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Anna From Away
When Anna Starling flees a dissolving marriage in California to save herself and her artistic career in Cape Breton, her life intersects with that of Red Murdock, a cabinetmaker who has recently lost the great love of his life, Rosaire. Surrounded by old ghosts and echoes of those who once lived in this isolated, now depleted community, Anna and Murdock discover that the p...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
September 11th 2012
by HarperCollins Canada
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In an effort to start anew after her marriage died a quiet death, Anna took off to the isolated little coastal town of Cape Seal. Surrounded by the waning winter and a timid spring, she attempted to resuscitate her art, reinvent the old Anna, and fill in the blanks of what had happened to her marriage. She found inspiration everywhere and solitude that brought forth memories of a marriage gone sour. Some days, the little town offered her solace but it also magnified the loneliness that crept up...more
The Ice Bridge by D.R. Macdonald starts slowly but builds to a wonderful overall effect. Anna Starling's marriage is ending in California and she wants to go to an isolated area and continue her painting undisturbed. She goes online and chooses a house on isolated Cape Breton. At first, she stays to herself, but slowly meets people she grows fond of. Her property abuts that of Red Murdock whose family owns the house she rents. Much time is given to his past relationship with Rosaire who had rece...more
In an effort to start anew after her marriage dies a quiet death, artist Anna Starling leaves California for an isolated little coastal town on Canada’s Cape Breton. There her life intersects with that of Red Murdock, a cabinetmaker who has recently lost his great love, Rosaire, and whose life now consists of drunken stupors and regrets.
Surrounded by the waning winter and a timid spring, and by old ghosts and echoes of those who once lived in this isolated, now depleted community, Anna and Murdo...more
Surrounded by the waning winter and a timid spring, and by old ghosts and echoes of those who once lived in this isolated, now depleted community, Anna and Murdo...more
After losing her husband to a younger woman, artist Anna Starling moves to Cape Breton. Seeking solace in the gorgeous Canadian landscapes that are so artfully described in the novel, Anna immerses herself in east coast life. Her peacefully quiet existence allows her to reconnect with her artistic talents and explore new friendships. Anna’s neighbour Red Murdock, captures her interest despite being a widower 15 years her senior. Murdock, mourning the loss of his love Rosaire, lives a solitary li...more
Anna takes a reprieve from her crumbling marriage by renting a cottage in Cape Breton. She works on her art and tries to find herself. As an outsider from California her neighbours take awhile to warm to her, especially the reclusive and handsome carpenter.
One night Anna witnesses a dog being thrown from a bridge and so begins her plunge in to secrets and culpability in illegal smuggling activities.
Anna's romances and decisions seem selfish and one wonders if she has changed any from the Anna...more
One night Anna witnesses a dog being thrown from a bridge and so begins her plunge in to secrets and culpability in illegal smuggling activities.
Anna's romances and decisions seem selfish and one wonders if she has changed any from the Anna...more
This novel is set in Cape Breton near the end of the 20th century. Anna has come to Cape Breton from California as her marriage is ending. Her husband Chet has found a younger woman that he has chosen over her. Anne is an artist and was attracted to Cape Breton by tales of the quality of its light, and by the photos of the house she has rented for the year. She arrives in late February, and adjusts quickly to the unexpected remoteness of the house, and to the weather. She walks every day, not le...more
The author really captures the East Coast landscape in this novel set in Cape Breton. A time frame before the explosion of technology is used to highlight the isolation the characters endure in this story of life after love. Weather becomes a character in this book and the author's descriptions obviously come from one who has spent time on the east coast of Canada.
I won this book as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway from Harper Collins and I am so grateful because I really enjoyed this wonderfully well-crafted novel! The author describes the rugged coastline of Cape Breton Island so beautifully - I could feel the wind whipping my hair, and the salt spray on my skin, as though I was there myself. I loved the storyline, the beautiful imagery, and the characters that kept me turning the pages all the way to the last page - I loved this book! I highly recommen...more
It seems that everyone rated this book highly. It was well written with good descriptions of the scenery of Cape Breton (where I grew up) but I did not find that it was much of a story. I would recommend reading it (it is short) to judge for yourself since it generally got very good reviews.
Anna Stirling moves from California to settle in Cape Breton to escape a failing marriage. She meets various neighbours including a cabinet maker who has recently lost his wife. The scenery plays a big part in this novel as it has in the author's other novels.
Set in Cape Breton, Anna From Away is a tale of love after love. It is about nostalgia for the old ways and the identity of the people who live on the island.
It is the story of loss, with a tantalizing love story thrown in.
It is the story of loss, with a tantalizing love story thrown in.
This book was a change of pace for me. I looked forward to getting lost in the words. The words were rich and almost tangible. I wish the author delved more into the main character’s feelings about her separation from her husband. We got a lot more of that from Murdock instead. I felt myself sympathizing more for him than Anna. I was disappointed with the ending but I usually am with books. It’s not that I didn’t want the book to end however, I just feel like it was cutoff in the middle of thing...more
Anna From Away is written in the East Coast spirit. The reader is transported to the Maritimes. The author takes us into Cape Breton's natural landscapes and heritage. But I found it very slow and kept hoping for the story.
Would I recommend it?? I don't know, certainly not highly. It was a Christmas gift and I always try to finish what I have started in a book.
Would I recommend it?? I don't know, certainly not highly. It was a Christmas gift and I always try to finish what I have started in a book.
I really enjoyed the way the author incorporated the local speach into the dialog.
Beautiful imagery.
3.5 star read. Enjoyed it. Best to read by a cozy fire, as the unrelenting winter with its cold and wind of Cape Breton is featured with love here. Full review in progress.
May 22, 2013
Linda
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Elizabeth
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Sam Kyle
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodreads Librari...: Incorrect book description??? | 3 | 34 | May 11, 2013 04:58am | |
| Anna From Away? | 1 | 3 | May 07, 2013 08:54pm | |
| HarperCollins Can...: Anna From Away | 2 | 20 | Sep 12, 2012 09:10am |
Sep 12, 2012 01:02pm