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exurbanis's review against another edition
4.0
Born at the turn of the twentieth century in rural Newfoundland, Sam Kennedy grew up in outport near Harbor Main.
Rather like a Newfoundland version of Forrest Gump, Sam was part of the Great Sealing Disaster in 1912, served in France in WWI, and landed in NYC working on the Empire State building. In the Depression, he went to Newfoundland, but to tell more would be giving spoilers.
Really enjoyed this vista of the early 20th century, and the taste of Newdoundland and the Grenfell Mission.
Rather like a Newfoundland version of Forrest Gump, Sam was part of the Great Sealing Disaster in 1912, served in France in WWI, and landed in NYC working on the Empire State building. In the Depression, he went to Newfoundland, but to tell more would be giving spoilers.
Really enjoyed this vista of the early 20th century, and the taste of Newdoundland and the Grenfell Mission.
miramichireader's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, this was a great historical fiction read. Historical fiction has the value-added benefit of educating as well as entertaining, and Mr. Major has performed a masterful job of embedding Sam Kennedy in places and events that are certainly plausible for an adventurous young man living in the early days of the 20th century. My only knock against the story is that it is not entirely clear why Sam waits so long to look up Emma after returning from the war. Perhaps he wasn't ready to return to Newfoundland yet? Also, it would have been advantageous to have a little more of Emma's story fleshed out before she makes an actual appearance in Part IV. What were her thoughts at the time about Johnny's heroic death in a war halfway around the world? Might she have been more open to Sam's attentions had he not waited? These are questions the reader is left to answer based on what we know about Emma years later. As I mentioned at the outset, Found Far and Wide could easily have been much longer and still would be a great read. Mr. Major has left us wanting more, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
laurenbdavis's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed it. Great tale of Newfoundland, managing to weave in a good deal of history. I'm a sucker for Newfoundland stories, and for Newfoundland writers, when it comes to that. Perhaps this book might have had a wee bit more depth if its reach hadn't been so broad and its appeal might be limited as a result.
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