It is the end of Bess’s junior year at Loretto Academy, a high school for girls run by nuns in the shadow of Niagara Falls. She knows something is wrong when her father doesn’t appear at the graduation ceremony and when the nuns inexplicably present her with farewell gifts; her father has been fired from his job as the director of the Niagara Power Company. Bess must return home, care for her suddenly ill sister Isabel, and assist her mother in dressmaking to keep the family afloat. On the way from Loretto, a young man carries her trunk, and later passes by her house, with the gift of a fish. Bess had counted on hardship, but she hadn’t counted on love with a riverman or the future she would have.
There are many things to love about this book. The prose is gorgeous, for one thing, as are the descriptions. It’s almost possible to feel the cool mist off the falls, as the characters do, or the deadly beauty of the whirlpools. Bess is a strong woman up there with the best of them, coping with her family’s losses and tragedy and somehow managing every single time. Her strength grows over the course of the novel, from a girl afraid of what her mother is thinking to a woman that has her own business and is ready to turn down society ladies regardless of what they think. There is all the innocence and wonder of a first love affair, more so because this one is so explicit, that conflict between duty and desire.
And yet there was somehow a lack of connection. I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. Bess is a sympathetic character but always from a distance; by the end of the novel she has grown so strong that any attempts to empathize with her feel as though they would be pushed away. It felt as though she didn’t experience emotions strongly enough at that point, she just moved on. The book had potential to be one of a series of great, sweeping romances marred with tragedy, but it stopped just short. Or maybe I just was in the mood for something more explicit, or perhaps I’m just lucky that I’ve never had to be that strong. To be honest, I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that the book is in present tense, which always feels more distant to me.
I much preferred the historical bits. I loved learning more about Niagara Falls and that Tom Cole was based on a real man. The pictures evoke a sense of history a little bit stronger than the words themselves and the newspaper articles, fictional or not, fleshed out the history of the story without long or boring exposition. I was interested in the sewing techniques and the dresses Bess described, in the books she was reading, in the new electric appliances that houses had. I was fascinated by the setting and I wouldn’t mind spending a little more time there.
Though I liked and didn’t love The Day the Falls Stood Still, I’d still recommend it for those who enjoy historical fiction or are looking for a compelling love story.
Hmm…does not sound like something I would like.
I had a similar reading experience when I read another huge historical fiction tome – The Given Day by Dennis Lehane. I could like it (to a certain extent), but I just did not feel moved by it at all!
.-= Nish´s last blog ..To all the Grandpas and Grandmas out there… =-.
That’s how I felt, I liked and would recommend it, but didn’t love it.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..Your Amazing Newborn – Book Review =-.
Great review. Glad you enjoyed this one—i did too.
.-= diane´s last blog ..140 – Loitering With Intent; Stuart Woods =-.
Very interesting. This is coming up for me shortly! I’ll be anxious to see what I think after reading your review!
.-= Julie P.´s last blog ..Review: Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse =-.
It’s too bad you didn’t feel more connected to the characters – I still want to give the book a try.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review and Giveaway: Stray Affections =-.
Thanks for another great review, Meghan. I’m really looking forward to this one. The history of the Falls has always fascinated me. I don’t know that I’ll love it when I read it, but liking it will probably be good enough for me.
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Review: Shades of Grey by Clea Simon =-.
Thanks for a straightforward review. It’s important that we book reviewers keep ourselves honest and only recommend where recommendations are due. It looks like you’ve pinned down the right audience for this one.
Hummm. I think I’m still going to read it one of these days, but your review moved it down on my wish list.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Author Interview: Julia Hoban (Willow) =-.
I’m glad you liked this one, but I haven’t picked it up for the reason mentioned in your review – I feel like I would like it, but not love it.
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..BBAW: My Posts =-.
So this is a tragic love story, then?
It seems like several reviewers of this book have said that it did feel a little… distant. I still really love the concept of this book, though–I wrote a paper on Niagara Falls in 19th Century Art a few years ago, so I’m happy to see the falls in a historical novel.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Written on Your Skin =-.
Can’t wait to read this bookl! I’ve been hearing a lot about it in Niagara. We took some friends for tour of Niagara Falls this past weekend from Ireland and they loved it here
Thanks for promoting our awesome town! I added your link on our twitter page so more people can find your book: http://twitter.com/OnlineNiagara
~ peace
I’m looking forward to reading this one. I’ve seen so many glowing reviews that I’m glad to come across yours. It gives me something to think about, another side to consider. I’m glad you liked it enough to recommend it, though.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Interview With Susan Higginbotham, Author of HUGH AND BESS =-.