Peter Geye¹s novel is set along
the Minnesota North Shore and has enjoyable
references for those familiar with the region. Why he changed the name of
Grand Marais to Gunflint but left Two Harbors and Duluth is a mystery to me,
but not important. The key to the story is a reunion of the main character
with his father, who is one of only three survivors from a shipwreck near
Isle Royale. The passages that describe the wreck and survival are the
strongest part of the book.
The shipwreck was obviously more than a news story, it was the alteration of
the family and the lives of each one caught in its aftermath. The Lake sits
calmly as a presence in the story, but it is a dangerous element, a reminder
of the possibility of change and guilt.
The father had to deal with his perceived responsibilities - the damage to the boat, the loss of life, and the fact that he felt he had failed in his responsibility to bring the boat in safely. As the captain the shipwreck became personal and psychologically a burden he could not escape and the results of his decisions as he internally relived the wreck. Unfortunately this obsession removed him from the family life that once had surrounded him. It
separated the father from a sense of peace, but, as Peter reveals, it was
not just the father who suffered. The family suddenly had a walking dead man and they were all orphans to the tragedy.
In a late reunion, the son and father are forced together by the father¹s
infirmities. Their resolve to patch up their years of differences tends to
go a little too smoothly as the father moves towards his death, but still
you can feel for the characters and hope that they will depart each other in
a more pleasant way.
The other storyline follows the son and his wife, but I found that it
actually detracted from the novels main tension and purpose. This is an easy
read for a sit along the shore something to save for summer perhaps and
depending on which shore you sit, you might recognizes and enjoy even more
the text.
references for those familiar with the region. Why he changed the name of
Grand Marais to Gunflint but left Two Harbors and Duluth is a mystery to me,
but not important. The key to the story is a reunion of the main character
with his father, who is one of only three survivors from a shipwreck near
Isle Royale. The passages that describe the wreck and survival are the
strongest part of the book.
The shipwreck was obviously more than a news story, it was the alteration of
the family and the lives of each one caught in its aftermath. The Lake sits
calmly as a presence in the story, but it is a dangerous element, a reminder
of the possibility of change and guilt.
The father had to deal with his perceived responsibilities - the damage to the boat, the loss of life, and the fact that he felt he had failed in his responsibility to bring the boat in safely. As the captain the shipwreck became personal and psychologically a burden he could not escape and the results of his decisions as he internally relived the wreck. Unfortunately this obsession removed him from the family life that once had surrounded him. It
separated the father from a sense of peace, but, as Peter reveals, it was
not just the father who suffered. The family suddenly had a walking dead man and they were all orphans to the tragedy.
In a late reunion, the son and father are forced together by the father¹s
infirmities. Their resolve to patch up their years of differences tends to
go a little too smoothly as the father moves towards his death, but still
you can feel for the characters and hope that they will depart each other in
a more pleasant way.
The other storyline follows the son and his wife, but I found that it
actually detracted from the novels main tension and purpose. This is an easy
read for a sit along the shore something to save for summer perhaps and
depending on which shore you sit, you might recognizes and enjoy even more
the text.
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