Welcome to Litsy!

I enjoyed this novel about Harry- a man who had to flee to Canada in the years before WWI just because of who he was. The author‘s note at the end revealed Harry was actually a distant relative of his, and he got the idea for this novel after reading a family member‘s memoirs.

At a soccer tournament this weekend. Introverting and reading in my car between games.

Reading about this writer for a different book I discovered this other novel of his and realized it would work for October‘s #BookedInTime @dabbe

Such an enjoyable read! Straightforward Historical Novel set in Canada in the run up to WWI. A love story between two men on the plains of Canada. Moving. 3 🌟

This is different to the other books I‘ve read in that he has based the book on stories his grandmother had told him about his great grandfather who had emigrated to Canada. One page talks about the 1918 pandemic. No vaccines but they took care by wearing masks, avoiding crowds and washing hands. I enjoyed the story very much. @MrsMalaprop my favourite ending. 😊

Harry Cane is a shy, unindustrious, but ultimately decent man living in England with his wife‘s family. When his secret affair with another man is discovered he is cast aside by his family and sets off to start a new life in Canada as a homesteader. I liked the Harry he was in England but I grew to love the Harry he became in Canada as he grew stronger, learned to farm, and opened himself up to the first real relationships in his life.

This was my second Gale novel and I have a 3rd on my shelf. This one was lovely and all, but I seem to be unable to fully connect with his writing the way others do.

I received this lovely book in the post today ! Really looking forward to reading this one. Trish ? Is this from you my lovely friend ? X

Brill.
The writing and the plot have kept me up at night so I can keep reading.
I'm going to read more by Gale :)

Absolutely hooked on this.
Love the setting, the writing, the characters.
I'm barely able to put it down ☺☺📖📖

I picked this up from a front garden on my daily walk.
They had boxes of books to take... I limited myself to 2!!!😊🤩
I've not read any by Gale so taking the plunge!!!

Tucked up in bed on my wild Friday night with this gorgeous book. I‘m trying to read it slowly so I can savour it. I think @TrishB put it on my radar, and I could hug you for it. Lovely read 🧡

It took me a long time to read this book. The subject matter is not light, and its heaviness led me to put it down for a while. But it was so good. I don‘t read many stories set in Canada, let alone ones that imagine the world of early 20th Century prairie life (albeit for white settlers), but I really recommend this. The main character experiences very difficult circumstances but his increasing inner strength makes it totally worthwhile. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Three books I enjoyed set in #Canada and written by Canadian authors.

#LetsTravelJuly @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

“‘When a woman dares to accuse a man of... assaulting her person, she is nearly always disgraced by the process. While the man walks free to attack again.‘

‘But why?‘

She laughed bitterly. ‘Oh, so many reasons. Not the least of which that the law is a blind woman and the judge usually an unloved old man...‘”

Top 6 reads for the year!

Ahhh, my heart is aching for Harry! What a brilliant read....sad, but life affirming eventually and so beautifully written. I guess I‘ve found another author.....

Beautiful writing and an intriguing story so far.

I didn't see Gale‘s writing as lyrical or beautiful. If you happen to read this review, Mr Gale, no offense meant! I promise! However, I found Harry Cale beautiful. I could hear the silence of his solitude. My ears were deafened by it. I believe Harry will haunt me for a very long time. I so much want to sit beside him. I want him to know how much I admire his strength and his sense of honor. I want him to know that he is not alone.

My fist Book Oulet order has arrived!

I was fascinated by Harry's tale and evolution from a sheltered gentleman in England to a tough new settler in Canada. There's something fascinating about the way Gale uses a restraint style to tell a story, which many must have lived. Themes such as class, education, mental health, and especially sexuality are approached and though the last part seems a bit abrupt, it still is a great read and I really enjoyed it.

Starting this one today! Review for Never Let Me Go coming up when I have the energy!

5 star ☆☆☆☆☆
#Allthebooksof2017 #Firstbookoftheyear @Annreads

A tad melodramatic, though I did appreciate the social & personal struggles of the main character in a historical context. It actually read like two stories, before & after England. I would have liked more linkage between the two, though I suppose that was the point. His family chose none. 😑

Up next.

You can see I don't fight the battle about the cat about being on the table. He also watches me cook on the counter. None of us have died from infectious disease or hairballs ..........yet. 😜

Beautifully restrained and understated there's a tender undercurrent to Gale's writing that is so affecting. Harry's story, and the story of so many gay men like (and unlike) him, is heartbreaking. He's a good man and a wonderful character deftly developed by Gale's sure hand and he grows in strength despite all the choices and hardships forced on him. This was my first by Patrick Gale but I will definitely be seeking more

That's one I've never heard before.

Book mail! Yes, I adore prairies and front range. If a book cover has either on it, I'm intrigued.

Heartbreaking.

Not my usual collection of genre's. This was helped along by the #chutesandladderschallenge at #thereadersroom.

@NataliePatalie

This was sooo good. Some sad, some happy. Wow.... just finished it. Still processing.
@NataliePatalie #Canada

What I'm reading vs. where I would like to be in my reading. I wouldn't mind the cold book if it wasn't so cold outside (I know it's not as cold tho as most of your places).
@NataliePatalie #TheReadersRoom
#coscaawards #chutesandladderschallenge
#dreamingofawarmerclimate #readJanuary

The story itself is wonderful. It's interesting. No, I'm not going to tell you what the novel is all about...you should know by now that's not how I do reviews! What I will tell you is that, no matter how wonderful and interesting the story is/was...Harry Cale, the main character, is even more interesting and wonderful...

I'm telling you...he is going to haunt me for a very long time...

Opening line:
"The attendants came for him as a pair, as always."
#Dumbledwarf #bookgnome #openingline #patrickgale #aplacecalledwinter

Despite its offensively vague cover blurb, this novel is in fact about a gay Englishman who homesteads in Saskatchewan in the early 1900s. Just a couple hours from the farm I grew up on, in fact. The British part is overly corseted by novel-of-manners conventions, but the man's Canadian odyssey hooked me: the danger he faced and the love he found rang true. A solid, engaging, well-written novel, one which hit home for me in more ways than one.

I grew up near Saskatoon. It's not much of an exaggeration.

The plot thickens!

Hear hear!

Hear hear!