Customer Reviews

You Went Away

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

 

 

I know there are those who believe that even the notion of a novella is something unpalatable, never mind what's contained between its covers. I suppose I'm a little more egalitarian...which is surprising, seeing as I'm such a harsh critic...and a snob. However, 'You Went Away' *is* a novella. It's not a novel. It's not focused on telling a fully-formed story, but rather a storella. Which, as we all know, is a broad hint of a story, its quality defined as much by what's left out as by what's left in. (What's fascinating to me is that everything about the tale has been 'novella-ized'. Not just its breadth -that is, the narrative- but also the pithy representation of characters, their dialogue...the entire kit and kaboodle. And for this, I give Findley additional marks, for having been true to his intent. If this had been a slim tome but inconsistently dressed, if the passages were dense for example, or the depth into which he went in portraying characters was substantive, 'You Went Away' simply wouldn't ring true. But it does, because everything about the novel cleaves to the concept that 'novella' suggests.)

'You Went Away' is an austere, yet hardly cold affair. It's restrained without seeming bound, it's spare without seeming spartan. Its powerful punch comes from remaining true to the time, to the period, to the circumstances...with every word, every sentence, every paragraph serving the end result, that of novella and not 'sweeping saga'. (Lord knows, it could have been. There's so much there. In fact, I couldn't help but think "I wonder what Ann-Marie MacDonald would have done with this, if she'd been left it to finish upon Findley's death.') Yes, it does leave so very much unanswered. Yes, there are threads left dangling. But it's also an awfully satisfying reading experience, a slim slice of...well, meat and potato pie...that doesn't fill you up, but certainly reminds you of how good cooking (as writing) can be.

I was also reminded of how few writers there are who actually have something to say. Yes, constructing a tale and making sure all the necessary bits are there is the foundation of the writer's craft. But above this accomplishment is the hallmark of a real writer, one who *moves* the reader by way of conviction, of presence, as if they've draped their arm around your shoulder as you walk and said 'I've got a story to tell you. It's a good one, I know you're going to like it.' So few novels have this, most are a craftsperson's attempts at an artistic endeavour.

I suppose I cannot review this book without injecting a piece of personal history: back in '97, I was enrolled in the Humber School For Writers. For my instructor/mentor, I had a choice between Findley and another acclaimed Canadian writer...and chose this other chap. I wonder now, some dozen years later, just how different a writer I would be now had I had the opportunity to work under Findley. Because even reading it now, I learned much about the power a writer exerts...and that this comes not from any sort of majesty of word choice, but in the very act of telling a story in exactly the way it was meant to be told.

i love this book, it has been one of my favorties....i have never read anything like this before...it's hard at times to believe the emotion that was put intothe publications of this book...i look for too reading more of Timothy's work! =) EMAIL ME FOR A GOOD TIME!!!!! HAHAHA THANKS! =P