When the World Fell Silent
Two women, two shattered lives. In December 1917, with World War I still raging, a huge explosion emanating from a shipboard munitions’ ignition in the harbor ripped through Halifax, Nova Scotia. Its tremendous force sent shockwaves through the city, levelling buildings, raining fire and ash down, and killing hundreds of people. Against this harrowing background, this novel relates the story of Nora, a young nurse, and Charlotte, a young working-class mother, who both survived the initial blast of the explosion only to find their lives forever changed.
Heart-rending sorrow prevails as each learns of the fates of family members while still trying to navigate their own life pathways. For Nora, anguishing choices about family responsibilities, a new pregnancy, and taking care of boarders and neighbors in addition to her close relatives often prove overwhelming. The presence of a new doctor friend both helps and unsettles her adaption to the new realities she must face. For Charlotte, the prior loss of both her parents in a fire and the death of her husband in battle, combined with her present unhappiness at life with her in-laws, are only ameliorated by the presence of her baby daughter, whose whereabouts after the explosion lead to many difficulties. Both women face seemingly insurmountable odds in making choices about their futures.
The setting and pace of this extremely compelling novel never let up as tragedies compound and viable solutions remain elusive. Hope never dies, however, and the very human side of tragedy includes both light and darkness. The characters, their reactions, their experiences, and their choices are realistic to the point that they feel like our own friends and neighbors. The reader is completely drawn into the story. Highly recommended.
