Like all her novels, this one is set in ontario and weaves together stories of the past and the present. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Jane urquharts the night stages, a novel of melancholy and missed chances. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. Turf wars kicked off last october, with book lovers and cbc listeners recommending titles for the 20 round of canada reads. Shelburne public library features the works of jane urquhart jane urquhart is a powerful, lyrical writer. As a novelist, urquhart is well known for her evocative style which blends history with the present day.
She is the internationally acclaimed author of seven awardwinning novels, three books of poetry and numerous short stories. The whirlpool, which received le more about jane urquhart. April 28, 1994 the body of this novel in its narration is as suspended as the pendulum movement of waves in a body of. Good writing, interesting plot, but i found myself drifting away from the page and having to keep pulling myself back to the story. Turf wars kicked off last october, with book lovers and cbc listeners recommending titles for the 20 round of.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. After several weeks, the most popular 10 titles in each of five canadian regions were published. Charlotte gray is defending away during the canada reads debates, february 1114. A stunning, evocative novel set in ireland and canada, away traces a familys. A woman runs away to a cottage in the english moors to escape a love affair. Extending backwards and forwards in time a hundred and forty years, away, a novel by canadian writer jane urquhart, begins with one of the female characters discovering the shoreline near her irish home has been changed forever. Away, which won the trillium award and was a finalist for. Were onto away by jane urquhart 1993 now, which i think is probably the most famous of the selections this year a veritable classic of canadian, womens, and immigrant literature. Urquharts books because they are canadian not only in fact, but in psyche. Jane urquhart, one of canadas best loved writers, was born in the north, in little longlac, ontario, and grew up in northumberland county and toronto. This article analyses the various connotations of the name of the protagonist in jane urquharts irishcanadian novel away, first published in 1993. Little exerpt from the beginning of away by jane urquhart. Jane urquhart is one of my favourite authors, and this book is wonderful.
I would say this is jane urquhart at her best, but then i say that about every one of her books. But, i find myself musing, maybe a bit too much of a good thing. In away, jane urquhart starts her story in ireland poetically evoking its landscape, culture and mythology, introduces the potato famine and its attendant death and devastation as well as emigration aboard the coffin ships for the lucky few, leading to pioneering in the harsh canadian wilderness, and ends with a glimpse into the nascent politics of the young dominion. Jane urquhart is the author of five internationally acclaimed novels. While the characters lead very real and often very hard lives, they are also infused with the sense that they are living within a myth of their own creation. Near the opening of the book, mary watches the flotsam from a shipwreck wash ashore. The narrative unfolds with shimmering clarity, and takes us from the harsh northern irish coast in the 1840s to the quarantine stations at grosse isle and the barely hospitable land of the canadian shield. Today, it seems as if nearly as much ink is spilt on the battlefields of the first world war as once there was blood. Away is the irish term for being possessed by the spirits, and the spirit world is never far from urquhart s tale. Away by jane urquhart and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Away jane urquhart posted on august 31, 2016 by ayearofbooksblog away is the story of esther who is reflecting on family history while she is losing her family homestead to the progress of a. After reading away, and excited about meeting the internationally acclaimed author, jane urquhart, at our one book one community event some years ago, i requested her newest book, the stone carvers, as a christmas gift.
My second reading last week revealed that a good portion of it also takes place in the back waters of canada and port hope. I first read away by jane urquhart shortly after it first came out in 1993. A canadian of irish descent, prizewinning author jane urquhart offers four generations of family history from. She is also the author of a collection of short fiction, storm glass, and three books of poetry. Jane urquharts first three novels have recently been reprinted in beautiful new trade paperback editions. So canada reads is a book riot event this year, yalls i laid out all the goodies in this post, and this is the second week of our sevenweek minispectacular. On raithlin, a small island off the northern irish coast, in the mid19th century, a young woman named mary is changed forever by a romantic, tragic encounter. I prefer to read multilayered mysteries with complex and interesting characters. She is the author of seven internationally acclaimed novels. Jane urquhart, order of canada oc born june 21, 1949 is a canadian novelist and poet born in geraldton, ontario. Urquhart creates her own spell with language that shimmers. The narrative unfolds with shimmering clarity, and takes.
Jane urquhart was born in the tiny mining town of little long lac, about 200 miles north of thunder bay, ontario. The inception of jane eyres quest begins with her infancy and continues all throughout her adult life. Books in canada poignant, lilting and emotionally true. A strange irish girl is away ever since she lay beside a drowned man. With stunning virtuosity, the stories in jane urquharts dazzling first book of fiction unearth universal truths as they reach across countries and eras. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Brontes, jane eyre, is an autobiography that focuses jane eyres past and her search in finding love and acceptance. Written by jane urquhart, audiobook narrated by michelle winters. This is also a book i reread every couple of years when i want to center myself a book where my point of convergence places me firmly in time, and out of time. They establish a homestead in a remote part of ontario where a baby girl, eileen, is born.
Chicago tribune urquhart writes with clear, sensuous poetry. The narrative unfolds with shimmering clarity, and takes us. She was the second of three children and the only daughter of marian quinn and walter carter, a prospector and mining engineer. Written in sensuous, evocativeprose, away will confirm jane urquhart as one of the most accomplished novelists of our day.
Jane urquhart is the bestselling author of five internationally acclaimed, awardwinning novels. Jane urquhart books list of books by author jane urquhart. Away by jane urquhart incredible books from quercus books. Buy the paperback book away by jane urquhart at indigo.
A teacher marries her, providing stability if not sanity, but the 1840s famines begin and the couple flee ireland with their child liam. Away is a graceful and moving novel that unites the personal and the political and explores the most private, often darkest corners of our emotions where the things that root us to ourselves endure. Get to know the book from ontario, away by jane urquhart. The narrative unfolds with shimmering clarity, and takes us from the harsh northern irish coast in. I remembered it being a novel set primarily in ireland. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders.
Like her protagonist, jane urquhart paints a landscape in her mind, so rich in colours and shades, and so full of life real and imagined, large as the ocean, minuscule as a tide pool and so intimate in the depiction of its human inhabitants with their deep connection to the land and the waters that sustain them. A stunning, evocative novel set in ireland and canada, away traces a familys complex and layered past. Carolyn from storygal, who will be discussing the best and worst of jane urquhart. Away by jane urquhart this is not my normal kind of reading. Find out why you should read this book or why you should avoid it. A map of glass is a story about profound attachments to place and geography. Plus, fabulous quotes from away by jane urquhart and other recommendations. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. I am quite in awe of urquharts lyrically gifted writers voice. The heroine mary changes her name to moira at the start of the book, which leads the reader to ponder on the significance of these names. See all books authored by jane urquhart, including the stone carvers, and away, and more on. Shelburne public library features the works of jane urquhart. Why you should read this book the skill of urquhart in away is phenomenal as she blends poetry, mythology, and hard realism into an engrossing family saga.
Away is the irish term for being possessed by the spirits, and the spirit world is never far from urquharts tale. Stones resembling new potatoes have replaced the sandy beach, a grim joke in this impoverished area. Written in sensuous, evocativeprose, away will confirm jane urquhart as. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. She is the author of seven internationally acclaimed novels entitled, the whirlpool, changing heaven, away, the underpainter, the st. In the fall of 1997, her fourth novel, the underpainter, was published to wide critical acclaim, won the 1997 governor generals award, and became a fixture on the national bestseller lists.
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