A plodding read…
Where do I begin with my review of Another Land: Patersons in Scotland by author David Carlyle? Honestly, I’m not really sure… I originally requested this title for review because Historical Fiction is one of my favorite reading genres. However, after completing the reading of this book, I’m sad to say that I was sorely disappointed.
Another Land: Patersons in Scotland is obviously set mainly in Scotland, and the year that this part of the story starts is 1876. Edna Paterson is being forced to leave her home to travel to the Americas, namely New York, so she can further her education. Edna does not wish to leave. Apparently she has grave misgivings, but her father will not change his mind. Edna even shared with him her dream of returning home and no one knowing whom she/the person returning was, but her father assured her all would be fine and then he sent her on her way.
Time passes for Edna, and so too does her father. School isn’t very enjoyable, but at least she meets a nice man whom she falls in love with and they get married. Sadly, her mother-in-law isn’t nice to her, however they eventually make a tentative peace when Edna learns she is expecting. Unfortunately, even more tragedy is in store and Edna’s husband, John, is left to raise their son (and an orphaned girl) by himself. Finally, John moves the family back to Edna’s Scottish home, but alas, life is barely any better there.
What follows throughout the remainder of Another Land: Patersons in Scotland is a very long-winded, seemingly day-by-day accounting of a family’s struggles to live in an unfriendly and harsh environment. Once John passes, we then follow the children’s lives until they are forced to return to the Americas if they wish to stay safe and have a better life.
With all that said, was Another Land: Patersons in Scotland a terrible book? No. However, I did find it to be quite unremarkable. In truth, the writing style is fine. Everything is grammatically correct and there were brief passages that were interesting. Sadly though, at the end of the day I found Another Land: Patersons in Scotland to be a dull and non-invigorating read. I do hope that David Carlyle’s conclusion to this two book ‘saga’ will have more ‘oomph. Two stars…