ARC - purchased used from the Friends of the Library.

$1.00 still buys something! One loonie is exactly what I paid for this treasure.

What an interesting book!

I bought it because:

I can't resist Canadian authors;
I love the floopy covers on ARCs;
And I remember reading York's short stories and liking them.

I read it because it was short-listed for the Giller Prize and I was feeling rather pleased with myself that I actually had one of the nominees before it made the list. Of course I ran out and paid full price for the other short-listeds. So, I apologize to Ms York that she made no money from me, but I do hope she makes a wad o' cash from this book. It's worth every penny of its cover price.

"Interesting" seems an insufficient word to describe this book, but it *is* interesting on so many levels. Especially so are her characters. Erastus (Brother) Hammer, a vain and greedy horse breeder and hunter going blind has four wives. Ursala (Mother Hammer) is his first and mother to their oldest child, Lal, a skirt sniffing ne'er-do-well if there ever was one. Mother Hammer rules the roost including: Ruth, the second wife and baby factory, but "mother" only to her silkworms; Thankful, the third wife who's produced no children but has the most active role between the sheets and Eudora, the child bride and expert taxidermist whose crow dreams fascinate the reader. It is Dorrie who stuffs Brother Hammer's kills, keeping his trophies "alive" for all to see. We also have Tracker, who tracks the wild animals and "helps" with the kills, and Bendy, a former circus and street performer, who tends the ranch animals with endearing wisdom and gentleness.

What I know about Mormonism is minimal. And other than occasional musings about what it might be like to share one's husband with a bunch of other women, I've never cared to know more. I certainly knew nothing about the Mountain Meadows Massacre in Utah upon which this novel, especially Dorrie's dreams, is based. However, York speaks with authority and the look she gives us at this family's life and interactions, its secrets and and jealousies is absolutely fascinating.

Definitely one of my top Canadian reads of the year. I have not yet read Elizabeth Hay's Giller Prize winner but it's going to have to go some to top Effigy in my book.

This was my first book read for fellow BCer jmutford's The Canadian Book Challenge over on his blog, The Book Mine Set. (When I figure out how to do the appropriate linking thingies, I'll tidy this up, but for now...) One down and twelve to go!

RELEASE NOTES:

Fletcher Argue Building, atop an ATM.