Canada by richard ford canada is an unusual book, not least in its title. In a story in richard fords striking 1987 collection, rock springs, a 15yearold boy in great falls, mont. The action of the second half of the book, and the murders at its. Richard ford talks about new novel canada novelist richard ford talks to jane ciabattari about the inspiration for his new book, canada, and goose hunting with raymond carver.
Book richard ford for lectures, readings and conversations. A reader might speak of richard fords haunting and uplifting new novel, canada, in terms of magic, mood and morality. Canada is a 2012 novel by american author richard ford. Richard ford returns with one of his most powerful novels yet, canada.
So, tantalisingly, begins richard fords seventh novel, canada, a big book that takes its time to tell the story of how 15yearold dell parsonss. Pulitzer prize winning author richard ford sits down with wsjs barabara chai to talk about his is new novel canada, his first book in six years. The only writer ever to win both the pulitzer prize and penfaulkner award for a single novel independence day richard ford follows the completion of his. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
He is the author of the renowned short story collections rock springs and a multitude of sins. A powerful and unforgettable tale of the violence lurking at the heart of the world, richard fords canada will resonate long and loud for readers of stark and sweeping novels of american life, from the novels of cheever and carver to the works of philip roth, charles frazier, richard russo, and jonathan franzen. There is only one brief reference to canada in part one and the action does not move to canada until part two, by which time you are half way through the book. Richard fords canada may be a similar experience, though his focus is on a different america from cheevers, and his lyricism is the reverse of, say, nabokovs tight, pebblehearted. By that measure, and any other, richard ford is doing his very best in his extraordinary new novel, canada, his first book since the lay of.
It was fords first stand alone novel since wildlife 1990. Fifty north american stories since 1970, and the sportswriter, and more on. He is the author of the renowned stories collections rock springs and a multitude of sins. Richard ford returns with one of his most powerful novels yetford has never written bettercanada is richard fords best book since independence day, and despite its robbery and killings it too depends on its voice, a voice oddly calm and marked by. In canada, richard ford has written a long and contemplative story.
Ford is the 2016 recipient of the asturias award for literature in spain, and he lives in east boothbay, maine with his wife, kristina ford. By that measure, and any other, richard ford is doing his very best in his extraordinary new novel, canada, his first book since the lay of the land six years ago. The grand and extraordinary sequence of the second half of the book is an examination of what america might mean, and what it does mean, from the point of view of. The vast prairies of saskatchewan, where one can easily be unimaginably bored are the perfect setting for richard fords canada. The oftquoted first lines first, ill tell about the robbery our parents committed. Canada by ford, richard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Canada, a novel by richard ford the new york times. Canada ebook by richard ford 9780062096807 rakuten kobo. So begins canada, the unforgettable story of a boy attempting to find grace, written by the only writer in history to win both the pulitze. Canada is and i dont say this very often a contemporary masterpiece. The book also revisits great falls, montana, a setting that ford frequently. It may well be his best, certainly his most powerful since 1995s independence day the mother and father of 15yearold twins, living in montana, inexplicably or perhaps inevitably commit a bank. Two decades and many books later, i cant say my opinion has changed much. The book sleeve calls it a visionary novel of vast landscapes, complex identities and fragile humanity.
Canada by richard ford reading guidebook club discussion. A book from ford is always an event and his prose is assured and textured, but the whole is not heavily. Fords new book is the best of the lot, though, a magnificent work of montana gothic that confirms his position as one of the finest stylists and most. His novel wildlife was adapted into a 2018 film of the same name.
So, tantalisingly, begins richard fords seventh novel, canada, a big book that takes its time to tell the story of how 15yearold dell parsonss life was temporarily derailed by a single. The former newspaper reporter in me demands i begin my thought here on richard fords new novel canada ecco with a bit of fulldisclosure. Canada is a comingofage novel about a young man living in montana whose family falls apart when his parents rob a bank and he is sent to canada to live. The essential gift book for any pet lover reallife tales of devoted dogs. It was the most important year of his life, given thats when the robbery and murders happened. Though it may be impossible to equal mark twains adventures of huckleberry finn, richard fords novel is another masterpiece of the genre. Richard ford is the pulitzerprize winning author of the bascombe novels and the new york times bestselling canada and let me be frank with you. See all books authored by richard ford, including the scribner anthology of contemporary short fiction.
Richard ford has 152 books on goodreads with 166890 ratings. Like fords breakthrough novel, the sportswriter, first published in 1986, canada is essentially about the consequences of a sudden tragic rupture in the fabric of an ordinary family life. Then about the murders, which happened later, says dell parsons, the 60something narrator of the story. Ford lives here in my native state of maine and is a friend more fulldisclosure. Richard ford, american writer of novels and short stories about lonely and damaged people.
Dell, small for his age, interested in chess, beekeeping and the book of knowledge, is an unlikely candidate for the life he is thrown into after his. Dell parsons, the firstperson narrator of richard fords majestic new novel, canada, is a recently retired, 66yearold american english teacher living in windsor, ont. The novel follows 15 yearold dell parsons, who must learn to fend for himself after his parents are arrested for robbing a bank. To help us understand ourselves, every age needs its huckleberry finn, a naive boy on the lam, harmed or abandoned by his parents and left to confront evil and to figure out life for himself. Pulitzerprize winning novelist richard fords sinewy and distinctively american voice contains the echoing tones of many literary ancestors the new york times, among them mark twain, sherwood anderson, william faulkner, and ernest hemingway. A haunting novel about a boy struggling to remake his life in saskatchewan after his parents are arrested for bank robbery. Richard ford, in an exclusive essay, reflects on the power of place, and a books title. Canada is the story of dell parsons fifteenth year. Richard ford is the pulitzer prizewinning author of the bascombe novels and the new york times bestselling canada and let me be frank with you. Canada richard ford hardcover harpercollins publishers. Richard fords novel, canada, is a book that reveals its spoilers early. Fords new book is the best of the lot, though, a magnificent work of montana gothic that confirms his position as one of the finest stylists and most humane. It may well be his best, certainly his most powerful since 1995s independence day.
I spent the first half of the book wanting to know what happened to dells parents. Fords canada is only further validation that i was right about at. The book also revisits great falls, montana, a setting that ford frequently uses in his work. Richard ford born february 16, 1944 is an american novelist and short story writer.
Richard ford returns with one of his most powerful novels yetford has never written bettercanada is richard fords best book since independence day, and despite its robbery and killings it too depends on its voice, a voice oddly calm and marked by the spare grandeur of. A painter is discovered at work in a runofthemill canadian town. But ford himself talks about the novel he has been thinking about for 20 years mostly in terms of technique. Michael gorra hails this tale of border violence and a young. Richard ford books list of books by author richard ford. Author interview richard ford, author of canada bookpage.