This is the story of an friendship that develops between two families when the nearly-adult daughter goes to work as a secretary for a Japanese-born businessman in Calgary just as WWII is breaking out. The author examines the relationships that develop within the context of the prejudice that gripped Canada as war with Japan loomed.

I hate giving bad reviews, but I mostly found the book boring. The narrator is now elderly in a convalescent home, writing her memoirs as part of a creative writing class, which seemed forced, and the story was broken up by conversations she had with her eccentric fellow resident. The writing style was a bit to light for my tastes.....mostly this happened and then this and I felt and he felt.... ( )

Where I got the book: review copy provided by publisher. This review first appeared on the Historical Novel Society website.

On the eve of the Second World War, Kay Jeynes volunteers to transfer out of her typist’s job to work for Japanese businessman Hero Miyashita. The relationship between the sophisticated Japanese gentleman and the naïve working-class Canadian rapidly turns into that of mentor and disciple, and Kay’s family and friends learn to view the Miyashitas with less prejudice than is the norm in the Calgary of the Thirties. But war is looming, and in the wider Canadian context, prejudice against the Japanese is fast turning to fear and hatred.

Flying Time is an example of what literary historical fiction does well: provides a snapshot of a time and place through the small evolutions in relationships in a clearly defined context. North’s evocation of Calgary in 1939 is masterly, a clear sketch that is never too heavy on detail. Her writing style is fluid, chatty, and engaging, and the pages of this novel flew by for me. I was not initially thrilled by the framing device for Kay’s reminiscences, a memoir writing class in a nursing home, but North made it work through Kay’s awareness of the poignancy of old age and the fleeting nature of youth.

Personally, I could have enjoyed the story without Kay’s journey to Hong Kong, even though I found the depiction of international travel by flying boat fascinating. I felt that the really engaging aspect of Flying Time was the delineation of the relationships that built up from a chance meeting, enhanced by the poignancy of historical hindsight. ( )

I enjoyed Suzanne North's mysteries a few years back, so had to try this new literary novel. It's a beautiful, fascinating story, funny and sad and adventurous and romantic, with two strong and likable central characters. I agree with the cover quote by Candace Savage: "Her new novel is filled with unforgettable characters in a richly imagined worled. The result is original, genuinely moving, and completely enjoyable." And the blurb by Gail Bowen, "A beautiful novel, brimming with intelligence, heart and wit." ( )