The reason I haven’t posted a book review in several months is because it’s been that long since I’ve had my hands on a good book. I’ve started many and after a few dozen pages, I gave up. That all changed with The Road To Goderich, a book of historical fiction written by Linda McQuaig. If you read Roughing It In The Bush or Life in Canada by Susanna Moodie, or The Backwoods of Canada by her sister, Catherine Parr Traill many years ago, then you will love The Road To Goderich. These books are fascinating descriptions of life in Upper Canada (Ontario) during the early to mid-1800s.

The story begins in rural Scotland where fifteen-year-old Callandra must make a life-altering decision that will change the course of her life. When her father dies unexpectedly, leaving her mother and siblings with no means of support on their small farm, Callandra agrees to marry Norbert, a visiting pastor who promises to support the family on their farm in return for Callandra’s hand in marriage.

Norbert is a misfit, a socially awkward mama’s boy who would have no chance at a suitable bride if his Presbyterian family were not well-connected and rich. Callandra is cast into a loveless marriage with a man who turns out to be not only cold and insensitive, but also cruel. In an attempt to assert himself and establish his own domain, Norbert answers the call from the church for ministers to emigrate to Upper Canada, specifically, Goderich, a small town on the shores of Lake Huron.

The one consolation for Callandra is that she is able to take her personal maid, a young country orphan called Lottie, but only if her brother Sam is allowed to come as well. Norbert agrees because Sam’s skills as a carpenter can be utilized to build a new church in Goderich. After a dangerous sea voyage, the group arrives in Toronto where they stay for a short while recovering from their ocean crossing and to allow Lottie to find a place to recuperate from typhus she contracted on the trip over.

When Lottie’s recovery appears to require much more time than they anticipated, the little group of Norbert, Callandra, their daughter Emma, and Sam venture out on a risky carriage trip to Goderich in late autumn. The weather compounds their difficulties, and their voyage takes several days over roads that are primitive, dangerous, and poorly serviced. A catastrophe befalls the group before they reach their destination. When they finally arrive, the town welcomes them, without realizing they’re not getting who they think.

I don’t want to reveal any more of the plot as I don’t want to spoil your fun. There’s an interesting splash of Canadian history interwoven into the plot and those of us who remember a bit of our elementary school history will get a refresher on what was going on in Upper Canada in the early 1800s. It’s also a reminder of how different living standards were for our ancestors less than two hundred years ago and this history is a credit to the strength and character of early immigrants.

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres, and The Road To Goderich pulled me out of a lengthy reading slump. I highly recommend this book, and if you haven’t already, I suggest you read Susanna Moodie’s non-fictional account Roughing It In The Bush or her sister’s The Backwoods of Canada. Her description of a drunken barn raising will have you laughing out loud. There’s so much that is fascinating about Canadian history if only we took the time to seek it out. To order any of these books from Amazon, click on the cover image below. I guarantee you won’t regret it.