Euphoria

by Connie Gault

A historical novel that chronicles the life of Gladdie McConnell and her seemingly mysterious connection to Orillia Cooper. The importance of sex, of love, of mothers and daughters, all are themes running through this novel. The nurturing and love from our mothers ( be it traditional or not) is paramount to real survival. The opening prologue, set in Toronto in the late 1880’s, connects Gladdie to Orillia in a way she didn’t think possible. When Gladdie, a Toronto boarding house servant, makes a promise to an abandoned day-old child in 1891, she means to keep it. A host of obstacles, including her station in life, a determined adoptive family and half a continent of distance, isn’t going to stop her. Schooled in adversity, and red-headed – like all the best indomitable heroines – she knows how to persevere. The twists and turns of Gladdie’s helpmate life lead her to the summer of 1912, when twenty-year-old Orillia Cooper wakes up from surgery after being struck down by the Regina Cyclone. It has taken a tornado – and a devastating injury to Orillia – to bring them back together, because Orillia is that same child. However, she has no idea who Gladdie McConnell really is; she’s just a friend when she is in need of one. An engaging cast of characters inhabits Euphoria, bringing both eastern and western Canada at the turn of the 20th century to vivid life. This beguiling novel, with its quiet intelligence, wit and comedy of errors, is about the stories we want to believe in, and more importantly, about the value that may exist in wishes that don’t come true.

Genres: Canada, Fiction

392 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Connie Gault is the author of two collections of short stories, several plays for stage and radio and the novel Euphoria, winner of the Saskatchewan Book Award for Fiction and short-listed for the High Plains Fiction Award and the Commonwealth Prize for Best Book of Canada and the Caribbean.

A former prose editor of grain magazine, Gault has also edited books of fiction, taught many creative writing classes, and mentored emerging writers through the Saskatchewan Writers Guild Mentorship Program.

She lives in Regina.

Reviews

[Catherine Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about relationships....
The story is well written and full of interesting and well rounded characters. Nothing earth shattering, but a lovely story about relationships, particularly the mother daughter connection. Giving birth is not a prerequisite for being a mother.

[Regine Haensel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about women's survival in difficult times during the early 20th century. The historical background of the Regina cyclone of 1912 adds an extra dimension of reality as well as interest. I liked the unconventional relationships among women finding their own way to live in a world that didn't offer them many choices. Love can have different faces and ways of expression from friendship to carrying for children, and Connie Gault gives us a wonderful story to show us the possibilities of love.

[Vainvt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Euphoria was an engaging book about the influence of mothers and mother figures. It centers on a child named Gladdie who was raised by a woman named Margaret for the first five years of her life, and then lived with a 'bad' family. When conditions proved unbearable, she ran away and ended up working as a maid in a boarding house. Although her living conditions were awful, she made friends and received moral guidance from the owners. The guidance she received built on her early experiences with Margaret and made her into a determined and hard-working individual.

One boarder who loved someone who would never marry her, gave birth to an illegitimate daughter and then committed suicide. As Gladdie held the newborn, she saw a 'fighter' and vowed she would watch over her like a mother. The child was adopted by the father's family, but Gladdie continued to watch her. Through a brief affair and more opportunity, Gladdie was able to leave her low paid job as a maid and become self-sufficient. She pursued the child to Saskatchewan and established a relationship which came into play when the child, now a young woman, was seriously injured. As she recovered, Gladdie influenced her to make more ethical choices.

I found the book interesting and liked the fact that Gladdie struggled to gain financial independence. I have read very few novels where the lead character was poor, so I enjoyed the development of someone who acquires skills that enable her to slowly raise her financial independence. The theme of mothering was also well developed because it included the influence of both women who raise a child and women who have an influence over a child or adult.

This was not a great book, but it is one I enjoyed reading and one that expanded my understanding of human nature and influence.

[Darlene Karalash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh! After gorging on a variety of books by young American writers, I needed a cleanse with quintessential Canadian literature, and this little used-bookstore gem was exactly what the doctor ordered! Nothing like a well-crafted tale, chronicling the lives of stalwart working-class women in 1891 to 1912 (a surprisingly sensual era), sprinkled with sensory-stimulating words like “arabesque” to make me take decisive action the moment I turned the last page, tossing this book on top of my MUST-reread pile, at-the-ready for the next lit-purge. A euphoric experience; no morphine required.

[Darla]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connie Gault's first novel. Stories of three orphan girls from different generations and how they make connections to people and make their lives. Set in Regina post-cyclone as well as in Toronto. Made me think of my Grandma, a virtual orphan from the age of three or so when her Mother developed post-partum depression and was institutionalized for the rest of her life. She was raised on a farm by her Grandparents until she was about 18 and then came to city to board at a boarding house and get a job. Life was so different then with few social safety nets. People had to be resilient and courageous to survive, and had to endure situations we wouldn't consider today.

[Scotchneat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gladdie starts out life as a helpmeet in the late 1880's, runs away to be a servant, and spends her life trying to help an abandonned child.

Fast forward to 1912 when a cyclone takes out a telephone operator business in Regina. Orillia, one of the operators, asks for Gladdie to come and take care of her.

Orillia isn't sure why she asks for Gladdie because she doesn't really know her, but Gladdie is aware of the bigger picture.

Lots of quiet moments in this novel, and the eras that Gladdie lives through come to life. Didn't love it, but enjoyed it.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable look at the early 1900's from the eyes of a poor woman whose birth and circumstances prescribe service in boarding houses. The portrayal of women's choices, the societal restrictions and expectations of the time, is excellent. Much of this revolves around the realtionships between all the women and children in the novel. A look at motherhood and sexuality that shapes our current culture, for sure.

[Amy]

The story of a woman without family who makes a promise to an orphaned baby to keep a watch over her. The narrative switches between the past and present as we learn about the past of the woman and the future of the baby. I didn't love the book, but it was an interesting read.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was well written. Fun to read a book that has sask towns in it.

[Shadoh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious reading I could not get interested in any of the flat characters.

[Paige Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow