The Paperboy's Winter

by Tim Bowling

Callum Taylor has reached a critical point in his life. Since the death of his beloved father, he has found himself adrift, unable to fill his days with any purpose or meaning. But one afternoon, while visiting his childhood home, a fishing village along the banks of the Fraser River, he has a startling encounter with a figure from his past. The shock of this event triggers a series of vivid memories from the magical winter of his 10th year when, as a paperboy, he came into contact with an array of fascinating characters: an elderly woman whose eyes he never saw; a school principal obsessed with Lester B. Pearson; a Chinese family with shadowy secrets.

Most extraordinary of all was the man Callum now encounters 20 years later, a man who brings all these memories flooding back. Ezra Hemsworth was a true eccentric, a solitary fisherman whose actions were eerily unforgettable. As the story of that haunting winter unfolds, we see through Callum's eyes a boy experiencing the adult world for the first time. It's a moment, and a journey, that Tim Bowling captures with characteristic grace and lyricism.

A rare blend of tragedy and comedy, The Paperboy's Winter explores not only what it means to shed the protective layers of childhood, but also what it means to witness the disappearance of a culture. Richly evocative of the landscape of the West Coast and of a time in Canadian history when nation-building was a matter of hope and enthusiasm, this moving and elegiac story lovingly depicts an era that is rapidly fading.

Genres: Canada

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel takes place in the town I (mostly) grew up in, although in real life it has a much more prosaic name than it did in the novel. Many many aspects of the setting (and even some of the characters, such as the Lum sisters) are very familiar to me, as I grew up at the same time as the author (we were in the same class in high school). I am thrilled for him that he is living his dream of being a writer. The plot was intriguing and the writing was lyrical. Very enjoyable read.

[Trudy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It bothers me when a story's main character is a child, but is given the characteristics of an older or younger person. I find this occurs more often than not. So, I was more than a little relieved that Tim Bowling's ten-year old protagonist was portrayed exactly as I have known ten year old boys to think and act. As a result, this is an entirely believable story.

This book was a realistic portrayal of growing up in a fishing community in the lower mainland of British Columbia in the 1970s. It is a very warm, Canadian story, written by a Canadian author new to me.

[Harold Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me what it was like to be a ten year old boy.