This book is one of my all time favorites. It is "poetry of the vernacular". If this story doesn't capture your heart you must be a snobbish city dweller who has no appreciation of America's rural past. The setting is rural Montana in 1909, a one-room grade school, and a family of three young boys and their father still mourning the death of their mother (and wife) the previous year. It takes a skilled writer to turn such a plain setting into one of the most enjoyable, interesting and humorous books I've ever read. The story is told as memories of a 1950s era state school superintendent who is recalling his own experiences attending a rural Montana school 40 years earlier. Poignancy is added to the story by it being in the voice of a person who is part of the bureaucracy that is in the process of closing all one-room grade schools in the state. One reason this story resonates with me is that I attended the same one-room rural grade school that my father had attended, and it was the school where my mother had been the teacher for seven years before she was married. With this background I feel I was witness to the end of the era celebrated by this book because all rural school districts were consolidated into larger districts soon after I graduated. The book idealizes the one-room school by having probably the world's best teacher and some very intelligent students in attendance. My own experience attending a one-room school wasn't nearly so interesting or exciting. Nevertheless, I look back on my grade school years with great fondness and in a manner similar to the narrator of this book."Childhood is the one story that stands by itself in every soul," is a quote from this book with which I agree. The book's narrative begins, "When I visit the back corners of my life again after so long a time littlest things jump out first." Indeed, this story is mostly a collection of "littlest things," but all of them jump under the animating influence of Doig's vision.This author deserves to be more widely known. Where has he been all these years? A long interview with the author is at the following web address:http://www.harcourtbooks.com/Whistlin...I was shocked to learn that the author had not attended a one-room grade school himself. Well, after all it is a novel, not a biography, so I'll let that pass.
This was my first Ivan Doig, and it was an unexpected delight. Doig's deliciously droll delivery and richly drawn characters make him the kind of storyteller we all wish for and rarely find. There's something so comforting and lyrical about the subtle repetition of themes and that perfect narrative voice---what Ivan Doig himself calls "the poetry of the vernacular."The characters in The Whistling Season just pop right off the page. I miss them already. I loved Toby, with his sweet innocence and optimism; mischievous and resourceful Damon; scholarly Paul and his obsession with Latin; and the industrious, kindhearted Rose. My favorite character may just be Rose's brother Morris. At first he comes across as a bit of a dandy and a bumbler, but turns out to be a formidable teacher who can rise to any challenge. His scholarly manner of speaking just tickled me no end. And then of course, there's the father Oliver. He's the one solid, stable figure in the story, keeping it together for his three motherless boys. The Whistling Season is a love story in every way. It's about love of family, love of learning, love of nature and the changing seasons, and especially, love of good old-fashioned humor.
What do You think about The Whistling Season (2006)?
This book came highly recommended by a friend. This is a sweet, coming of age story set in PrairieTown, Anywhere in 1910. The characters are sweet, the childhood dilemmas & conversations are sweet and sometimes poignant as the youngsters slowly learn about Life, life is slow and simple and peaceful. There's no conflict in this book, which means it lacks an edge of excitement and anticipation.The ending is disappointing and leaves an unsettled feeling about the situation. I look forward to my friend's thoughts and perhaps I'll glean from her the special attraction for this book.
—Petra
The oldest of three brothers growing up in Montana during the early 1900s narrarates this wonderful and joyful story. Paul Milliron's widower father sends for a housekeeper in Minnesota after reading an add that says "Can't Cook; Doesn't Bite" in their local newspaper. The housekeeper, Rose, moves to Montana with her brother Morty and the book really takes off from there. I started reading this book thinking that the tone would be a lot darker but it was actually a really uplifting book--I especially loved the way Ivan Doig captured all the relationships in the book--between the sons and their father, between the boys as brothers and especially between the boys and Rose & Morty. I can't recommend this book enough.
—megan
Now I have finsihed the book - so this first paragraph is written after the following paragraph. The plot has a tremendous surprise at the end. All along you know what is going to happen at the end. You do and you don't, because there is a fun twist. And it all holds together. I thought I knew the characters, but in the end when one in particular surprises you, you realize he threw you a looper but his character remains consistent and very believable and real. So an interesting twist ends the book and this keeps you thinking after you finish the book. A very good book, for numerous reasons. On second thoughts I would like to add that the writing style will either appeal to you or not appeal to you. I think this will be a personal thing. I liked it. And I loved Morrie. I adore the dialogue. This writer can write. For me, the language of a book is very important. I am so sick of Nobel Prize winners that are so HARD to read. Reading a book should always be enjoyable, and it can be even if the subject is difficult. Excellent writing in this book. I usually pick books where I think I will learn something so then at least I have gotten out something if the writing wasn't up to par. I am always so happy when I find just tremendous writing. And I like to chuckle, which I definitely do reading this book.
—Chrissie
