Books & Audiobooks
Written by: Nancy C.
This Bright Dust tells the story of two families whose perseverance, dedication and sheer will kept them in their prairie homesteads long after droughts, dust storms and banks drove their neighbours away, essentially killing the small town of Grayley which had supported the farming population.
Nina Berkhout’s writing is evocative and yet as sparse as the landscape it depicts. Set in 1939, as the depression is winding down, Abel Dodds and his neighbours, the Wisharts are eking out an existence from what is left of their parched and decimated fields. Against formidable challenges, the two families work together to once again plant their crops, desperate for a harvest that will save them from foreclosure. In spite of an imminent war in Europe, it is announced that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth will visit Canada and travel across the country by train. While Abel reacts cynically, his neighbour Una has embraced the news whole-heartedly and looks to celebrate the occasion, hoping that the Royal entourage will stop at their local train station.
This heart-wrenching story reveals the kinds of divisions that leave long-lasting scars in a country while also demonstrating the power of love in the face of immeasurable challenges.