October
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On Sale:
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06/09/2007
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Formats:
Hardback
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A new novel that Richard B. Wright’s Clara Callan fans will adore,
October effortlessly weaves a haunting coming-of-age story set in World War
II Quebec with a contemporary portrait of a man still searching for answers in
the autumn of his life.
In England to see his daughter, Susan, who is gravely ill, James Hillyer, a
retired professor of Victorian literature, encounters by chance a man he once
knew as a boy. Gabriel Fontaine, a rich and attractive American he met one
summer during the war, when he was sent on a holiday to the Gaspé, is a
mercurial figure, badly crippled by polio. A s an adolescent, James was both
attracted to and repelled by Gabriel’s cocksure attitude and charm. He also fell
hopelessly in love with Odette, a French- Canadian girl from the village, only
to find himself in competition with the careless Gabriel. Now, at this random
meeting over six decades later—as he struggles with the terrible possibility
that he could outlive his own daughter—James is asked by Gabriel to accompany
him on a final, unthinkable journey. A t last, James begins to see that all
beginnings and endings are inexorably linked.
A classic Richard B. Wright novel, defined by superb storytelling, subtle,
spare writing and characters who travel psychological territory as familiar—and
uncharted—as our own, October is an extraordinary meditation on
mortality, childhood and memory.
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Author Extras
Reading Guides:
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Reader Reviews from First Look
Richard B. Wright does a wonderful job in portraying a man who has had to cope with many losses in his life and how he continues to move forward. A very thought provoking book.
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Antoinette (Calgary, AB)
Richard B. Wright does a wonderful job in portraying a man who has had to cope with many losses in his life and how he continues to move forward. A very thought provoking book.
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Antoinette (Calgary, AB)
A great read - I read it all in one sitting!
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Claire (Toronto, ON)
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me up turning pages, long after my bedtime.
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Barbara (Qualicum Beach, BC)
An enchanting tale of what once was, 'October' by Richard B. Wright reads like a living account of James Hillyer's life. Wright's prose flows like the thread of an elaborate tapestry; antique but still inspiring.
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Mary (Chomedey, Laval, QC)
The tone of the 'twilight' of the main character's, his middle aged daughter's and childhood friend's lives exists and breathes on every page. I love the simple beauty of both the book's cover and the title. Perfectly executed.
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Linda (Mississauga, ON)
A lovely book, a lovely title.
October brings to this reader's mind, the taste of new MacIntosh apples, the crunch of leaves underfoot, hunting with my father, the bluest of skies, the hint of winter's snow in the air - all lovely.
As he did in Clara Callan and The Age of Longing, Richard B. Wright gives us ordinary people living everyday experience and makes them real for us. In so doing he gives not only his characters' lives but his readers' lives grace and significance.
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Lynda (Winnipeg, MB)
Wright has reconfirmed his standing as one of Canada's most talented writers. October is thoughtful and poignant. He examines death without morbidity, and memories without sentimentality. October is a beautiful examination of one man's life, using both hindsight and foresight to explore his deepest soul.
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Cynthia (Scarborough, ON)
This is a very personal book, written as a first-person narrative; reading it is almost like eavesdropping at times. Richard B. Wright is indeed a superb storyteller. He wastes neither words nor our time, but makes a fine point about life, death, growing to old age or not.
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Judy (Winnipeg, MB)
Wright writes in an easy and fluid style, drawing in the reader from the first page into this gentle and tender story. His meditation on family, the end of childhood, friendships and the inevitability of death are personal as well as universal. Nothing is overwrought or heavy handed. His characters are vividly drawn and, in particular, the young people are utterly believable in their daily banter. The Gaspé coast and the small town of Percé provide a great setting and Wright’s knowledge of and affection for this landscape is evident in his description.
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Friederike (Ottawa, ON)
Wow-what an excellent book! I had a hard time putting it down once I started it. I would highly recommend this book to everyone...I've already suggested it to my book club for the fall.
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Marianne (Mississauga, ON)
This is a book that engages you from the first sentence and lingers with you afterwards. Sparsely told and well written, the story moves between two time periods. Genuine emotions, a sense of loss, and unanswered questions about life haunt this novel.
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M (Winnipeg, MB)
The intriguing characters, and a mix of present and past storylines kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. Great storytelling, and fantastic writing.
Richard B. Wright has done it yet again!!!
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Kiki (Brooklin, ON)
October explores the intersection between the ordinary and the extraordinary with sensitivity and grace.
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Marcie (Toronto, ON)
Richard B. Wright's latest novel is a remarkable page turner. I started reading it late at night and finished it by the next morning. This book has prompted me to acquire more of Mr. Wright's works as I know they will be enjoyable.
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Lynn (Burlington, ON)
This book gripped me from beginning to end. What a wonderful journey reading this novel. I would recommend it without hesitation.
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Linda (Vancouver, CA)
Very engaging story and a great read!
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Andrew (Tatamagouche, NS)
Great book. My wife also had a chance to read it and LOVED it!
Highly recommended.
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Gary (Winnipeg, MB)
What an extraordinary way to deal with the death of a loved one. This is a wonderful book and does much to show how "men" would rather do anything than stay close to the loved one who is dying.
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Christine (Calgary, AB)
Great story about a father and daughter, and how life always seems to come full circle. The descriptions of people and places are so rich that I have no trouble recreating the scenes in my imagination.
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Mari Ann (Shawnigan Lake, BC)
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Adultery
You read about these things in the newspapers, Daniel Fielding thought when Denise did not return to the car. A moment of brief pity for those whose ordinary lives are shattered by a sniper’s bullet, a burning house, a kidnapped child. He had often wondered how people moved past these...
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Clara Callan
Richard B. Wright’s celebrated novel is the powerful and moving story of two small-town sisters and their life-changing experiences on the eve of the Second World War. Clara Callan is a masterpiece of fiction that won the Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Award and the Trillium Award.
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