Official Review: Lily Fairchild by Don Gutteridge
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Official Review: Lily Fairchild by Don Gutteridge
Lily Fairchild, written by Don Gutteridge, has two parts. At the beginning of the first one, in 1845, Lily is a child who lives on a farm in Canada; she has just lost her mother. A little later, due to political trouble, Lily and her father have to abandon the homestead and run away. She gets sent to live with her Aunt Bridie near Port Sarnia, where she happily grows up, gets married, and bears children. In the second part of the book, Lily is near the end of her life; this older Lily (now referred to as Granny) reminisces about her eventful life.
The book has several positive aspects. I liked that it gives a nice overview of the historical and political events that transpired in Canada during the second half of the nineteenth century. For instance, readers learn that by 1860, the Great Western moved more than 800,000 passengers a year in Upper Canada. Also during that year, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria’s firstborn son, visited Canada, part of Her Majesty’s dominions. The author excels at the account of how, “after twenty-five years of mutual incompatibility,” the arranged marriage of the two Canadas seemed to be heading toward divorce.
What I liked the most about the book was its poetic language. The story is full of symbolism, and Lily is a strong and intuitive woman. For instance, a cameo with the sketch of her grandmother’s face accompanies her throughout the story, as do other amulets. The cameo plays a touching role at the end, but no spoilers are allowed!
I also loved the part where Lily learns the language and traditions of her native stepmom (a Chippewa named Penaseweushig, aka Birdsky) and her son, Waupoore (Rabbit). The author’s depiction of the native culture in Canada was a noteworthy positive point.
On the other hand, I found some segments of the book a bit confusing, especially in the second part. The protagonist changes her name a few times, and the timeline of her memories is somewhat fuzzy and repetitive. This aspect was what I disliked the most.
In closing, I rate Lily Fairchild 3 out of 4 stars. I’m subtracting a star from the rating due to the rather convoluted second part of the book. Otherwise, it was a good read that I recommend to those who enjoy epic family sagas. If you’re interested in the history of Canada, you should also consider taking a look at it. It is not a book for younger readers, though, for it has profanity and a fair share of adult themes.
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Lily Fairchild
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