Sweetland

Island. Sixty-nine-year-old Moses Sweetland lives on an island off Newfoundland named Sweetland by his ancestors who settled there. In Michael Crummey’s finely written novel, Sweetland, readers are drawn into this person and this place. The tension in the novel comes from the decision by the government to pay to relocate the remaining residents of the slowly dying island, provided all agree. Moses and one other person have not agreed, creating conflict with their neighbors. The themes of community and isolation are presented, along with the depth of this fully formed character who reflects on his life in ways that will provide a complete picture of a complicated person who has lived a hard life, and who is willing to stand alone. Readers who enjoy well-written literary fiction are those who are most likely to be entertained by this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Sweetland from amazon.com.