I finished The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig a week or so ago and am finally getting around to writing my review. It sat by my bed for several months, originally recommended by Amy who I think read it when she was on Block Island last summer!
I would normally hesitate to read a midwest homesteader story, told from the perspective of a man looking back to his childhood. This type of story seems ripe for triteness or preciousness, neither of which appeal to me. The Whistling Season surprised me with its interesting storyline and surprisingly complex characters.
The Milliron family, a father and three boys who lost their mother recently, needs help around the house. Oliver Milliron surprises his son when he answers an ad for a woman reading "Can't cook but doesn't bite." After negotiations, Rose Llewellyn comes into their lives, bringing surprises along with her inability to cook.
The book neither diminishes nor romanticizes the lives of homesteaders, the charm of the one-room schoolhouse or the dangers of living the pioneer life in the early 20th century. As the eldest son in a family without a mother, Paul must grow up and shoulder adult burdens at a young age. Young Paul experiences his coming-of-age while studying under a new and inspiring schoolteacher who challenges his mind. He learns both from the schoolhouse and from the behaviors and actions of the adults that he encounters.
The Whistling Season is worthy of your time if you enjoy meandering through a well-told story written beautifully. It will not grab you and beg you to finish it...but it will creep up on you and invite you into a world in which you will enjoy your time spent.
Di
Comments