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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm no literary critic, but ..., 27 Feb 2006
... I can appreciate quality writing when I see it, and this book is packed full of quality - both in terms of the plot and the writing style. Liam Browne's writing is remarkably sympathetic, and he deals with his subject in a sensitive and ultimately uplifting manner. The main plot relates the story of a family coming to terms with their grief after the death of a loved one (no plot details revealed in this review, I promise!). Each family member is affected differently by the tragedy, and their individual responses are described with touching honesty. There is a sense of reality in Browne's writing, making the challenges to the central relationships appear entirely genuine, and he creates a sense of empathy with each of the characters. Although written about grief, the book is certainly not depressing, but the reader does certainly get drawn into the emotional whirl of the book's characters. At the same time, we are made to think about those around us who may be dealing with their own private grief, and that we draw strength from one another whether we are aware of it or not. The main plot is inter-twined with an exposition of the true story of the remarkable part played by one family in the mysteries surrounding the discovery of the North West Passage. Happening in the mid 19th century, there are curious parallels between the stories of the real life characters and Browne's fictional creations from the 21st century . The story of William Coppin and his family is fascinating enough in its own right, and Browne mixes it creatively with his story in a way which makes the whole greater than sum of the parts. I've read other similar books in the past, including Jonathan Raban's 'Passage to Juneau (which, interestingly, weaves the writer's autobiographical tale of a relationship in decline with another true life story from the race to find the North West Passage). Browne's book - which is his first published work - stands up to comparison with the work of these other, acclaimed writers. It deserves a read on its merit, and the author deserves to be encouraged to write more ... and at these crazy Amazon prices, the best way to do this is to buy, buy, buy ... !?!?!?!?
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