Canada

By: Richard Ford

Narrated by: Holter Graham

Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

"First, I'll tell about the robbery our parents committed. Then about the murders, which happened later."

When 15-year-old Dell Parsons' parents rob a bank, his sense of normal life is forever altered. In an instant, this private cataclysm drives his life into before and after, a threshold that can never be uncrossed.

His parents' arrest and imprisonment mean a threatening and uncertain future for Dell and his twin sister, Berner. Willful and burning with resentment, Berner flees their home in Montana, abandoning her brother and her life. But Dell is not completely alone. A family friend intervenes, spiriting him across the Canadian border, in hopes of delivering him to a better life. There, afloat on the prairie of Saskatchewan, Dell is taken in by Arthur Remlinger, an enigmatic and charismatic American whose cool reserve masks a dark and violent nature.

Undone by the calamity of his parents' robbery and arrest, Dell struggles under the vast prairie sky to remake himself and define the adults he thought he knew. But his search for grace and peace only moves him nearer to a harrowing and murderous collision with Remlinger, an elemental force of darkness.

A true masterwork of haunting and spectacular vision from one of our greatest writers, Canada is a profound novel of boundaries traversed, innocence lost and reconciled, and the mysterious and consoling bonds of family. Told in spare, elegant prose, both resonant and luminous, it is destined to become a classic.

©2012 Richard Ford (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Living, breathing characters.

I'd call this a longitudinal study of the lives of two children from a dysfunctional family onto which Richard Ford adds carefully observed psychological nuance. So, though there is much to learn about the characters, it's not too much; we are genuinely concerned for their well being throughout their lives. The setting is rendered loosely enough to allow in cold atmospheric light so we can see these flawed, living and breathing characters in action over time. Ford conveys a sense of place is so authentic you will find yourself brushing your hand over the bed to clean the sheets and protect Dell in his little bed . I don't like stories so crushingly sad, but I had to know that Dell made it. I love how this book shows us that choice is key to our survival. I love how Dell understands this truth early in his life. So, I'll wipe away my tears and recommend Canada to anyone who can bear a dark read. It's worth the trip.

After the last word, went right back to beginning

There are only a very few books I've listened to twice in immediate succession. After I finished it the second time, I had to wait a couple of days before I could read any other book, in either print or sound This is not only one of the best audiobooks I've experienced; it's one of the best books I've ever read. I'll be buying a print copy to pass around my family.

I've always liked Richard Ford (especially The Lay of the Land), and this book was something of a surprise. You can see the connections with his other work, but this seems to have sprung all at once (a very focused and intense book) from some rather different place. I wish Ford a long and productive life! And I thank him for this book.

Also, an excellent reader.

Patience required

It you can take the time for this VERY meditative narrative, it finally pays off.
Dell isn't as interesting an observer as Frank Bascombe and it's best to ignore the logic of a 66 year old man recalling so vividly his 15-year-old self. A very good reader but someone should have caught the idea that 'row' meaning argument is not pronounced (twice) like what one does in a boat...and Ipana (the toothpaste) is NOT pronounced e-pahna. Picky picky

Amazing story, narrator not so much

What didn’t you like about Holter Graham’s performance?

The way he made the characters sound - his "voices" for the Berner and Dell, as well as any of the women were halting and stilted and annoying. He also said Front Royal instead of Fort Royal at least three times. Row ryhmes with OW not Oh!

Excellent listen!

If you could sum up Canada in three words, what would they be?

Really great listen!

What did you like best about this story?

The story line.....

Have you listened to any of Holter Graham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Haven't listened to other works by author

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No....just enjoyed the story...reminded me of the events of the era....

Slippery slope.

Read this book to comprehend more about the meaning of the words: emotional punch.
Well written story about a desperate family.
The story is sad and the characters pitiable, still it has a shallow feel to it. It is as if the author is telling the tale as a distant observer.
Themes of disillusionment, fragile relationships, and the slippery slope of mental health make up the meat of this book and offer the reader plenty to chew.

The Best!

I loved the narrator. What a bittersweet coming of age novel. It was truly a wonderful book. The characters were amazing as was the story.

Not for the impatient...

Would you listen to Canada again? Why?

Yes, the narrator did an exceptional job of invoking both the hesitation and uncertainty of a sheltered and inexperienced adolescent whose life is thrown in to turmoil...twice. Yet, he's a deep thinker, pensive, and observant. I loved this character.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Canada?

Dell's inner thoughts and how he tries to make sense of experiences well beyond his years and outside a "normal" life.

Any additional comments?

Again - this is not a good read for for those who need a stimulating story - or who are in a fast-paced mood. This is a story for a mood of thinking, pondering, and allowing yourself to fall into the pace of a young boy's emerging self.

interesting story - the incest ruined it for me.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It could have been. Listening to the main character consider his parents strengths and flaws after they robbed a bank and then consider himself in light of his genetic and environmental influences. Very honest and intriguing. The incest with his sister on the night his parents were arrested was made to seem normal. He never thought about it again. Sorry, this should not be trivialized. I speak from experience.

Would you recommend Canada to your friends? Why or why not?

NO! the incest ruined it for me

Have you listened to any of Holter Graham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The reader did an excellent job.

Did Canada inspire you to do anything?

Never listen to it again.

Any additional comments?

very little of taking the Lords name in vain, thank heaven.

This one was painful to finish...

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The performance of this audio book is fine, but the writing drones on endlessly. I purchased the book based on reviews that I had read, but it was not at all what I had hoped for.