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Consolation
It is 1856, Toronto. Unable to make a living in the New World from his trade, English apothecary J.G. Hallam takes up the new science of photography, and embarks on a grand project to document the bleak young city. But returning from an exhibition of these images in England, Hallam's ship is lost in a violent storm on Lake Ontario - and the strongbox holding the photographs is lost.
A century and a half later, and the shoreline of the harbour has shifted dramatically. Professor David Hollis speculates that the sunken ship containing this important historical record lies in the landfill where the city's new Union Arena is to be built. But his findings are met only with howls of derision from his colleagues.
Three months later, Hollis is dead - and his grieving widow, Marianne, embarks on a furtive, unsettling quest to vindicate her husband. From her hotel room overlooking the excavation site where the arena is to stand, she watches and waits for a piece of the past to reappear that might alleviate the anguish of these civic and private vanishings...
A century and a half later, and the shoreline of the harbour has shifted dramatically. Professor David Hollis speculates that the sunken ship containing this important historical record lies in the landfill where the city's new Union Arena is to be built. But his findings are met only with howls of derision from his colleagues.
Three months later, Hollis is dead - and his grieving widow, Marianne, embarks on a furtive, unsettling quest to vindicate her husband. From her hotel room overlooking the excavation site where the arena is to stand, she watches and waits for a piece of the past to reappear that might alleviate the anguish of these civic and private vanishings...
480 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2006
22 people are currently reading
1111 people want to read
About the author
Michael Redhill
34 books169 followersAka Inger Ash Wolfe.
Michael Redhill is an American-born Canadian poet, playwright and novelist.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Redhill was raised in the metropolitan Toronto, Ontario area. He pursued one year of study at Indiana University, and then returned to Canada, completing his education at York University and the University of Toronto. He was on the editorial board of Coach House Press from 1993 to 1996, and is currently the publisher and editor of the Canadian literary magazine Brick.
His play, Building Jerusalem, depicts a meeting between Karl Pearson, Augusta Stowe-Gullen, Adelaide Hoodless, and Silas Tertius Rand on New Year's Eve night just prior to the 20th century.
Michael Redhill is an American-born Canadian poet, playwright and novelist.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Redhill was raised in the metropolitan Toronto, Ontario area. He pursued one year of study at Indiana University, and then returned to Canada, completing his education at York University and the University of Toronto. He was on the editorial board of Coach House Press from 1993 to 1996, and is currently the publisher and editor of the Canadian literary magazine Brick.
His play, Building Jerusalem, depicts a meeting between Karl Pearson, Augusta Stowe-Gullen, Adelaide Hoodless, and Silas Tertius Rand on New Year's Eve night just prior to the 20th century.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
March 16, 2010
I took a long time getting through this book because I didn't want it to end. Redhill could have made it twice as long and I wouldn't have complained. Compelling characters and settings, especially the 1850s Toronto segments.
I really, really, loved this book. Redhill is one of my favourite Canadian authors.
I really, really, loved this book. Redhill is one of my favourite Canadian authors.
March 31, 2018
"He put it [a recently excavated clay pipe:] into my hand and closed my fingers over it and he said, ‘the past really happened.’”. . . “You held it in your hand. You know something most people don’t.”
(Consolation, 435)
Consolation changed the way I look at Toronto, the city where I live. This was not only because it asked me to imagine things like black bears walking down King St. or a graveyard (in fact, a "necropolis") at the now busy intersection of Yonge and Bloor, which added a vivid, historical layer to these locations; but also because it illustrated that knowing something about how my home city grew from woodland to metropolis is important. Redhill’s book show that a place so full of significance to me, by virtue of its familiarity, was invested with value and meaning by people who died long before I existed. To carry a heightened awareness of this, the idea of the possibility of this, is to experience your city differently.
But Consolation is not just a pean to Toronto and its history. Redhill’s novel also elegantly and movingly explores themes of loss and family. The story's split between two periods facilitates this well. In sections set in the present, the reader slowly collects a portrait of David—an ALS-afflicted father and husband whose academic discovery and death sets the plot in motion—through his grieving family. Each member struggles to define what the absence of David means to them, and, as they go, a picture of David becomes present for the reader. The other sections of the book that take place in 1850s Toronto provide a structural inversion: In 1850s Toronto, it is the father and husband, Jem, that grapples with the absence of his family, who remain in England, a three-week postal delay away. A failing business and loneliness presses him toward new friendships and opportunities, and in creating them Jem gains a deeper understanding of himself.
Similarly elegant symmetries abound in this book as does Redhill’s beautiful, insightful prose. Both work together to illustrate, among other many things, that the connections between past and present are not as faint as we it is sometimes all too easy to precieve them to be.
(Consolation, 435)
Consolation changed the way I look at Toronto, the city where I live. This was not only because it asked me to imagine things like black bears walking down King St. or a graveyard (in fact, a "necropolis") at the now busy intersection of Yonge and Bloor, which added a vivid, historical layer to these locations; but also because it illustrated that knowing something about how my home city grew from woodland to metropolis is important. Redhill’s book show that a place so full of significance to me, by virtue of its familiarity, was invested with value and meaning by people who died long before I existed. To carry a heightened awareness of this, the idea of the possibility of this, is to experience your city differently.
But Consolation is not just a pean to Toronto and its history. Redhill’s novel also elegantly and movingly explores themes of loss and family. The story's split between two periods facilitates this well. In sections set in the present, the reader slowly collects a portrait of David—an ALS-afflicted father and husband whose academic discovery and death sets the plot in motion—through his grieving family. Each member struggles to define what the absence of David means to them, and, as they go, a picture of David becomes present for the reader. The other sections of the book that take place in 1850s Toronto provide a structural inversion: In 1850s Toronto, it is the father and husband, Jem, that grapples with the absence of his family, who remain in England, a three-week postal delay away. A failing business and loneliness presses him toward new friendships and opportunities, and in creating them Jem gains a deeper understanding of himself.
Similarly elegant symmetries abound in this book as does Redhill’s beautiful, insightful prose. Both work together to illustrate, among other many things, that the connections between past and present are not as faint as we it is sometimes all too easy to precieve them to be.
December 10, 2010
This was a really enjoyable read; a story of early Toronto (1850ish if I remember correctly) intertwined a story of another Toronto family in 1997. Each half of the story has a pretty similar weighting and I didn't mind switching between the two because it didn't happen too often and both halves were entertaining and written in similar styles.
The modern day story is woven around the death of David Hollis, a historical researcher, and the historical story meets up with his research in a way that's not too obvious but such that we're recognisably reading one story rather than two.
The characters were the best aspect of the writing and felt like real people: not always consistent, not always nice, not always understanding what their actions would mean, but not completely ignorant of this either. However for a story that is very much about a place the location didn't really come alive to me except in a few passages in the historical story. I liked the fact that the story involved early photography though and these bits of the story worked very well, especially as some old photographs are included in the book.
I'm not sure if I think it's Booker prize winning material, or even shortlist material - although it's a weighty book it was a quick read and didn't seem terribly substantial. Definitely a good read though.
The modern day story is woven around the death of David Hollis, a historical researcher, and the historical story meets up with his research in a way that's not too obvious but such that we're recognisably reading one story rather than two.
The characters were the best aspect of the writing and felt like real people: not always consistent, not always nice, not always understanding what their actions would mean, but not completely ignorant of this either. However for a story that is very much about a place the location didn't really come alive to me except in a few passages in the historical story. I liked the fact that the story involved early photography though and these bits of the story worked very well, especially as some old photographs are included in the book.
I'm not sure if I think it's Booker prize winning material, or even shortlist material - although it's a weighty book it was a quick read and didn't seem terribly substantial. Definitely a good read though.
September 16, 2011
I borrowed this book without putting much time into reviewing it beforehand. When I actually picked it up to read and determined what it was about (ie. Toronto) I figured it would be boring and likely not worth my while. Once I started reading it, I initially confirmed my suspicions and almost put it down (in reality, I never do this). Am I glad I didn't! I loved the intermingling of the two stories; one from 1997 Toronto (where I happen to live) and one from 1856 historical Toronto. It became a two for one bonus!
I'm a fan of historical fiction and thoroughly enjoyed delving into the beginnings of what has now become the Toronto of today. Redhill did an excellent job of using the appropriate diction for the times, which made it all that much more likeable.
Definitely a good read and proof of the old adage "Don't judge a book by its cover".
I'm a fan of historical fiction and thoroughly enjoyed delving into the beginnings of what has now become the Toronto of today. Redhill did an excellent job of using the appropriate diction for the times, which made it all that much more likeable.
Definitely a good read and proof of the old adage "Don't judge a book by its cover".
March 29, 2015
I must say I enjoyed this book 5 stars' worth, but that's because I've lived in and near Toronto since 1977. It's a good story, quite how true I'm not sure, of the search for some historical (1850s) photos of Toronto possibly buried in the landfill which has become Toronto south of Front Street, and which was previously Lake Ontario. There are two threads: 1850s and late 1990s.
November 23, 2011
I live in Toronto. I love history and architecture. This book was an incredible read and eventually I found myself on a walking tour of the buildings and history with Michael Redhill.
There is so much development happening in the area of the waterfront where land was reclaimed now - I am sure many artifacts are found and some even hidden so the development goes on uninterrupted.
This novel was an eye-opener and very engaging. Loved it.
There is so much development happening in the area of the waterfront where land was reclaimed now - I am sure many artifacts are found and some even hidden so the development goes on uninterrupted.
This novel was an eye-opener and very engaging. Loved it.
June 17, 2018
I think this book was too complex for the state of mind I was in while reading it. I loved the idea of a historical novel focused on early photographic techniques in Toronto, as well as the archeological nature of the story. I liked the idea of the layers of history building on one another, and later being uncovered in reverse order.
I think I loved the concept more than the actual book.
There were some flashes of brilliance, especially towards the end. Redhill is a clever writer, but sometimes it felt like he was too clever for me. I kept wondering if I was missing things....did some key part of the plot really happen, or was it made up by one of the characters? I still don't know.
Speaking of characters - I really liked the 19th century characters, but really didn't care about the modern ones.
I think I loved the concept more than the actual book.
There were some flashes of brilliance, especially towards the end. Redhill is a clever writer, but sometimes it felt like he was too clever for me. I kept wondering if I was missing things....did some key part of the plot really happen, or was it made up by one of the characters? I still don't know.
Speaking of characters - I really liked the 19th century characters, but really didn't care about the modern ones.
March 19, 2011
I am almost finished reading 'Consolation' by Redhill. It is not the greatest book I've read. I'm feeling, "oh, get on with it" to get to the end. The history of Toronto is interesting but the story is written like two stories in several different sections: story 1, story 2, story 1, story 2 etc. I find it a little exasperating?
The part I found interesting was the history sections on Toronto. I could visualize the streets and intersections he refers to because I know Toronto. I could relate to the story told of the people in the 1800s. The modern story interspersed dragged on, especially at the end.
The part I found interesting was the history sections on Toronto. I could visualize the streets and intersections he refers to because I know Toronto. I could relate to the story told of the people in the 1800s. The modern story interspersed dragged on, especially at the end.
July 30, 2008
i can't really tell if it has anything to do with being in Toronto these days or.. it's simply a good novel..?
i like all the details about the photography profession and the actual names of streets and shops
it's specially exiting when I walk by one of them!!
what I mostly like about this book is the author's smooth way of jumping through time.
i'll have to agree with those who favor the historical story over the resent one
but all in all, I think it's a good vacation read
i like all the details about the photography profession and the actual names of streets and shops
it's specially exiting when I walk by one of them!!
what I mostly like about this book is the author's smooth way of jumping through time.
i'll have to agree with those who favor the historical story over the resent one
but all in all, I think it's a good vacation read
Currently reading
August 16, 2010Just flew back from Toronto with a copy of Michael Redhill’s Consolation and was so absorbed that I’m now halfway through its 468 pages in only six hours (the flight plus couldn’t-put-it-down reading time in the hammock later that evening). I’d always felt I wouldn’t connect with Redhill’s Toronto-centric point of view but he casts tough, straight-spoken women and men with much softer personalities – characters and action that pulled ME into the historical storyline.
January 6, 2019
After reading "Bellevue Square", I was determined to read all of Michael Redhill's books (my Goodreads challenge for 2019). He has become My Favourite Author overnight. "Consolation" is the second Redhill book that I have read but was disappointed. It's well-written, and thoughtfully presented with its zigzagging timelines. I just found it too slow, lacking the zany twists of "Bellevue Square". But Michael Redhill is still My Favourite Author and the challenge is still on!
September 27, 2007
(The much longer full review can be found at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com].)
As regular readers know, all this month I'm doing a special concentration here on the nominees for the 2007 Booker Prize, basically the British version of the Pulitzer (and a prize many think is actually more impressive than the Pulitzer); and it's no surprise that in general I've been disappointed by the nominated books I've now read, finding them on the whole to be too delicate, too inconsequential, too "Delightfully British" in the worst way possible. And thus do we come to the fourth Booker nominee to be reviewed here at CCLaP, Michael Redhill's Consolation; and surprisingly enough, this one I actually did enjoy quite a bit, and have been spending some time recently thinking about why that is. Partly, I suppose, that it's set in Canada, which is the least British and most American of all the British Commonwealth nations, which are the only countries eligible for the Booker; partly because it's not only Canadian, but specifically a love letter to the city of Toronto, and I'm a fan of literary love letters to big cities. Partly because of the intriguing dual storyline, I'm sure, one set in the modern age and one during Toronto's founding in the Victorian Age; partly because those storylines are filled with fascinating and complex characters, all of them interacting with a dual mystery at the heart of the plot. In any case, I'm happy to finally come across a Booker nominee I actually enjoyed; I was starting to think that maybe there was something wrong with me!
In essence a mystery story, Consolation tells the tale of eccentric historian David Hollis, who lives so fully in the past that he an actually walk around Toronto telling you who lived in random houses in the 1860s. Hollis has Lou Gehrig's Disease and is rapidly dying, but has decided to spend his remaining days pursuing an obscure theory he has formed -- that buried under the debris of Toronto's lakefront is a series of priceless artifacts concerning the city's history. See, like Chicago, turns out that Toronto created its own artificial shoreline in the early 20th century, with landfill literally being poured in around shipwrecks and the like; Hollis has become convinced that one of these shipwrecks contains a leather-covered lockbox full of rare glass photo negatives, surveying almost the entire city limits at a specific moment in the mid-1850s. Given that barely any documents from this period of the city's history exist, this would be a major find indeed; the problem, though, is that the theory is based on highly circumstantial evidence, not enough to convince a politician to spend the tax money on an urban archeological dig, leaving Hollis' theory still unproven at the time of his death.
Half of Consolation's story, then...
As regular readers know, all this month I'm doing a special concentration here on the nominees for the 2007 Booker Prize, basically the British version of the Pulitzer (and a prize many think is actually more impressive than the Pulitzer); and it's no surprise that in general I've been disappointed by the nominated books I've now read, finding them on the whole to be too delicate, too inconsequential, too "Delightfully British" in the worst way possible. And thus do we come to the fourth Booker nominee to be reviewed here at CCLaP, Michael Redhill's Consolation; and surprisingly enough, this one I actually did enjoy quite a bit, and have been spending some time recently thinking about why that is. Partly, I suppose, that it's set in Canada, which is the least British and most American of all the British Commonwealth nations, which are the only countries eligible for the Booker; partly because it's not only Canadian, but specifically a love letter to the city of Toronto, and I'm a fan of literary love letters to big cities. Partly because of the intriguing dual storyline, I'm sure, one set in the modern age and one during Toronto's founding in the Victorian Age; partly because those storylines are filled with fascinating and complex characters, all of them interacting with a dual mystery at the heart of the plot. In any case, I'm happy to finally come across a Booker nominee I actually enjoyed; I was starting to think that maybe there was something wrong with me!
In essence a mystery story, Consolation tells the tale of eccentric historian David Hollis, who lives so fully in the past that he an actually walk around Toronto telling you who lived in random houses in the 1860s. Hollis has Lou Gehrig's Disease and is rapidly dying, but has decided to spend his remaining days pursuing an obscure theory he has formed -- that buried under the debris of Toronto's lakefront is a series of priceless artifacts concerning the city's history. See, like Chicago, turns out that Toronto created its own artificial shoreline in the early 20th century, with landfill literally being poured in around shipwrecks and the like; Hollis has become convinced that one of these shipwrecks contains a leather-covered lockbox full of rare glass photo negatives, surveying almost the entire city limits at a specific moment in the mid-1850s. Given that barely any documents from this period of the city's history exist, this would be a major find indeed; the problem, though, is that the theory is based on highly circumstantial evidence, not enough to convince a politician to spend the tax money on an urban archeological dig, leaving Hollis' theory still unproven at the time of his death.
Half of Consolation's story, then...
September 12, 2008
David Hollis spent his career unearthing artifacts of old Toronto, but at the time of his death from Lou Gehrig’s disease, his academic legacy was shadowed by his unsupported claims that a complete set of glass negatives of photos of Toronto, circa 1860, was lost in a shipwreck that now lies under landfill. However, the story doesn’t really deal with David except in flashback, as his wife, one of his daughters, and his daughter’s fiancé deal with his death by keeping vigil over a construction site that may uncover–and possibly pour concrete over–the lost ship. The parallel story of the photographer, a young Englishman trying to make his way in what was then a frontier outpost, punctuates the story and becomes far more vivid and compelling than the painful emotional freeze of the present day. It is fairly slowly paced, but the characters (including the city of Toronto, a character in its own right here) have a way of coming to life forcing you to care about them.
September 15, 2012
This is the first book by Michael Redhill that I have read (although, Martin Sloane is on the book shelf ready to go) and it was really enjoyable. At first I found it difficult to get into; there is a parallel story-line that you need to navigate, which made it difficult to get into the rhythm of the story. However, once I found my feet I thought Redhill delivered a well narrated tale with a smart plot.
Being a history lover, I found myself drawn to the historical story-line and I was pleasantly surprised to find a strong liking to Jem Hallem, as well as a feeling of sympathy over the struggles he faced during Toronto's developing years.
The crux of the story presents itself in the last two chapters and this where I really appreciated Redhill's clever plot and the way in which he succinctly brought the two story-lines together.
I look forward to reading more of Redhill in the future.
Being a history lover, I found myself drawn to the historical story-line and I was pleasantly surprised to find a strong liking to Jem Hallem, as well as a feeling of sympathy over the struggles he faced during Toronto's developing years.
The crux of the story presents itself in the last two chapters and this where I really appreciated Redhill's clever plot and the way in which he succinctly brought the two story-lines together.
I look forward to reading more of Redhill in the future.
March 1, 2016
This book was divided into two time frames - Toronto of the 1850's and of the 1990's. I enjoyed the story from the 1850's more than that of the 1990's. I could not really get more than a limited understanding of what was happening in the 1990's possibly because characters were presented as complete and did not really develop much. The interplay between John and Marianne while watching the construction site seemed fraught with a lot of unexplained angst. The story with J. Hallam, Sam Ennis and Claudia Rowe was far more interesting. I would like to know the "rest of the story" that came after Jem left for England with the photography plates. The author's style interested me enough to be willing to read more of his work under his real name. I already like the work done under his pseudonym (Inger Ash Wolfe). I did laugh when he used that name within this story. Conslation is worth a read as it gives some insight into early life at the beginning of Toronto as a city.
September 2, 2007
It took me about 200 pages to get into this book. But then I enjoyed it very much. I must say that I thought the historical story was far more interesting than the present day one. I found Marianne and Bridget really annoying and their actions and words extreme. Considering that Redhill is a playwrigt, you would think that dialogue would be a strong point, but I found it to be trite. I liked the character John Lewis very much and especially enjoyed the relationship he had with David.
The history of Toronto and of professional photography were great stories - and so detailed. As a former resident of Toronto (I even lived on two of the streets, in one case the exact block, mentioned in the book), I was fascinated by the stories of early TO. The Ennis, Hallam and Rowe bond was heartwarming.
The history of Toronto and of professional photography were great stories - and so detailed. As a former resident of Toronto (I even lived on two of the streets, in one case the exact block, mentioned in the book), I was fascinated by the stories of early TO. The Ennis, Hallam and Rowe bond was heartwarming.
June 24, 2016
"Nice read"
Consolation, the book that is being promoted in the event of "keep Toronto reading one book". I started reading it wanting to have a glimpse of the Toronto a hundred years back in time. More than not being disappointed, I think there are some hidden gems in this book. Two stories paralleled in this novel: one told the struggle of a family coming to terms with the loss of an important family member; one told the adventure of an Englishman who left his whole family and started his unexpected life in old time Toronto. The modern story felt less convincing, and the bunch of stubborn characters made me cringe a bit. I was nevertheless totally attracted by its "partner-story" that graced us with descriptions of 1850s Toronto, and the subtle but sincere depiction of their resilience and sentiments. Nice read.
Consolation, the book that is being promoted in the event of "keep Toronto reading one book". I started reading it wanting to have a glimpse of the Toronto a hundred years back in time. More than not being disappointed, I think there are some hidden gems in this book. Two stories paralleled in this novel: one told the struggle of a family coming to terms with the loss of an important family member; one told the adventure of an Englishman who left his whole family and started his unexpected life in old time Toronto. The modern story felt less convincing, and the bunch of stubborn characters made me cringe a bit. I was nevertheless totally attracted by its "partner-story" that graced us with descriptions of 1850s Toronto, and the subtle but sincere depiction of their resilience and sentiments. Nice read.
February 21, 2018
Has an intermittently engaging double story (one set in Toronto in 1857 and one in Toronto in 1997), but reads like a novel written by a playwright — a fair bit of emotional artifice and a lot of stagey dialogue. The resolution offers a nice twist but undercuts the basic premise that the past is real. Which is it? Real or imagined? What does the author really think? Or is ambiguity inevitable?
Found myself rushing through the last half. The welter of detail may not be necessary and some of the characters' emotional strain threatens to slip into melodrama. However, the considerable research into Toronto's early history and local archeology produced enough interesting bits of information to hold attention. Still, if the fact-based history holds a lot of the book's appeal, what does that say about the surrounding story?
Found myself rushing through the last half. The welter of detail may not be necessary and some of the characters' emotional strain threatens to slip into melodrama. However, the considerable research into Toronto's early history and local archeology produced enough interesting bits of information to hold attention. Still, if the fact-based history holds a lot of the book's appeal, what does that say about the surrounding story?
December 6, 2007
From The Atlantic review
Consolation
by Michael Redhill (Little, Brown)
Lou Gehrig’s disease again! In this case, a local historian, suffering from the malady, posits, to public ridicule, that a trove of photographs of early Toronto lies beneath a landfill. Redhill, author of the affecting short-story collection Fidelity, shifts between the present-day account of the widow’s efforts to vindicate her husband and the story of the photographer in mid-nineteenth-century Toronto. Puzzlingly, the modern bits are stilted, at times almost amateurish, while the historical parts sing.
Consolation
by Michael Redhill (Little, Brown)
Lou Gehrig’s disease again! In this case, a local historian, suffering from the malady, posits, to public ridicule, that a trove of photographs of early Toronto lies beneath a landfill. Redhill, author of the affecting short-story collection Fidelity, shifts between the present-day account of the widow’s efforts to vindicate her husband and the story of the photographer in mid-nineteenth-century Toronto. Puzzlingly, the modern bits are stilted, at times almost amateurish, while the historical parts sing.
September 11, 2007
It is really 3.5 stars for this one, but since it didn't get from the Booker longlist to the shortlist I am being generous. This is the kind of book I take pleasure in - a real story, with emphasis on plot and characters in contrast to, for example, Enright's "The Gathering" and McEwan's "On Chesil Beach" which are less plot driven (although they have fared better in the Booker).
I think the fact that I have just been to Toronto aided my enjoyment.
Perhaps a little slow in parts.
I think the fact that I have just been to Toronto aided my enjoyment.
Perhaps a little slow in parts.
August 24, 2013
A very engaging book. I enjoyed it tremendously. Loved the descriptions of the lives of strugging Torontonians in the 1850's. John and Bridget and the way their relationship evolved both in the present and past tense, somehow evoked my own memories (in love during those same years and living in Toronto). And I thought the way the two stories were linked together was very well done. As a lover of Toronto history this book is hard not to cherish page by page.
August 27, 2014
Redhill does a remarkable job conveying a sense of place and history, and it's this that has remained with me more than the characters or plot. Incidentally, the 19th century photo series at the heart of the story is real, and is available online through the Toronto public library. Very interesting to look through it after finishing the book.
April 28, 2016
I found this book mesmerizing in it's history of Toronto. The author's use of different time periods brings the past to life. I knew it was hard for the early settlers but I hadn't realized how it could change who they were when they arrived. Such a well written novel!
August 23, 2014
Amazing mystery against Toronto backdrop.
January 8, 2015
Enjoyed the familiarity of the setting, and the proximity to my neighborhood growing up, but not the story itself.
August 15, 2015
I was torn on this one. Really liked the characters and scenes that took place in 1800s Toronto, but didn't really connect with the characters and events in present-day Toronto.
June 29, 2016
A wonderful and unexpected read. Beautifully written, two great stories interwoven, in and about Toronto, believe it or not. Just simply a real pleasure to read.
July 18, 2016
read while in jail. Actual rating: 1.9
April 27, 2021
This one certainly takes us places.
David Hollis is a gifted historian. He reads maps and considers what he knows about history and makes predictions. One of his predictions was that a sunken ship could be found in Toronto, in an area where there once was water (there has been much fill since). He makes public claims about it, but refuses to cite his sources. His work is ridiculed.
Then he gets sick. He dies without having proven his theory. His wife, Marianne, though, although not a fan of his theories while he was alive, decides to find out if maybe he was right about this one.
The book features Marianne's future son-in-law, John Lewis, in a present-day story about Marianne's quest, while a historical story about Toronto, featuring a pharmacist, is interwoven through the book. At the end the two come together to make sense of the method.
The 1850s story takes us from a small pharmacy to the world of early photography. I learned more about the dangers of developing and printing than I had known previously. Like most people, I was familiar with the limitations of taking photographs with these monstrous cameras. The story features the druggist, J. Hallam, a woman down on her luck, and a struggling photographer.
The two stories kept me interested. I was a bit distressed by what I saw happening in the 1850s world, but was glad I continued. The ending is a bit of a surprise.
David Hollis is a gifted historian. He reads maps and considers what he knows about history and makes predictions. One of his predictions was that a sunken ship could be found in Toronto, in an area where there once was water (there has been much fill since). He makes public claims about it, but refuses to cite his sources. His work is ridiculed.
Then he gets sick. He dies without having proven his theory. His wife, Marianne, though, although not a fan of his theories while he was alive, decides to find out if maybe he was right about this one.
The book features Marianne's future son-in-law, John Lewis, in a present-day story about Marianne's quest, while a historical story about Toronto, featuring a pharmacist, is interwoven through the book. At the end the two come together to make sense of the method.
The 1850s story takes us from a small pharmacy to the world of early photography. I learned more about the dangers of developing and printing than I had known previously. Like most people, I was familiar with the limitations of taking photographs with these monstrous cameras. The story features the druggist, J. Hallam, a woman down on her luck, and a struggling photographer.
The two stories kept me interested. I was a bit distressed by what I saw happening in the 1850s world, but was glad I continued. The ending is a bit of a surprise.
September 15, 2017
What a fine writer Michael Redhill is. I enjoyed his mysteries under the name Inger Ash Wolfe as well. But Consolation is a strange book. David Hollis believes that under Toronto's land fill lies a ship that sank during the 1850's carrying with it a photographer who made a record of every street, building, road, shack and shop in Toronto's history. Although his colleagues shrug off his ideas, his widow consoles herself by trying to prove he is right. The area is now being prepared for the building of a sports arena and she and her son in law watch the progress of the building from a hotel overlooking the site. The story then flashes back to 150 years prior and the life of Jem Hallam who is sent to Toronto to start a pharmacy which fails. He becomes fascinated by photography and begins to take pictures of the town. Beautifully written, I savored every sentence and scene. A difficult book but worth it.
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