Customer Reviews

The Day the Falls Stood Still (Thorndike Press Large Print Historical Fiction)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It was hard to believe that this book was the author's first. It was very well written. The setting is 1915-1923 Niagara Falls, Canada. Loosely based on an historical figure, it also details the history of the Falls and the beginning of the Hydro-Electric powerhouse with the spread of the use of electricity during this time frame. But more than that, it is a story of love and passion between two people, a 17 year old year girl, Bess, and the river man Tom. Tom not only has love and passion for Bess, he has a deep and abiding passion for the Niagara River and the Falls and is dismayed at how the river is being diverted for the making of electricity. He is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, also a river man. Both had became well known for their astounding ability to understand the river and their ability to predict danger and being able to rescue people and bodies out of the river.

This book is a wonderful glimpse into the lifestyles of this period in time when so much was changing in our world. Tom goes off to serve in the war that we now call World War One while Bess stays home to raise their son and earn their living dressmaking. We see how the electric companies worked to show people how much better their lives would be with all the electric appliances that would be possible is only they were permitted to divert even more water from the Falls for making electricity. Some going so far as to thinking that it wouldn't be a big deal if the Falls were drained dry to make the electricity. If you have every seen the Falls aren't you glad they didn't succeed?

This book is about real people going through real struggles with finances, personal philosophy and ethics, caring friends, crumbling friendships and betrayals, and passions that rules their lives and homes. Although there were sad moments in the book, there were also those wonderful moments of triumph as they turn those bad times into growth of character.

This is an excellent novel unlike many that seem to think the only way to write a novel is to see how depressed they can make the reader. This book makes you want to cheer on the characters as they stood steadfast on their own moral ethics no matter if they were the lone voice crying in the wilderness. As I finished the book, I thought how much fun it would be to take another trip to Niagara Falls and see if we could find and see them through the eyes of the books' characters. Unfortunately, our world has become closed tighter and we no longer can take a day trip to the Falls without a passport.

I picked this book on a whim, and I am so glad I did! I thoroughly and unexpectedly loved this book. I found the two main characters, Bess and Tom, to be sympathetic and likable people. The background setting of Niagara Falls was very interesting and I even enjoyed the tidbits about dress making. While I did not necessarily love them, I also liked the way the author included newspaper articles about some of the events surrounding the Falls- cool detail I thought. The book definitely had some very sad details, mainly regarding Bess's family, but the book moved right along with ups and downs. I will definitely recommend this book and I feel that it would also make a good Book Club selection.

The Niagara 1915-1923 is the setting of Cathy Marie Buchanan's debut novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still. I would call it a naturalist's love story. Bess, seventeen years old, notices not all is right in her world as her school year at Loretta (a Catholic women's boarding school) draws to a close. Her father and sister are not there to bring her home. A kind stranger offers to help her with her trunk, and her world is further set askew. Tom Cole enters her life as she finds her home in ruins: father jobless and taken to drinking, sister abandoned by beau and recluse in her room, and her mother as taken to dressmaking from her one time friends in high society Niagara (Canada). Mystery and secrets about this new home life give way fast, as the story rushes through subplots and characters, just as swiftly as the river. Defiance pays off, relationships change or end, and society changes in a span of several years. But above all the human foolishness is always the river and the falls dominating.

Buchanan fictionalizes real life river man, Red Hill in the character Tom Cole. Many stories and myths about the river are real, although told through some fictional characters. This was the best part. I found the beginning to be rushed, trying to grab the audience's attention, but revealing too much too soon. The middle lagged a bit, but I anticipated a wowing end. Instead I got a limping story looking for an end, and it felt like Buchanan settled. Environmentalism and love of nature saturate this story, which is fine, but it dragged the momentum of the human drama numerous times. This book reminded me continually of Drowning Ruth: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club). Not only because it is about a woman during and after WWI, but also because it is about family secrets, forbidden love, the natural surroundings, and it eventually got tedious towards the end until it finally did end, and it was rather weak.

It was not a bad book. It was difficult to read. I just expected more drama. The myths and descriptions of the river were wonderful. Especially in today's world where environmental concerns are at a high, it was a nice read. The beginning was engaging, but it just could not carry out the plot. It got boring and tedious. I wanted to like it more than I did. With such a beautiful, dynamic, and inspirational muse as the Niagara, I expected more.

I was very high on this book at the start, however as I read, it fell more and more out of my favor. The historical stories and war time fiction were strong, but her characters are so weak, that I almost stopped reading it halfway through. I ended up hating Bess and I doubt that was the author's intent. Her selfishness is beyond belief for someone we are supposed to like, her sister's character is real enough but she is written out too soon and leaves us only with her spirit. I would rather have read this book from the point of view of Tom. He seemed more real than any of the others. The time period being what it was, the controlled environment of her childhood makes Bess's choices even harder to swallow. I think she was supposed to be this headstrong girl with a mind of her own but she ended up seeming like a hurtful piece of selfishness.

The under story, The struggle between nature as she is and nature harnessed for use was a wonderful storyline and again I was filled with disappointment over the lack of power to the story. We are talking about Niagara Falls for pity's sake it should have some power to her words about the struggle to "use" it. Fortunately I am done with the book and maybe the selfishness of Bess will be forgotten as well.

Inside this gorgeous book is an extremely well-crafted story of love and faith. It would be incorrect to say that Niagara Falls serves as a backdrop for the novel as the Falls with its dangerous beauty almost becomes a main character in and of itself.

The book begins in 1915. Seventeen-year-old Bess Heath has lived a life of comfortable privilege up until now. A series of tragic events forever changes her family, and this coincides with her meeting rough-hewn and mystical riverman Tom Cole, who is practical Bess' opposite in many ways. Opposites do indeed attract, and Bess and Tom create a life together, one that is not easy especially in the setting of Canada in the World War I time period.

The book weaves in true tales of Niagara Falls history along with fictitious newspaper clippings in a way that is utterly charming. The author creates memorable characters that are easy to connect with and who leave a lasting impression. Absolutely recommended.

This was an entrancing, well-written book with an unforgettable setting and characters. In my mind, however, the book consisted of two stories--the first one (and first half of the book) is a love story between Bess and Tom, and the second one is a larger story about progress vs conservation, poverty, war, politics and manipulation, obligation and duty. The two stories exist in the same book, but the love story reads quicker and has a different tone. I think this is why some reviewers have criticized the second half of the book as being a downer, and slow moving. It is indeed a different tone and pace and even, really. a different plot than the first story. It's almost as if the larger story is the main book and the love story is a short prequel.

That said, I loved this book. The only thing that kept me from giving it five stars were the frequent flashbacks embedded mid scene. Reading this structure once or twice was OK, but again and again was annoying and pulled me out of the story world. I often had to go back and read and look for time markers to figure out how much time had elapsed between the current scene and the flashback. Other than that, I think this book would be a real treat for anyone who enjoys a serious historical romance with a bit of magical mystery.

Living in a region where most of the electricity comes from hydro power plants I don't think I ever gave a thought to how civilization tamed the rivers it depends on to make things work. In that way this book was a big eye opener.

"The Day the Falls Stood Still" is the tale of a young Niagara Falls lady in the time just before and after WW1. Through most of her life Bess Heath has lived in privilege as the daughter of a prominent man at the power plant, secure in the love of her parents, her brilliant and beautiful older sister and the abiding faith that her religious upbringing has schooled into her.

But everything begins to change for Bess when her father losses all their money-and some belonging to others-in a business venture. The family's declining social status means that Bess can no longer continue her schooling at the catholic school she loves so much, and her sister Isabel's engagement has been broken off. Bess's family is falling apart-her father has turned to drink, her mother is making dresses to keep the family financially afloat and Isabel refuses to eat or leave her room. Bess knows that each member of her family is keeping secrets from her-but with the typical stiff upper lip attitude of the time and social class no one is revealing any confidences.

The only bright spot in Bess's new dreary life is a man named Tom Cole-a person far below her once elevated social status but rich in kindness and an almost supernatural knowledge of the great river. Though their tentative courtship is forbidden Bess and Tom find ways to communicate-until a tragedy that rips Bess's family apart forces Bess to make a choice between what society deems acceptable for her and what she wants for herself.

"The Day the Falls Stood Still" is both a classic love story of the sweetest, most ordinary kind (not boring ordinary but real life true love not over the top star crossed love) and the history of an evolution of a town and the magnificent natural resources that it built its livelihood on. All aspects of the great river-from the raw beauty and the dangerous stunt pullers, to the local traditions and the harnessing of its power is portrayed in a surprisingly neutral way, allowing the reader to make up their own mind about the impact that humanity has had on this natural wonder.

This is a very calm little book that does make you think about the changes that have happened to the river over time but overall the characters never really made of an impression on me. The whole time I was reading this it felt as if some kind of essential spark was lacking from the book that would have taken it from interesting to fascinating.

If you have a day or so to kill and want to read some historical fiction with real history in it then I suggest this. At the very least the pictures placed before each chapter will make you long to visit the falls and see it's (now diminished but still) majestic splendor for yourself.

Three stars.

I purchased this book reluctantly as our book club was reading it. I ended up loving it. It is a beautifully written story with well defined characters that captures your interest immediately! Even if you are not from the Niagara Falls area you will love this book!!! If you are from the area it is even better!!

I'll start off by admitting I may be a little biased. There is something captivating about reading a book when you recognize the street names, know the buildings mentioned, have been to the natural landmarks and live a block away from the church the family attended. But when I also find myself reading a brilliant epic love story I think my insider knowledge is more of a bonus than a bias.

Bess and Tom come from different classes. Bess is the 17yo daughter of an influential man at Niagara Power and lives in Glenview Mansion. She attends a Catholic Girls Academy (even though the family isn't Catholic) and leads a sheltered life. Tom is about 22 and is the local riverman. He catches fish for pay, pulls dead bodies out of the river, works a few nights in the saloon he has a room over and is always on hand when help is needed down at the river. When these two meet each other it is love at first sight but many things stand in their way including themselves.

While the beautiful love story is the main plot there are many other themes running through the book. The plight of women during this period is masterfully woven into the story with unwed pregnancy, suicide, women working during the war, and women being given the vote during WWI if they had a husband or son overseas. The effect the war had on the women as they stayed home and wondered if their husbands would ever come home and the plight of the men who did come home who were wounded beyond repair and others who had unseen wounds, those of the mind that don't heal so easily.

It is also a story of the environment as the whole history of the harnessing of the power of the Falls for electricity takes place during this time period. Sir Adam Beck, the government, the big business and everyone else it seems is so excited about more and more electricity at less cost that nobody seems to know what it is doing to the river itself, nobody but Tom that is, who knows the river like the back of his hand, and what he sees scares and saddens him. The characters all stand out wonderfully but it is Tom, a true hero, who captures your heart.

A riveting book. I could hardly put it down and read it very quickly. It is emotional; there is sadness. I almost cried at the end, with a lump in my throat, mad, for a moment, at this tragedy we call life. An astounding first novel! Ms. Buchanan is a talented writer with a future ahead of her. I will be interested to see where she goes with her next novel. Highly Recommended! This one is certainly going to make my top ten list this year.

Set in Canadian Niagra between 1915 and 1923, Buchanan's debut novel is a historical, naturalist love story. With some characters and events loosely based on true historic figures and a looming and powerful Falls dominating nearly every page, this novel was certainly interesting but fell a little short on plot strength towards the end. I liked Bess and Tom, and was certainly rooting for them to succeed in life and love. I thought Tom especially was very well drawn - I found his deep and abiding relationship with the river and the falls to be both fascinating and a little chilling - that he was based on a real riverman of the era made him even more appealing. Their lives were perhaps overfull of tragic events, but I think that the realities of the era lend themselves well to such drama.

I think Buchanan's writing is clear and strong, and her characters are well-voiced. She captured the life of the times as well as the history and power of the Falls; she also incorporated a strong environmental message that would have been important then and still resonates now. I enjoyed the book, and would definitely recommend it with 3.5 stars - be prepared however, for a rushed and perhaps overly simple ending which in my opinion greatly reduced the impact of the novel as a whole.