It strikes me that including the number of pages in the heading for an ebook is sometimes not very useful as it depends on the format, the font and the size of the type you choose. Better is to disclose how long you take to read it available on some platforms. In this case, they said I only spent 5 hours and 46 minutes to read it. But that also depends on whether you are a fast or slow reader; I have been told that I am a fast reader, but have nothing to compare it to.
This novelist calls herself Canadian, but has lived in Britain since I 969. She seems to have started her writing career late with this novel at age 56, with five since then. This is set in the fictitious small community of Crow Lake, hours north of New Liskeard Ontario, and spans many years sometime in the mid 20th century. A family of four children is orphaned when the parents die in a car accident. They stay together in spite of poverty, and the oldest boy sacrifices his chances for an education so the second son can get one.
The farm life and culture is described in vivid detail with events and values that I can readily relate to. The characters are colourful, and although there is considerable conflict, the good Presbyterians refrain from showing any emotion, keeping everything inside. There is a constant struggle to balance the value of higher education with the joys of being rooted in a community, valuing nature and hard work. For them the eleventh commandment was “Thou shalt not emote.” This describes my childhood accurately.
Among many colourful quotes: “…she hauled me up to her bosom, just as she used to do, just as she always will. It shows the state I was in that for the first time in my life, I almost wanted to accept that bosom for what it really is- a pillow to cry into. A great giant soft warm pillow into which to unload all your sorrow and regret, safe in the sure knowledge that Mrs. Stanovich will pass it directly on to Jesus.”
It is a bit peculiar that after 440 pages in 24 chapters, entirely narrated by the young Katie, the story comes to an abrupt end followed by the “Author’s Note” which is then followed by a 60 page prologue of the author’s next novel seemingly set in a town near Crow Lake and narrated in the third person. So this novel really is only is about 440 pages long.
I look forward to discussing this story in our book club, but I don’t think I want to read any more stories of deep hidden emotions. Perhaps that is a reflection of my “Thou shalt not emote” background.
8/10
The Passionate Reader 