Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    The Day the Falls Stood Still: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Day the Falls Stood Still: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Day the Falls Stood Still: A Novel
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Day the Falls Stood Still: A Novel

    Written by Cathy Marie Buchanan

    Narrated by Karen White

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    1915. The dawn of the hydroelectric power era in Niagara Falls. Seventeen-year-old Bess Heath has led a sheltered existence as the youngest daughter of the director of the Niagara Power Company. After graduation day at her boarding school, she is impatient to return to her picturesque family home near Niagara Falls. But when she arrives, nothing is as she had left it. Her father has lost his job at the power company, her mother is reduced to taking in sewing from the society ladies she once entertained, and Isabel, her vivacious older sister, is a shadow of her former self. She has shut herself in her bedroom, barely eating-and harboring a secret.



    The night of her return, Bess meets Tom Cole by chance on a trolley platform. She finds herself inexplicably drawn to him-against her family's strong objections. He is not from their world. Rough-hewn and fearless, he lives off what the river provides, and he has an uncanny ability to predict the whims of the falls. His daring river rescues render him a local hero and cast him as a threat to the power companies that seek to harness the power of the falls for themselves. As their lives become more fully entwined, Bess is forced to make a painful choice between what she wants and what is best for her family and her future.



    Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Niagara Falls, at a time when daredevils shot the river rapids in barrels and great industrial fortunes were made and lost as quickly as lives disappeared, The Day the Falls Stood Still is an intoxicating novel.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Audio
    Release dateNov 23, 2009
    ISBN9781400184811
    Unavailable
    The Day the Falls Stood Still: A Novel
    Author

    Cathy Marie Buchanan

    CATHY MARIE BUCHANAN’s work has been translated into nine languages. Her previous novel, The Painted Girls, was a #1 national bestseller in Canada and a New York Times bestseller. Lavished with praise, it was selected as a People pick, included in Entertainment Weekly’s “Must List,” and named a best book of the year by NPR, Good Housekeeping and Goodreads. Her debut novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still, was a New York Times bestseller and is one of the Canada Reads Top 40 Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade. Buchanan holds a BSc (Honours Biochemistry) and an MBA from Western University. Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, she now lives in Toronto. Connect with Cathy: WEB: CATHYMARIEBUCHANAN.COM TWITTER: @CATHYMBUCHANAN FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/CATHYMARIEBUCHANAN

    Related to The Day the Falls Stood Still

    Related audiobooks

    Literary Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      A Passage Without Return

      Jul 2, 2019

      Once upon a time, a family moved to the edge of the woods in Alaska to be closer to the stars—so close, the father told his children, they could feel the heat. As in all fairy tales, though, things take a dark turn in The Unpassing, Bay Area novelist

      3 min read

    • Article

      Great Reads

      Jun 9, 2023

      Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother— has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates stri

      2 min read

    • Article

      Sweet River

      Jan 11, 2021

      Sweet River
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Last Storm

      Jul 13, 2022

      The Last Storm
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Village Affair

      Jul 14, 2021

      AS an attentive aunt, Jane Austen was keen to encourage her niece, Anna, with the novel she was writing. ‘Three or four families in a country village is the very thing to work on,’ she wrote to her in 1814, adding, ‘such a spot… is the delight of my

      4 min read

    • Article

      Picks Of The Bunch

      May 16, 2022

      by Leila Mottley (Bloomsbury, $32.99) You’ll want to remember this name: Leila Mottley. She’s an exciting new voice from Oakland, California, and her debut novel, Nightcrawling, mixes glorious, rhythmic language with urgent ideas such as racism, gene

      2 min read

    • Article

      Summer Reading Guide

      May 16, 2022

      Summer Reading Guide
      15 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      Aug 18, 2021

      Peyton Marcus is rich, TV-famous, happily married to Isaac, and mother to strong-willed teenage daughter, Max. Sister, Skye, is a stay-at-home mum in a wealthy New York suburb, who spends her days supporting her child’s education while launching a ch

      1 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Sedaris, Adelmann, Cross-Smith, and More

      May 31, 2022

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from David Sedaris, Maria Adelmann, Leesa Cross-Smith, and more—that are publishing this week. Want to learn more about upcoming titles? Then go read our most recent book preview. Want to help The

      5 min read

    • Article

      Book Reviews

      Mar 31, 2022

      Kyrie McCauley HarperCollins Publishers ISBN: 978-0-0628-8503-6 Tens of thousands of crows invading Auburn, Pennsylvania, is a problem for everyone in town except seventeen-year-old Leighton Barnes. For Leighton, it’s no stranger than her house, whic

      2 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      May 17, 2023

      Great Read
      8 min read

    • Article

      Books Of The Month

      Sep 2, 2022

      By Ciara Flood, illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti Spoilt, demanding and horribly rude (“Spaghetti arms!” “Wrinkle bum!”), Hog ruins things for the entire jungle – until he runs into a very polite Tiger. A hilarious, mordant, exuberantly illustrated pict

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Books Briefing: The Best Books to Get Lost in This Summer

      Jul 9, 2021

      Memoirs and novels that satisfy the urge for high drama: Your weekly guide to the best in books

      3 min read

    • Article

      THE Books You Should Have On Your To-read List.

      Feb 19, 2020

      ★★★ SKILLED writer Marian Keyes introduces readers to Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids. The Caseys are a glamorous bunch who spend a lot of time together and seem like one big happy family

      1 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      May 18, 2022

      Great Read
      5 min read

    • Article

      Summer Reading Special

      Dec 28, 2023

      The distinctive depth of characterisation shines in this tightly knitted story of therapist Nick and retired solicitor wife Zoe, as they decide to view a deconsecrated Victorian church which is for sale. It’s “even more picturesque than it looked onl

      11 min read

    • Article

      Pirates, Ghosts And Gangsters

      Feb 16, 2020

      Pirates, Ghosts And Gangsters
      2 min read

    • Article

      On The Shelf

      Nov 23, 2020

      On The Shelf
      2 min read

    Reviews for The Day the Falls Stood Still

    4/5

    385 ratings106 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      A wonderful historical fiction love story that takes place in the early 1900s. Bess Heath was a 17 year old when her affluent family's fortunes changed. She met Tom Cole, a fisherman, riverman and layabout according to others, and she wanted to get to know him. Her parents had other ideas for her, but eventually she and Tom got together. The story plays out while man is trying to harness the power of Niagara Falls for hydro-electricity. Tom's family have been Rivermen for the last few generations and have performed daring rescues over the years. Tom is alarmed by the changes in the river once the generators become operational. As well, WWI occurs during the time frame of this story. I do not want to give the story away, but have your kleenex ready at the end.
    • 4/5
      If you have ever been to or wanted to see Niagara Falls you will enjoy this book. If you are thinking of visiting this would be great book to read beforehand!
      Using the background of true events as well as true historical people, this is the story of two romances - that between a young upper class, private school girl and a man she meets, as well as the romance between the young man, Tom, and the Falls. The story takes place as the Falls are being harnessed to provide electrical energy, and we see the power of the river, the lure of the Falls, and the toll of the Power Companies as they divert the water for hydroelectric power.

      During the short span of the book WW1 affects the town and it's citizens, fortunes are made and lost, small town manners are explored, hearts are broken, and it is against this background that we watch Bess grow up and gain strength and belief in herself and her choices. We also see how decisions were made to ignore environmental concerns in order to electrify the country and increase our use of the "time saving devices" that were being invented at a rapid pace.

      I found this to be an easy, engaging, interesting read. The love story was well done, true to the times, the ages and social status of the characters. The characters and their story lines felt fresh and organic to the historical events. I loved how the author wove her historical research into the story without letting it become a "History Lesson". Buchanan grew up in Niagara Falls and her affection for the town is obvious but more so is her love, and respect for the power of the Falls.

    • 4/5
      It’s probably been almost 20 years since I last visited Niagara Falls. Reading The Day the Falls Stood Still, I could almost feel the mist and hear the roar of the falls. I’d love to go back. This was the perfect blend of historical fiction, love story and coming of age. The fictional story of Bess, her family and the river man she loved rang true. The river man was based on an historical figure. The author obviously loves the Falls and included a lot of interesting elements surrounding the use of the Niagara River by power companies. I know I’m enjoying a good historical fiction when I start googling events and places to see pictures and dig deeper into story lines. Highly Recommended.
    • 4/5
      It is a romantic tale awash in the history of Niagara Falls on the Canadian side during World War I.
      To say that this is a historical fiction romance is to miss the point. A native of the region, it is the author's complete dedication to inviting her readers to fall in love with the falls, to imagine themselves being there, wading waist deep in her story.

    • 5/5
      This was a lovely novel of historical fiction, set on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls during World War I and beyond. Bess is a young woman who must leave her prestigious academy when her father is let go from his job; her parents' hope is that she will marry well, but she becomes intrigued instead with a young man who helps carry her trunk on her return home from school. Bess tries to take care of her slightly older sister Isabel, who has become thin and listless for some unknown reason, and also apprentices herself under her mother, who has returned to sewing as a way to support the family since the girls' father has taken to drinking. The only real bright spots in Bess's new life are a few stolen moments with Tom, who has a longstanding connection and affinity with the great river that feeds the Falls.Historical fiction has to be very well written for me to enjoy it, and this was. The characters and the landscape are splendidly drawn, and Tom's dismay at his fellow man's attempts to harness the river, no matter what the cost, felt very real to me. While Bess does not always make the same decisions I would, she works hard and tries her best, and shows a great deal of courage. I'm sure many reviewers will have said that the Falls themselves are a "character." Whether or not that is the case, the author certainly manages to convey their majesty and significance in a way I found fascinating.(Edited to add: Holy cow, I just realized her other book has to do with Degas and ballet. I've read several fiction accounts of the Paris Opera ballet dancers -- I can't wait to see her take on it!)I'll be looking for other work by this author.
    • 3/5
      This story was intriguing and kept me reading, but some parts of the telling seemed disjointed. I was particularly disappointed in the rather abrupt ending. Still, an interesting piece of historical fiction.
    • 4/5
      I read an ARC of this novel, and enjoyed it quite a lot in spite of some quibbles. I was a little put off by the changing of tense...much of the book is written in the present tense, and all in the first person, neither of which recommend a piece of writing to me ordinarily. Sometimes the author would switch to the past tense, and not just when relating events that happened in the past from the characters' perspective. I didn't try to take this apart and figure out what she was doing. Just noticing it interrupted the flow of my reading without trying to analyze it. The story is fairly simple, and doesn't NEED analyzing. As others have pointed out, it is fundamentally a love story of a socially unmatched couple who nevertheless seem to understand how to relate to one another and make it work. It wouldn't have been much without the background of the Niagara river --its rapids, falls and whirlpool, its ice bridges, power stations and mesmerizing appeal, and its heroic one man rescue squad, the almost clairvoyant Tom Cole. That element and the resilient strength of the female lead made this an engaging recreational read.
    • 4/5
      The Day the Falls Stood Still is a turn of the century love story. When Bess's family loses their fortune, she meets a riverman named Tom Cole. Against her family's wishes she secretly meets with him and their love for each other grows, surviving death, war, and the hardships of everyday life all amongst the dreamy Niagara Falls landscape. When I was young, my parents would pack my sister and I up and we would travel to Niagara Falls for the weekend. I have been there more times than I can count and the awe of the falls never fades. It was this that first drew me to this book. I wasn't sure if I would like it because I was afraid it wouldn't do Niagara Falls justice. Boy was I wrong. Mrs. Buchanan's writing capture the timeless beauty of the falls and expertly creating an equally beautiful story. Her writing features many flashbacks and descriptive imagery, artfully woven together in a way reminds readers of Bess's extraordinary talent of dressmaking. Surprisingly, the extra information rarely clutters the story with useless information. However, at parts it does slow the book down slightly but the book has a soft, almost dream-like pace about it anyway. The end was predictable but it seems the only ending that would be appropriate. All in all, I liked following Bess and Tom through their lives and getting to know them each thoroughly. Their love for each other is strong and heart warming however this is not a mushy love story with a happy ending.
    • 3/5
      The historical part of this book was really good. The story didn't interest me as much as I thought it would.
    • 5/5
      My Heart still hurts thinking about the deep love that is portrayed in this book. The love of a couple, family and nature are all present in this book. It is one of my new favorite books.
    • 4/5
      An exceptionally interesting and enlightening debut novel. Set in Niagara on the Canadian side of the falls, the author fictionalizes the story of a famous 'river man' and the daredevils, loonies, and suicide attempts by those attempting to 'ride' the falls in a variety of flotation devices. The main character Bess Heath, had a very privileged upbringing but finds herself deprived of most creature comforts when her father is fired from his job, the servants are let go, she is unable to continue to attend her private girls boarding school, and her mother is forced to take in sewing to support them. Set during World War I, with flashbacks to earlier headlines from the Falls (late 1800's) Buchanan gives us fully fleshed out characters who endure the hardships of separation, suicide, unemployment, and class discrimination. Married on her 18th birthday against the wishes of her parents, Bess watches as her husband Tom Cole goes off to fight the Great War. He is gone for more than three years, and returns to meet the son who would follow his father as "the river man", amid a post-war economy with few available jobs. This could have become a trite 'love at first site' story but instead we get a powerful tale of young love, early environmental concerns, and historically based episodes of the life of the river men. In addition to a great story the book is illustrated with actual photographs of the period. For a reader who has not been to the Falls, the pictures are a great addition to understanding the story. A first-rate read.
    • 2/5
      Too son after reading JC Oates "The Falls", I was unable to latch onto this story and am saving it to enjoy after putting some distance between those two titles.
    • 4/5
      I was looking forward to reading this book because our family was taking a trip to Niagara Falls this summer. It was a good choice as it did give some interesting history of the Falls mixed in with the love story which was the main focus of the book. While I enjoyed the book, it didn't overwhelm me to the point of gushing over it. I did like the main characters of Tom and Bess, and I loved the way Tom's special knowledge of the river became such an important factor in their relationship, his career, etc. However, I felt like the other characters in the story could've been given a little more depth and personality. At times it was pretty slow moving but at others I felt myself continuing to read when I had other things I needed to do. The ending touched a nerve for me, but I don't think it will be an incredibly memorable book overall. I did enjoy the story enough to recommend it.
    • 3/5
      Title: The Day The Falls Stood StillAuthor: Cathy Marie BuchananGenre: Historical Fiction, Romance# of pages: 320Start date:End date: 8/17Borrowed/bought: boughtMy rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: BDescription of the book: Set against the backdrop of WWI and Niagara Falls, this debut tells the story of young Bess Heath and her struggle to navigate a quickly modernizing world. A child of privilege, Bess sees her fortunes change when her father loses his job. Cast into poverty, her family disgraced, Bess tries to hold things together while her sister slips into depression, her father drinks and her mother withdraws. After another tragedy strikes, Bess finds comfort in the love of Tom Cole, a river man with a mysterious connection to the falls. Overcoming the deep privation of the war and their own limited means, the two begin building a life together and renew their commitment to each other and their family.Review: I think I enjoyed the beginning of the book a lot better than the subsequent chapters. It wasn't a terribly long book, but I must say that the author crammed a lot of time span and character development into a short amount of time. A lot of chunks of time were missing. I would have liked if the author had developed these parts more. The discussion about the falls and question of progress and development was extremely interesting. This reminded me about capstone course for my bachelor's where we read an article about women in Oklahoma who had washers for the very first time- they didn't have to spend a WHOLE DAY scrubbing their sheets and clothes until their hands bled.
    • 4/5
      I've looked forward to reading Cathy Marie Buchanan's first novel, The Day the Falls Stood Still, ever since I started seeing reviews of it cropping up several months ago. I tend to prefer historical fiction that deals with more recent history, and the early 20th century - a time of great change in the world - is a period that particularly interests me. I'm intrigued by Canada, the only foreign country I've visited. And I love waterfalls. The abundance of waterfalls was one of the most appealing things about living in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and I've never forgotten my family's one visit to Niagara Falls when I was a child; I've always wanted to see it again. However, according to the Author's Note at the end of Buchanan's book, the Falls were much more of a sight to see a hundred years ago.This well-researched novel is set in a period of great change in the Niagara River and the area around the Falls, as hydroelectric power was becoming a greater force (no pun intended), and it views those changes through their effects on a family - because although the river plays a significant role, this is the story of a family: the family of Bess Heath Cole.Buchanan divides the novel into two parts. Book One is a more personal, intimate story, as the Heath family is forced to adjust to a change in their financial and social standing by taking in sewing and trying to ensure an advantageous marriage for at least one of their two daughters. However, these things don't always go as planned, and the eligible young man Mrs. Heath has in mind for her older daughter Isabel has his eye on her younger sister Bess. Bess, however, is quietly developing a relationship with Tom Cole, a young fisherman whose late grandfather, Fergus, passed on his legendary knowledge of the river (and his daring rescues of those who met trouble at the Falls) to him. When these two eventually do come together, it's in the aftermath of personal tragedy and in the midst of the First World War.Book Two is larger in scope, as it starts out with Bess as a war bride getting started as a seamstress in her own right, soon to become a mother while her husband fights on the battlegrounds of Europe. When Tom returns from the war, he needs to get to know his wife and son, and to get reacquainted with the river, which is changing as the new power plants are being built to harness his power, and where his knowledge is more needed than ever. The political and ecological effects of development are a big part of this story, and it's interesting to note that some of the same debates are still going on today.The Day the Falls Stood Still didn't really become the novel I expected it to be until Book Two, and although it held my interest all the way through, it was the last third of the book that really grabbed me, and I found its final chapters riveting and touching. I liked the way that the issues of the day were integrated into the story, and I think that this was largely accomplished through Buchanan's development of her characters. The story is narrated from Bess' first-person perspective, and I didn't entirely warm up to her for a while. However, the character truly grows over the course of the novel, and she became someone I could believe in; I think I could say the same for the book as a whole, to be honest, as I felt that it strengthened as it went along.I enjoyed my trip back in time to Niagara with Cathy Buchanan, and I'm wondering where she will take readers next.
    • 4/5
      Interesting story after having read The City of Light which is a tale of Buffalo and the Niagara River from the American side. The day the Falls Stood Still is telling of the Niagara River from the Canadian side and viewpoint and of the animosity over the amount of water taken out of the river by the Hydro Companies. There is a fictional story with historical background and names mentioned that I'm old enough to have heard and read about. A good summer read.
    • 3/5
      Cathy Marie Buchanan's debut novel is one she will be remembered for. Its attention to detail, its unique storyline and its appealing characters combine for an emotional read. The setting of Niagara Falls is obviously one of stunning beauty and frightening power in the strength of the water. The falls plays a large part in the story of Bess Heath and her family. Throughout the story, Bess grows from a self-centered child to a resourceful woman ,capable of great love for those in her family , who are most important to her. Buchanan is as adept as an artist at painting a scene that uses the backdrop of the falls in the various seasons to depict the changes in the lives of Bess and her lover, Tom. He is a man whose very existence is closely connected to the existence of the falls. He has an uncanny knowledge of its power to give and take. He never loses his love and respect for what the water is capable of, and he eventually becomes so attuned to the river and falls that Bess must choose between her love for him and those who want to harness the Falls for their own purposes. This story is carefully researched. Buchanan chronicles the lives of Bess and her friends and family, and on the way she immortalizes the destruction of the Niagara Falls. The book is unique in style and content and I look forward to more from this author.
    • 5/5
      The audio was just terrific---not a wasted word. I am fascinated by stories about Niagara Falls and I learned a lot while listening.. In a note from the author at the end, saying that the book is based in part on the life of William "Red" Hill made me look him up. The obsession with the falls leading to bravery in some and to daredevil behavior in others make an incredible basis for a story. Bess is the speaker and her life is presented in wonderful detail.
    • 5/5
      This is a magical, well told tale about a young woman named Bess, a riverman named Tom, and the history of the Niagara Falls. Bess meets Tom at the beginning of World War One when her family has fallen on hard times. They both reside on the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls in a town being overcome by hydroelectric power plants. Bess comes from a family that made its riches from the power plants, whereas Tom strongly believes in the beauty of the river and leaving nature untouched. This difference in opinion, however, does not deter their feelings for each other. Partly due to her family's financial struggles, her father's loss of a job, but mostly her sister's suicide, Bess transforms from a gullible, naive girl to a strong, independent woman almost overnight and against her family's wishes, she marries Tom. After he serves his time in the war, they start a family and Tom faces difficult choices and must make decisions that go against his personal beliefs. Tom loves the river, but the only jobs available are involved in the destruction of it and his beloved falls. What will come first in his priorities, his family or his ethics? In between the romance and Tom's amazing river rescues, readers get a detailed story about the Falls and the power plants that set out to destroy it. There are wonderful pictures, newspaper articles, and factual tidbits in between chapters. I found this particular touch very charming. A wonderful story and very realistic. It is not all happiness and joy, but also frustrations and fears. A very surprising ending. Highly recommended
    • 4/5
      Inspired by the life of William "Red" Hill (Niagara Fall's famed "riverman"), The Day the Falls Stood Still is set against the early days of the development of hydro-electric power. When the boss's daughter falls for the famed "riverman," class lines and propriety fall away as meaningless. This is a great love story that shows how tragedy can shape, yet not destroy a family. Niagara Falls is a character in it's own right in this fascinating historical novel.
    • 5/5
      Bess Heath is the younger daughter of the director of the Niagara Falls Power Company. In 1915, she has one year left at the Loretto Academy. When her father loses his job, everything changes, and her family falls apart. She falls in love with a "riverman" against her family's wishes, and the story follows her life from there, between joy and tragedy, all in the shadow of the Niagara River and Falls. I have always found something fascinating about Niagara Falls since I visited many years ago. Maybe it's the power, or all of the water, but I can understand its pull on people, and this book had that same pull on me. I read it in one sitting (by necessity, not choice, but I suspect if there had been a choice, I would have done the same thing). My only complaint would be that the blurb on the back of the book had a MAJOR spoiler. For some reason, I didn't read it before I read the book, but I did read it before the event happened, and I was startled that it would be there.
    • 5/5
      Can't believe that this is the author's first book - it was captivating - made me want to visit Niagra Falls.
    • 4/5
      Set in Niagara Falls, Canada, during and immediately after World War One, The Day the Falls Stood Still describes Bess Heath's coming of age as her family attempts to deal with her father's loss of his prestigious job and his investments. The author includes references to WWI, the influenza epidemic, industrialization, immigration, and the suffragist movement, as well as the geography of the Niagara Falls area. I liked the historic background, and the incorporation of historic photos and fictitious news reports based on the actual history of the Niagara Falls area.Overall this was an enjoyable read, but some parts of the story seemed choppy. Bess's father suddenly descends into alcohol abuse, and recovers just as suddenly. Tom goes off to the war, we read a few letters, then suddenly we turn a page and Bess is preparing to welcome him home. Tom, who had expressed pacifistic sentiments before enlisting, comes back from the war with nightmares, but recovers within a few weeks. And the ending seemed rushed and unsatisfactory.
    • 4/5
      Set in Canadian Niagra between 1915 and 1923, Buchanan's debut novel is a historical, naturalist love story. With some characters and events loosely based on true historic figures and a looming and powerful Falls dominating nearly every page, this novel was certainly interesting but fell a little short on plot strength towards the end. I liked Bess and Tom, and was certainly rooting for them to succeed in life and love. I thought Tom especially was very well drawn - I found his deep and abiding relationship with the river and the falls to be both fascinating and a little chilling - that he was based on a real riverman of the era made him even more appealing. Their lives were perhaps overfull of tragic events, but I think that the realities of the era lend themselves well to such drama. I think Buchanan's writing is clear and strong, and her characters are well-voiced. She captured the life of the times as well as the history and power of the Falls; she also incorporated a strong environmental message that would have been important then and still resonates now. I enjoyed the book, and would definitely recommend it with 3.5 stars - be prepared however, for a rushed and perhaps overly simple ending which in my opinion greatly reduced the impact of the novel as a whole.
    • 3/5
      The Day The Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan is a dual love story. A love story between a young couple, Bess and Tom and Tom's love for Niagara Falls. It's historical fiction, set between 1915-1923 and is set in Niagara Falls, Canada and during the early days of hydroelectric power. Bess is an upper class young girl of seventeen attending a boarding school when she is smitten with Tom from a lower class. Things change swiftly for Bess when tragedy strikes her family in many ways. Bess rejects a suitor of her own class to start a life with Tom. Tom follows in the footsteps of his grandfather who had a connection and understanding to the Niagara River and became known as the river man. He has an innate ability to predict what will happen in the river and falls and becomes a local hero with his daring rescues. I found the beginning of the book interesting, engaging and well written but the plot dragged out for me as the story unfolds. I found the accompanying black and white photographs and reference to real stories related to the Niagara interesting. I appreciate the beauty and nature of the falls and the effect hydroelectric power plants had on the falls and our environment. I found that the back and forth writing between the details of the hydroelectric power and other details just didn't flow smoothly within the major storyline. It felt forced and technical and took away some of the flow of the drama related to the characters in the story. I am one concerned with our environment and this story relates to our own world currently focused on environmental concerns. I am in awe of Niagara Falls and it's beauty and splendor. What I found lacking was the blending of this vital part of history with the human drama story between Bess, Tom and other characters. I found the ending predictable and expected the way it unfolded. I wanted to like this book so much more than I did.
    • 4/5
      I sat down and started this book, and was completely frustrated with the various life tasks which kept interrupting me. I stayed up too late two nights in a row. This is a really good piece of historical fiction for a number of reasons. The characters are very engaging right off the bat. The history of Niagara Falls is deftly woven in with a wonderful love story, with loss of loved ones, loss of work, and loss of social standing. There is love, tragedy, adventure.......what more could you ask for in a story. It only falls short of five stars because although the story is definitely memorable, the writing is good, but not in a way that will stick with me. Great read!
    • 4/5
      This historical novel focuses on a truly intriguing time in the history of Niagara Falls- one of the great wonders of the world. Well-written and well-imagined, this book is a love story with an environmental message, an unlikely combination that works nevertheless. The characters rise off the page and live, from poor doomed Isabelle to gutsy Bess and mysterious Tom. Once I started the book, I had a hard time putting it down because the story was carrying me along. I really enjoyed how Buchanan made the river and the falls themselves essential characters in the story; it is the contrast of petty human problems against that magnificent backdrop that makes this book so good. Four strong stars for this enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      There are very few books I would like to read for a second time but this is definitely one of them. Bess is a young girl from a privileged family who attends a private Catholic school called the Loretto Academy. When her father loses his job it begins a series of tragic events that will change the lives of everyone in their family. Due to their financial situation Bess is forced to leave the life she has loved at the Loretto Academy. Also as a result of their changed financial condition and social status her sister's fiance breaks off their engagement. Their mother is forced to support the family by sewing for the people she used to socialize with and their father starts drinking heavily. The hopeful part of the story is when Bess meets a riverman named Tom Cole. Although her parents don't approve of him Bess and Tom fall in love and eventually marry. They are faced with many obstacles but they have a good life together. Some of the elements in this novel remind me of We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates in the way that both books illustrate how one event can tear apart a family. The setting of the Niagara Falls is very descriptive and the historical references throughout the novel are interesting. It is amazing that this is the authors first published work and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
    • 4/5
      I've finished, but am digesting still the story and its ending. Not that I wish happy endings in all my reads, and this one is certainly not the saddest, but unexpected and bittersweet.Once I have my thoughts in order, I will share what a gentle and quick read this was. No great work of literature, but enjoyable nonetheless.A definite keeper.
    • 3/5
      A very descriptive novel set around the time of WWI at Niagara Falls. Bess Heath's family has fallen on hard times, she will have to give up her schooling at the Loretto Academy and begins sewing with her mother. Tom Cole enters their life, a riverman of sorts, who also bartends. It's in his family history to help watch the river, fish and respectfully remove bodies. Buchanan does a wonderful job describing the beauty surrounding Niagara Falls and the impact of the arrival of Hydro Electric plants.