Comments (27)

Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of Okanagan Regional Library.
What did you think about this title?
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spudwil
Jun 24, 2022spudwil rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This book really grew on me and I ended up quite invested in the story. However, now I need someone to explain it to me, lol! Was he going crazy with isolation, hallucinating from the effects of malnutrition, or is it a “Sixth Sense”type…
Jan 19, 2020ruthdelagiroday rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This book was well written, but just meh overall. It got quite high ratings by other folks, & I don’t know why.
Oct 12, 2018becker rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This novel has an interesting structure. The second half of the novel takes an unexpected turn and the story becomes something quite different from what it started out as. It keeps you a bit unbalanced as many parts are open to your…
Jul 02, 2018JAL49 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this book, especially in the last half when you don't quite know if Sweetland is losing his hold on reality. If you enjoy character-driven novels with a strong sense of place, you'll love this book. If you want fast…
Feb 16, 2018capitalcity rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Michael Crummey's wistfully haunting novel, mesmerizing in its melancholy focus on how fateful and fleeting life is. Magnified all the more being set on an island, off the southern Newfoundland coast, with the lead character's on-going…
Oct 25, 2017elisemoore rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
It looked like it would be a good story, but I just couldn't stand the guy reading it. Why on earth would they pick a stuffy British accent, some pommy toff, to read a Newfoundland story??! I couldn't get past it. I may try to read the…
Jul 25, 2017BeckyR21 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I am in the minority, but I did not love this book. It was a bit of a chore to read, but I stuck it out because it was for my Book Club. Moses is a great character, the community is full of diverse and interesting people, but it just…
Mar 19, 2017kimh454 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A wonderful novel. I couldn't help loving the main character, Sweetland, crazy and misguided as he was. This is the second novel I've read by this author and I loved them both.
Jan 29, 2017spiderfelt_0 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Take me back b'y! While not a Newfie myself, but a visitor often enough to have an opinion, Crummey has painted a vivid picture of a people and a land. It takes a certain grit to live on an island where life is pared down to the bare…
Jan 03, 2016Dub rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Excellent book...well developed characters, sense of place and storyline. Reminded me somewhat of the another excellent book titles 'Rockbound' by Frank Parker Day. Recommended. On the longlist for CBC's Canada Reads 2016.
Dec 22, 20158217549 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
the story touches you heart. i want to read it again sometime in the future. there is no definite division between past and present, dreams and reality, the hero's thoughts and what happening at the present. could be confusing.
Nov 25, 2015uncommonreader rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This is a very good story with a strong sense of place, albeit a place and way of life that has been overtaken by the "modern world" as there are no longer any fish and the young people are forced to leave. Moses is the last of 12…
Oct 26, 2015silviakindl rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely brilliant, poetry in a novel. I could not put it down. Its deep sadness sparkles with humor throughout.
Sep 27, 2015DevilStateDan rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This is a great story & at it's heart it is about loss; the loss of culture, friends & family & long held traditions. The core cast is a few remaining characters hanging on to a way of life that is becoming increasingly difficult to…
Aug 03, 2015wyenotgo rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book is all about motality, loyalty, loss and a sense of place. The story of Moses Sweetland is quite a simple one, about a man whose deep personal connection to the outport community where he was born and has lived for almost his…
Jul 27, 2015santiano9 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Wasn't prepared to enjoy yet another story set in a Newfoundland village. This was an excellent read and the characters were well-drawn, very believable and with much dignity. A good book.
May 09, 2015bookwormjeph rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A damn good novel. In fact it is great. The story of a community of people living on an island off the East coast of Canada and centres on a cantankerous old codger who refuses to leave the island when the government is withdrawing all…
May 06, 2015rdw39 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This novel became more interesting as I got into the story. I found Moses Sweetland a very interesting older man despite his scruffy & cantankerous personality. The latter part of the story was the most poignant as Moses lives entirely…
May 04, 2015KateHillier rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Atmospheric and starring a main character you won't soon forget. Moses Sweetland is the last holdout on a $100 000 payout to leave an island (also called Sweetland). Either the whole population takes this offer from the Canadian government…
Apr 08, 2015salamanderA rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Sweetland, the place and the man, are among the most vivid and poignant literary characters one can imagine. No description does it justice, and the novel will stay with me long after lesser works have faded. Even among the talented…
Feb 24, 2015biblopa rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
One of the best books I've ever read. Heartbreaking and heartmending at the same time. Moses Sweetland will stay with me forever!
Feb 11, 2015damation rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Moses does not want to leave his remote island and fights but loses when the rest of the inhabitants sell off their land and move to mainland NFLD. Moses decides to stay and this is his story of coming to terms with his place of choice.…
inthestacks
Jan 22, 2015inthestacks rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Such a beautiful written story of one man’s attempt to fight the tides of change. 69-year-old Moses Sweetland has spent almost his entire life on the small Newfoundland island that bears his family name. Once a fisherman until the…
Dec 30, 2014quagga rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I'm a sucker for a strong sense of place, and the Newfoundland coastal island Sweetland is practically a character here. Then there's the human central character, Moses Sweetland, so vividly real. Spare, poetic language adds to the beauty…
Nov 17, 2014smc01 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I had the privilege of hearing Michael Crummey talk about Galore at Burlington Public Library's "One Book, One Burlington" event recently. He also spoke about Sweetland, his newest book. What a pleasure I had reading my signed copy! …