SARA, a Canadian Saga -- some reviews ........

Some Reviews of Sara, a Canadian Saga:

"Your well-written book brought memories of actual places and people to me. I was a child growing up on Prince Edward Island in the dirty thirties." K. Austin


"I've read your book already and loved the story. It reminded me of the stories my parents and grandparents used to relate about the 20's and 30's, Your story will sell very well with the older audience and educate the younger ones. They were not easy days for anyone." Judy Donovan-McDonald.


"I received SARA on Tuesday and cóuldn't wait to read it. I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the story especially the streets in Toronto. It brought back a lot of memories. It is good for the soul to remember the past. Could that be why we call them the good old days? Looking forward to a sequel. Maureen Jones-Motchan.


"I truly enjoyed reading SARA. At times I laughed and at other times I felt tears welling up. It was such a good story, well written and I loved it." Eleanor Lambert.


I just finished reading "Sara."
I took the book to work with me where I was teaching a grade 7 class. The children were directed to write about a time when they or someone they knew, demonstrated perseverance. I held up the book and used "Sara" as an example of a woman who demonstrated perseverance. I also spoke to the fact that the author demonstrated this quality in her determination to have her story published. You would not believe the response from these kids - many wanted to know if they could get it at Chapters. This story is uniquely Canadian and should be marketed to adolescents as part of their Canadian heritage. "Sara" is a narrative that figures in the histories of Canadian families everywhere. I will be passing this on to my son!
The line that cracked me up and drew me in for good:
"Their mother set the steaming bowls of vegetables in the centre of the large, old, wooden table that no amount of wax and polish could dignify." (p. 11)
I won't over-analyze why this struck me as hilarious, it just did. What sad, sad state Rebecca was in over her table. This table is a silent witness to generations of love, hope, fear, strife, courage, ignorance and finally, understanding. What a beautiful metaphor for an old scratched up, banged around history that none of us can escape and our fear of endlessly repeating it.
Thank-you for inviting us to the table.
Karen Preston.


SARA, A CANADIAN SAGA-ANOTHER EARLY SPRING READ!
In Canada, many of us grew up reading about Anne of Green Gables, a fictional early 20th century girl who became part of our cultural identity and childhood memories.
In this 21st century, allow me to introduce Sara, a Canadian Saga, written by Audrey Austin from Elliot Lake, Ontario. For first-time novelist, Austin, the experience of "Letting her [Sara] out into the world was like watching my first child go off to kindergarten; hopeful yet frightening". After reading this all-to-brief novel, Audrey Austin's hopes have been well-founded.
A glimpse at the cover image by Susan Krupp takes one into the setting of this historical fiction with its early 1900's clothing styles and older wooden buildings. Rustic and sepia toned, the graphic carries readers back to the early 20th century in a story that follows main character Sara from 1916 to the 50s.
The Maritime setting of Prince Edward Island is home to ten-year old Sara and her family. She grows to adulthood, as does Roy from Springhill, Nova Scotia, through difficult economic times which, eventually, lead to mid-century Ontario.
Austin has integrated the spirit of the Eastern Canadian cultural location with mention of fiddles and step dances, games of cards and crokinole that passed the time in the pre-social media era.
In this book, family relationships play a central part of the story, as in the character of Sara's mother, Rebecca, a strong minded woman, challenged by harsh times and the struggle to raise a family with her husband.
Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, generations of miners have worked at mining coal, a job that occupies Roy's father, Luke. The family is a part of the Salvation Army with Roy and his sister being involved with playing the cornet and singing. It is a faith-based group but, importantly, involves a social outlet as well for people in the small communities at the heart of this novel.
The children, Sara and Roy, grow up in their communities, helping out with daily chores, forming their own ideas of what they want in the future. However, no spoilers here. Suffice it to say, they do face obstacles, typical for the times in Canada with the "goldanged" Depression being a considerable challenge.
Audrey Austin, successfully, integrates highlights of the early 20th century era along with the everyday aspects such as the Rawleigh Company that sold products to households in Canada and the United States; growing emergence of telephone and cars; even "yellowing scribblers". Sara's discovery of "scribblers" is an element with which many readers will identify. In these notebooks, Sara has shared her thoughts and dreams, an experience shared by many of us!
In a recent e-interview, Audrey Austin noted that "SARA enjoys a general audience from young adult to seniors, some of whom have memory of the Great Depression and its impact on Canadian families". This book is a case in point for the writing of historical fiction. In this genre, one gets a glimpse of the past, from family life to economic hardships and job success in early 20th century Canada. Audrey Austin admits that the book contains "slivers of actual happenings" from life; however, the challenge of creativity in writing historical fiction is met with this new character, Sara, and her companions.
As with Anne of Green Gables, this young fictional character is a character who tells us much about our country's past. For a peak at early 20th century Canada, check out Sara, a Canadian Saga.
For information on obtaining this book, check out the author page for Audrey Austin.

By Patricia Anne McGoldrick, on March 18, 2013 at 11:13 AM, under HERE & THERE, REVIEWS, Reviews and Reflections, SPRING READS. Tags: Anne of Green Gables, Elliot Lake, Great Depression, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.