Lisa's Review: A Newfoundlander in Canada

A Newfoundlander in Canada: Always Going Somewhere, Always Coming Home by Alan Doyle

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Back in 2014, I read & reviewed Alan Doyle's first book, Where I Belong, which chronicled Alan's life growing up in Newfoundland right up to the point where he joined Great Big Sea. At that time I stated my hope was that he would write another book continuing the journey with stories of life on the road with the band. So I was thrilled when I heard that Alan had written a second book & it was exactly that.

As with his first book, A Newfoundlander in Canada was completely entertaining. Having been a fan of Great Big Sea & Alan Doyle, seeing them/him many times, his style of writing is such that I could hear him saying every word as I read. His stories of Great Big Sea making their way from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia, and eventually to British Columbia are entertaining and humbling. Never would I have imagined there would be a story that involves Great Big Sea and Barney (the purple dinosaur), but there is!

I'll state it again - I hope Alan Doyle keeps writing!

This is my 3rd book read for the 13th Annual Canadian Reading Challenge.

Review: Where I Belong

Where I Belong by Alan Doyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting book about the early life of Newfoundland musician Alan Doyle (of Great Big Sea). Doyle and I are the same age, but our childhoods could not have been more different.  I never cut the tongue out of a Cod, and am hoping to keep it that way. Doyle is a great story teller and I was fascinated by the life he lived and his perspective on Catholicism made a lot of sense to me. (It does seem like trying to understand stuff about your religion should be encouraged, not punished). 

I have seen Great Big Sea perform here in New Hampshire (where I live) a couple of times, so this book qualifies not only as a Canadian Book Challenge title, but also meets the September mini-challenge to read "a book written by a musician from your home province. If you do not live in Canada, by a Canadian musician who has performed in your current country."

Lisa reviewed this book last year. 

Lisa's Review: Where I Belong

Where I Belong by Alan Doyle

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was looking forward to reading this book so much, I was afraid to start in on it as I knew I wouldn't want it to end. I was so very right about that!

I've been following Alan Doyle and Great Big Sea, since what seems like the beginning of time. I've seen them play countless times (seriously I couldn't even begin to count) - from their early days at the Lower Deck in Halifax all the way through to their 20th anniversary tour this past year. I have to say, after moving to New Hampshire 18 years ago, I've been thrilled with the frequency that they have passed through here.

But I digress...back to the book! I picked up my copy of Where I Belong at an author's reading, Q&A session, and signing in the Boston area. In the book, Alan tells many stories about what it was like to grow up in the small fishing village of Petty Harbour, Newfoundland - from cutting out cod tongues with the b'ys, playing hockey, wondering why there was a Catholic side and Protestant side of the village, to finding a passion for music, and many other things in between.

In addition to the stories, the book is has many pictures, a humorous Glossary of Terms for Mainlanders (you can find "cutting out tongues" and "b'ys" here), and some side stories. One of my favorite side stories is Alan trying to get his mother to explain how to make her amazing homemade bread:

"How do you make a loaf of bread, Mom?"
"Alan, honey, I don't know how to make a loaf of bread. I only knows how to make eight." p. 54

During the Q&A session I attended, a young girl (10-12ish in age) asked Alan something to the effect of whether he had any tips or suggestions on writing. Alan admitted that he isn't a great literary writer, but a storyteller. If he had to think of something that guided him through the writing of this book it was that what he wrote had to sound like how he would talk, it had to sound like him. After he wrote a particular section or chapter, if he went back to read it to himself and it did not sound like something he would say, then he would toss that out. After finishing the book, I would agree that this could not be more true. With every word I read, I could hear Alan's voice speak them in his distinct Newfoundland accent - it was like there was an audio-book version of the book playing in my head.

Well done Alan Doyle from Petty Harbour. I hope that there is another book down the road that tells stories of life on the road with GBS.     

This is my eighth book read for the 8th Annual Canadian Book Challenge.

With Alan at his book signing - a genuinely nice guy.
His mother's advice of "Be good" has definitely followed him.