In Newfoundland writer Michael Crummey's book The Innocents, two children, sister and brother, are orphaned at a remote cove on the shores of Labrador. The pair survive the winter and learn, slowly, with mistakes aplenty, to feed themselves, to trade with the vessel that comes down the coast twice annually. With the help of the odd visitor to their outpost they learn to hunt, which in the end is what saves them from the daily worry about food. Their years of privation end, while other troubles between them brew.

This is a well-written book, chock-a-block with Newfoundland English (luckily I could access the Dictionary of Newfoundland Usage online), descriptive, well-researched. The story, however, was a hard one for me to read. I cringed at the desperation of the two lonely children, winced at threats to their well-being, was horrified when incest jutted its ugly head into the story. There were vivid passages about gutting and skinning animals, and I simply don't have the stomach for reading that.

A good book, but not one I'd recommend, then, because of how it made me feel. I like fiction to leave me feeling either content or interested or wanting to find out more of the story; sadly this book gave me none of that. It did, however, give me the pleasure of reading fine passages by a gifted writer, and I will try Michael Crummey's works again, but something less bloody and off-putting. ( )

A story of hardship, survival, and love set. Ada is about 5 and her brother, Evered about nine when their little sister and both parents die leaving them orphaned on the remote coast of Newfoundland. Used to hard work and harsh conditions, they manage to survive using the skills they have learned from their parents. Once a year, a ship comes by with supplies that are traded with the salted fish they have caught. They survive by helping each other in the only way they know how.

As they near their teenage years, emotions change. The author's portrayal of these times is so well done and done with such respect for his characters.

A wonderful story and memorable one. The ending is just right. ( )

Kurze Inhaltsangabe
Der elfjährige Evered und seine zwei Jahre jüngere Schwester Ada wachsen unter kargen Bedingungen auf. Sie sind die Kinder von Fischern, die allein inmitten der kanadischen Wildnis leben.
Als ihre Eltern sterben, sind die Geschwister auf sich allein gestellt; sie wissen nur das von der Welt, was sie von Mutter und Vater gelernt haben. Also führen sie deren hartes Leben nach Kräften weiter. Bis die Loyalität der Geschwister auf die Probe gestellt wird und sie für ihre Zukunft kämpfen müssen.

Back to Newfoundland with Michael Crummey, this time with two orphans stranded in a remote area where they have to scrabble together an existence and stay alive. A bit of unsavory subject matter, but the writing is superb as always. ( )

A very good read by a Canadian author. Survival, isolation and growing up quick are the themes in this book. Set in Newfoundland many (~150ish?) years ago, when each day was a struggle for survival. A story of siblings making due with what they were taught at a young age. Only knowing what happens on the cove, and the rest of the world a fairy tale they hear from the infrequent strangers arriving by a boat with their provisions for the year as well as to pay off their debts with the fish they collected over the summer. Very graphic at times, and occasionally inappropriate for some readers, but would definitely recommend, and will keep Michael Crummey as a go to author in the future. ( )