The Width of the Sea: A Novel [Paperback]

Michelle Chalfoun (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 18, 2002

Cod fishing supported the New England town of Rosaline -- and the Albin and Fitz families -- for generations.Now the cod are nearly gone and, with tourism taking over the waterfront, the government wants fishermen to stay off the seas.

Chris Albin and John Fitz, friends since childhood, will lose everything if they quit fishing -- their boat, incomes, and futures. While both Chris' marriage and John's relationship with Yve Albin, Chris's sister, begin to unravel, the two young men devise a desperate plan: one last dangerous, very illegal voyage to an island off the coast of Newfoundland. Avoiding capture will take luck and skill, but getting back whole, in body and spirit, will take a miracle.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Earnest and closely observed, Chalfoun's second novel (after Roustabout) chronicles the lives of a small crew of fishermen and their families, who endure the demise of the fishing industry. Times are tough in the fictional New England town of Rosaline. The seas are overfished; the reconstruction of an antique schooner, the Shardon Rose, forces the fishermen off the piers; and the government announces an Emergency Buyback Package, which encourages fishermen to scuttle their boats and quit the business. Struggling to make it are the men of the Pearl, a fishing vessel owned by Warren Fitz and crewed in part by his son, John, and John's best friend, Chris Albin. Pride-bound, Warren Fitz is loathe to take "The Package," so John prodded by Chris, a longtime but functioning junkie tries to run drugs from one of the French islands off the coast of Newfoundland. It's here, as Chalfoun sets her characters on a collision course, that the novel's slowly churning engine kicks in and builds real, satisfying momentum. Chalfoun who has worked on boats and in shipyards has a strong documentary impulse. She takes great pains to represent every angle of the fishing economy and is careful to portray in exacting detail her characters' every action. Unfortunately, the surfeit of facts obscures more than it reveals. Chalfoun's dialogue has an authentic ring, however, and character dynamics are convincing. While she tends to hammer home each point, those hungry for an accurate, if glum, picture of the New England fishing industry will find this unblinking novel compelling. (May)Forecast: Chalfoun may emerge on readers' radar when the movie version of Roustabout, starring Winona Ryder, is released by New Line Cinema.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Times are changing for the worse in Rosaline, a New England fishing town that for generations has made its living from the sea. The government is imposing more restrictions on fishing rights, the local processing plant has closed, the town fathers believe that tourism not fishing is the wave of the future, and, perhaps worst of all, fish are no longer as plentiful as they once were, making it seemingly impossible to earn a living. Realizing that everything they love is in danger, John Fitz and Chris Albin undertake a reckless expedition on a ship called the Pearl, with tragic consequences not only for the crew but for the women in their lives. Chris's wife, Kate, a bartender, flirts extravagantly with any man who walks by, alternately ignores and adores her young son, Martin, and tries to cope with Chris's unceasing need for heroin, while Yve, Chris's sister, has been in love with John all of her life but still does not understand the first thing about him. In her vivid and confident prose, Chalfoun allows us to share her characters' dismay at their inability to control their own destinies. Recommended for all public libraries. [Chalfoun's first novel, Roustabout, is scheduled for release as a motion picture starring Wynona Ryder. Ed.] Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattl.
- Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattle
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Perennial (June 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060958529
• ISBN-13: 978-0060958527
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,120,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites of 2001, September 19, 2001

By 

L. Brown (Portland, ME) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Width of the Sea (Hardcover)

I loved this book! Some of this is personal bias, as I happen to live in a town on the Maine Coast, where the book is set. However, I don't think that should lessen its appeal to other readers. Anyone who lives in a town which has been historically blue collar industry, but is being transformed into a "tourist destination" due to economic variables can relate to the plot. It is really all about a town struggling with the transition from "old money" to "new money", and how this process tears at the social fabric of that town.

The writing style reminded me of something of a cross between Hemingway and Tim O'brien: beautiful descriptions of the lanscape (or seascape) combined with very deep and believable character development. The characters are defined more by their interaction as opposed to an overt description.

My final comment is that other publishers should take a look at this book's packaging! This was a book that stood out on the shelf and made me pick it up. From the beautiful, somewhat eerie cover photo, to the intriguing title. Upon reading that the author had indeed worked aboard fishing vessels, I figured I'd take a chance on it, and am so glad that I did. This book is now making the rounds with many of my neighbors, with similar comments. I will go out and buy her first book "Roustabout" (she has also worked as a circus routabout).

In short, highly recommended !!!!!!

5.0 out of 5 stars READ THIS BOOK, October 4, 2003

By 

M. Duenas (CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Width of the Sea: A Novel (Paperback)

If I could write a novel it would read like this one does. Read this book and you will not be dissapointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Sea for Yourself, February 28, 2003

By 

Sara R. Hamerla (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Width of the Sea: A Novel (Paperback)

Michelle Chalfoun's second book is an excellent marine adventure. The book is written from the point of view of several residents of a New England fishing village. The characters are three-dimensional and lovable, despite their human flaws. Their attitudes, actions, and language reflect Chalfoun's knowledge of the fishing industry. We discussed this book in our monthly book club and we thoroughly enjoyed this high quality novel.