This is the latest in a series of occasional posts featuring books I read years ago about which I was wildly enthusiastic at the time, wanting to press a copy in as many hands as I could.
Canadian poet Marilyn Bowering’s Visible Worlds didn’t get much in the way of UK review coverage as I remember but I loved its intricately interlocking narratives not least that of the young woman striding through the wilderness whose story makes sense of it all.
In 1960 Nate Bone, national football star and local hero, dies in a freak accident playing football in his hometown of Winnipeg. When Albrecht finds a map of Siberia, dated 1951, in Nate’s boot he immediately recognizes it as his twin brother’s work but Gerhard has been missing since 1945. Albrecht tells the story of three neighbouring families whose lives have become so entwined over two wars and a multitude of misfortunes that each has become a part of the other. Fighting for survival as she crosses the Polar ice cap from Russia to Canada, Fika tells her own story. As each narrative unfolds, small details coincide, family links become clear until, finally, Fika finds her way to safety and the two stories become one.
Sadly, Bowering’s beautifully crafted novel is no longer in print here in the UK, although there are second hand copies easily available online for interested readers.
What about you, any blasts from the past you’d like to share?
You can find more posts like this here.
Well, here’s another author I’ve never come across. I see used copies at modest prices are widely available. Then there’s the small matter of about £25 shipping costs …
Oh, dear…
This completely passed me by and it sounds really wonderful! Thank you for alerting me to it.
You’re welcome! I don’t think it registered with many British readers, sadly.
The setting certainly intrigues me (and reminds me I have a nonfic with a polar setting waiting to be read). Hope it turns up in a second hand shop sometime.
Fingers crossed! Such a shame it’s out of print here.
I’m adding the link to this post to my #ThrowbackThursday Link Party. I hope that’s okay with you.
Of course! Thank you very much, Davida.
What an intriguing novel! It sounds like it manages a huge canvas extremely well, and that is a rare feat. I haven’t heard of the author before but will look her up.
I loved this one but have never come across anything else by her.
Mostly she’s all about poetry, which seems to be a trade-off for more publicity even when one has had a successful novel with a major press. But she has been very prolific. She wrote a biography last year (or the year before) that you would probably enjoy too. And her “big” novel prior to this one was To All Appearances a Lady which I think you would appreciate given your response to this one.
Thanks for that, Marcie. I’ll have a dig around and see what I can track down.