Come From Away

October 28, 2020

When I’m writing, I don’t read as many books as I want to because those stories and my own start to jumble in my head. Recently, I needed a break, so I picked up Come From Away by Genevieve Graham.

Before I finaliazed my last online Chapters order (one day I will wander the bookstore again…), a bunch of other recommendations came up, as if to say, “Wait, you’ll like this one!” Come From Away was first on the list. I read the blurb and, since I’m a sucker for Canadian stories, I bought it.

As it sat on my shelf, my interest in the story grew. Set in World War II rural Nova Scotia, it is the story of a young woman, Grace Baker, and the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Rudi, who claims to be a trapper. With her three brothers away at war and German U-boats prowling the coastal waters off Nova Scotia’s eastern shore, everything Grace knew has been put into to question and Rudi will only complicate things further.

I became excited after reading the author’s note on the first page. Local Eastern Shore folklore tells of six German sailors who left their U-boat to attend a small town dance in December 1942. Graham asks a number of thought provoking questions, such as how their commander allowed this, before ending the note with “but we can imagine the possiblities.”

I have found the best stories start with a basis of fact, and this one was no different. As the novel progressed through Grace and Rudi’s POVs, the story became more plausible in my mind. New tidbits of Canadian and German history made the whole book come alive. But as far as characters go, I liked Rudi more.

I’m not one for spoilers, so I will refrain from further discussion. To say much more will blow the whole story wide open! If I’ve piqued your interest, go read Come From Away. You may be surprised, as I was.

Now back to writing…