Jennifer Manuel’s debut novel is a literary work of fiction based on the west coast of British Columbia, which inspired Manuel as she wrote the book.
Manuel is very capable of sharing the fullness of what she writes about in The Heaviness of Things that Float. Using her experience from a lifetime dedicated to researching and assisting with the issues of BC’s First Nations, she has composed a book that is compelling and wonderfully written. It also traces the very real truths about a culture that, unfortunately, remains mysterious to many Canadians.
The story’s protagonist wears the same shoes Manuel has throughout her life: the white woman seeking to help and understand her country’s native cultures.
Touching on the delicate issues, legends, and spiritual acknowledgment that encompass each tribe throughout our country, The Heaviness of Things that Float boasts a complete and meticulously composed tale of a single nurse who devotes her life to the isolated peoples on northern Vancouver Island.
The story is told through beautiful and mesmerizing description; there is a fine line between full, accurate details and too many details, and Manuel’s writing has just enough. Here, her observational admiration of British Columbia has unfurled a captivating backdrop for this story.
For anyone looking to gently ease into a greater understanding of Canada’s first peoples, this novel provides not only an alluring and entertaining read, but also a peek into the culture from which we have become so dislodged. Nestled within the rainforest of the Gulf Islands, the story is saturated with captivating characters and scenery.
This book provides wisdom and is an enjoyable read for someone seeking a locally based story by a local author. I hope Manuel’s debut novel does not remain her only one.