Customer Reviews

The Way the Crow Flies

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'd put off reading this novel since it came out. Mostly because of the effect that 'Fall on Your Knees' had on me. (Which included handing out more than fifty copies to friends and family since its publication.) Fear must have been part of it, fear about how much better this one might be, might not be... 'Fall' was proof to me of how great writing could be. The author writing something better might have had me intimidated (yes, I'm a writer), and yet her writing something 'not better, not even as good as' might have disappointed me so much to have had a deleterious effect. Fortunately, neither possibility resulted.

Ms MacDonald is an extremely talented writer. There is an assuredness in her writing, in how she executes what she does, that goes deep. For me, a novel (or a screenplay for that matter) has its author taking the reader by the hand, saying "I have a story for you. Walk with me while I tell it to you..." When this is done with confidence (and not just 'writerly ability, getting the vocabulary, the grammar, the construction right) the whole reading experience is taken up a level, approaching being transported. And yet she does not 'over-write'. She is not prone to 'purple prose'. She is as likely to throw out a juicy riff as she is to dig deep. Clearly a great observer of people, she understands the complexities of character and relays them with honesty and humour. Moreover, though every piece of writing is, at its core, an expression of the writer, 'Crow' is clean, unencumbered by 'at least to these eyes' literary earmarks.

This novel has a lot going on. And yes, I'm not sure that it needed to be as expansive as it is. ("Couldn't you just take out a few notes?") When I began the final 150 or so pages, I confess I did mutter 'This better be good...' (In fairness, it was...and it wasn't.) I'll admit that a judicious amount of editing might have made it an even better experience to read than it was. There are a sizable number of cultural references 'no surprise here, as the story begins in 1962 and ends two decades-plus later' that do provide for some smiles for anyone the author's age, but at times, seemed to veer towards the indulgent...and yet...and yet Ms MacDonald does it with a very zippy, tangy flair, in a way that doesn't burden, doesn't weigh down the execution. (The sign of true talent is to make everything seem so effortless. This is what you get with her novels.)

I'd forgotten how well Ms MacDonald does heartbreak. In this regard, she reminds me of a cook who is renowned for her pastry. She puts on a meal, the courses are providing enormous pleasure for the diners, and then all of a sudden she brings out a plate and you remember "Oh...that's right...she's a pastry genius, too..." I was caught off-guard when she 'brought out the (heartache) pastry'; my usual response was to close the book and consider where it was all going...and whether or not I was up to it. But again, she manages this without it becoming this set-piece of self-indulgence.

This story has some quite-picante twists that reminded me of Ms MacDonald's craftsmanship, her authoritative ways as a writer...never mind her deft touch. By turns a travelogue of the times, an exploration of Canadiana, sexual, regional and familial identities, all wrapped around a very sobering incident, the novel is a fine tale, the sort you'd want to have a travelmate tell you on a cross-country ViaRail ride.

My standard quote regarding 'Fall on Your Knees' has always been what I opined to a bookseller: "If you're a writer, this novel will either intimidate you so much as to never write another word, or so inspire you as to write as you've never written before." ''The Way the Crow Flies'? It doesn't have the same energy, the same dynamic, or even the same intent. So maybe it's unfair to expect as strident an opinion might result from its reading. But I will say this: Ann-Marie MacDonald is a gem, someone whose talent manages to reassure while still blowing away this writer, reminding him what can be accomplished if one stays true to one's own voice.

I look forward to hearing Ms MacDonald's voice again and again and again.

This is simply one of the best books I have read in a very long time. The way in which MacDonald evokes the innocence of early 60's domestic life in Canada and then shatters that image is stunning. On one level, this is a mystery and another, it is an insightful examination of the destructive power of lies. A truly great read.

"The Way the Crow Flies" is one of the best books I have read this year-- I work (toil is more like it) in a bookstore, so I get to read a great many things-- mostly crap, to be honest. MacDonald's voice as a writer is so unique-- it is almost trance-inducing. She has a complete mastery of language and can take you right into the world of her characters, into their lives, into their minds. I found the story itself just as fascinating, the same way the books "Bark of the Dogwood" and "Glass Castle" are full of great characters and heartbreak. For anyone who has ever kept a secret (and who among us has not), no matter how huge or how tiny, this book is an intense reminder of the prices paid. I cried my eyes out at the end of the book--I don't want to give anything away about this story; read it and take from it what you can. My interaction with my own family will never be the same after this book.

I was very hopeful when starting this novel, however I agree with the Amazon.ca & Books Canada reviews. I love the descriptions and the flow of the writing. Unfortunately, Ms. Macdonald tries to include too many details and the last 150 pages are difficult to finish and more horrific than necessary.
It has the feeling that things just aren't horrible enough and every gruesome detail needs to be revealed and forced upon you.
I felt depressed by the overly sunny beginning to the completely shattered ending. No light is left glowing. The description of the murder was excessive & not truly believable. The description of the lead character's adult life was monotonous.
There is something to the saying "Less is more".

Since there are numerous reviews revealing the plot and characters, I will not take up time and space and go down that same road again. Contrary to many reviewers' opinions, I did not find the book depressing. On the positive side, it was a real page-turner from start to finish and one of the main characters, Madaline, kept me chuckling along the way especially in her youth. The book begins in the 60's, and for me, brought back many memories of old songs, movies and celebrieties mentioned that were long forgotten. (If you are too young to reminisce about Dion and "The Wanderer", well...you simply don't know what you missed!) There was also a touch of everything from family life, and the exuberance of youth, to rape and murder -"something for everyone," as one might say. The book is a lengthy one and has a surprise twist at the end regarding who actually committed the murder.

On the negative side, the participation of Madaline's father's (Jack's) involvement in the air force, past activities and rehashing of outdated military events become boring and tedious at best. Overall, I would recommend the book, although there may be parts of Jack's long-winded military career, which really added nothing to the book, that the reader might like to skim through or pass by entirely. It often seemed like the author was trying to write two books but decided to combine them in one, i.e., one about Madeline, her friends, family life, and murder, and one about Jack's life in the military. Somehow the two simply did not gel well together.

Macdonald is a fine writer who Canada should be proud of. Her writing is exquisite and her narrative tightly woven. The story is especially engrossing. The characters are so lifelike I feel like they could easily be a friend, relative or neighbour. Macdonald is a writer who is able to address serious issues while simultaneously creating a fabulous fiction. Academics and casual readers alike will enjoy this book.

This book kept be spellbound from beginning to end. I loved the author's descriptions of the places in Ontario -- it was so refreshing to read a book that takes place in Canada, NOT the U.S. or England, as most seem to. I also enjoyed the time era in which the author writes because I could relate to it as well and it brought back many memories for me. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading her earlier book, Fall on your Knees.

In a word: wow

I stayed up until 3am to finish this book because I was so tied up in the characters that I just had to know how things turned out. I felt like I knew these characters, as they were so realistic and so mulit-dimensional. The story itself was very deep and interesting, with many layers to it.

Many shocking and disturbing events are played out in this fantastic novel. Sometimes it felt like I was watching a car accident in slow motion or that I was reading the juiciest celebrity gossip, and yet the writing was an incredible accomplishment.

I already cannot wait for her next novel, as the second one was better than the first (which is saying a lot because the first one was also an incredible accomplishment).

A BIG book at 832 pages. Takes a bit to get into. Set in the 60s -Reminiscent of the Truscott case. Characters so well drawn, you'd recognize them on the street. A terrific, poignant book

A well written and entertaining book that was inspired by the true Canadian life of Stephen Truscott.

MacDonald has done an amazing job of capturing and detailing life in the early 60's during the Cuban Missile Crisis along with detailing the life of a Canadian Military family in midwestern Ontario.

A book of espionage, intrigue, murder and growing up in middle class Canada.

A harrowing account of the effects and side effects of sexual abuse right under your nose and how those who hold to "doing it right" can get it so wrong.

The author provides a beautiful but ugly ride with the McCarthey family and the reader continually gets let down and disappointed by Jack and Mimi McCarthey.

The star of this 700+ pageturner is the lovely amusing and adorable Madeline who finally comes to grips with "doing it right" and how she goes about to not only do it but get it right.

An interesting ending that makes this that much more of a gripping novel.

Thank you Ms. MacDonald for your ability to remember those little nuances that puts the reader back into the early 60's from Bugs Bunny to Cameo Menthols to the Beverly Hillbillies. Well done and very well crafted.

Highly recommended and hats off to the author for this wonderful summer read.

Also highly recommended is the true horror story called "Until You Are Dead - Steven Truscott's Long Ride Into History" by Julian Sher published by Knoph Canada. The only scarier thing about this book is that it's TRUE!