the emotion remain an undercurrent, Theis concerns herself increasingly with Del and Amber’s introspection. She doesn’t handle this as well – the intimate explorations do not resonate, and she spends too long portraying stagnant characters. Instead of leading to greater emotional depth, the story simply founders.

One of the results of Amber’s struggle for understanding is a patchwork mobile constructed from mementoes and strung on coat hangers. She hangs photos, fragments, and even a salvaged doorbell plate, the weight of which puts the entire arrangement off-kilter. This is much the same as Theis’s book – a couple of sections are hung too heavily, throwing the entire construction off.