The Kite

by W.O. Mitchell

W.O. Mitchell's critically acclaimed novel, The Kite , is a humorous yet touching story of a journalist's worst nightmare. Set in the Prairie backwater of Shelby, Alberta, seasoned reporter and minor television celebrity David Lang arrives to write a magazine feature on the town's oldest living citizen, the 111-year-old curmudgeon Daddy Sherry. Still recovering from the disappointments of a fatherless childhood, the uptight David just wants to file his story as quickly as possible and hightail it back to Toronto. But he hasn't reckoned on the cantankerous cunning of Daddy Sherry. As David chases his recalcitrant subject all over town, he begins to understand the meaning of life and finds love and happiness for the first time. This new edition of The Kite coincided with the publication of a newly discovered and never-before-published edition of the novel in audio format, featuring Mitchell's own reading. It also introduces a whole new generation of readers to the rampaging Daddy Sherry, a holy terror whom Margaret Laurence considered to be Mitchell's "best and most complete character."

Genres: Fiction, Canada

215 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Cindy Wiedemer · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I began reading this book, it felt a bit vague and surface level. But as the characters revealed their personalities, the book developed more meaning and thoughtfulness. There were times when I felt the descriptions were overdone and long winded, leading me to find myself skimming and needing to go back to fully read. In such a short book, you can miss a lot in a few paragraphs. By the end, I found myself pondering the theme of the Kite and where it fit in. Once it was revealed, I found myself struck by how deep and reflective the book really was, and I am glad I was able to sit and reflect. The main character is used to tell the story of another, and I feel it was done well in the context of the story. I am also glad to read a book by a Canadian author with some heart and less sarcasm and humour.
I recommend the book, but caution that it does move a bit slow to reach its point, but worth the wait.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

W. O. Mitchell Audio Book read by the author. This edition lacks tracks hence hitting stop sends you back to the beginning of each CD.

The kite in question never flies the kindly boarder who helps his landlady’s son build it suffers a heart attack on the way to try it out and the kite is lost on a street car. Not sure if this incident bears any relationship to the rest of the tale. The story then jumps to David’s adult years as a reporter researching 111 year-old Daddy Sherry. The author’s rendition of Sherry makes it difficult to discern just what he is saying most of the time. As usual the book is filled with small town humour and quirkiness.

[Dan Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

W.O. Mitchell is a classic Canadian author, but this novella was a dull flub for me.

It was almost like a romantic comedy, where a big city guy comes to a small town for work and meets the lonely single mom.
The history and nostalgia were decent prose in the style of someone getting misty-eyed and waxing poetic about the simple prairie life.
The central old man character was supposed to be an endearing crank but I ended up strongly disliking him. What an ungrateful curmudgeon.

In any case, not a great read for me.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and funny story. A journalist in Toronto, Canada, is assigned to interview a man who is 111 - in Alberta. He arrives there to find out about the man's life, and learns far more than he expected. This is a story about a temperamental old man who makes life complicated for a lot of people, but who has the respect of the whole town. And about a journalist whose life is changed through this meeting.

[Miguel Hortiguela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a page-turner, but it does build steadily and in the end, one is anxious to discover how each of the characters grows.

[Trudy Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant tail about an old man’s best birthday gift. Sat in southern Alberta. Very Canadian. Very symbolic. Hard to read due to the changes in writing styles and this book was only written in 1962..

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always interesting perspective on life.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing is incredible. I want to pluck certain phrases out and frame them. As usual, Mitchell's capture of the prairie setting is delicate and on point.

[Jo-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

W. O. Mitchell does not disappoint! I appreciate this book from many standpoints, most certainly having worked in geriatrics for much of my career, and as a consequence having most of the myths surrounding aging smashed to bits. I have made the same error as David - trying to embed Daddy Sherry into Canadian history, not understanding that his life ought to be evaluated outside of that lens. His is a history of its own, with its own beautiful quality. Mitchell handles the matter of death and dying very elegantly in the experiences of each person in the life cycle who interacts with Daddy. I recommend this volume not only as a fine example of Canadian literature but as a story beyond borders.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This past summer, I needed a new book to read on the ferry and grabbed this book from my sister's shelf. While it's not my favourite of W.O. Mitchell's novels ('The Vanishing Point' and 'Who Has Seen the Wind' tie for that spot), it is still a great story of how to live fully. I particularly liked the depiction of the friendship between the boy, the 40ish year-old central character and the 111 year-old man.

And of course, the sections about the kite were wonderful.

    Almost a week after the funeral, he visited Lon's room, quite bare of Lon – without even the apple box half filled with sawdust for spitting into. The pipes and their rack were missing; the room was quite unhaunted. David felt that in some way a person's room should hold a trace of them; something should linger. Deserted houses were generally stilled with nostalgia for those who had once lived there; there was usually a mason jar in the kitchen part – an old lady's shoe with a limp top – a rusted spoon – something.

- W.O. Mitchell, The Kite, p. 16, 17

    'I did. She was a quite terrible woman. I hadn't realized she was - at first - when I was instrumental in getting her into Daddy's house as his housekeeper. She came to my congregation - a Mrs. Holloway - from somewhere in the north of the province, and she fooled me with the first impression she made - a hearty, jolly woman. Quite wicked. I believe in wickedness,' he said. 'She had planned and schemed it deliberately - used me to get into his house [...]'

- W.O. Mitchell, The Kite, p. 154

    'I won't live to any hundred and eleven years,' Keith said.
    'Jist keep outa draughts - keep reg'lar - lots buttermilk,' Daddy said. 'Don't give a whoop - be a dangerous acerobat - sail over the tops the circus crowds. Don't give a damn whether she rains or thaws or freezes - whether you live or die. Then you will.'
    'Will what?' David said.
    'Live to be a hunerd an' eleven. That's the way to do it. Like a drunk pitched off of a horse.'
    'Huh?' Keith said.
    'Live loose an' soople an' you'll come through without a scratch. Live careful an' you'll break your goddam neck. That's the secret - cuh-rock a day - keep reg'lar - don't give a damn an' you'l live an live an' live . . .' He sighed. '. . . to be the unluckiest man in the world.'
    'Luckiest,' Keith corrected him.
    'Unluckiest. You wouldn't like it - enough to give a gopher's ass the heartburn Twenty - last twenty ...'
    'Twenty what?' David said.
    'Years. Shaganappi years - hoverin' over you - flingin' shawls over your shoulders - shovin' seats under your - ask anybody a hunerd an' eleven an' they'll tell you. Don't go one step past ninety.'
    'We won't,' promised David.
    'Dyin' ain't hard, you know. It's what hey call universal - all sorts of folks do it without no practice ner no talent an' everyone of 'em does it right the first time.' Daddy laughed his dry-throat cackle.

- W.O. Mitchell, The Kite, p. 191,192

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Lang, a journalist, goes to the small town of Shelby, Alberta to write an article on Daddy Sherry who is approaching his one hundred and eleventh birthday. Everyone has a reason for Daddy's longevity but David discovers the puzzle of Daddy through a kite.
Daddy always was aware of his own mortality-that the string that holds the kite up is thin and could snap or drop at any moment. Daddy clutched the kite confidently, getting the most out of every moment he had.
David, as a boy, never got a chance to fly a kite. He lost the only one he ever had.He felt this was a great loss as though some profound truth was lost. He found this truth through Daddy.

[Tim Chesterton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, utterly believable story about a 111-year old man living in a small town in Alberta in the mid-twentieth century, and of the journalist who comes out from eastern Canada to write a magazine article about him. Mitchell has a gift for describing old characters, the language they speak, the way they think and live their lives. Daddy Sherry is the centre of attention, but the supporting cast is also skilfully woven into the story of the run-up to the old man's 111th birthday. Very enjoyable read.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a slow start, found that I really enjoyed this book. I have to say that although I was a bit intrigued with the story, I wasn't really pulled in until the last 1/4 of the recording, though. It's a very detailed, slow moving story. Funny at times.
W.O. Mitchell narrated the audio version that I had and his voice added to the character and feel of the story.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love all of Mitchell's works. Lived next door to him in High River, AB. My father typed the finished manuscript of The Kite to send to the publishers back east. I read it in Mitchell's original manuscript form with red pencil marks, things deleted, things to move to other pages. Wonderful experience for a teenager!

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

John "Daddy" Sherry lives in the small town of Shelby, Alberta and is about to turn 111. David Lang is the somewhat jaded Toronto journalist sent to write about Daddy's life, his own life somewhat disappointing and unfulfilled. Through their conversations, they both find a spark that was missing in life.

A quiet little story with some humour and poignancy. It was nice.

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely dated. I didn't find Daddy's crotchetiness charming at all. I was hoping for more of a historical fiction I guess. The parts that were Daddy's memories were interesting, but I was hoping for more from his youth.

[FarmDotr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and inspirational. I'll never think of Grandfather clocks the same again. (audio book = car reading)

[Danièle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I helped get this book ready for republication, and really enjoyed it in the process.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daddy Sherry--great curmudgeon!

[Doris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, wasn't as fast moving in the story as I like but had some good moments.

[Alice]

A hard book to get into. Rather boring really