Customer Reviews

The Republic of Nothing

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The tears are still drying on my face. Forget the make-up! Why haven't more of us in the USofA found this wonderful writer? I, too, would have remained ignorant if I hadn't had one of those serendipitous conversations with a customer service rep who happened to be located in Halifax. All I know about Halifax I learned from Robert MacNeil's engaging BURDEN OF DESIRE. So I mentioned that book to the young woman on the other end of the line, and she returned the favor by telling me that THE REPUBLIC OF NOTHING was her favorite book. I ordered it from Amazon that very day. I loved this novel from start to finish - the well drawn and appealing characters, the distinctive setting, the plot! A++++++. And, for those of us born around the time Choyce was born, the novels themes have to resonate deeply. Yet they are timeless and timely for today.

Winner of the Dartmouth Book Award, The Republic of Nothing is a novel set in the 1960's on Whalebone Island, a.k.a. "The Republic of Nothing", a small dot of land off the coast of Nova Scotia that dares to declare its independence to the world. As the island's inhabitants become increasingly drawn into the turbulent politics of the day including the Vietnam War and the peace movement, an unexpected individual steps forward to society's rescue. Originally published in 1994, now in a new "Reader's Guide" edition featuring an afterword by Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, The Republic of Nothing is a quirky yet compelling drama where anything and everything can happen, even as anarchy becomes increasingly prevalent.

This book is, without a doubt, the best book I have read to date. Lesley Choyce does fantastic work with this story. This novel evokes every emotion - humor, excitement, anger, resentment, love, worry, jealousy - and does so in a natural, comfortable way. I can't give this book enough praise. Everyone should read it and hopefully enjoy it as much as I did.
Oh, and Alberta English 30-1 students, it's on your reading list and is probably the most fun choice [Choyce!]on the list.

This book has to be the most unlikely success story!! If you go to school, you know that the books the teachers give you to read are generally either really old or really boring. I am suprised to say that this book is neither.

The book is a very vivid depiction of what it is like to seek independence from your family, and even your country. This books about a family that live on a secluded island off Nova Scotia, they call this island "The Republic of Nothing." They don't want to be a nation of anyone elses, they want to be on their own with no government. This book starts off as a book about an Utopian island, and that it becomes about one family, mainly the main character, trying to find their way. It has family struggles, committment, romance, comedy, politics, etc etc. This is definitly a book for everyone from a dreamer to a succeeder.

This was the best book I've read in a long time. I found it by googling Neil Peart - I've read everything he has written, but always looking for more. He wrote the afterword for this book - and it was well-written. The book held my interest and took me back to the 60's.

Though I can say exactly why, but if you've read "Colony of unrequited dreams", then you may like this one. Down east theme, oddball characters.

We had to do this book in my grade 12 english class. Unlike most school books, whcih are often boring and tedious, this one kept us interested and we therefor did good on the tests :)

I recommend it.