The Sudden Weight of SnowThis virtuoso first novel weaves stories and decades into a tightly knit, haunting narrative, as it sets into relief two generations marked by the 1960s – those who lived through them, and those who came after. Seventeen-year-old Sylvia (Harper) Kostak is caught between her mother’s regrets and the strictures of small-town life in the interior of British Columbia. When Harper meets Gabe, an intense and enigmatic young man living on the ’60s-style arts commune outside of town, she is transfixed. Gradually we learn Gabe’s story and what led him to join his estranged mother on the commune, where, in a bid for freedom, Harper eventually finds herself, setting in motion a series of events leading to tragedy. Resonant with longing and a sense of isolation, the novel brings alive the agonies and ecstasies of growing up, sexual discovery, and how the need to belong can shape both decisions and destinies. From the Hardcover edition. |
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7-Eleven asked body Bon Jovi boys breath called carport cold cookshack couple Delaney door Ed Sullivan Show Edmonton everything eyes face father feel felt Free Church friends front Gabe Gabe's Gabriel Miller girls going guys hair hands Harper Harstad head hear heard hippie jeans kids kitchen knew Krista laughing leaned leave legs looked marijuana Mike mother mouth moved never Nick night nodded okay once Pastor John Pilgrims Art Farm pulled pushed road Rob Hanshaw Salmon River sauna Sawmill Creek seemed shed shoulder side skin sleep Slim-Fast smell smiled smoke snow solstice someone sound stared started stay stood stopped sure Susan Sylvia Sylvia Harper talking tell Therese things Thomas thought tired told took trees tried truck trying turned Vera's waiting walked watched women wood Yeah yelled