This is a very good start for new writer. (My apologies if the author doesn’t feel so “new.”)

I spend a lot of time in a region not so far from the Ottawa River, on the English side of the valley, not so far from the setting for this novel.

His descriptions of hockey, of a night at a strip bar in Hull, about the land, its people, and its history are all too familiar. So too the gobbling up of farmland for subdivisions.

His characters are rich. His humour is welcome. And the interleaving life stories are compelling.

I look forward to his next work. ( )

This is the story of a small village, about an hour away from a major city. It's about small farms, local business and a way of life that is fading. John, Mikey and Kirby have been friends since they were kids. As adults, they are struggling to make their way in Fearnoch, despite economic, health and mental health challenges. Anna has left Fearnoch for Montreal, where she works three part-time jobs and tries to write a novel.

The author paints a very honest and moving picture of rural life; the loyalties, joys, disappointments and the way people come together when tragedy strikes. The vignettes painted by Mr. McEwan ring so true and are poignant, sometimes funny and always moving. The characters are described and portrayed well enough to give them depth.

It's hard to explain my one issue with the book. The over-arching arc of the story, I found, was not as strong as the individual pieces (which were excellent). Not a major issue, though. I'll definitely read his next book! ( )