Sweetland in Bound Together

Nov 10, 2014 Diane S ☔ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

How does one measure the value of a man's life? Is it the house he lives in? The amount of possessions he has? The family and friends who love him or those he loves? Twelve generations have lived on the island of Sweetland, a mythical place off the Newfoundland coast, they have made due with little and supported each other through hard times. The governments price is 100,000 dollars, but only if everyone leaves the island. Many accept, this is their chance to have an easier life and that is a l ...more

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May 16, 2015 Chrissie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015-read, returned, islands, fiction, audible-us, canada

ETA: There are two more reasons why this book disappointed me. There is no discussion of a government's right to move people out of the hinterlands, to force them to live where everybody else lives. Obviously this is cheaper for the state! There is no analysis of this whatsoever - nothing about economics, safety, education, public facilities.In the way the offer is set out, in that all agree or the deal is off, the focus is shifted to the pressure of neighbors, fellow island inhabitants. Two com ETA: There are two more reasons why this book disappointed me. There is no discussion of a government's right to move people out of the hinterlands, to force them to live where everybody else lives. Obviously this is cheaper for the state! There is no analysis of this whatsoever - nothing about economics, safety, education, public facilities.In the way the offer is set out, in that all agree or the deal is off, the focus is shifted to the pressure of neighbors, fellow island inhabitants. Two completely different themes. Secondly, there is practically nothing about life on Newfoundland. No history at all. You do not learn about Newfoundland. The book is not about place. This is a book about family relationships, suicide and mental retardation. It is important this is made clear to prospective readers.

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I assume you have read the book description, so go read it if you haven't.

Quite simply, I need clarity in a book and this book is as far from that as black is from white. Dreams, flashbacks, hallucinations and the present time story are all interwoven. I kept asking, "Did that just happen or was it a hallucination?" Maybe I am just too dumb, but I spent the whole time trying to figure out what the hell was actually taking place and what was simply in Moses' head? Moses Sweetand is the central character. Should he leave? Should he stay? Or..... logical Chrissie kept thinking, "Does he really have a choice?" If you want to get into the head of a delusional old man this is the book for YOU!

So I did not enjoy this book, BUT the author draws places beautifully. I am not talking about scenery as much as the feel of a place or a situation or a person. There are very good lines. Only one example: there is a visiting government official and he struts around with a briefcase under his arm - as if he were born with that briefcase there, glued under his arm. Think abo it ….you've seen men like that! I am giving this book two stars because it is OK, but it is only the lines that made me like the book at all. Sweetland’s confusion drove me nuts. It’s true, maybe the author wanted to depict exactly that!

As usual, my view of the audiobbok narration does not influence my rating. I used to absolutely adore audiobooks narrated by John Lee. If you have listened to him you will immediately recognize the special lilt of his voice. He sings the lines. His intonation goes up when most people's go down. Here in this story you have old cantankerous rough men and they just would not sound like this! I absolutely detested the narration. To appreciate the lines, I had to think very hard to not listen to what I was hearing. My advice? Read the paper book, don't listen to the audiobook. If you are like me, well then don’t even read it.

All my friends love this book. I don't. I kept wondering, "What is wrong with me?" Well, here I have explained what bothered me.
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Jun 28, 2015 Alena rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book demands close attention. It is a story told in disjointed fragments, jumping around in time. Truthfully, it took about 100 pages for me to become fully immersed. But once I did...the rewards were rich.
Sweetland is a title, a character, and a place -- each an island, complicated and layered and undiscovered. Big themes of independence, progress, the value of life, love and self-determination are revealed as Sweetland's layers are unveiled.
This is not an easy read, but I am left so impre ...more

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Mar 06, 2016 Irene rated it liked it

Despite the strong writing in this novel, I can’t say I enjoyed the story. A stubborn, old codger winters alone on an island off the coast of Newfoundland, refusing to leave his home when the government relocates all the other residents and cuts off all services. As he struggles to survive in this inhospitable landscape, he glimpses figures from his past. We are never certain if these are hallucinations brought on by hunger and isolation or the ability to perceive ghosts brought on by solitude. ...more

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Apr 14, 2016 Mairzi rated it liked it

Really 3.5 stars. I liked this book and loved the characters BUT I found the author's writing difficult to follow at time. I have a slight form of dyslexia and have difficulty processing things sometimes. For some reason the rhythm of Crummey's dialogue and narrative was difficult for me. ...more

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Mar 10, 2016 Deb rated it liked it · review of another edition

Every once in a while I like a book that's almost landscape driven, very descriptive, makes you feel like you are part of the scenery. This was one of those books for me. I liked Moses, the old curmudgeon, loved it when he swore too. Two things made me rate this lower: sometimes I was confused with the relationships between the characters and sometimes the shifts in time threw me off. Could be just me and my concentration level though. ...more

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