That Forgetful Shore

by Trudy J. Morgan-Cole

Triffie and Kit are closer than sisters. But for two girls growing up in a tiny Newfoundland outport at the dawn of the twentieth century, having the same dreams and ambitions doesn't mean life will hand you the same opportunities. A teacher's certificate offers Kit the chance to explore the wider world, while Triffie is left behind, living the life she never wanted with the man she swore she'd never marry. The letters she and Kit exchange are her lifeline -- until a long-buried secret threatens to destroy their friendship. That Forgetful Shore is a story of friendship, love, faith and betrayal.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Canada

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2011

Reviews

[David]

A glimpse into a Newfoundland that is partly long gone and partly still here. In addition to love, friendship, betrayal, and loyalty, we stir in World War I and the rise of charismatic Christianity in and around the Avalon Peninsula (with field trips that include England and other places). I have to remind myself that the sequence involving the Spanish Flu epidemic was written a decade before COVID--so many parallels in social behaviour. There are a number of issues covered which are both literally and symbolically close to home for me.

[Beki Lantos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. A nice easy and slow pace but it still kept my interest. I found it a touching story on how even if lives start at the same place, can end up so different. Beautifully told, with so much patience and depth. A perfect tale of the grass not always being greener.

[Erin M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review and more at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/

Triffie and Kit were the main characters. Best friends that grow up in the same town. It was set in the 1900s, and one of them was able to leave and go to school while the other stayed in the town.

They wrote letters to each other, but each chapter showed a portion of the letter, and then focused on their separate lives.

I loved both characters, but was also angry at both characters at different times. They were honest about resentments they had, and I thought maybe they should just appreciate what they have. That being said, appreciating what you have is NOT real life. I also don't know what it was like to live in the 1900s in Newfoundland, but I would imagine it was not easy.

However, the only thing I really want to say about this book is that I usually have a favourite character in all books. In this book it was not Triffie or Kit. It was Triffie's husband. I kind of thought he was wonderful, and I wished that Triffie could see him as I did.

[Deane · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was nothing about this book I didn't like....it was such a good read about life in the early 1900s in an outport in Newfoundland; the relationship of two women, Triffie and Kit who both wanted to get a good education and become teachers. The story had a lot of love and ambition mixed with a lot of sorrow especially during WWI when Newfoundlanders fought gallantly for King and Country and lost so many, many of their young men during those battles.

I do like a satisfying ending and this story has that so although I had stayed up late to finish the book, I had no trouble falling asleep.

I would recommend this to all of my friends....especially those that like a family saga, Newfoundland tales and a historical love story.

[Nancy Dawe · Rating 4 out of 5]

That Forgetful Shore is a beautifully written book. Morgan-Cole does a great job of balancing the challenges of living in outport Newfoundland with the love and pride that locals feel for their home. The characters are interesting and the story, which spans several decades, paints a fascinating picture of life in early twentieth century Newfoundland.

Synopsis:
Following the lives of two best friends, through their shared experiences and correspondence, That Forgetful Shore demonstrates how a life can be shaped by both the choices you make and the ones you don't have.

[Leanne Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy the book, the reason for my rating of 4, was that I found it slow to get started. AS well, I was reading another book at the time and the other one was one i had been wanting to read for a while and was waiting for it to be released in Canada. There is some twists and turns throughout the book and the more I read,the more I liked it so that by the end, I didn't want it to end. It was a love story of a different sort- of young girls who were best friends and grew old together, each with their own successes and tragedies. I highly recommend it!

[Chris Baert-Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just been introduced to this fabulous Canadian author and am so excited to have discovered another Canadian author to whom I will be binge reading till I have read them all! This book was wonderful and I was so sad when it ended. It is a book that made me think about the characters, the places and their lives long after I put the book down- a sign for me of how wonderful it is!

[Pickyreaderinblack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a picky reader, I was delighted when I was carried away to the lonesome shores of Labrador (east coast Canada) in the mid 1900s to follow the intertwined stories of Triffie and Kit, two girls from very different social classes yet are as close as sisters.

[Carol Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in a Newfoundland outport, the lives of two young girls take very different directions.

[Wendy Tomlinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really lovely characters and setting. The landscape plays such as important role in the book. Well worth reading.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read.