Nine stars
I have had this piece by Ann-Marie MacDonald on my to-read shelf for a significant amount of time, but never found the time to read it. When I took the plunge, I kicked myself for waiting so long, as there was a great deal to enjoy within it and seems worthy of the accolades it’s received. New Waterford, Nova Scotia is a small town on Cape Breton Island, along Canada’s East Coast. At the turn of the 20th century, things were bustling and the population quite varied. It was this that brought James Piper and Materia Mahmoud together in a union of forbidden love. James, who is without a strong religious morality, did not sit well with the staunch Catholic Mahmouds, whose Lebanese background left them little choice but to disown Materia. Once married, the Pipers began building the foundation of their family, which included a slew of daughters: Kathleen, Mercedes, Frances, and much later on, Lily. What follows is a tale of drama and intrigue that pushes the Pipers to the brink. In a family so apparently tightly-woven is a pile of secrets, both from the outside world and amongst themselves, that no unit could be expected to come out of it without cracks. With a skill all her own, Kathleen heads to New York City to pursue a dream while James leaves to fight in the Great War for Canada (and Britain). By the end of the skirmish, both of them would experience life-altering events that would change the narrative forever. Struck by a number of tragedies in short order, the Pipers grow and evolve in a multi-generational story that exemplifies how decisions are catalysts for familial metamorphosis. As the years pass, some of these secrets come to the surface, while new and devastating ones emerge, taking these Piper women to new depths as they try to define themselves against the backdrop of an ever-changing small-town Canada feel. Brilliant in its delivery, MacDonald holds the reader’s attention throughout. Recommended to those who love familial sagas that build on themselves, as well as the reader who prefers small-town stories and their unique narrative pathways.
I remember reading another of MacDonald’s novels years ago and being fully committed from the get-go. The story, the style, and the characters all came together nicely and left me wanting more. However, I never found the push to reach for this book and actually read it until now. This story sees many of the Pipers take the protagonist’s seat and so I won’t choose just one. That being said, I can admit that all of these characters come together effectively to complement one another and help thicken the plot while aiding in creating wonderful backstory and development for one another. From the struggles of raising a family in the early 20th century to familial abandonment, the shock of war to the loss of a loved one, the confusion of one’s place in the family unit to finding a place in the world. All these are struggles faced throughout this powerful book whose narrative never lets the reader take a breath. MacDonald contrasts all these against a time when speaking out was less fashionable and the mighty hand came down on those who stepped out of line. Using Nova Scotia as a setting was brilliant, as it adds even more to the story, both for its wonderful scenery and less electrified feel. McDonald is able to inject some big city moments in New York, but there is something about the sheltered life on Cape Breton that spoke to me. With detailed chapters that serve more as family vignettes, MacDonald paints a wonderful picture of events as they progress throughout history. While this is a long book, it is sure to grip the reader in such a way that the pages will flow easily and the plot will keep the story moving. Patience is a virtue and MacDonald rewards that type of reader throughout this piece.
Kudos, Madam MacDonald, for this stunning piece that opened my eyes to so very much about the time, the region, and your writing!
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
Book Reviews to Ponder 