The Colony of Unrequited Dreams [Import] [Paperback]

Wayne Johnston (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Random House of Canada, Limited; 1st Edition. Signed. edition (1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0676972152
• ISBN-13: 978-0676972153
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,847,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgettable, December 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Colony of Unrequited Dreams (Hardcover)

I have had the good fortune to live and travel in Newfoundland, so I was excited to read Wayne Johnson's unforgettable book, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams. I loved the book for its amazing characters and its haunting landscapes. I was particularly fascinated with Smallwood and Fielding, and find myself wanting to know much more about the real life and history of Joey Smallwood. I grew up in Nova Scotia and knew of Smallwood only as some mythical person, the Only Living Father of Confederation, who dragged Newfoundland kicking and screaming into Canada. This book gave me a sense of the real man behind the myth, and Smallwood is as unforgettable as his province. Even though I lived at one time in a remote outport on White Bay, I never fully understood the outporter's perspective on Canada until I read this book. The book is beautifully sad and desperate, but it is also hilarious in places. It holds its own with other recent books I have read about this special place: Howard Norman's The Bird Artist and E. Annie Proulx's The Shipping News. For the reader interested in reading more about Newfoundland, I would recommend Ray Guy's humorous You May Know Them As Sea Urchins, Ma'am and Claire Mowat's The Outport People. My all time favorite Newfoundland book remains Cassie Brown's Standing into Danger. The Colony of Unrequited Dreams portrays the generosity and courage of the ordinary Newfoundlander, but Standing into Danger captures the spirit of a people who have nothing and who are willing to give everything.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Restores My Faith In Contemporary Fiction, February 5, 2000

By 

michael t hearn (new york, new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Colony of Unrequited Dreams (Hardcover)

"The Colony Of Unrequited Dreams" is unquestionably Wayne Johnston's breakthrough book. The author of four previous works, none of which I am familiar with, breaks ground with a book he is sure to be remembered for. Despite its strong echoes of Dickens and/or John Irving, Mr. Fielding finds his voice early on in the contrasting narrative voices of Sheilagh Fielding and the adventures of Joseph Smallwood, sometimes separately, sometimes simultaneously, in the most unlikely setting imaginable--Newfoundland. Indeed, when I picked up 'Colony,' I questioned just how interesting such a setting could be. Well, style and characterization triumph over geographic unfamiliarity, in a work of mystery, history and social change. The very last sentence written by Fielding is a real heart wringer. In fact, I was sorry to have 'Colony' end; it was that rare experience, a book I wished had gone on, one I know I will re-read in a few years to savor Johnston's narrative technique. I look forward to his follow up from here; his is a voice I want to hear more of.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead Brilliant, February 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Colony of Unrequited Dreams (Hardcover)

All I can say is that...it is Newfoundland's voice, it is Canada and it is brilliant. I found Ms. Fielding to be the most memorable, realistic and engaging character I have encountered in the last year of reading. In some ways Dickension but with a true Canadian voice. Thrilling to find a female character who is quirky, demanding, complex and bloody funny. Nice change eh kids?

Mr. Smallwood our beloved past Premiere of Newfoundland, is the everyman..that is if everyman is a myopic, driven political animal. Fortunately they are a rare, if necessary breed. Joey Smallwood was our sacrifice.

I would recommend this book to anyone I know who loves reading. This is the book to cuddle up to while the wind rages and your life howls. One could expect no less from a life on the Rock. (Newfoundland for the outsiders)