Bernice Morgan

I actually really liked this. I didn't think I would, because it has the world's most boring cover, but the more I read, the more it hooked me. I started in a rush, but quickly found that I had to slow down to appreciate the language and the descriptions of the harsh life on the Cape. The plot constantly twists, the characters are interesting, and the structure of the book ensures events are regarded from two points of view. The ending was satisfyingly unpredictable, leaving scope for show more another chapter (or another novel!) to be written. show less

First of all my copy is titled "Cape Random" not Cap Random.....the notes inside say it was first published as Random Passage..
This is how historical fiction should be done! Every single character is so completely drawn and there are a lot of them! The landscape, the living conditions, the sights, the smells, the customs, traditions, everything is captured so well. Beautiful writing, intriguing storytelling! There is no info in my copy but the author thanks her parents who are of the same show more name as one of the families in the novel, and the novel reads as if based on a diary, so I am assuming that the story is at least somewhat based on her families' history. Regardless it is a great read! show less

Spanning 15 years in the early 1800s, this is the tale of two families living in a remote Newfoundland outport. It's primarily a story about the struggle to survive, but also about relationships, personalities, and secrets.

Two-thirds of the book is narrated from the point of view of Lavinia Andrews; the last one-third gives the viewpoint of Thomas Hutchings, a secretive man who is employed to be at Cape Random for the fishery. This second view adds depth to the novel.

The novel includes show more vivid description of the harsh conditions; one cannot but be struck by the severe isolation and the dependence on each other for survival.

The discussion of the seal hunt povides perspective on its importance for survival of the early settlers of Newfoundland.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in Newfoundland history. show less

What do an aboriginal woman in the 18th century, a young sailor in the First World War and a contemporary archeologist have in common? The aboriginal woman was the last surviving Beothuk in Newfoundland, the young sailor also lived in Newfoundland but the archeologist is British. It doesn't sound like the basis for a rich novel about who we are and what we leave behind when we die but it is. Sathawadithit is the main character and the middle part of the book is her story. She grew up as part show more of a close knit family group that moved from the interior to the coast every spring and then back in the fall. When the white man started invading their traditional hunting grounds the Beothuks retreated further but hunting was poor and starvation resulted. Then the white men came even to the remote parts. In any fight, the white men killed many more of the natives than the natives killed them. I found this part of the book fascinating.

The first part which deals with the young sailor who has jumped ship because he killed his best friend was more difficult to get into. His connection to Sathawadithit is that he hears her voice in the cavern he chooses to hide out in as he hopes to die from starvation.

The third voice wraps everything up and there is quite a close connection to Sathawadithit but to explain would be a spoiler. Suffice it to say that even from the grave Sathawadithit manages to help her recover from the violent death of her husband.

Highly recommended. show less