The Day the Falls Stood Still (original 2009; edition 2009)

This was a lovely novel of historical fiction, set on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls during World War I and beyond. Bess is a young woman who must leave her prestigious academy when her father is let go from his job; her parents' hope is that she will marry well, but she becomes intrigued instead with a young man who helps carry her trunk on her return home from school. Bess tries to take care of her slightly older sister Isabel, who has become thin and listless for some unknown reason, and also apprentices herself under her mother, who has returned to sewing as a way to support the family since the girls' father has taken to drinking. The only real bright spots in Bess's new life are a few stolen moments with Tom, who has a longstanding connection and affinity with the great river that feeds the Falls.

Historical fiction has to be very well written for me to enjoy it, and this was. The characters and the landscape are splendidly drawn, and Tom's dismay at his fellow man's attempts to harness the river, no matter what the cost, felt very real to me. While Bess does not always make the same decisions I would, she works hard and tries her best, and shows a great deal of courage. I'm sure many reviewers will have said that the Falls themselves are a "character." Whether or not that is the case, the author certainly manages to convey their majesty and significance in a way I found fascinating.

(Edited to add: Holy cow, I just realized her other book has to do with Degas and ballet. I've read several fiction accounts of the Paris Opera ballet dancers -- I can't wait to see her take on it!)

I'll be looking for other work by this author. ( )

I enjoyed learning about the history of Niagara Falls, especially since this is written from the Canadian point of view. The author's note says that many of the events are based on facts so that was cool to learn as well. I liked it very much and would definitely check out other books by this author. ( )

This story was intriguing and kept me reading, but some parts of the telling seemed disjointed. I was particularly disappointed in the rather abrupt ending. Still, an interesting piece of historical fiction. ( )

This story was intriguing and kept me reading, but some parts of the telling seemed disjointed. I was particularly disappointed in the rather abrupt ending. Still, an interesting piece of historical fiction. ( )

This novel begins in 1915 with two serious themes- daredevils and hydroelectric power.
Bess Heath grows up a child of privilege, but that changes when her father loses his job. The father begins drinking and the family is disgraced. Bess' sister was engaged but that was broken off and Isabel becomes depressed, discovers she is pregnant and jumps into the river.
Bess accepts a proposal from a well-to-so young man who takes pity on her but she is in love with Tom, a riverman, whose grandfather had been very famous in helping with rescues. Tom takes on that role and, after service in the army, settles with Bess and they have two boys.
When the oldest boy is forbidden to accompany his father, he sneaks out and tries to help in a rescue but puts himself in danger. His father loses his life trying to rescue him.
There is much about building the hydroelectric projects.
There is a lot of Niagara Falls history woven into the story. Based on a real person. Started strong but lagged midway. ( )

I read an ARC of this novel, and enjoyed it quite a lot in spite of some quibbles. I was a little put off by the changing of tense...much of the book is written in the present tense, and all in the first person, neither of which recommend a piece of writing to me ordinarily. Sometimes the author would switch to the past tense, and not just when relating events that happened in the past from the characters' perspective. I didn't try to take this apart and figure out what she was doing. Just noticing it interrupted the flow of my reading without trying to analyze it. The story is fairly simple, and doesn't NEED analyzing. As others have pointed out, it is fundamentally a love story of a socially unmatched couple who nevertheless seem to understand how to relate to one another and make it work. It wouldn't have been much without the background of the Niagara river --its rapids, falls and whirlpool, its ice bridges, power stations and mesmerizing appeal, and its heroic one man rescue squad, the almost clairvoyant Tom Cole. That element and the resilient strength of the female lead made this an engaging recreational read. ( )

Horseshoe Falls. The Whirlpool. Tom Cole learned to understand the Niagara River from his legendary grandfather, Fergus. He can read it, hear it, sense its mood. Tom loves the river and he loves Bess Heath, but sometimes those two things are at odds. As the river changes, so too Bess and Tom's relationship changes. Like all forces of nature, something has to give.

Much like the powerful Niagara, this book just swept me along. It's one of those books that you inhabit while you're reading it - it stays with you. I loved that the river was just as much a character as any of the people. I loved the vintage photographs that were peppered throughout. I've never had the pleasure to see Niagara with my own eyes but it's definitely on the bucket list now. The book only falls short of a perfect five because I disliked the ending - I'm sure many people thought it was suitable but I was hoping for something different. ( )

Provides some interesting information on Niagara Falls, but I wasn't too engaged by the romance plot. Might be a nice gift for someone who finds that region romantic (i.e. someone who married or honeymooned in the area). ( )

The Day the Falls Stood Still is a turn of the century love story. When Bess's family loses their fortune, she meets a riverman named Tom Cole. Against her family's wishes she secretly meets with him and their love for each other grows, surviving death, war, and the hardships of everyday life all amongst the dreamy Niagara Falls landscape. When I was young, my parents would pack my sister and I up and we would travel to Niagara Falls for the weekend. I have been there more times than I can count and the awe of the falls never fades. It was this that first drew me to this book. I wasn't sure if I would like it because I was afraid it wouldn't do Niagara Falls justice. Boy was I wrong. Mrs. Buchanan's writing capture the timeless beauty of the falls and expertly creating an equally beautiful story. Her writing features many flashbacks and descriptive imagery, artfully woven together in a way reminds readers of Bess's extraordinary talent of dressmaking. Surprisingly, the extra information rarely clutters the story with useless information. However, at parts it does slow the book down slightly but the book has a soft, almost dream-like pace about it anyway. The end was predictable but it seems the only ending that would be appropriate. All in all, I liked following Bess and Tom through their lives and getting to know them each thoroughly. Their love for each other is strong and heart warming however this is not a mushy love story with a happy ending. ( )

The historical part of this book was really good. The story didn't interest me as much as I thought it would. ( )

My Heart still hurts thinking about the deep love that is portrayed in this book. The love of a couple, family and nature are all present in this book. It is one of my new favorite books. ( )

The Day the Falls Stood Still
Cathy Marie Buchanan
Voice-Hyperion Books
September 2009
978-1-4013-4097-1
$24.99

Bess Heath is leaving for the summer, after finishing her Junior year as a student at Loretto Academy in Niagra Falls. At the commencement ceremonies for the graduating seniors, she learns her father has lost his job as the director of the Niagra Power Company. This will surely negate her return to Loretto in the fall as the family’s lifestyle suddenly plummets to a tenuous existence. In order to make ends meet her mother takes in sewing, her father drinks. Oddly, her sister, is also abandoned by her fiancee, the son of her father’s former boss.

When her sister is found dead by Tom Cole, the riverman, she goes with him to see her. Only then does she learn the secret her sister held close. With Tom as an ally she is able to silence the truth to protect her sister’s memory. She is drawn to Tom, an attractive, strong, sensitive man, with a calm demeanor, who loves the outdoors.

He is the grandson of the infamous Fergus Cole who knew the river better than anyone. Tom has grown up along side the river. It in his blood. He knows the river, he can feel it. “He just knows.” Like his grandfather, he becomes a hero, saving the people who try to challenge the river. He loves the natural world and he worries about the power company and the drain on the river. His integrity and marriage are on the line when he must compromise his position and beliefs in order to provide for his family.

After her sister’s death, Bess struggles with grief and her belief in God. She has difficulty finding meaning in life and Tom tells her,

“But there is meaning in everything. In dew. And wind. Even in the birds squawking at dawn.” (151)

This is a historical fiction novel, based on the history of Niagra Falls and some of the unusual events that took place as well as the development of the Niagra Power Company, and the treaties that were enacted. The Niagra Parks website has further information.

One of the most moving and inspiring books I have read in a long time. I sobbed for pages to the end stopping only for tissues. During the final scene I realized I was holding my breath with anticipation. This has heart tugging drama that rips through to your core and will make you think as Bess will say, “Faith is believing without proof.”

Cathy Marie Buchanan has gifted us a beautiful story of faith and love, a stellar debut that should be on everyone,s TBR list.


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2011].

Beautiful historical coming-of-age story. A good read. ( )

An exceptionally interesting and enlightening debut novel. Set in Niagara on the Canadian side of the falls, the author fictionalizes the story of a famous 'river man' and the daredevils, loonies, and suicide attempts by those attempting to 'ride' the falls in a variety of flotation devices. The main character Bess Heath, had a very privileged upbringing but finds herself deprived of most creature comforts when her father is fired from his job, the servants are let go, she is unable to continue to attend her private girls boarding school, and her mother is forced to take in sewing to support them.

Set during World War I, with flashbacks to earlier headlines from the Falls (late 1800's) Buchanan gives us fully fleshed out characters who endure the hardships of separation, suicide, unemployment, and class discrimination. Married on her 18th birthday against the wishes of her parents, Bess watches as her husband Tom Cole goes off to fight the Great War. He is gone for more than three years, and returns to meet the son who would follow his father as "the river man", amid a post-war economy with few available jobs. This could have become a trite 'love at first site' story but instead we get a powerful tale of young love, early environmental concerns, and historically based episodes of the life of the river men.

In addition to a great story the book is illustrated with actual photographs of the period. For a reader who has not been to the Falls, the pictures are a great addition to understanding the story. A first-rate read. ( )

Too son after reading JC Oates "The Falls", I was unable to latch onto this story and am saving it to enjoy after putting some distance between those two titles. ( )

I was looking forward to reading this book because our family was taking a trip to Niagara Falls this summer. It was a good choice as it did give some interesting history of the Falls mixed in with the love story which was the main focus of the book. While I enjoyed the book, it didn't overwhelm me to the point of gushing over it. I did like the main characters of Tom and Bess, and I loved the way Tom's special knowledge of the river became such an important factor in their relationship, his career, etc. However, I felt like the other characters in the story could've been given a little more depth and personality. At times it was pretty slow moving but at others I felt myself continuing to read when I had other things I needed to do. The ending touched a nerve for me, but I don't think it will be an incredibly memorable book overall. I did enjoy the story enough to recommend it. ( )

Title: The Day The Falls Stood Still
Author: Cathy Marie Buchanan
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
# of pages: 320
Start date:
End date: 8/17
Borrowed/bought: bought
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: B

Description of the book: Set against the backdrop of WWI and Niagara Falls, this debut tells the story of young Bess Heath and her struggle to navigate a quickly modernizing world. A child of privilege, Bess sees her fortunes change when her father loses his job. Cast into poverty, her family disgraced, Bess tries to hold things together while her sister slips into depression, her father drinks and her mother withdraws. After another tragedy strikes, Bess finds comfort in the love of Tom Cole, a river man with a mysterious connection to the falls. Overcoming the deep privation of the war and their own limited means, the two begin building a life together and renew their commitment to each other and their family.
Review: I think I enjoyed the beginning of the book a lot better than the subsequent chapters. It wasn't a terribly long book, but I must say that the author crammed a lot of time span and character development into a short amount of time. A lot of chunks of time were missing. I would have liked if the author had developed these parts more. The discussion about the falls and question of progress and development was extremely interesting. This reminded me about capstone course for my bachelor's where we read an article about women in Oklahoma who had washers for the very first time- they didn't have to spend a WHOLE DAY scrubbing their sheets and clothes until their hands bled. ( )

I enjoyed the romance and historical fiction in this book. The book also demonstrates how it is important to remain true to your beliefs---even if you must sacrifice your economic security or your life. ( )

I've looked forward to reading Cathy Marie Buchanan's first novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still, ever since I started seeing reviews of it cropping up several months ago. I tend to prefer historical fiction that deals with more recent history, and the early 20th century - a time of great change in the world - is a period that particularly interests me. I'm intrigued by Canada, the only foreign country I've visited. And I love waterfalls. The abundance of waterfalls was one of the most appealing things about living in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and I've never forgotten my family's one visit to Niagara Falls when I was a child; I've always wanted to see it again. However, according to the Author's Note at the end of Buchanan's book, the Falls were much more of a sight to see a hundred years ago.

This well-researched novel is set in a period of great change in the Niagara River and the area around the Falls, as hydroelectric power was becoming a greater force (no pun intended), and it views those changes through their effects on a family - because although the river plays a significant role, this is the story of a family: the family of Bess Heath Cole.

Buchanan divides the novel into two parts. Book One is a more personal, intimate story, as the Heath family is forced to adjust to a change in their financial and social standing by taking in sewing and trying to ensure an advantageous marriage for at least one of their two daughters. However, these things don't always go as planned, and the eligible young man Mrs. Heath has in mind for her older daughter Isabel has his eye on her younger sister Bess. Bess, however, is quietly developing a relationship with Tom Cole, a young fisherman whose late grandfather, Fergus, passed on his legendary knowledge of the river (and his daring rescues of those who met trouble at the Falls) to him. When these two eventually do come together, it's in the aftermath of personal tragedy and in the midst of the First World War.

Book Two is larger in scope, as it starts out with Bess as a war bride getting started as a seamstress in her own right, soon to become a mother while her husband fights on the battlegrounds of Europe. When Tom returns from the war, he needs to get to know his wife and son, and to get reacquainted with the river, which is changing as the new power plants are being built to harness his power, and where his knowledge is more needed than ever. The political and ecological effects of development are a big part of this story, and it's interesting to note that some of the same debates are still going on today.

The Day the Falls Stood Still didn't really become the novel I expected it to be until Book Two, and although it held my interest all the way through, it was the last third of the book that really grabbed me, and I found its final chapters riveting and touching. I liked the way that the issues of the day were integrated into the story, and I think that this was largely accomplished through Buchanan's development of her characters. The story is narrated from Bess' first-person perspective, and I didn't entirely warm up to her for a while. However, the character truly grows over the course of the novel, and she became someone I could believe in; I think I could say the same for the book as a whole, to be honest, as I felt that it strengthened as it went along.

I enjoyed my trip back in time to Niagara with Cathy Buchanan, and I'm wondering where she will take readers next. ( )

Bess Heath is just seventeen years old at the time her world irrevocably changes. She leaves the prestigious Loretto Academy at the end of her junior year knowing that she will never return, and in a manner in which she has not been accustomed in her short life. Gone is the fancy car with her proud father leaning against it in greeting, waiting to whisk her away for summer holidays. Instead there is only her mother to sit in on her last school concert, and to help her lug her heavy trunk to the trolley which they will now have to take home.Bess is ill prepared to face the reduced circumstances and changed personalities of her family. Though she has been warned by a friend that her father has lost his job at the Niagara Power Company, she doesn’t know that her mother has taken in sewing of the rich friends who were once their social equals, that her once elegant father now dons a rough worker’s coat and then spends the day and most of the night drinking, shunned by his former colleagues. Her once vivavacious sister, Isabel, has become a shell of her former self, haunted by secrets that Bess can’t imagine. As Bess begins the process of adjusting to her new circumstances, the one bright spot in her life is Tom Cole, a working class man whom she meets by chance on the trolley home from Loretto. Tom and Bess carefully work out a way to start seeing each other, though her family does not approve. Will she do what is right for them or what is best for her?If I had to chose one word to describe this book it would be intricatelywovenandmultifaceted. (What do you mean that’s not a word? It’s in my dictionary just like that!) There was so much going on and so many layers. The Day The Falls Stood Still is historical fiction at it’s best- when you are just so encased within the fabric of the story, the characters and the history that you are getting an education, entertainment and a little therapy all at once. Bess, Tom, Isabel and the rest of the characters in this novel face drastic changes in their society due to their own choices, but also external forces like the ongoing war and the resulting privations which all but the wealthy must endure. Every decision that they make is also heightened by the immediacy of death,easily accessible in the raging waters of Niagara Falls, whether or not death is being actively sought. People are found floating in the river having given themselves over to the Falls, mothers accidentally drop their babies into the water, ice bridges break up and float off with people trapped on them, there are avalanches and rock slides, and adventurers trying to shoot the rapids in barrels. Tom is deeply concerned with the fact that Niagara herself is facing death at the hands of corporations bent on siphoning off the water to create electricity.I spent a lot of time thinking about the decisions that I made when I was Bess’s age, and I have to say that while I might have had the basic framework for who I would become, a lot was missing. I guess the way that we fill in that framework is to have life experiences, make mistakes, change or become more of and reinforce who we are, but it was just fascinating to look at the choices from the remove of a century, and against the back drop of a different society in a place as dramatic as Niagara Falls. I worried for Bess, and I wasn’t sure that she was making the right decisions, and I wasn’t sure that I wanted the right things for her, but loved thinking about it all while reading. The characters and their situations, and not just Bess, were so balanced and well thought out that it was a joy to read and the writing is just beautiful. Cathy Marie Buchanan seems to effortlessly render a society that is changing faster than people can keep up.Another element that I enjoyed here were the quiet explorations of faith and nature. As the novel stats out Bess is someone who has always felt the presences of something bigger than herself, and has always been on the verge of confirming that belief when circumstances halt her burgeoning faith and cause her to question its existence and her tendency to believe. Tom has deep faith in Niagara and the gifts of the river, but also in the spirit of the grandfather that taught him all that he knows. Faith and beliefs can change over the course of a lifetime and that portrayal here is beautifully related as were the relationships between mother and daughter, husband and wife, and the bonds between friends. This was a rich and rewarding reading experience and I savored every word. ( )

A touching romance with some history on Niagara Falls. Full review: http://www.canadianauthors.net/b/buchanan_cathy_marie/day_the_falls_stood_still_... ( )

Interesting story after having read The City of Light which is a tale of Buffalo and the Niagara River from the American side. The day the Falls Stood Still is telling of the Niagara River from the Canadian side and viewpoint and of the animosity over the amount of water taken out of the river by the Hydro Companies. There is a fictional story with historical background and names mentioned that I'm old enough to have heard and read about. A good summer read. ( )

if you are interested in Niagra Fals and its history this book will satisfy your need for info. it is well written and the author uses the story of a riverman's life to relate facts about the Falls and its history. ( )

Can I start by saying that this is such a sad tale!?!?! I cannot seem to recall any real joy or happiness in it…everything seems shrouded by fear or sadness. Yet, even as sad as this story is, I still adore it.

Bess never really gets a break. There are times when good things happen to her, but I never saw where she was allowed to enjoy them fully…that is without some sad or hurtful event overshadowing the moment. She grows into a strong figure, she pretty much has to after everything she goes through. But, her story is a genuine reflection of what life has in store for some of us. It’s not all roses, is it?

Bess and Tom’s love for one another is heartbreaking. Simple isn’t quite the right word to describe is, but that’s the word that keeps sticking in my head. It’s straightforward and uncomplicated in itself---but constantly being touched by the complications that come with the outside world and its influences.

As a character in its own right, Niagra Falls is what really shines in this book. Buchanan brings it to life with detailed accounts of tragedy and heroism. There are the fictional events that occur in the story, but they are inspired by real life happenings. Throughout the book, pictures and newspaper articles document these events. They are unimaginable! They also added much to the story for me, as I was able to picture what was occurring. It put me there, alongside that mighty river as it rushed by. A small bystander to something so much bigger than myself. A part of nature that man has worked so hard to tame.

The Falls of Tom and Bess’ time is so different from what we see today. But with Buchanan’s help, it is easier to understand how that change came about.

On a personal note, reading The Day the Falls Stood Still made me regret even more that I missed the chance to visit them in person last year. I went to visit a friend in New York, but time didn’t allow us the chance to make a trip to the falls. How would I have felt had I actually stood there myself and could bear witness to what Buchanan describes? I’m sure it would have made a profound impact! ( )

Cathy Marie Buchanan will be remembered for her evocative and tender debut novel. Her attention to detail, the novel's unique storyline and Buchanan's appealing characters combine for an emotional read. Niagara Falls is a setting of stunning beauty and frightening power, demonstrated unerringly by the force of the water and its influence on the lives of the town's inhabitants.. The Falls plays an integral part in the unfolding story of Bess Heath and her family, in which Bess grows from a self-centered child to a resourceful woman ,capable of great love for those in her family who are most important to her. Buchanan is as adept as an artist painting a scene using the backdrop of Niagara Falls through the various seasons to depict the correlating changes in the lives of Bess and her lover, Tom. Tom is a man whose very existence is closely connected to the mysterious power of the Falls. He has an uncanny knowledge of its ability to give and take. He never loses his love and respect for the water. He believes , too, that the water is made capable of great damage through the intercession of reckless and unscrupulous men. He eventually becomes so attuned to the river that he becomes a liability. Bess must choose between her love for him and her trepidation for crossing those who want to harness the Falls for their own purposes, which will ultimately affect the lives of her parents and townspeople. Through careful research Buchanan immortalizes the destruction of Niagara Falls while she chronicles the lives of Bess and Tom and their friends and families. The Day The Falls Stood Still, unique in style and content is written with the authority of experience and I look forward to more from this far from fledgling author. ( )