Random Passage

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 another chapter (or another novel!) to be written.

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 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!

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 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 show more Newfoundland.
This is a must-read for anyone interested in Newfoundland history. show less

i wanted to like this. i know very little about nfld, and i have learned more. but too many characters for me to keep track of. interesting characters PERHAPS but really people i don't care about.

After watching the CBC production of this book and it's sequel a few years back I have been wanting to read it and so glad that I finally did. I even had the privledge of meeting the actress on the cover, Aoife McMahon who briliantly played Mary Bundle. The book elaborates on the characters and their backrounds which of course gives the reader a full rounded perspective on who they are and a much more dynamic aspect to the whole story. Some interesting events take place that were not in the film that I enjoyed discovering. One of my favorite Canadian books!

This book begins the journey of one woman trying to find her roots and intertwines it with the story of another trying to put some down. Back and forth between the early settling of Newfoundland and modern day, this book is an engaging story of loss, ancestry, and the overwhelming human need to belong.

An excellent example of historical fiction. Based in NFLD, this book describes the slow growth of an outport. Interesting characters, excellent historical detail. I was anxious to read the sequel, only to be highly disappointed...