Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
When the wall closes over Cal, he will be like a fly in amber, a riddle
of time, a museum piece. He will lose the desire for escape. The
obsession with living will seem like a dalliance to him then. Stillness
will be the new thing.
February follows the lives of the family of a man who died in the 1982 sinking of the Ocean Ranger off the coast of Newfoundland. Central to the narrative is the grief of his wife and only son. This isn't a novel driven by events but instead one driven by its narrative and the fractured, disjointed set of emotions it portrays. Focusing on life as much as death, February paints a vivid picture of our changing world and the steadfast unchanging way loss affects us all.
The novel is haunting, realistic and bright, shimmering with the joys of life, while also, masterfully gut wrenching and tragic as the sinking of the rig is portrayed piece by piece. Covering a span of decades, unique moments of times long past as well as Canadian life are portrayed. The latter, perhaps, are my favorite: the of blustery snow filled days, seaside houses, and skating with the kids.
I would recommend February for anyone looking for Canadian lit, particularly that which examines life in a small town, in a seemingly simpler time. If you prefer novels with linear narratives, or with less introspective pros, I would give the book a pass.
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