In her masterfully penned memoir, “The Whole Staggering Mystery,” Sylvia Brownrigg delves into the intricate and often poignant narratives of her lineage, spotlighting two generations of men whose lives were as enigmatic as they were absent. With a long-lost package as the catalyst, Brownrigg embarks on a revealing journey that spans continents and epochs, from the opulent haze of 1930s London to the tranquil yet austere landscapes of Pasadena, and into the wild heart of the California redwoods.

Brownrigg’s portrayal of her father, Nick, and grandfather, Gawen, brings forward a rich tapestry of history, rife with personal and societal conflicts. Nick, a man described as a would-be writer and back-to-the-lander, emerges as a paradoxically distant yet pivotal figure, whose decision to leave a package unopened becomes a poignant symbol of unaddressed histories and emotional reticence. Gawen’s life, marked by his literary contributions and a tragic end in Kenya, adds an additional layer of intrigue and melancholy.

“The Whole Staggering Mystery” transcends the traditional boundaries of memoirs by weaving a narrative that is as much about the act of storytelling as it is about the content of the stories told. Through a nuanced exploration of themes such as sexuality, silence, and the impacts of divorce, Brownrigg invites readers to reflect on the complexities of familial relationships and the ways in which our pasts shape our present identities.

Richly detailed and emotionally resonant, Brownrigg’s account is a compelling saga that highlights the connections and disconnections across generations. This memoir not only reconstructs the fragmented tales of fathers lost and found but also asserts the power of narrative to bridge those gaps and make sense of the bewildering array of human experiences. In “The Whole Staggering Mystery”, Brownrigg crafts a work that is both an intimate reflection on daughterhood and parenthood, and a profound meditation on the recursive nature of family and memory.