A beautifully written family story that spans three generations of the McDonald clan both in Scotland and after their immigration to Nova Scotia. Alice Munro says of No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod “You will find scenes from this majestic novel burned into your mind forever.” That is certainly true. There are scenes I will never forget such as when the mother and father and one of their sons walk back to the lighthouse over the frozen ice; the death of the other Alexander Macdonald; the music night at the mine; the horse pulling Calum’s tooth; the whale and more. The writing is simple but effective – lyrical, making it almost poetic to read.
However, this is a family history and throughout I wondered when the story would start. The history of the family I found interesting but felt it was more background to something else which didn’t happen. There were numerous of Munroe’s unforgettable scenes throughout the book and never did I feel like putting it down nor did I have a reluctance to pick it up but for some reason it didn’t fully work for me.
MacLeod certainly made his characters known to us. The narrator was Alexander MacDonald who now is an orthodontist. It starts when he is on his way to supply his older brother, an alcoholic, with alcohol. Calum (the brother) had been convicted of murdering a French Canadian miner and was on probation from a life sentence. Through reminiscences we learn the story of the1779 Calum Ruadh from whom the Macdonalds were descended. We get to know Alexander’s brothers, his grandparents on his fathers side and his grandpa on his mother’s side. We get to know cousins. We are taken from Cape Breton to the mines in Ontario and to the current day (1970) in Toronto. The ending although sad is beautiful.
So would I recommend a book that didn’t have a story in the true sense of the word – I have to say yes I would. The writing was beautiful. There were enough highs and lows to hold my interest and scenes that were memorable. It tells of a country and a life that is unknown to me and I enjoyed that aspect. This is a book I would classify as literary and if you like lyrical – put this book on your reading list. It teaches us that “all of us are better when we’re loved.”
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
This is fascinating to me because I thought you were talking about a memoir not a novel! No story, but beautiful writing. Hmm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If it was a memoir I would have thought it was superb.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It amazes me how people teach memoir writing as if it were fiction. And it ain’t and don’t work that way. (sorry haha)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with you totally and it is read totally differently as well. For me a memoir that reads like fiction eg one that is shows not tells loses one of the key aspects that memoir gives the reader – that is the author’s gaining of self-awareness and identity creation. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. My training in memoir was all about creating scenes and “showing,” and we spent no time at all on reflection. There was always the comment that reflection was needed, but it seemed to be a one liner inserted somewhere in a scene. No. I like your phrase “gaining of self-awareness and identity creation.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I’ve found the same with most books on how to write memoir and courses I’ve been to (in fact some don’t even mention self-reflection as being an important part of memoir.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is just crazy. Stanford does insist on reflection, but there was absolutely no training in how to do so, particularly when the whole thing needs to be in scene or “showing.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that is my concern as well. I’m doing a series on the 2nd Friday of the month at Carrot Ranch where I’m going to attempt to put my take on memoir writing which I hope will cover this.
LikeLike
This is a really interesting review, Irene. You’re equivocal about the book, whether or not it’s a success. It sounds more like a series of well rendered sketches than a story.
A story must have a story – a series of events beginning with doubt and desire and ending with fulfillment or failure. Characters must hope and struggle to reach a particular outcome, getting stumped along the way, possibly unsuccesful but with lesson learned. Otherwise, even when very well recorded, it’s a bunch of diary entries. A good memoir also tells a story. Even an award can’t make up the loss of the story thread.
This is where a good editor could have made a substantial difference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is really strange. All through I was asking what is the story and yet it was strangely compelling. The story I suppose was why the older brother was an alcoholic but that got lost in amongst other family members and events. His other two books were short stories and perhaps that is where his strength lies. Also perhaps he was writing a memoir but not claiming it as one. If it had been a memoir I would have said it was very good indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m drawn to the way you describe the book’s story-telling although it isn’t structured as a story. When I was out at Lake Superior I wouldn’t even dare to step foot on the ice I can best describe as a field of shards.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charli I think its a book you’d like despite not having a story in the true sense of story there are scenes that are so vividly drawn that they have stayed with me. I’m glad you don’t step foot on the ice – these people had put spruce trees in to guide them and if the ice melted the trees would sink as a warning. I felt like I was there on the ice with them and it is something (particularly their dog) that will stay with me for a long time to come.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is an ice road on Lake Superior between a village called Bayfield and Madeline Island. They use the discarded Christmas trees from locals to line the road the same way (for the same reason). The ice there is much more smooth because the Apostle Islands protect the bay. Here on the Keweenaw, we get the open rough seas of Lake Superior and there is no walking on shards as thick as a foot and tall as a car! I looked for this book on Kindle, but it’s not in that format. I’m going to check with Finlandia University library now that I have a card.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its a different world for me. If you can’t get it I’ll post it.
LikeLike