Family Drama

Read as part of "One Book Nova Scotia". At first, I didn't want to read this. It's about the Westray Mine disaster and I have to say that Disaster tourism and writing has become a bit of a giggle amongst we "come from aways" here in NS. It seems only terrible disasters are worth writing about, and that if you try to write about anything else, you will never get published.
But it suddenly called to me one day and I leapt in, like you do getting into the Atlantic Ocean.
It's a wonderful nuanced book, filled with characters you really grew to care about. The disaster hits hard, but it's the effect on the families and their friends that truly resonates. McKay is an excellent writer, not a word to spare. I hated to put it down. ( )

The twenty-six of the title refers to the number of men killed in a mine explosion in Albion Mines, Nova Scotia. The novel tells the story of several characters before and after the disaster, jumping around in time and overlapping slightly with repeated words and phrases. Most of the story is set in Albion Mines, but one character has left her hometown and now lives in Japan, which creates a strong contrast.

Overall this book met my expectations. I expected it to be melancholy and suffused with emotion, and it was. There were some fine moments, and I thought the overlapping was kind of neat. And the chapters dealing with the inquiry into the disaster contained highly interesting technical details. However, the story did jump around in time a bit too much for my liking. It's a book for which full attention is required.

The explosion in the novel was partly inspired by the Westray mine disaster, which I now want to read more about. ( )

On May 9, 1992, a methane explosion ripped through the Westray coal mine in Stellarton Nova Scotia, resulting in the death of all twenty-six men underground at the time.

Twenty-Six by Leo McKay Jr. Is closely based on that event, imagining the lives of the fictitious Burrows family, affected by that disaster: a troubled collection of violent, alcoholic, and underemployed working-class men, and the women who put up with them.

Renamed Eastlake & set a few years earlier than actual, the mine and the explosion are major components of the book, forming the background of the plot. But the story is about people: father Ennis, desperately wanting to connect with his sons, and messing up every interaction with them. Elder son Arvel is having marriage problems; younger son Ziv despairs of having a future in his home, Nova Scotia.The reality of employment prospects and life in rural Nova Scotia is deftly portrayed.

This has been on my reading list for some time so when my local librarian suggested that I read it for One Book Nova Scotia; I readily put my name on the reserve list. I’m glad I did – and now I’m investigating their suggested list of ‘Read-a-likes’.

Read this if: you’re interested in what it’s like to live with limited education and prospects in rural/small-town Atlantic Canada; or you’d like an introduction to the WestRay mine disaster. 4 stars

I also recommend you watch the 80 minute NFB film Westray, which focuses on the aftermath and the official inquiry. As in life, so in the novel: “No matter what the inquiry finds in their hearings, no matter whether a criminal trial takes place, and no matter the outcome if one does. His son is dead. Nothing is going to make his death right. Nothing can justify it, explain it, nothing can make it hurt less. His son is dead.” ( )

Read as part of "One Book Nova Scotia". At first, I didn't want to read this. It's about the Westray Mine disaster and I have to say that Disaster tourism and writing has become a bit of a giggle amongst we "come from aways" here in NS. It seems only terrible disasters are worth writing about, and that if you try to write about anything else, you will never get published.
But it suddenly called to me one day and I leapt in, like you do getting into the Atlantic Ocean.
It's a wonderful nuanced book, filled with characters you really grew to care about. The disaster hits hard, but it's the effect on the families and their friends that truly resonates. McKay is an excellent writer, not a word to spare. I hated to put it down. ( )