Ben's review
Island by Alistair MacLeod
The comprehensive short works of Alistair MacLeod. He is an incredibly talented writer. Most stories are about young men in Nova Scotia (Cape Breton to be exact) and the conflict between what their fathers do (mine for coal) and the larger world that calls them. Not all stories are about this, but those that are are the ones I like best. As a whole, they give a real sense of intimacy with the landscape, people, and hardships in Cape Breton. His stories are alive. I need to visit Cape Breton before I die.
