Here is a gorgeous, slowburning story set in the rural 'badlands' of Northern Ontario, where tragedy and hardship are mirrored in the landscape, and even laying too much store by education can be subtly dangerous. For the farming Pye family, life is a Greek tragedy where the sins of the fathers are visited on the sons, and hideous events occur - offstage. Centrestage, are the Morrisons whose tragedy looks more immediate if less brutal, but is in reality insidious and divisive. Orphaned young, Kate Morrison, was her older ...
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Here is a gorgeous, slowburning story set in the rural 'badlands' of Northern Ontario, where tragedy and hardship are mirrored in the landscape, and even laying too much store by education can be subtly dangerous. For the farming Pye family, life is a Greek tragedy where the sins of the fathers are visited on the sons, and hideous events occur - offstage. Centrestage, are the Morrisons whose tragedy looks more immediate if less brutal, but is in reality insidious and divisive. Orphaned young, Kate Morrison, was her older brother Matt's protege, her fascination for pondlife fed by his passionate interest in the natural world. Now a zoologist she can identify organisms under a microscope, but seems blind to the tragedy of her own emotional life. And she thinks she's outgrown her family - Luke, Matt and Bo, who were once her entire world. In this universal drama of family love and misunderstandings, of resentments harboured and driven underground, Lawson ratchets up the tension, paying out her story with heartbreaking humour and consummate control, so as to overturn one's expectations right to the end. Tragic, funny, unforgettable - a quiet masterpiece that deserves to be bestseller.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. . All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Former Library book. All orders guaranteed and ship within 24 hours. Your purchase supports More Than Words, a nonprofit job training program for youth, empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
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This item shows signs of wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact, but may have aesthetic issues such as small tears, bends, scratches, and scuffs. Spine may also show signs of wear. Pages may include some notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Satisfaction Guaranteed.
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Fair. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket. This is a used book. It may contain highlighting/underlining and/or the book may show heavier signs of wear. It may also be ex-library or without dustjacket.
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Fair. The cover of this paperback book has curled corners. This paperback book shows normal wear and tear. The edges of the pages have markings, spots, or stains. The pages show normal wear and tear and/or folded (dog-ear) pages. There is yellowing of the pages of this book due to age. Shipped to you from Goodwill of the Valleys, Roanoke VA. Thank you for your support!
This is a powerful story of resilience in the face of loss, a study of what is of real value, and a gentle statement about what really matters in the character of a man. Some have read it as ultimately a novel of regret and disappointment, but a careful reading will reflect otherwise. The story pivots on tragedy and seemingly tragic choices, but the truth at its core centers on Kate's observations of her brothers' characters and her slow, subtle realization that there are more possibilities for happiness and fulfillment than might be readily apparent. In the end, it was Luke for whom I felt most pity--that he wasn't and would likely never be the kind of man that Matt was.
piafinn
Oct 11, 2007
Touching
This is a deep, touching novel about a young family shattered by tragedy. The children are resilient and the community is as supportive as can be expected. Matt is quite a special young man and you do share some of Kate's disappointment as things turn out the way they do. People will always disappoint, but Kate eventually comes to accept her brother and his situation and,in some sense, regain respect for him. It was nice that it was set in Northern Ontario and all the Canadianisms weren't removed to make it more marketable to Americans.
