Crow Lake is that rare find, a first novel so quietly assured, so emotionally pitch perfect, you know from the opening page that this is the real thing--a literary experience in which to lose yourself, by an author of immense talent. Here is a gorgeous, slow-burning story set in the rural "badlands" of northern Ontario, where heartbreak and hardship are mirrored in the landscape. For the farming Pye family, life is a Greek tragedy where the sins of the fathers are visited on the sons, and terrible events occur-offstage. ...
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Crow Lake is that rare find, a first novel so quietly assured, so emotionally pitch perfect, you know from the opening page that this is the real thing--a literary experience in which to lose yourself, by an author of immense talent. Here is a gorgeous, slow-burning story set in the rural "badlands" of northern Ontario, where heartbreak and hardship are mirrored in the landscape. For the farming Pye family, life is a Greek tragedy where the sins of the fathers are visited on the sons, and terrible events occur-offstage. Centerstage 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 protegee, her fascination for pond life fed by his passionate interest in the natural world. Now a zoologist, she can identify organisms under a microscope but seems blind to the state of her own emotional life. And she thinks she's outgrown her siblings-Luke, Matt, and Bo-who were once her entire world. In this universal drama of family love and misunderstandings, of resentments harbored and driven underground, Lawson ratchets up the tension with heartbreaking humor and consummate control, continually overturning one's expectations right to the very end. Tragic, funny, unforgettable, Crow Lake is a quiet tour de force that will catapult Mary Lawson to the forefront of fiction writers today.
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The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.
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Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972. Used books may not include companion materials, some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, and may not include cd-rom or access codes. Customer service is our top priority!
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Used Very Good. Firefly Bookstore sells items online and in our store front. We try to add images and descriptions when we can, but if you need additional information or photos of the books we list, please contact us.
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.
