A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews tells the story of a Mennonite teenager, Nomi Nickels, and her response to mounting conflict and tragedy in her family. This novel, however, explores not only the life of a fictional young woman coming of age, but also that of the author herself. The novel exists symbolically as a representation of Miriam Toews and her past experiences, particularly the disintegration of her family. Writing this novel was both therapeutic and an attempt to understand and reimagine her past life. The parallels between the story of the fictional Nomi Nickels and that of its creator, Miriam Toews, are effectively illustrated by the similarities in the narrator's voice, the father figure, and many aspects of the setting.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"? Get an original essay First, the parallels between the author and the protagonist she created reveal not only that authors can lend their own voice to that of their narrator, but also that Miriam Toews deliberately created Nomi Nickels as a symbolic representation of herself. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Miriam Toews said: “I have a problem with beginnings…and endings…and middles. I find it very, very difficult to write. It takes everything. » Similarly, A Complicated Kindness begins with Nomi Nickels introducing herself through a brief commentary on her writings. “I have a problem with endings,” she explains. “I feel like there are so many choices. I already anticipate failure” (1). Additionally, throughout the novel, Nomi Nickels references her desire to leave her Mennonite town for the larger cities of New York or Prague, creating a strong theme of dissatisfaction with the community. Miriam Toews was also eager to leave behind the confined values ​​and lifestyle of her hometown; After graduating, she traveled around Europe as a self-described "punk" for three years before settling in downtown Toronto. Additionally, the portrayal of Miriam Toews as the protagonist and narrator of A Complicated Kindness is further strengthened by the presence of a similar parallel in her other novels. For example, when asked about All My Puny Sorrows, a novel that tells the story of two sisters - one's struggle with depression and suicide, and the other's struggle to keep her going life - Miriam Toews speaks openly about the inspiration she gained from this same battle. with her own sister, publicly placing herself as the protagonist. These examples clearly illustrate that beyond chance, Miriam Toews created her protagonist, Nomi Nickels, as an image of herself. It can be said that A Complicated Kindness was an attempt to reunite a family permanently separated by depression and religious confinement. . Writing this novel could be seen as an opportunity for Toews to bring his father's existence back to life and recall the quirks of his personality. On May 13, 1998, Melvin Toews, father of Miriam Toews, stood on a railroad track near his Mennonite community, waiting for a train to arrive (Winnipeg Free Press, 2010). It marked the end of his life, ending a lifelong struggle with mental illness. However, Melvin Toews made a reappearance in the world, brought back by his daughter as Ray Nickels, a character from A Complicated Kindness. In the novel, Ray Nickels lovingly supports his youngest daughter, Nomi Nickels, in an attempt to hold together the strings of a once happy family, years after hope was lost with the departure of his eldest daughter and his wife. This character,.