Rating: 
Summary: Emotionally Rewarding, Technically Staggering
Review: I am so impressed with the quality of the writing in this book that I will skip a plot synopses and just dive into praise. Every technical aspect of this book is a marvel. The characters are real, and well-loved, and forgivable. The foreshadowing is extensive, but never overbearing. The suspense lasts until the last page. The dialog is pitch-perfect. The interior monolog manages to be action-packed. The events are realistic and heartbreaking, but the humor woven throughout makes them bearable. Best of all, this is just a great STORY, in which children are presented convincingly and men are allowed to be (gasp) caring and self-sacrificing for the good of families. There are a few themes, here, but one of the best explored is the way in which a community can rally to help one family that's living with tragedy, while turning a blind eye to another. How can it happen? The book offers understanding without apologia. To my delight, this book is part of a splashy national book club, and that is tremendous news. I can't wait to read what Lawson does next.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Pleasant Read
Review: This is the story of a woman, Kate, whose relationship with her brother has defined her life and the way she views the world around her. Kate and her brother were extremely close during her early childhood but events later occur which change the way Kate and her brother relate to one another. Upon reaching adulthood, Kate leaves her very small farming community and eventually becomes a highly-educated zoology researcher/professor at a university in a large city. She seems very aware of the differences in background between herself and her students/colleagues and between herself and the people she grew up with. Kate claims that she doesn't "get people" to the extent that she doesn't understand what makes people tick or why people do the things they do. But Kate's narrative proves that she sells her self short. Although emotionally withdrawn, Kate is a woman who is constantly noticing and analyzing factors that affect the way people develop throughout their lives. This book was a graceful, easy read that I enjoyed very much. It is the kind of book that you end up thinking about for days after reading it. I would definitely recommend it and I look forward to more from this author.
Rating: 
Summary: Is That IT??!!
Review: Mary Lawson is a very good writer. I was instantly drawn in by her prose and could feel why the main character, Kate, was so emotionally withdrawn; myself the product of such an austere, WASPy upbringing. I kept reading impatiently to find out what exactly was the big tragedy that befell her beloved brother Matt so many years ago. Only to find myself exclaiming aloud "THAT'S IT??!!" What a big disappointment! I feel gypped, like the author has violated the unwritten contract between author and reader.
Rating:
Summary: Short and sweet
Review: Crow Lake is a great book: quick, well-written, and thoughtful. The central character Kate is a Toronto zoology professor in her mid-twenties, who is reflecting on her childhood in Northern Ontario. Her parents died in a car accident when she was seven, and she was left with her two older brothers and her baby sister. The family's tragic story becomes entangled with a neighbor family's tragedies, but the book is, in the end, uplifting. The characters are beautifully drawn. Bo, the baby, is amazing; her mannerisms are dead on. Mary Lawson reflects on what the essence of life is: education and advancement, as Kate has always believed, or other things. she paints a suspenseful tale set in a desolate, but beautiful, landscape, and she illuminates on how nonsensical family relations can be and how difficult, but necessary, it is to re-evaluate our beliefs as we grow older. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Novel
Review: Mary Lawson's Crow Lake is a wonderful novel, a work that will blow away all expectations of what it really is all about. The novel, which is narrated by Kate, a scientist in her late twenties, begins with the death of both of Kate's parents in a car accident, an accident which leaves Kate and her three siblings orphans. I know what you are thinking--sounds like Oprah, sounds predictable, we see where this is going. Well, it's none of those things and it will take you some place else. Lawson delves into the depths of family relationships, of familial expectations and love. One of the things that makes this book different is Kate's narrative style. We follow the story of what happened after her parents were killed, as that story somehow collides with her present story. She has been invited back to Crow Lake, doesn't know if she can handle it, doesn't know if she should take her current boyfriend. Her current predicaments are all caused by what happened to her family so many years ago and it's fascinating and thought-provoking. Mary Lawson has given us a terrific novel, an engaging read. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly surprised!
Review: At once humorous and heartbreaking, Mary Lawson has written a book that is guaranteed to hold your interest from page one to the end. The question she's posed for herself and the main character is this: "Is it the past or the present that is the problem?" and the answer is "yes." It's both, for they are so intertwined in this literary page turner that they're really inseparable. While I'm usually one for books that sit at the top of the bestseller list--think "Da Vinci Code" or "Bark of the Dogwood"--I decided to give this one a chance and haven't been sorry since. If you like excellent writing, a good plot, and wonderful character developement, "Crow Lake" is the book you've been looking for.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favourite books - ever!
Review: Crow Lake was passed onto me by a friend. I knew nothing about it, but was hooked from the first page. I have just finished it, and rate it as one of my all time favourite reads. I loved the author's voice. I loved the characters (especially toddler Bo, banging on her saucepans!). I loved the story - which is so beautifully woven it makes the book hard to put down. It's a gentle read, but powerful in its themes. I had a similar reaction to "Breaking Her Fall" by Stephen Goodwin - another favourite.
Rating:
Summary: Nature Writing appeal!
Review: If you love nature writing, intertwined with a great story, you'll love Crow Lake. It is not quite as full of details as Prodigal Summer, or Ship Fever, but still wonderful and descriptive. Lawson has a great writing career ahead of her. I can't wait to read more!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating read!
Review: loved this book. i cannot fathom the bad reviews here 'cause it's the best family saga i've ever read. mary lawson is a rare talent in today's dwindling world of literature. would love to read more from this author.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome family drama!
Review: When i picked up crow lake i admit i had low expectations. man oh man this is a good book!! nothing to worry about spending large amount of money on an useless book here!!! i loved the story of the orphans and how they survive adversity. i heard this was an oprah pick back in the day when she picked new books for her club and she was a wise woman. i recommend this to everyone who fancies a great, all american book.
|
