![]() ![]() Set in the 1950s, this novel is also the story of changes in the Newfoundland fishery. The two face personal tragedies and the outside world intrudes as they work at building a life together. Sylvanus convinces her to marry him, promising her, “’You won’t ever have to touch a fish agin’” (103) and building her a house with no windows facing the flakes or the sea. Adelaide wants to escape her stultifying life working the flakes drying cod and helping care for her many siblings. He falls in love with Adelaide, a beautiful girl from nearby Ragged Rock. Sylvanus Now is a fisherman from the Newfoundland outport community of Cooney Arm. I think a second reading of it only heightened my appreciation. And it gave me an opportunity to re-read it. I recommended Donna Morrissey to my book club and suggested we start with Sylvanus Now since it’s the first in the series. I’ve subsequently read the two other books in the trilogy: What They Wanted and The Fortunate Brother. I read this book in 2005 when it was first published. ![]()
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