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Crow Lake
Crow Lake
Author: Mary Lawson
Mary Lawson's debut novel is a shimmering tale of love, death and redemption set in a rural northern community where time has stood still. Tragic, funny and unforgettable, this deceptively simple masterpiece about the perils of hero worship leapt to the top of the bestseller lists only days after being released in Canada and earned glowing r...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780676974805
ISBN-10: 0676974805
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 14

3.8 stars, based on 14 ratings
Publisher: Vintage Books Canada
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Crow Lake on + 25 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 18
First novels are tough. Many haven't mastered the art of "show, don't tell" in their story-telling. Mary Lawson does a beautiful job of getting you to feel the emotions of the characters and their varying reactions to the tragedy that occurs near the beginning of the book. This is especially hard, since the setting is a small farming community where you are not supposed to show your emotions. You are supposed to be stoic in face of anything and everything, although stoicism can easily lead to feelings of martyrdom.

Perhaps this novel captivated me, because I grew up in a household where words of anger were not spoken, but certainly the anger was there. She described very well what it's like to swallow that anger and keep it down throughout your life.

The ending is quiet, and will disappoint those who want some large explosive fanfare ending. But I found it very intense, even in its quiet realization. It's a fairly quick read and will be of interest to those who like to know what makes people tick.
reviewed Crow Lake on + 45 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 14
The story of a woman's struggle to come to terms with childhood traumas and how they have impacted her adult life. An easy read that I didn't hate, nor did I love. It's like the vanilla pudding of books, tastes good, but not the most memorable.
ri avatar reviewed Crow Lake on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 13
Tender, exquisite. It's as if I was lying in bed all curled up in some cold sheets that were yanked away from me, but then replaced by a soft warm comforting blanket instead. I felt like I grew right along with Kate, even when that was difficult and a shock. Overall a wonderful book!
reviewed Crow Lake on + 275 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
This is a wonderful story of family relationships. The ending really made me think about how everyone's perceptions are different and that you can be stuck with an incorrect idea that is sometimes hard to change. A lovely book, one of the best I've read lately.
reviewed Crow Lake on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
Disappointed. I read this book in hopes of finding something unique and was let down. Standard family fiction story
Read All 54 Book Reviews of "Crow Lake"

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berd avatar reviewed Crow Lake on + 214 more book reviews
I was really hoping I'd like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I read a couple of chapters but had to put it down. I am not sure what bothered me about it, but it didn't pull me in so I quit reading it fairly early on.
Amyaloha avatar reviewed Crow Lake on + 31 more book reviews
I liked it, not loved it but liked it. She has a nice style, the characters are real. Enjoyable, easy summer read.
Coleopterra avatar reviewed Crow Lake on + 44 more book reviews
A friend passed this book along to me with a thumbs up. Not knowing what to expect I was very surprised to find I was drawn in from the very beginning. It was an enjoyable read.
reviewed Crow Lake on + 64 more book reviews
Written in a flashback and present day style. Young woman recalling how the family adapted after a major disaster, the roles each family member fell into in order to remain a family. Characters well developed and interesting individually and as a family group. Setting is Ontario wilderness in the mid-century, and represented with knowledge and clarity.
reviewed Crow Lake on + 3 more book reviews
The author is adept at weaving the past and present together so that your are curious about what comes next. I want to read any other books she has written.


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