The Weight of Winter

Mattagash #3

by Cathie Pelletier

Third in a trilogy set in the marvelous fictional town of Mattagash, Maine, by the acclaimed author of The Funeral Makers and Once Upon a Time on the Banks. The New York Times Book Review calls Pelletier's work "powerful stuff . . . her sentences are sharp and unique as snowflakes." Author readings.

Genres: Fiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1991

Reviews

[Susan Emmet]

I'd missed reading this 1991 Mattagash novel until now. What an insightful, funny, depressing and ultimately hopeful book it is.
The interlocking tales of descendants of original settlers and "newbies" is so moving. All the trust and mistrust, all the family love and dysfunction, all the horror of drugs and alcohol and violence and suicide, all the hope in the beauty of the land and air and sky and water - it's just a comprehensive portrait of individuals, of people, and their northern Maine town, one so far upstate that downstate is a continent away.
The characters and humor are spot-on and the evocation of time and place and history is stunning.
A wonderful, terribly sad book.

[Michelle]

I read this whole series having never heard of this author before. I did not read them in order, but still enjoyed it. Excellent writer, interesting characters, beautiful descriptions. This book (#3) was a little bit sad to me, but the series is great. I have another book by this author waiting to read next!

[Molly]

This was a re-read for me. I like Pelletier's use of language and her stories set in fictional Mattagash, Maine. This novel is a sort of series of interlaced stories about various townspeople early one winter: Amy Jo Lawler, thinking about putting her mother, Sicily, in a nursing home; Lynn and Pike Gifford's turbulent, violent marriage and its impact on their children; Mathilda Fennelson, in her early 100s and reflecting on emotional events in her past; Charlene & Davey and their sick daughter, Tanya; the local bar and its habitués; and others. The writing is humourous, often bittersweet, never sappy or mocking.

[Jim Krosschell]

Cathie Pelletier (born in Allagash in 1953) is a hilarious and frightening chronicler of life as far north in Maine as you can go.

[Kathy]

Another "small town" story - this time in northern Maine. As opposed to the last "small town" book I ready - this one was excellent.

The stories of rural, impoverished people suffering the effects of a never-ending series of brutal winters is fascinating and strikes somewhat close to home. I recognized many of the characters in this novel and grew to love and hate them.

Well written, superb characterization. Highly recommended - especially for any that have suffered through small town life in a harsh northern environment.

[Katharine Holden]

Some fascinatingly spot-on characters, especially Pike Gifford, Jr., who is the embodiment of the stupid loser with a taste for petty cruelty who damages and burdens the lives of everyone around him. The novel, however, is about a quarter to one-third too long and would have been more effective if pruned.

[Ginny]

Excellent visualization of a small working-class, and some not working, town in Maine where it snows a lot.
I had no idea until I checked on Goodreads that this was the third part of a trilogy. Except for not being thoroughly familiar with some of the characters, I don't think reading #1 & #2 are required before #3.

[Susan Beecher]

Well-written novel with real human characters in a very small town in northern Maine.

[Cynthia]

Great writing - she so describes the Northern Maine cold of winter. Touching, riveting, horrifying, irritating, gratifying- depending on which character’s story is told.

[Deb]

Cathie Pelletier has a fantastic sense of humor! I just wish I could find her first two Mattagash novels (I can't get them through my library system and they're even scarce on Amazon).

[Jen]

WARNING:
Do not read this novel in April at the end of an endless winter (or during and endless winter or before an endless winter).
Do not read if you are going through any sort of personal drama/crisis/angst.
In fact, the only time this book should be read is in the bright warm sunshine and only of the worst thing you have ever had to deal with was a hangnail or a stubbed toe.

In this book , there were at least four suicides, showing that even the characters couldn’t stick around for the entire story.

I am a Big Fan of Russian Literature, and I can say with no exaggeration that this was the most depressing novel I have ever read.

When I started Weight of Winter, I was eager to reunite with the characters of Pelletier’s first two novels. When I finished, I felt that I had been an unwelcome guest during a family tragedy (anything I could name as an example is in the book so would be redundant); I was relieved when it was over and I was relieved that I could move on. Unlike those poor souls stuck in the Mattagash winter. Cripes, they barely got to Thanksgiving…I would hate to even think of what the rest of the winter would bring.

[Cindy Huggins]

For starters, this is definitely an accurate depiction of living through a winter in a small town in northern Maine. But the effects of poverty, alcoholism, etc. as presented here by Pelletier are universal, as I can attest to from growing up in a small, poor town in South Carolina. Nonetheless, what makes this book enjoyable — rather than totally depressing — is how her characters always seem to find beauty and meaning in life, no matter what.

One character is worth noting in particular. Conrad Gifford, 12 years old, the oldest child of a raging alcoholic and wife/family abuser. Conrad is one of the best depictions of a child of an alcoholic that I have ever encountered, and I totally related to him. That sense of being "doomed," as he says several times, is a feeling that is very familiar to so many children.

I've read several of Cathie Pelletier's novels, and this is one of her very best.

[Julie Barrett]

The Weight of Winter by Cathie Pellitier
Many stories on various subjects about life in Maine. During the winter, like being on an island
you must find and make your own excitement. Most just hibernate and you might see them once a week shopping.
Chapters of hunting, lyme disease. Gossip runs rabid when you have nothing to occupy your time like listening to the police scanner.
Love little quotes from authors at the beginning of the chapters, so fitting. Dialect is so true to life!
Stories from those at the retirement section about the ancestors and how the town was founded.
Woodworking and other craft/career others in town do to get by during the cold winter months. Enjoyed the walks through the woods, things found and treasured.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Sue Tincher]

A not-very-compelling portrait of small-town Maine. Cardboard-y characters. The great tragedy of the book, the untimely death of one of the few likeable characters, is breezed over with little impact on the place.

[Mary]

I liked this better than her newer book, One-Way Bridge. Both stories are set in the same Northern Maine town, more than twenty years apart in time. This story was more full. Full of history, humor and tragedy.

[Betty Nola]

The Weight of Winter by Cathie Pellitier is easy to read. No blood and guts but it kept my interest. A great story of winter in a small northern town and its effect on its residents.

[Tabitha Lord]

This book had a terrific, authentic sense of place. The characters were believable and well-drawn. I actually ready it while visiting family in Maine, during the winter! Perfect!

[Lee Ann]

Love her books.

[Ami Elizabeth]

Halfway through, had to quit. Not interested enough + vile abusive spouse character. No thanks