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Silent Cruise
The nine pieces collected here, many of them already anthologized in Best Canadian Short Stories and other annuals, bring us a new voice in short fiction--brilliant, stylish, humorous, and humane.
In Timothy Taylor’s “Doves of Townsend,” these words, found in the pages of a field guide to butterflies, throw a lifeline to a young woman struggling to stay emotionally afloat in the wake her father’s suicide. They help her to explain to herself her father’s obsession with beautiful things. They also help her to understand the true value of her father’s legacy--the family’s antiques business, and her own inborn helplessness before the beautiful and the real.
“Doves of Townsend” was chosen the best short story of the year 2000 by the judges of the Journey Prize, the Canadian counterpart to the U.S. O. Henry Prize Story. And in each of Taylor’s tales within this book, certain mysterious things of this world--an antique watch, a mountain of radiators, a racing-form, a constellation--reveal their beauty to those who have eyes to see. To read Silent Cruise is to see this poignant beauty for oneself, and, like Taylor’s characters, to have one’s life irresistibly changed by it.
In Timothy Taylor’s “Doves of Townsend,” these words, found in the pages of a field guide to butterflies, throw a lifeline to a young woman struggling to stay emotionally afloat in the wake her father’s suicide. They help her to explain to herself her father’s obsession with beautiful things. They also help her to understand the true value of her father’s legacy--the family’s antiques business, and her own inborn helplessness before the beautiful and the real.
“Doves of Townsend” was chosen the best short story of the year 2000 by the judges of the Journey Prize, the Canadian counterpart to the U.S. O. Henry Prize Story. And in each of Taylor’s tales within this book, certain mysterious things of this world--an antique watch, a mountain of radiators, a racing-form, a constellation--reveal their beauty to those who have eyes to see. To read Silent Cruise is to see this poignant beauty for oneself, and, like Taylor’s characters, to have one’s life irresistibly changed by it.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 23, 2002
About the author
Timothy Taylor
10 books49 followersTimothy Taylor is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. Born in Venezuela, he was raised in West Vancouver, British Columbia and Edmonton, Alberta. Taylor attended the University of Alberta and Queen's University, and lived for some years in Toronto, Ontario. In 1987 he returned to British Columbia. Taylor currently resides in Vancouver.
Taylor's short story "Doves of Townsend" won the Journey Prize in 2000. He had two other stories on the competition's final shortlist that year, and is to date the only writer ever to have three short stories compete for the prize in the same year. He subsequently served as a judge for the 2003 award.
His debut novel, Stanley Park, nominated for the Giller Prize and chosen to be the 2004 One Book, One Vancouver, was followed by Silent Cruise, a collection of eight stories and one novella.
Taylor's short story "Doves of Townsend" won the Journey Prize in 2000. He had two other stories on the competition's final shortlist that year, and is to date the only writer ever to have three short stories compete for the prize in the same year. He subsequently served as a judge for the 2003 award.
His debut novel, Stanley Park, nominated for the Giller Prize and chosen to be the 2004 One Book, One Vancouver, was followed by Silent Cruise, a collection of eight stories and one novella.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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December 20, 2008excerpt
"Doves of Townsend, good morning"
This is me answering the phone at the shop. After which I frequently end up explaining the inherited family name. Sometimes (I admit), tired of telling the real story, I'll make something up. "There's a flock of doves found in Townsend, my dad's hometown", I'll start . Then finish the story by saying the birds hunt as a pack and kill cats, or that they bring good luck if you catch one and pull out a tail feather. The mood of the story rides up and down on the sine wave of my menstrual cycle.
Who wouldn't want to read this book after that opening?
"Doves of Townsend, good morning"
This is me answering the phone at the shop. After which I frequently end up explaining the inherited family name. Sometimes (I admit), tired of telling the real story, I'll make something up. "There's a flock of doves found in Townsend, my dad's hometown", I'll start . Then finish the story by saying the birds hunt as a pack and kill cats, or that they bring good luck if you catch one and pull out a tail feather. The mood of the story rides up and down on the sine wave of my menstrual cycle.
Who wouldn't want to read this book after that opening?
November 6, 2009
I really enjoyed "Stanley Park" and was curious how I would like Taylor's short stories. It's strange - I don't normally read short stories but over the past few months I've read at least 4 or 5 collections (mostly because of my book clubs).
I am about half way through "Silent Cruise" and for the most part have enjoyed the variety of voices and topics. One thing I loved in "Stanley Park" was all the rich description of food and cooking, and the story I am reading now ("The Boar's Head" I think it's called) brought that all back to me. I also like the the sense of place in these stories - especially the ones set in Vancouver or on the praries as those are the 2 of the "homes" of my heart. I'll see how I enjoy the rest of collection...
I am about half way through "Silent Cruise" and for the most part have enjoyed the variety of voices and topics. One thing I loved in "Stanley Park" was all the rich description of food and cooking, and the story I am reading now ("The Boar's Head" I think it's called) brought that all back to me. I also like the the sense of place in these stories - especially the ones set in Vancouver or on the praries as those are the 2 of the "homes" of my heart. I'll see how I enjoy the rest of collection...
January 13, 2017
Not every story in this collection resonated with me, but I can say with confidence that Timothy Taylor is a great storyteller. I admire his ability to collaborate with the reader in the creation of the story by not revealing all, by leaving a lot to the imagination, by allowing the reader to draw her own conclusions.
The characters in each story feel discrete and fresh. Each has a backstory, each has interests (e.g. antique dealing, music, cheese making) that drive the plot and advance the themes. His characters feel both familiar and extraordinary, normal and special. Their actions feel commonplace and meaningful simultaneously. It's a kind of fine balance that the author seems to be able to negotiate with ease.
The characters in each story feel discrete and fresh. Each has a backstory, each has interests (e.g. antique dealing, music, cheese making) that drive the plot and advance the themes. His characters feel both familiar and extraordinary, normal and special. Their actions feel commonplace and meaningful simultaneously. It's a kind of fine balance that the author seems to be able to negotiate with ease.
August 12, 2013
In this collection of stories only "NewStart 2.0 TM" fell short.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews