A Song for Nettie Johnson

by Gloria Sawai

As Sawai deftly turns over the stones of these people's lives and reveals the squalor, the fear and the unhappiness that lie beneath, she also uncovers that most precious of human qualities - hope.

Genres: Short Stories, Canada, Fiction

308 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Gloria Sawai, born Gloria Ruth Ostrem, was an American-born fiction author who lived in Canada from her early childhood on.

In 2002 she was awarded the Governor General's Award for her novel A Song for Nettie Johnson.

Reviews

[Ngu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first story in this book of short stories was amazing. I give it a 5 all the way. Except for the last two stories in the book, all the stories were peopled by characters of a small prairie town in a way that made it read like a novel. I loved the writing, the characters and the prairie images and references. Great read.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. There were some good stories in here, but ultimately I was not particularly thrilled. I'm not sure if it's because I've been reading a lot of short stories or what happened here. Some of the writing was good. I think it was the subject matter.

[Dimitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in honour of short story month. I particularly loved the story about the grade school students who debate the existence of God. And I love that I knew the narrator of another was a child after just the first paragraph——kudos to the author for that and more.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful stories, depiction of a town and a world. i want to come back to these again because i know there is so much more to be mined out of these stories than i got on the first pass.

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

These interconnected stories unfold with little fanfare to reveal the shining heart in the clouded confusion of life in a small prairie town.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My big disappointment: the title short story. Why couldn't it have been a novel? Its rhythm, its characters, its back story, its power deserved at least another 200 pages.

[Ronald Kelland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories has been sitting, unread, on my shelf for quite some time. I finally picked it up to read and now I am wishing that I had not waited so long to do so. This is a marvellous, and very under-stated volume. Each story is very well-crafted. I get the impression that every phrase has been agonized over to make sure it works with the rest of the story, yet the writing has an effortless quality that makes reading a pleasure. The descriptions of small prairie town life are vivid and believable. Being set in western Canada and taking place in many cities and communities I know may have helped the stories come alive for me. Regardless, this is an excellent collection and an important contribution to CanLit. I really have nothing negative to say about this book, I enjoyed it that much.

[Mindy Gough · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I liked all of these very Canadian stories, and loved the loose interconnectedness between them. The feel of a prairie town in the 40s/50s was captured really well, and the characters were vivid. I would have given one more star but for the last story, which had an interesting concept but really didn't fit with the other stories.

[Diana Stevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous collection of short stories! The author surprised me with every one. The love she has for her characters shone through. The one, titled a song for Nettie Johnson, was particularly memorable. Gloria Sawai wrote the scenes between Nettie and her lover so visually that I could see their interactions as if I was watching a film. This is a collection I want to read again.

[Dorothy Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short stories that all take place in a small town with overlapping characters. Sawai has a wonderful prose ability to sweep panoramically across the town, introducing specifics as if to a friend. The title story about two outcasts that find each other has endearing moments.

[Lori Bamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Marni · Rating 4 out of 5]

One reviewer writes "looks unflinchingly into those dark corners most would rather keep hidden". That, more than anything describes this collection of short stories. Very enjoyable.

[Kathy Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. I appreciated the prairie setting.

[Susan Tremblay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4 :)

[Heather Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories. Prarie lives.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome stories set in Saskatchewan

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing great, forgettable.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Sept 8 2003 too

[Billie Milholland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunningly, delicately quirky, like all of Gloria Sawai's writing.
I'm so sorry she's gone.