Indefinitely Idled

by Libby Broadbent

from Amazon.com

“Ascension Forestry Resources announced today the indefinite idling of its paper mill in Balneal, Nova Scotia. The Balneal Mill employed close to three hundred people…”

Both poignant and comical, Hal Stevens’ story resonates with compassion for the men and women whose lives are set adrift when big industries close. When Hal loses his job of 23 years, his marriage is quick to follow. His daughter, Brandy is caught in a whirlpool of dissolving options as they all struggle to stay afloat. Toss in a beautiful lesbian with a broken heart, a Korean foreign exchange student, and a divorced pensioner with a dying cat and you have rural Nova Scotia coping in difficult times, with humor, resilience, road kill, karaoke and rain… at times heavy.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 2013

About the author

Writing on the beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia, Libby is a high school teacher and a mother of four. Her first novel, That Thing That Happened, was written during the marathon word sweat of Nanowrimo. It went on to place third in the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia's Atlantic Writing Competition. Libby writes with a glass of wine to hand, and a weiner dog snuggled under her shirt. It's often chilly in Nova Scotia, after all, and there's nothing like a long furry weiner to keep a writer warm. Ernest Hemmingway said "Write drunk, edit sober." Libby says "Write with your weiner." Similar, but different.

Reviews

[Miriam Fitzgerald]

Loved it, just like I've loved all of Libby's books. Can't wait for the next one!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from a small town, Indefinitely Idled was a tale that I could relate to. The characters were very real and their adventures and self-realizations were comforting. The story follows several characters and you get a glimpse into each of their minds as they overcome differences, break-ups and divorces.

Centred around Mina's bed and breakfast you get to meet Alice the financial planner from Toronto, Hal the recently unemployed, and Brandi. You will laugh, you will cry but you will feel like you are at home by the end of the book, where-ever your home may be. This book definitely has something for everyone, even for those who favour elderly cats. A must read from this second-time author.

[Terri Giffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love this book!! I "knew" all of these people. With Balneal Creek stepping in for Liverpool, it was like reading about my hometown's life story through the eyes of a few wonderful characters. The shutting down of "the mill" (yep, that's definitely what we call it!) is so heartbreaking to those who are still there and yet folks seem to find a way to survive.

As always I love the wry humour and the quirky characters of Libby's imagination. Who else could make a grumpy rheumy old cat so entertaining??

The world somehow needs to find out about Libby Broadbent. Yes, her books are that good.

[Valerie Wamboldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVED this book! I really hope there's a part 2 in the making, I'd love to find out what happens next!