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Book Review of Canada

Canada
reviewed on + 174 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3


Richard Ford's "Canada" is a beautifully written coming of age book that is carried along with simple and clean writing that makes it all the better.

The basic story is that Dell and sister Berner are twins living with their parents in Great Falls, Montana in the sixties. Bev, the father, was a career Air Force man and is more outgoing, while his wife Neeva, is a more quiet and scholarly woman. Bev has gotten himself in some trouble in a bad business deal and owes money that he doesn't have. He comes up with the idea to rob a bank in North Dakato with the assistance of his wife. They carry this out and eventually go to jail.

For Dell and Berner this is a real crisis, because their mother has arranged for Dell to go to Canada to stay with the brother of her friend, but before Berner can be sent, she runs away. Dell makes it to the open and lonely prairies of Saskatchewan, only to be forced into hard work and no school.

Dell's story is a bittersweet one, but he shows perseverance and acceptance in the harshest of conditions. He never gives up, and the ending of the book fits the rest of the story very well.

I loved the book and look forward to reading more of Richard Ford.