Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! This blog was created to further explore the book "Crow Lake" by Mary Lawswon. While the blog will include links to sites with plot summary and description, the purpose of this blog is not to summarize, but to explore the plot and the characters further. My hope is to dig deeper into the book then any description of plot could. Everything you need to know about "Crow Lake" you should find here. Personal thoughts and reflections will be part of this blog, as is usual, as well as researched facts to support these ideas. Crow Lake is a timeless novel, because the essence of the book is the development and relationships of the characters, not the plot itself. The human traits of the Morrison children explore situations that will always be relevant. The emotions and feelings the characters experience are ones that have been felt for hundreds of years and will be thought for hundreds more. Because of the beautiful character evolution and beautifully written plot and landscape description, Crow Lake is likely to stick around for a long time. So, if you are an expert on "Crow Lake", or just wish to learn more about it, sit back and discover the colourful lives of Matt, Luke, Kate, and Bo and their past, present and future in Crow Lake.

Reading Response #4

Wow! I enjoyed this book! I loved the way the author pieced all the parts of Kate's story together so perfectly. I also loved that it was Daniel who figured out Kate's problem, because he understands her so perfectly. I think that the reason she doesn't like what he has to say, is because it is absolutely true! From what Kate had wrote about Matt, I did not expect him to be happy. Clearly I was wrong. It makes since that Kate portrayed Matt in this way though because she really did believe he was miserable. The great thing about Matt though is that he is happiest when he can keep those around him happy. I am very glad that Marie said something to Kate about it. I think Kate has always been under the assumption that Matt's opinion was everything to her, but I don't think it ever really occurred to her that her opinion was just as important to him. I see how she feels, in true Morrison form, that he has thrown his life away when he didn't go to school. That is what Matt taught her. I am very impressed that Luke managed to forgive him. Matt and Luke were both placed in a situation to hurt their family; Matt took it, and Luke didn't. It must have been very painful for Luke to have given up his life for Matt, only to have him "ruin it". I imagine Luke didn't let it get to him though. I am sure that both Matt and Luke had a very hard time bringing up their families alone, but they did it. The great success in the Morrison house is that Kate went to university. After everything that happened in her young life, it would have been easy for this multi-generation dream to slip right through her fingers. What is so amazing about Kate, is that she got a scholarship to university without being a genius. She holds onto Matt's dream, even though she is the only one who does. Kate and Bo grew up in the same environment outside of Matt, so I think it is a testament to Matt that Kate wanted to learn and go to university.
I don't think it ever occurred to Kate that Matt was happy, she was too busy feeling bad for him, and being mad at him. I hope that Kate and Matt can fix their relationship, there is a lot of reasons to. I like that the book ends with Kate and Matt showing Daniel the ponds. The ponds are a large part of who they both are, and Daniel should understand why. I think that that is Matt's way of accepting Daniel as a part of Kate's life. I think Kate can go on with her life happily now. I am glad that she faced her problems head on, and tried her best to resolve them. I think in time it will get easier. I think she does need to learn to forgive Matt though. She also needs to find a way to let him know.
Kate's return to Crow Lake shows her that nothing has changed. Her family is still there, supporting each other and carrying out their lives the best they can. I think our family can remind us of who we really are, because your family is the people who you can be nothing but your self around. I don't think Kate knew how to be completely herself around Daniel, and that that is what he sensed. I think Daniel knows how hard Kate has tried for him, and I think Kate forgives Daniel for telling her the truth; she needed to hear it. I don't think anyone wants to hear that the problem is, well, them.
I loved the characters in this book, and I loved how carefully the plot was revealed. You always felt suspense building, and it felt almost as if you were putting together a giant puzzle well reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a true, human story.

Reading Response #3

I had a very hard time putting this book down long enough to write this! I think Kate has become a bit lost well at school. I think she is starting to discover that what happened in the past is affecting every decision she makes.
Matt and Luke seem to be showing signs of their stress and anxiety. I can not imagine doing what they are doing. Matt manages to study so hard and do so well in school, even when he has to look after the girls. I know when I babysit I find that I am so tired at night, that the last thing I want to do is my homework. Matt never gets any time for himself. He seems to find comfort in Marie, but beyond that I don't really see him interact with any one outside of his family. Luke must be terribly lonely and overwhelmed at home with the girls. I doubt that his plans for the next year ever involved being a single parent to his sisters. What Luke and Matt have given up for their family is truly heroic. They clearly value their family.
Matt was clearly Kate's childhood hero. He was everything to her, and was completely perfect. I think Matt is still her hero, but she is having a hard time dealing with the fact that he isn't perfect. I think a lot of people have trouble with this realization when they grow up. I know that I personally found it hard when I got older and determined that my parents weren't perfect. As a child I may have got mad at them, but I was dead convinced that they knew the answer to everything and never made a mistake. Now I see them as humans who make mistakes. Sometimes I think we only see the good in the people in our lives who we look up to. When they disappoint us, we take it personally. As a child Kate clearly adored Matt, and always knew that he was the smartest person in the world. Matt would do anything for his sister. I think Matt has helped shape her life in more ways then she knows. Kate feels very passionately about education leading to success, just like Matt did. Even Kate's specialty in Biology is related to Matt; she picked her specialty because it reminded her of the ponds Matt used to take her to.
I am very glad that Kate has finally decided to take Daniel with her to Simone's birthday. It certainly took her a while! I find it interesting that Kate and Daniel are so similar when they were raised so differently. Daniel was clearly raised in an all consuming academic environment. His parents educated him in many areas. I think it is important that Daniel lets Kate know that there were still downsides to his childhood, and that he was often lonely. Kate certainly wasn't lonely, not with Matt. I think Daniel is rather pushy when it comes to her family. Clearly Kate has issues surrounding them, and Daniel, although I am sure he means well, often comes off as a little demanding. I see his point, but I also see how much pain Kate feels. It almost seems like Daniel wants to study Kate and her family, more like something in his biology lab, then he wants to genuinely get to know them. I am happy though, because I think Kate needs to see that all the parts of her life can fit together.

Reading Resonse #2

Wow! This book is hard to put down. I am finding the character of Kate to be increasingly interesting. She seems very unhappy, even though she has everything she ever wanted. I think Kate almost feels guilty in a way. It has been the dream of people in her family for generations to send their children to school so that they can have a better life. Kate knows that she is the exception in crow lake, the one lucky one who got out. I think Kate feels guilty for not being happy, when she has so many more advantages then everyone else from where she came from. I think part of her unhappiness streams from her guilt over Matt not getting the same opportunities as her. I think she feels like he deserved it more than her, and like she stole it from her. I haven't gotten to the part where we know why Matt doesn't know to school, but Kate says it was his own fault. Having said this, she still seems to feel blame.
I am finding the Pye family very interesting. I think their family is like a lot of things in Crow Lake, they haven't changed in a hundred years. Each member of the family seems to be suffering physically and emotionally from something. A bad temper seems to have been passed down through all the Pye men. This family has evolved amazingly little. Every father has yelled at his son, who has yelled at his son, and so on and so forth. I suspect that you can't expect them to change too much, if they have only ever known one type of behaviour. I think changing their behaviour towards their children, from what was modelled for them is one of the hardest things any parent can do. The Pye family certainly contrasts the Morrison's. The Morrison family has always wanted better for their children, and always worked impossibly hard to have their children receive a better education then they had. Kate's father is the first to go to high school, and Kate is the first to go to University. The lives of the Morrison's 100 years ago was very different then Kate's life today. The Pye's lives were almost exactly the same.
I am glad that Kate has found Daniel. I think Daniel really wants to understand Kate, and won't let her off easy when it comes to her family. I think if Kate wasn't being pushed by someone she might never try to figure out her feelings with her family. Daniel manages to help her without alienating her. I think Kate not wanting to introduce Daniel to her family is understandable. I think Kate has trouble seeing her two different worlds together. I think she loves them both, but doesn't think it is possible to have both. I think Kate is really trying though, to figure out her own thoughts. That is one thing I really like a bout Kate. She doesn't deny she has a problem, she tries to work through it. It is clearly painful for Kate to have to revisit all these memories, but she does it anyways, because she knows it will help in the end.

Reflection

Through the process of the ISU assignment I have learned a lot about myself as a learner and about the importance of Canadian literature.
I feel I have always been a strong reader, but this assignment really helped me learn how to analyze a text as I went along. The journal entries forced me to stop reading and to really think about what had happened in the novel so far. I benefited in the end in that I had a lot of research already done from different points in the novel. This assignment also helped me evolve my writing abilities in a similar way. The ISU required me to use information from several sites including, reviews, biography's and of course the book itself. I feel that the ISU really helped my research skills as well as my ability to pick and chose the best information and to use it appropriately.
I appreciated the broadness of the assignment as well. Given the opportunity to select any reputable Canadian novel gave me the choice to pick a novel I really enjoyed, and to enjoy the assignment. This resulted in me spending more time on the project.
I was very shocked when beginning this assignment to hear that no where in the curriculum does it insist that students be exposed to a Canadian author; what a shame! As a Canadian, I feel that it is important to take pride in Canadian authors, just as we take pride in our hockey teams and actors. My sense of Canadian identity has changed because I realize the number of wonderful Canadian books that exist, and why it is so important for Canadians to embrace them.
Through the reading of Crow Lake, I have discovered just how large the impact of loss can have on people, and how long the impact can be felt. I feel I have an enhanced knowledge of family dynamics and the crucial role that they play in everyone’s lives.
Through the process of the ISU I have come to learn that writing down my ideas comes much easier to me then communicating them orally. I have also come to learn that pulling the book out of my hands and writing a response is a very worthwhile activity.
I enjoyed the ISU very much, and found I preferred it very much to past ISU’s.

Works Cited

Garvie, Maureen. Mary Lawson New Face of Fiction 2002. 2002. 16 Apr. 2009 http://www.randomhouse.ca/newface/marylawson.php.

Harris, Joanne. Mary Lawson New Face of Fiction 2002. 2002. 16 Apr. 2009 http://www.randomhouse.ca/newface/marylawson.php.

Lawson, Mary. Crow Lake. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2002.

Publishers Weekly. Mary Lawson New Face of Fiction 2002. 2002. 16 Apr. 2009 http://www.randomhouse.ca/newface/marylawson.php.

Explication

The loss of loved ones is one of Polti’s Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. This theme is exhibited in the book Crow Lake by Mary Lawson.
Seven year old Kate Morrison is heavily affected by the death of her parents and the somewhat turbulent childhood she experiences because of it. Kate believes that she “was protected from the reality by disbelief.”(Lawson 31). This defense mechanism is carried by Kate throughout her life into her adulthood. Unfortunately, Kate experiences the loss of loved ones in two very painful ways as a child. Firstly, she experiences the death of her parents, and secondly she experiences, as she sees it, the diminish of the brother she knows and believes in. The death of Kate's parents and the loss of her belief in her brother affects the way Kate is able to live her life as an adult. Kate reflects that, “I had never thought that I would really love anyone... To be honest I had thought that such intensity of feeling was beyond me.”(Lawson 89). From her past, Kate unconsciously feels like allowing herself to love someone is too dangerous, because they are likely to disappear. When Kate meets Daniel she narrates, ‘I did not analyze my feelings too deeply, or let myself agonize about this, maybe because I was afraid that if I found I loved and needed him too much, he would be bound to disappear... People I love and need have a habit of disappearing from my life. For the same reason, I did not let myself think too much about the future- our future. I just hoped for the best.”(Lawson 89). Kate is trying to live with her eyes closed, a coping mechanism she began when she was faced with her childhood tragedy. So scared of having to deal with anymore disappointment and grief, Kate tries not to get too emotionally involved with people. However, her boyfriend Daniel can sense this and is concerned that Kate only ever wants to talk about work, and that their relationship will never be able to become anything deeper. Kate puts so much effort into her work because working is easy, there are no strings attached, and no chance of getting hurt like there is in love. Biology also holds memories for Kate of her and Matt and the ponds. On some level Kate probably feels like her work is helping her to connect with Matt. Kate has lost faith in the people she loved and respected as a child, and will not risk such a large disappointment being repeated. Kate feels that it would be better not to love anyone then to get hurt so badly again. Daniel ruins her plan. No longer can she run and hide from her feelings. Kate sees that she will never be enough for Daniel if she doesn't resolve her issues with Matt. Kate must finally stop ignoring her feelings and being afraid of what might happen. The tragic loss of the people she loved the most as a child, continues to affect Kate through adulthood. Crow Lake explores the painful and drawn-out grieving process that losing your loved-ones requires you to deal with. The book is set up to effectively show the characters from children to adults, and how the effects of their tragedy continue to affect the people they have become in adulthood. This is true for Kate, and for Luke as well.
Luke, because he is older, must face these challenges faster. Luke was clearly changed a lot by the loss of his parents. Kate recalls his behaviour changing incredibly when their parents die. The accident causes Luke to grow up fast, and to discover his true self. Luke does not get to go off to school and figure out who he is and what he wants. Luke certainly seems to want to put his siblings first, and seems to develop a very close attachment with Bo. Luke knows that Bo needs him, but he does not necessarily realize how much he needs Bo. Bo is someone who is completely dependent on Luke, and Luke needs to know that he is needed and can make someone happy.
Crow Lake explores Kate and her siblings coming to terms with the loss of their loved ones. It is the loss of their loved ones that motivates their characters ideals and emotions throughout the entire plot.

Apologia

Mary Lawson, author of Crow Lake, is an extraordinary author who has managed to write a true Canadian classic. Crow Lake is a well written Canadian classic that it sure to stand the test of time. As a woman who grew up in the Canadian north, Lawson is able to realistically and expertly describe life in a small rural town. Lawson respects her audience by creating “a community without ever giving in to the Leacockian impulse to poke fun at small-town ways, instead showing respect to lives shaped by hard work and starved for physical comfort.” (Garvie). To those Canadians with similar childhoods to the Morrison’s, Crow Lake serves as an incredibly relatable book. However, Crow Lake is an appealing book for anyone, regardless of their environment. Perhaps Lawson’s largest gift is her ability to describe incredibly real and intrinsic characters who you never doubt, and who you always empathize with. Clearly, Lawson knows her characters well, and does not allow the plot to control them. Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat described Crow Lake as is “a remarkable novel, utterly gripping and yet highly literate, written in such a fresh, believable voice that I had to keep reminding myself that this was fiction. I read it in a single sitting (almost unheard of!), then I read it again, just for the pleasure of it. I await her next work with eagerness (and a little envy)." (Harris). Another one of Mary Lawson’s qualities is her ability to carefully play out the plot with perfect timing allowing the characters to progress very realistically and the reader to remain intrigued. Mary Lawson is a wonderful author, who has written a book with heart. Crow Lake is a timeless novel, because the essence of the book is the development and relationships of the characters, not the plot itself. The human traits of the Morrison children explore situations that will always be relevant. The emotions and feelings the characters experience are ones that have been felt for hundreds of years and will be felt for hundreds more. Because of the beautiful character evolution and beautifully written plot and landscape description, Crow Lake is likely to stick around for a long time. As Publishers Weekly reviewed, "Lawson delivers a potent combination of powerful character writing and gorgeous description of the land. Her sense of pace and timing is impeccable throughout, and she uses dangerous winter weather brilliantly to increase the tension as the family battles to survive. This is a vibrant, resonant novel by a talented writer whose lyrical, evocative writing invites comparisons to Rick Bass and Richard Ford." (Publishers Weekly). Mary Lawson is an author to watch because she is able to write a simple and realistic story that neverless grips the reader. Crow Lake reminds us of the importance of education, the fight to find and keep love, and most importantly the value of family. Family is one of the heaviest themes in Crow Lake, and rightfully so. Family is a timeless topic that will always have an audience. No matter how much time goes past, readers will still find Crow Lake a refreshing story of the importance of family and for that reason alone it will stand the test of time as a Canadian classic. Mary Lawson holds the ability to make the ordinary extraordinary. A seemingly ordinary story of a girl from Northern Ontario becomes a highly relatable and suspenseful story that explores the qualities that make us human. A spectacular first novel by Mary Lawson, Crow Lake will continue to defy expectations for generation of loyal readers. While she might be a late bloomer; Mary Lawson has found her voice in Canadian literature and is likely to continue to build her reputation as an emotive and timeless Canadian novelist.

Reading Response #1- Crow Lake

I am really enjoying this book! I feel that the best part of this book is the characters. I am only a fourth of my way through the book, but already I have a very clear understanding of who Matt, Luke, Kate and Bo are. This book has been hard to put down. I love that it goes back in forth between Kate's life as an adult and her childhood, which I think is very important because she is trying to show the connections between what happened to her as a child and why she is the way she is now. I don't feel as I am reading that Kate sees all these connections herself, and rather that she is making them at the same time as the reader. This book started off with a mention of a tragedy right from page one. It did not try to make the death of their parents, which presumably leads to every other event in the book, suspenseful. However, that does not mean it isn't suspenseful! I have found myself lost in this book trying as fast as I can to connect Kate's past and present and try and figure out what happened in the middle. Mary Lawson is not trying to write a book about a crime story, or a horrible killing. What this book seems to be about is grief and moving on and how certain incidents can shape our lives. Kate is the character I seem to know the best, as she is the narrator and the only character in which we know anything about their present life. The author, however, has managed to teach me a great deal about Luke, Matt and Bo in a very short time period. Luke was clearly changed a lot by the loss of his parents. Kate recalls his behavior changing incredibly when their parents die. I think that many people, when they experience a great disaster, become who they really were all the time. You are forced out of the comfort zone you were hiding in, and you have to become a better person. Luke certainly seems to want to put his siblings first, and seems to develop a very close attachment with Bo. All the siblings grow closer, although Matt and Kate who were very close, now have certain things they can't talk about. They don't want to upset each other, and because of this I feel like Kate isn't quite as close to her brother as she once was. I think that they know that a boundary exists that wasn't there before. I am at the part in the book, when the children have been told, that they must be split up. Bo and Kate will stay together, but Matt and Luke will have to live with different relatives. Kate, and I am sure Bo once she realizes what is happening, is horrified. These children, well certainly close to their parents, have very close bonds between them. Luke and Bo, and Kate and Matt are inseparable. It does not seem fair, that after all they have lost, they must now lose the simple comfort of each other. I can see in Kate's description of these childhood memories, that she was too young to really understand much of what was going on around her. I think a lot of the fear she feels is in not knowing. I understand how she feels as I think knowing that you don't know anything about a situation, or that you have absolutely no power at all, is one of the scariest things you can experience. Luke and Matt I realize, don't want to worry her, but she can sense the fear that they have and it really scares her. Kate is clearly having a hard time understanding the person she has become. Her narration often mentions that she doesn't know why she does certain things. I think Kate knows though, that you can trace everything back to her parents death. Kate seems to be on a mission of self discovery. I understand how Kate feels, because I often do not understand my own tendencies. The logical part of my brain tells me that my behavior is irrational, and yet I can't change it. I think Kate is a really great character, and I can not wait to find out what will happen next.