Across the Great Lake
Lake Michigan is the star in the tale that 85-year-old Fern Halvorson tells about the journey she and her father took during the winter of 1936, when she was just five years old. Her mother lies on her deathbed while her family sails across the great lake on a ferry called the Manitou.
Some novels evoke a bygone era more vividly than others, and this is definitely one of these. The narrator proceeds with careful, haunting precision as she learns her way around the ship, with its young deckhands and hidden cats. The crisp winter air grows colder and more lethal when a ghost ship crosses their path and signals danger for all.
The narrator, recalling from great age, gives voice to details and background quite outside the ability of a five-year-old to notice, but somehow by interspersing her later doubts and thoughts, it is not of detriment to the narrative. The author excels at period-appropriate details and at bringing to life the stern attitudes of her immigrant parents and the other characters featured. The novel is perfect for a cold, rainy night, wrapped in a warm blanket and sipping tea. It’s one to be reread and savored for years to come.
