Ravenscraig is a historical novel with multifaceted plots. The book transports us back into a time during which the Canadian government aggressively tried to populate the west by bringing in immigrants from Europe, many of which originated from eastern Europe. Ravenscraig tells the story of multiple families from radically different socio-economic backgrounds. In fact the title of the book is the name of an enormous super mansion in Winnipeg. However, the same city, which experienced near explosive growth, during it's early boom years, was also home to extensive slums in which the housing conditions, filth, and suffering was horrendous. As a result deadly illnesses spread like wildfire. On top of these circumstances, some suffered additional hardships because of their Jewish heritage. Jews were thought of as inferior beings. The book switches us back and forth, giving us glimpses of vastly different life styles. There are times during which these lives cross paths and overlap. Ravenscraig is a tale of unbearable hardship, human heroism, perseverance, love, and evil ... such was live in Winnipeg, Canada. This book came up when I searched for Downton Abbey. Since I love historical fiction, especially novels about the immigrant experience I jumped on it. I really wanted to love it. I didn't. It was full of info dumps, lectures on Canadian politics masquerading as dinner conversation, and cartoonish characters. The author does a passible job at taking the reader through the historic events of the 20 years from 1895-1915. There are two sets of characters--rich and poor. The poor but earnest immigrants have a good story. If she'd stuck to that this could have been a good 3-4 star book. Instead, the author decided to introduce a melodramatic villain in the person of the wealthy antagonist. Everything this stupid guy does is clownish and contrived. It just wasn't a fun read, given that we spent half the book with this awful man and his schemes. Not only is he a bad character, the contrivance of his involvement in one of the major historic events of the time period was an excruciating shark jump. If the book had ended before that or had not included it, it would have redeemed it for me. As it is, however, this book just ruined a good tale of immigrants with buffoonery.
What do You think about Ravenscraig (2012)?
Loved this book!! A little biased as the setting for the most part is Winnipeg in it's infancy
—danielle
Not the best writing or plot, but enjoyed it nonetheless. Interesting history of Canada.
—starfish
I wish it hadn't ended so abruptly but a good story to read.
—Peachez2601
