Helpful Score: 1
I first found Michael Crummey when Galore came out and I haven't been disappointed by his books yet. Sweetland is a little less lyrical, perhaps because it is set completely in the more modern era, so develops less of the mythical/folklore weave. This makes it maybe more disturbing than his other works I've read. His characters are amazing and the myriad of ways you can interpret the events makes this book a keeper for many re readings.
As Moses Sweetland sorts out the ghosts, his days on the island of Sweetland are coming to a close. Having lived most of his life on this island, just outside Newfoundland, Moses refuses to leave as the government tries to buy everyone off the island. He tricks them and remains behind as the sole inhabitant.
I fell in love with this old curmudgeon. He is opinionated, stubborn and determined to do things his way. But as time goes on and he loses his utilities and the weather gets bad Moses finds that he has not done as good a job stocking up and barricading in as he thought he had. As he grows weaker and more demented he begins to see and talk with the people who previously inhabited the island with him. He roams the island looking for his neighbors as their porch lights begin to shine at night.
Ignoring the vulgarity in this book, I found that I liked it more and more as I read it. Moses was the most developed character in the book, but I found many others also enjoyable. I thought the writing was smooth and carried you along in a logical manner. The story let you see this man's struggles and determination, his descent into his last days, along with nuances of nature and its effect on him.
I fell in love with this old curmudgeon. He is opinionated, stubborn and determined to do things his way. But as time goes on and he loses his utilities and the weather gets bad Moses finds that he has not done as good a job stocking up and barricading in as he thought he had. As he grows weaker and more demented he begins to see and talk with the people who previously inhabited the island with him. He roams the island looking for his neighbors as their porch lights begin to shine at night.
Ignoring the vulgarity in this book, I found that I liked it more and more as I read it. Moses was the most developed character in the book, but I found many others also enjoyable. I thought the writing was smooth and carried you along in a logical manner. The story let you see this man's struggles and determination, his descent into his last days, along with nuances of nature and its effect on him.
