Heyday

by Marnie Woodrow

Winner:
2016 Golden Crown Literary Award ("Goldie), Dramatic/General Fiction
2016 Hamilton Literary Award, Fiction

Nominee:
2016 Golden Crown Literary Award ("Goldie"), Dramatic/General Fiction
2016 Toronto Book Awards, Finalist
23rd Annual Hamilton Arts Council Literary Award, Fiction

Two lively girls meet aboard a roller coaster in 1909 and develop a special connection. A modern-day woman grieves the loss of her lesbian partner with whom she was not in love. Heyday is a double-barreled novel that features separate story lines set in different eras, both of which explore the soul’s quest for pleasure and the power of love to endure through lifetimes.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Queer, Canada, Lesbian, LGBT, Historical

253 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a very enjoyable read that I feel like could have been a bit stronger with some tweaks, but that stuff might not bother anybody else but me.

For full review, head over to C-Spot

[Macklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad. Well written. I enjoyed both story lines.

[Amy Rhoda Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Funny, I just took a star off The Nightingale because I enjoyed it after I read it, but then forgot about it. I think I'm going to add a star to this book because I remember it so fondly.

I enjoyed the relationships in this book. There is a lovely romance, and there's also a woman struggling with the death of a wife (partner? I don't remember) who she didn't really love. I also enjoyed the setting — Toronto Island is one of my favourite places, so it was a treat to visit it in the cold of winter. (I know you can physically visit Toronto Island in winter, but I wouldn't want to — for me it's a summer place.)

I think I originally gave this only three stars because the ending didn't ring as true as the rest of the book. I can't remember if it was rushed or just felt like a mis-fit. (As usual, I should have reviewed sooner!) But that impression has faded and I'm left with a warm memory of this book.

[Kerry Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this novel about Toronto Island, roller coasters, and incorrigible girls and women. Review to come on my blog.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unusual story is told through two unrelated storylines. The first, set in 1909, is the story of the unexpected friendship between two girls who meet on a roller coaster at Hanlan's Point (Toronto's Coney Island). The second is the story of a recently bereaved woman who has lost her (lesbian) partner. The 1909 storyline was terrific in its ability to bring to life a completely different era in Toronto history, with the Toronto Islands and spiritualists and suffragettes and the attendant difficulties of being attracted to another woman. Highly recommended!

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing rollercoaster ride! I loved the richness of language and the vivid, fascinating nature of its double storyline. It's clever, surprising and thick with symbolism.Marnie Woodrow

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy to have discovered another strong Canadian author to read. (4.5 stars if I could)

The different title caught me and I am so glad I followed through with my hunch.

Set in several time zones and different lives, Marnie walks you through with great description, emotion, and a capture of youth and love I haven't found in books prior. Her research about Toronto was impressive as was her nod to dreams and favourite movies with sad endings.

I really didn't want this book to end.

Highly recommended!

[Trasie Sands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievably sweet and unbearably sad. Freddy & Bette! I’m quite tempted to read this again, right now, having just closed the first reading. One of the best parts of this book is that it’s so visual. All the senses are vividly taken into account, including taste and smell (the ever-present burnt sugar) but it’s the perfectly crafted images of the island and Toronto a century ago that wouldn’t let me put it down.

[Lena Scholman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up I loved the series "That Scatterbrained Booky" because of the rich portrayal or the city and the era. This book delivers all of that and more with exquisite prose. My favourite line is a description of August and the "carnal heat of the abattoirs." I also loved the unexpected quirkiness of the 1909 Toronto family. An original book!

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift and it was fairly decent. I ha no expectations for it but the 'blurb' and title were a bit deceiving. It definitely wasn't the feel good book of the year. A bit dark. It took me a bit to get into it.

[Tab · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classy love tale, from a surprising perspective.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE ROLLER COASTER LESBIANS!!!!!

[Amardip · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel comprises two storylines that are primarily related by the fact that they take place on the Toronto Islands. Living in Toronto, I'm sentimental about the islands and the setting contributed to my enjoyment of the novel. The author does a great job of evoking time and place, sights and sounds, in both the historical storyline in the 1900s where Hanlan's Point was an amusement park, and the contemporary storyline. Her prose is also insightful and evocative in describing the overwhelming feelings of falling in love experienced by Bette and Freddy and the sense of grief and loss experienced by Joss. The main characters are all believable and empathetic. However, I didn't like the intertwining of the two storylines. Since the chapters about Joss were so short, I found it jarring and distracting when they were inserted into the historical storyline. I kept wondering what the contemporary storyline had to do with the historical one; lesbians on the Toronto Islands didn't seem to be a strong enough link for me. The historical storyline was far more enjoyable than the contemporary one but that may have been because it was fleshed out more. There seemed to be some untapped potential in the contemporary storyline. I also didn't like how either of the storylines ended. The historical storyline ending was melodramatic and a little too Romeo-and-Juliet for me. And I simply didn't get the contemporary storyline ending. I think it would've been better if the author wrote two separate stories and delved deeper into each one. Overall, a short easy read that was good but had the potential to be great.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I simply loved the essence of this book which brought me back to old Toronto (the place of my parent's childhood) - and reminded me of stories of old told by my own father and mother. I have spent a lot of time on the Toronto Island and have been intrigued by its history. The love stories within Heyday were tangible - embedded with sensuality and tragedy. Thanks for the ride Ms. Woodrow.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two stories in two different times are being told. It isn't until the end that the two stories entwine. I enjoyed this book but did enjoy the historical story better than the modern day one. Not until the end did I realize the connection between the two.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly liked this, though I wished there had been a stronger connection between the present-day story and the historical one. I liked the period details and thought it was generally well written.

[Miranda Bavdaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book; read it in 3 days. Interesting history of the Toronto Islands. Met Marnie at our Book Club; she's an awesome speaker too! Heyday is going to be an Indie movie, yay!