Safe from the Sea

Lately I've received quite a few books either by or about or published by Minnesotans, so I thought, hey! Let's have Book Week on Flyover Land!

Part 1 of this book week is the novel Safe from the Sea by Minneapolis author Peter Geye. Safe from the Sea is the story of Noah Torr, son of Olaf Torr, legendary for having survived a tragic ore boat wreck (reminiscent of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the terrible storms of Nov. 1905 that lead to the building of Split Rock Lighthouse) that has left him emotionally damaged. Olaf calls Noah out of the blue and asks him to come him to the North Shore, where he reveals that he's dying. Noah, who's basically been estranged from his father for years, has decidedly mixed feelings about seeing his father through this, especially when Olaf makes his final wishes known (no spoilers from me!).

This is ultimately a beautiful book, and in no small part because of the role the North Shore plays. It's almost a character itself in that even though this kind of father/son tale could theoretically be told anywhere, the father's history in shipping and tragedy, and his connection to Lake Superior and the north woods, makes up so much of who he is.

At times the story itself veers a little closely to cliche, and at times the rough old man seems surprisingly talkative and in touch with his emotions. But these moments are minor compared to the overall story, and the writing is often lovely and evocative (yes, I know, that word is overused, but it applies here):

"The manholes blowing steam might have been freeing ghosts."

"A ribbon of beguiling fog curled up the trail from the lake, and he followed it down. Pockets of complete darkness still haunted the woods on either side of the path, heavy, wet, and eerie in a polke-dotted dawn. He could see the lightness above the lake and the still-black water exhaling mist."

Ultimately, both father and son have to at least face, if not completely accept, what happened in their pasts that has brought them to this moment. Geye's exploration of tense father-and-son relationships is moving, even more so for its setting.

My thanks to Unbridled Books for a review copy.

 

Comments

[Guinifer]

I think I've walked past this book at the little independently owned bookstore in Hayward, WI. It certainly looks right up my husband's alley...

[Carrie K]

It does sound interesting.

[Emily]

I'm so glad I found your blog! My own deals with flyover land pride, as well, and I love me some books. I'll stop by often. Cheers!