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The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil
John Alexander MacNeil is eighty years old. Sharp-tongued and quick-witted, he lives alone in rural Cape Breton, but he still cooks breakfast for his wife, who's been dead for thirty years. He silently starts to question his own mind after stopping to pick up a hitchhiker -- a hitchhiker who turns out to be his neighbour's mailbox.
Everything shifts, though, when Emily, a pregnant teenager, shows up at his house with no place else to go. Determined to help Emily as best as he can, John must also keep the wolves from his door and maintain some semblance of sanity.
The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil is a compelling, witty and heartwarming novel by renowned Nova Scotia author Lesley Choyce.
Everything shifts, though, when Emily, a pregnant teenager, shows up at his house with no place else to go. Determined to help Emily as best as he can, John must also keep the wolves from his door and maintain some semblance of sanity.
The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil is a compelling, witty and heartwarming novel by renowned Nova Scotia author Lesley Choyce.
221 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2017
1 person is currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Choyce
131 books123 followersLesley Choyce is a novelist and poet living at Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia. He is the author of more than 80 books for adults, teens and children. He teaches in the English Department and Transition Year Program at Dalhousie University. He is a year-round surfer and founding member of the 1990s spoken word rock band, The SurfPoets. Choyce also runs Pottersfield Press, a small literary publishing house and hosted the national TV show, Off The Page, for many years. His books have been translated into Spanish, French, German and Danish and he has been awarded the Dartmouth Book Award and the Ann Connor Brimer Award.
Lesley Choyce was born in New Jersey in 1951 and moved to Canada in 1978 and became a citizen.
His YA novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants, and rock bands.
Lesley Choyce was born in New Jersey in 1951 and moved to Canada in 1978 and became a citizen.
His YA novels concern things like skateboarding, surfing, racism, environmental issues, organ transplants, and rock bands.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 22, 2018
John Alexander MacNeil, an eighty year old widower, has started to lose his mind. The other day he stopped to pick up a hitchhiker only to realize that it was his neighbor's mailbox. Living alone in a rural town, MacNeil spends most of his time alone and his thoughts never stray far for his wife Eva. He misses her extremely and is left without much to do now in the last years of life. That is before Emily a pregnant teenager shows up at his door via the advice of the local doctor, Doc Fedder. MacNeil lets Emily stay with him so that she can decide how to deal with the situation she has found herself in, but many of the people in town don't approve especially when Emily's parents begin to protest the situation. MacNeil has never cared what anyone thought though, and sticks by Emily through, letting her choose her path for herself. In the duration he comes to terms with many of the things that happened in his own life, making peace with his estranged brother.
I liked the book but it wasn't spectacular. I think the whole supernatural thing that was play at wasn't that well executed. It just didn't mesh well with the rest of the story. Much of the story line felt disjointed but I can't really figure out why I felt that way. I just don't thin MacNeil's past and his situation with Emily and him using it to deal with things seem to work because those things don't feel like they go together. The book wasn't bad but there was something about it that felt like it was missing.
I liked the book but it wasn't spectacular. I think the whole supernatural thing that was play at wasn't that well executed. It just didn't mesh well with the rest of the story. Much of the story line felt disjointed but I can't really figure out why I felt that way. I just don't thin MacNeil's past and his situation with Emily and him using it to deal with things seem to work because those things don't feel like they go together. The book wasn't bad but there was something about it that felt like it was missing.
July 10, 2023
*4.5* Stars.
This lovely book transported me to rural Cape Breton. Ranging from humour to sadness and back again, there was heartbreak and also heartwarming passages. It encompasses love, grief, generational differences, sorrow, regret, the ageing process, guilt, forgiveness, teenaged pregnancy, childhood physical and emotional abuse. It also touches on topics of spirituality and religious beliefs, unhealthy working conditions and deforestation. So much that is thought-provoking in this small, delightful story.
John Alex is 80, and deeply missing his wife, Eva, who died decades before. Each morning he sets the breakfast table for her. At times he not only feels her presence but sees and talks with her. He loved her dearly, but is she a manifestation of his guilt and sorrow over her death, a vision of happy times, a presence due to his loneliness? Could she actually be a ghost?
He is cantankerous, believing in the rights of freedom of expression gives one the right to be themselves. Often contrary to the villagers’ popular thought and rules. He had been taken to court for his unsightly property but won that case. Now he is worried he is losing his mental faculties and slipping into dementia. He has occasions when his mind has gone blank. The final straw was when he stopped his car to pick up a hitchhiker and realized it was a neighbour’s mailbox. John Alex states that he usually picks up any hitchhiker who doesn’t look like an axe murderer or Brian Mulroney.
He visits the local, eccentric doctor, ‘Shaky’ Fedder, who has Parkinson’s. John Alex considers the doctor to be young (he is in his 70s), but experienced. The doctor gives him a clean bill of health, dissuading him of any evidence of mental decline.
One day a 16-year-old pregnant girl, Emily, shows up at his home. She is estranged from her parents, especially her mother, and has no place to go. Her parents insist on her being sent to Halifax for the remainder of her pregnancy, and the baby put up for adoption, The doctor has sent her to John Alex in the belief that the old man needed a restored purpose in life and that Emily needs adult support and sympathy. Together they develop a caring household, built on mutual respect and understanding, despite their age differences.
When she refuses to follow her parents’ wishes, there is much turmoil and suspense. Her parents turn her custody over to the Province, leading a lawyer, Mounties and a social worker to John Alex’s door. Their goal is to remove Emily to Halifax for the birth and adoption of her baby. To do so, there is also the aim to prove John Alex incompetent. What will happen? In the meantime, John Alex’s estranged brother is dying and needs help. He has never forgiven him for a past betrayal, and both Emily and the doctor want reconciliation, but John Alex refuses.
The characters are quirky but believable. There is Brian, who is always protesting for various causes. He is Emily’ boyfriend, but not the father of her baby. He is distraught and confused. This time he is protesting deforestation and goes to live like a hermit in the forest to think about the situation.
There is a beloved and popular priest, Father Wes Welenga, a man from Africa, who has seen how deforestation destroyed his village in Cameroon. He mixes Catholic doctrine with some beliefs in native spirits from his homeland.
Sheila, the bookmobile librarian, flirts with John Alex, and as a former nurse is scheduled to attend Emily for the birth of the baby.
This was a poignant story which involved me emotionally. The sense of place and its characters brought the story to life for me.
This lovely book transported me to rural Cape Breton. Ranging from humour to sadness and back again, there was heartbreak and also heartwarming passages. It encompasses love, grief, generational differences, sorrow, regret, the ageing process, guilt, forgiveness, teenaged pregnancy, childhood physical and emotional abuse. It also touches on topics of spirituality and religious beliefs, unhealthy working conditions and deforestation. So much that is thought-provoking in this small, delightful story.
John Alex is 80, and deeply missing his wife, Eva, who died decades before. Each morning he sets the breakfast table for her. At times he not only feels her presence but sees and talks with her. He loved her dearly, but is she a manifestation of his guilt and sorrow over her death, a vision of happy times, a presence due to his loneliness? Could she actually be a ghost?
He is cantankerous, believing in the rights of freedom of expression gives one the right to be themselves. Often contrary to the villagers’ popular thought and rules. He had been taken to court for his unsightly property but won that case. Now he is worried he is losing his mental faculties and slipping into dementia. He has occasions when his mind has gone blank. The final straw was when he stopped his car to pick up a hitchhiker and realized it was a neighbour’s mailbox. John Alex states that he usually picks up any hitchhiker who doesn’t look like an axe murderer or Brian Mulroney.
He visits the local, eccentric doctor, ‘Shaky’ Fedder, who has Parkinson’s. John Alex considers the doctor to be young (he is in his 70s), but experienced. The doctor gives him a clean bill of health, dissuading him of any evidence of mental decline.
One day a 16-year-old pregnant girl, Emily, shows up at his home. She is estranged from her parents, especially her mother, and has no place to go. Her parents insist on her being sent to Halifax for the remainder of her pregnancy, and the baby put up for adoption, The doctor has sent her to John Alex in the belief that the old man needed a restored purpose in life and that Emily needs adult support and sympathy. Together they develop a caring household, built on mutual respect and understanding, despite their age differences.
When she refuses to follow her parents’ wishes, there is much turmoil and suspense. Her parents turn her custody over to the Province, leading a lawyer, Mounties and a social worker to John Alex’s door. Their goal is to remove Emily to Halifax for the birth and adoption of her baby. To do so, there is also the aim to prove John Alex incompetent. What will happen? In the meantime, John Alex’s estranged brother is dying and needs help. He has never forgiven him for a past betrayal, and both Emily and the doctor want reconciliation, but John Alex refuses.
The characters are quirky but believable. There is Brian, who is always protesting for various causes. He is Emily’ boyfriend, but not the father of her baby. He is distraught and confused. This time he is protesting deforestation and goes to live like a hermit in the forest to think about the situation.
There is a beloved and popular priest, Father Wes Welenga, a man from Africa, who has seen how deforestation destroyed his village in Cameroon. He mixes Catholic doctrine with some beliefs in native spirits from his homeland.
Sheila, the bookmobile librarian, flirts with John Alex, and as a former nurse is scheduled to attend Emily for the birth of the baby.
This was a poignant story which involved me emotionally. The sense of place and its characters brought the story to life for me.
September 20, 2017
Oh John Alexander, you've left me in a puddle of tears and I love you dearly.
This was my first Lesley Choyce and it will definitely not be my last.
This was my first Lesley Choyce and it will definitely not be my last.
February 21, 2017
Lesley Choyce is an active, prolific author and his latest title The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil (Roseway Publishing, 2017) is bound to be well-received by the reading public. It is the tale of the octogenarian widower John Alex (as he is known to everyone) living in rural Deepvale, Cape Breton where he still sets a place for his deceased wife of thirty years, Eva. He is someone who has always lived his life without caring what anyone else thought of him. We join him at the story's outset where he is considering if he really is losing his mind:
"I guess the first time it occurred to me that I was really losing my mind was the day I stopped to pick up a hitchhiker and it turned out to be somebody's mailbox.... I usually pick up any hitchhiker that doesn't look like an axe murderer or Brian Mulroney. The mailbox looked like neither."
From these opening words, you know what type of reading experience you are in for, an elderly man with Mr Magoo tendencies, slowly realising that reality (along with his eyesight) may be slipping away from him little by little. There is also a likeable self-deprecating sense of humour about John Alex that makes him a protagonist that is immediately endearing. His perspective on his life's changes since the passing of Eva evokes empathy in the reader, cleverly making his viewpoint the reader's as well. This becomes important when a real challenge to John Alex suddenly appears at his door: Emily, a pregnant teenager with nowhere else to go. What follows is a story, not only of generational gaps but of mutual respect and understanding despite circumstances beyond their control.
How did Emily come to be at John Alex's door? She was sent there by old Doc "Shaky" Fedder, the only doctor in town, who is a little unconventional in practice, but has the wisdom of years behind him. He certainly knew what he was doing when he sent Emily to John Alex, even if neither of them understood it at first. Doc knew that John Alex needed some purpose to his later years (he and Eva were childless), and that Emily needed a stable, supportive, and mature person to look out for her since her estranged parents (particularly her mother) wanted to send Emily off to Halifax to have the child and then give it up for adoption.
Mr Choyce fills the story with characters such as Sheila the amorous bookmobile librarian, the eccentric Doc Fedder, Father Wes Welenga, Brian, Emily's budding eco-conscious boyfriend (who is not the baby's father, however) and others that fill out the story, bringing substance to the rural Cape Breton backdrop. An enjoyable read that covers topics as diverse as Alzheimer's, teen pregnancy, taboos and generational gaps, The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil is recommended for mature young adult readers on up.
"I guess the first time it occurred to me that I was really losing my mind was the day I stopped to pick up a hitchhiker and it turned out to be somebody's mailbox.... I usually pick up any hitchhiker that doesn't look like an axe murderer or Brian Mulroney. The mailbox looked like neither."
From these opening words, you know what type of reading experience you are in for, an elderly man with Mr Magoo tendencies, slowly realising that reality (along with his eyesight) may be slipping away from him little by little. There is also a likeable self-deprecating sense of humour about John Alex that makes him a protagonist that is immediately endearing. His perspective on his life's changes since the passing of Eva evokes empathy in the reader, cleverly making his viewpoint the reader's as well. This becomes important when a real challenge to John Alex suddenly appears at his door: Emily, a pregnant teenager with nowhere else to go. What follows is a story, not only of generational gaps but of mutual respect and understanding despite circumstances beyond their control.
How did Emily come to be at John Alex's door? She was sent there by old Doc "Shaky" Fedder, the only doctor in town, who is a little unconventional in practice, but has the wisdom of years behind him. He certainly knew what he was doing when he sent Emily to John Alex, even if neither of them understood it at first. Doc knew that John Alex needed some purpose to his later years (he and Eva were childless), and that Emily needed a stable, supportive, and mature person to look out for her since her estranged parents (particularly her mother) wanted to send Emily off to Halifax to have the child and then give it up for adoption.
Mr Choyce fills the story with characters such as Sheila the amorous bookmobile librarian, the eccentric Doc Fedder, Father Wes Welenga, Brian, Emily's budding eco-conscious boyfriend (who is not the baby's father, however) and others that fill out the story, bringing substance to the rural Cape Breton backdrop. An enjoyable read that covers topics as diverse as Alzheimer's, teen pregnancy, taboos and generational gaps, The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil is recommended for mature young adult readers on up.
January 5, 2019
I loved this novel. I was in Almonte, Ontario when I popped into Mill Street Books looking for something new to read. The owner walked me straight to “The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil”, and put a copy in my hand. She was borderline pushy, but I bought it just the same. Am I ever glad I did. This was a fresh, quick read. It was a lovely story set on Cape Breton Island and tells the story of an old man, and a young pregnant girl who mysteriously shows up on his doorstep. So rich in character and description, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading!
July 22, 2022
Lovely story. Lots of sadness and troubles, but I am
So glad Jane put it in my hands to read.
So glad Jane put it in my hands to read.
August 9, 2020
A beautiful book. Couldn’t put it down. John Alex was such an engaging character and the author just made your feel like you were on Cape Breton. This book was recommended to me and I’m so happy I’ve read it. I would highly recommend it.
September 19, 2018
Lesley Choyce is a prolific writer and a respected university teacher who writes from his home near Lawrencetown Beach on the Eastern Shores of Nova Scotia. He has penned more than ninety books to date and the novels just keep coming. I have enjoyed his work for many years and this is another fine novel to add to the collection. It is told by an expert story teller, laced with humour and filled with wise comments on life itself.
Choyce quickly pulls in his readers as he introduces John Alexander MacNeil, a feisty old man approaching eighty who readers soon grow to love. He is an intelligent man, someone you might not always agree with, but who you can’t help but admire because of what he stands for and against. His wife Eva has been dead for thirty years now and he still misses her, so much so he continues to set a place for her at the breakfast table where they have interesting conversations as they eat.
John Alex has a spirited rooster named Pierre Elliott Trudeau who thinks well of himself and a puffed up pair of chickens named Margaret Thatcher and Margaret Trudeau who flaunt themselves outside his home in rural Deepvale Cape Breton. The house and the grounds may appear a little ragged and John Alex has recently been charged by one of his neighbours for owning unsightly premises. He scoffs at that charge as he has never concerned himself with what others think of him or his home. But lately he does has some important concerns. Just the other day he tried to pick up a hitch hiking mailbox and he has caught himself lecturing his onions and the zucchini in the garden. He feels himself slipping a little every day is beginning to wonder if he is losing his mind. It frightens him.
Things become complicated when a pregnant teenager with heavy make-up and facial piercings comes knocking on his door seeking refuge. Emily is fleeing her ashamed parents who want her to stay out of sight, away from the prying eyes of the neighbours and their endless gossip. They want her to go to Halifax, have her baby and give up the child for adoption. But that is not what Emily wants and she is determined not to bow to their wishes. She believes this is her life and her baby and she will be the one to decide what to do. Right now she is not sure of anything except she does not want to be shuffled off to Halifax by her embarrassed parents.
John Alex agrees to offer her shelter, invoking the actions of her hostile parents, the infernal gossip of his neighbours and the long arms of the law. Her parents see John as a crazy man with a shotgun in his closet and question his mental capacity. They threaten to bring in Social Services if they need to, anything to get their way.
Both John Alex and young Emily have a vested interest in making this new rather unusual relationship work and both are changed by the experience. Emily gives John Alex companionship and a reason to fight every day for his sanity. Now he has a purpose in a life that was not only lonely, but beginning to head off the rails. In return, John Alex provides Emily with a supportive older person who gives her strength to fight for what she believes in and the courage to stand up against those who think they know what is good for her.
Emily’s stay causes many changes in John Alex’s life which soon becomes filled with concerns about pregnancy and the upcoming labor and delivery. As they approach the expected due date there are a number of relationships that surround them. Emily’s boyfriend Brain appears, a young man who is not the father of the child and angry with Emily for what she has done. He is passionate about saving the earth but has few roots to anchor the reality of his dreams. Doc Derek Fedder, also known as “Shakey” because of his tremors from Parkinson’s, is an unconventional physician who loves prostitutes and slot machines and realizes what John Alex needs in life to maintain his sanity. Father Wes Walenga is a black minister from North Africa, a man who puts salt instead of sugar in his coffee. He is a man who has traveled a difficult road himself and becomes a source of strength and wisdom for both Emily and John Alex. Then there is Lauchie, John Alexander’s younger brother, a longtime opportunist who has been lucky and glided through a life of ease. And there is also Sheila Leblanc, the librarian who tries to support Emily and John Alex on their important journey, flirts shamelessly with John Alex and harbours a long held secret.
At times Emily falters, unsure she can do the “pregnancy thing”, convinced she is hopeless and not sure she will be a good mother. John Alex falters too. There are times when he knows his sense of reality is not always dependable, when his mind suddenly and inexplicably leaps through time. And there are empty pockets of time he can’t even remember.
John Alex wonders what will happen once Emily’s baby is born and she leaves. He cannot imagine living alone again without the companionship and the will to tackle each day. These are the important things Emily has given him.
Kind humour infuses the entire tale, from the pen and pencil test Doc Fedder gives John Alex to test his sanity, to quirky Cape Breton names like Vinegar McCallum and the caged grackle Bob Marley, who prefers reggae to fiddle music.
This is a wonderful story about kindness and forgiveness, about how two individuals separated by generations learn to understand and respect one another while facing difficult but different problems. Lesley Choyce is a strong writer, skilled enough to wrap important life lessons into a humourous and charming story. And there is a wonderful cover on this book, sure to garner attention and entice readers who do yet know the work of this award winning author, to give it a try. They will not be disappointed.
Choyce quickly pulls in his readers as he introduces John Alexander MacNeil, a feisty old man approaching eighty who readers soon grow to love. He is an intelligent man, someone you might not always agree with, but who you can’t help but admire because of what he stands for and against. His wife Eva has been dead for thirty years now and he still misses her, so much so he continues to set a place for her at the breakfast table where they have interesting conversations as they eat.
John Alex has a spirited rooster named Pierre Elliott Trudeau who thinks well of himself and a puffed up pair of chickens named Margaret Thatcher and Margaret Trudeau who flaunt themselves outside his home in rural Deepvale Cape Breton. The house and the grounds may appear a little ragged and John Alex has recently been charged by one of his neighbours for owning unsightly premises. He scoffs at that charge as he has never concerned himself with what others think of him or his home. But lately he does has some important concerns. Just the other day he tried to pick up a hitch hiking mailbox and he has caught himself lecturing his onions and the zucchini in the garden. He feels himself slipping a little every day is beginning to wonder if he is losing his mind. It frightens him.
Things become complicated when a pregnant teenager with heavy make-up and facial piercings comes knocking on his door seeking refuge. Emily is fleeing her ashamed parents who want her to stay out of sight, away from the prying eyes of the neighbours and their endless gossip. They want her to go to Halifax, have her baby and give up the child for adoption. But that is not what Emily wants and she is determined not to bow to their wishes. She believes this is her life and her baby and she will be the one to decide what to do. Right now she is not sure of anything except she does not want to be shuffled off to Halifax by her embarrassed parents.
John Alex agrees to offer her shelter, invoking the actions of her hostile parents, the infernal gossip of his neighbours and the long arms of the law. Her parents see John as a crazy man with a shotgun in his closet and question his mental capacity. They threaten to bring in Social Services if they need to, anything to get their way.
Both John Alex and young Emily have a vested interest in making this new rather unusual relationship work and both are changed by the experience. Emily gives John Alex companionship and a reason to fight every day for his sanity. Now he has a purpose in a life that was not only lonely, but beginning to head off the rails. In return, John Alex provides Emily with a supportive older person who gives her strength to fight for what she believes in and the courage to stand up against those who think they know what is good for her.
Emily’s stay causes many changes in John Alex’s life which soon becomes filled with concerns about pregnancy and the upcoming labor and delivery. As they approach the expected due date there are a number of relationships that surround them. Emily’s boyfriend Brain appears, a young man who is not the father of the child and angry with Emily for what she has done. He is passionate about saving the earth but has few roots to anchor the reality of his dreams. Doc Derek Fedder, also known as “Shakey” because of his tremors from Parkinson’s, is an unconventional physician who loves prostitutes and slot machines and realizes what John Alex needs in life to maintain his sanity. Father Wes Walenga is a black minister from North Africa, a man who puts salt instead of sugar in his coffee. He is a man who has traveled a difficult road himself and becomes a source of strength and wisdom for both Emily and John Alex. Then there is Lauchie, John Alexander’s younger brother, a longtime opportunist who has been lucky and glided through a life of ease. And there is also Sheila Leblanc, the librarian who tries to support Emily and John Alex on their important journey, flirts shamelessly with John Alex and harbours a long held secret.
At times Emily falters, unsure she can do the “pregnancy thing”, convinced she is hopeless and not sure she will be a good mother. John Alex falters too. There are times when he knows his sense of reality is not always dependable, when his mind suddenly and inexplicably leaps through time. And there are empty pockets of time he can’t even remember.
John Alex wonders what will happen once Emily’s baby is born and she leaves. He cannot imagine living alone again without the companionship and the will to tackle each day. These are the important things Emily has given him.
Kind humour infuses the entire tale, from the pen and pencil test Doc Fedder gives John Alex to test his sanity, to quirky Cape Breton names like Vinegar McCallum and the caged grackle Bob Marley, who prefers reggae to fiddle music.
This is a wonderful story about kindness and forgiveness, about how two individuals separated by generations learn to understand and respect one another while facing difficult but different problems. Lesley Choyce is a strong writer, skilled enough to wrap important life lessons into a humourous and charming story. And there is a wonderful cover on this book, sure to garner attention and entice readers who do yet know the work of this award winning author, to give it a try. They will not be disappointed.
October 22, 2019
I loved it. Great little read full of life.
June 20, 2017
I love the conversations in this book, as I did the insights, the relationships, and the writing. Lesley Choice has a knack for transporting us into the life of rural Cape Breton, where the biggest challenges are not embroiled in the meaningless materialism that many of us deem important, such as which Kate Spade bag you should match with your Toms shoes?
The John Alexander MacNeil's character is beautifully juxtaposed against the younger Emily, who is a smart cookie on her own, but still possesses the innocence of a teenager. She's looking for someone to provide guidance, and a stable place to live so that she can have her child. She gravitates towards John Alexander MacNeil and trusts him to help her keep some sanity. She doesn't have the stability in her own life. After all, Emily's mom wants to send her daughter off to Halifax, so that she can have the child there and eventually give it up for adoption.
The other characters that weave in and out of the story, also add to the story's authenticity, and this slice-of-life narrative, is one that many readers who love great CanLit writers will appreciate.
Full Review: http://sukasareads.blogspot.com/2017/...
The John Alexander MacNeil's character is beautifully juxtaposed against the younger Emily, who is a smart cookie on her own, but still possesses the innocence of a teenager. She's looking for someone to provide guidance, and a stable place to live so that she can have her child. She gravitates towards John Alexander MacNeil and trusts him to help her keep some sanity. She doesn't have the stability in her own life. After all, Emily's mom wants to send her daughter off to Halifax, so that she can have the child there and eventually give it up for adoption.
The other characters that weave in and out of the story, also add to the story's authenticity, and this slice-of-life narrative, is one that many readers who love great CanLit writers will appreciate.
Full Review: http://sukasareads.blogspot.com/2017/...
November 24, 2019
There is much to praise in The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil.
It is beautifully written, with characters that you'd want to spend a dear holiday with. Its sense of place is immense: specific and universal all at once.
It reminds you of just how much story can be found in a dozen scenes of utterly daily life. If you're really paying attention, if you're really doing your characters service, if you are patient and skillful, you never need anything more complex than chickens to feed and firewood to chop.
It exercises that unique power of the storyteller: to frame the story in time, to leave all else unspoken.
But above all, the one thing I find most remarkable about this Unlikely Redemption is that it truly understands the landscape of abuse and trauma, that it maps true the one path forward through those unending woods.
Because we really do spend far too little time wondering who it is, exactly, that's supposed to judge us redeemed, and for what.
It is beautifully written, with characters that you'd want to spend a dear holiday with. Its sense of place is immense: specific and universal all at once.
It reminds you of just how much story can be found in a dozen scenes of utterly daily life. If you're really paying attention, if you're really doing your characters service, if you are patient and skillful, you never need anything more complex than chickens to feed and firewood to chop.
It exercises that unique power of the storyteller: to frame the story in time, to leave all else unspoken.
But above all, the one thing I find most remarkable about this Unlikely Redemption is that it truly understands the landscape of abuse and trauma, that it maps true the one path forward through those unending woods.
Because we really do spend far too little time wondering who it is, exactly, that's supposed to judge us redeemed, and for what.
July 31, 2017
John Alexander MacNeil is eighty years old. Sharp-tongued and quick-witted, he lives alone in rural Cape Breton, but he still cooks breakfast for his wife, who’s been dead for thirty years. He silently starts to question his own mind after stopping to pick up a hitchhiker — a hitchhiker who turns out to be his neighbour’s mailbox.
Everything shifts, though, when Emily, a pregnant teenager, shows up at his house with no place else to go. Determined to help Emily as best as he can, John must also keep the wolves from his door and maintain some semblance of sanity.
The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil is a compelling, witty and heartwarming novel by renowned Nova Scotia author Lesley Choyce.
Everything shifts, though, when Emily, a pregnant teenager, shows up at his house with no place else to go. Determined to help Emily as best as he can, John must also keep the wolves from his door and maintain some semblance of sanity.
The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil is a compelling, witty and heartwarming novel by renowned Nova Scotia author Lesley Choyce.
February 22, 2018
Why did I not know about this author? I loved the voices in this book. All authentic to Cape Breton and wonderful to hear. This book is all about the people. In my experience these things are true - at the beginning and teen years, what you do is all about you. In your mid life, you are concerned about what others think and at the end of your life you care less about what people think. All the stages of life are here and well voiced. I will be reading more of Lesley Choyce.
August 19, 2022
A sweet story of true love and caring between two souls who could not be more different. This story held moments that warmed the heart, tickled the funny bone, quickened the heartbeat, and moments of triumphant cheer. A cozy read with Lesley Choyce's salt-of-the-earth writing style. His characters are clearly and compassionately drawn. The reader is so transported into the mind and heart of the story that she/he doesn't miss a thing.
March 17, 2019
Apparently my book club loved this book (I unfortunately missed the meeting) and I wanted to love it but found it just okay. Main character should have been right up my alley too but felt like something was missing for me to completely enjoy the story.
March 29, 2018
A solid 4.5 stars.
August 6, 2019
A really good story, very engaging and so beautifully written. Wow
November 16, 2019
A very heartwarming story.
February 11, 2020
Absolutely captured the spirit and some of the unique people in Cape Breton in this heartwarming story. A real jewel of a story to read, to relish and to share with others! I loved it.
February 19, 2020
A 4.5 star for me - loved it until the last few pages.... an abrupt and somewhat shaky ending.
November 27, 2020
a beautiful book of loss, trauma, forgiveness and love. I cannot believe that this is my first Lesley Choyce
October 16, 2021
What a lovely story. Well written and heartwarming.
May 30, 2022
Reminded me so much of Ove. Charming story.
September 13, 2025
A lightweight read. A satisfying ending barely raised it to 3 stars.
November 1, 2024
Family Reads discussion originally published 29 June 2024 at Falling Letters.
I plucked this book off my to-read list cos 1) it’s Canadian, 2) it sounded like something Dad might enjoy, and 3) it was available via the public library in both physical and digital copies. (That third reason is the precipitating factor. I was scrolling through my to-read-fiction shelf and specifically looking for books available at the library.) Penny @ Literary Hoarder’s review originally put the book on my radar. Back in October 2017, I commented “Ooh, these kinds of stories don’t usually intrigue me but your praise + the Cape Breton setting are making me think of checking this one out.”
Perhaps shortly before we started this Family Read feature in 2015, Dad’s taste in books began to evolve. He used to exclusively read mysteries or thrillers – David Baldcacci, Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham, etc. But he had lost interest in those, so to reignite his reading, he started exploring other genres. He discovered he enjoys slice of life fiction, focused on people interacting with each other in everyday ways. That was the first point he mentioned when I asked if he enjoyed this book. (Which was satisfying for me, because that was what I’d hoped he think when I picked out this book, haha.)
We both appreciated that this story isn’t too twee. I’m wary of “old man does something unusual or unexpected” plots. Dad had read The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window once upon a time. He confirmed for me that that story is a lot more whimsical and cutesy than this one. Thankfully for me, John Alex’s life remains pretty grounded and relatively realistic, even when the highly improbable situation of a pregnant teen moving into his house occurs. The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil has its moments of humour, but overall is more reflective and serious than other stories about unusual senior citizens. It has some lovely yet bittersweeet emotional moments as well, primarily when John Alex reminisces about his wife Eva.
We also discussed the supernatural elements of the story, which primarily manifest as John Alex speaking with Eva. Were they truly supernatural experiences or were they signs of dementia? One could argue Eva is clearly portrayed as a ghost or spiritual manifestation, while perhaps some of John Alex’s other unusual experiences are more likely attributed to his aging.
We both found the story to be a quick read, although we debated whether we would describe it as “fast paced”. I read almost the entire thing in one day. However, it did take me awhile to get started. The first 40 pages or slow felt like a bit of a slog. But I came to appreciate that section once the plot started rolling. Those early pages help establish John Alex’s past and personality.
Somehow we didn’t discuss the great cast of characters! So I’ll just quickly note that this story features a host of characters with personalities just as fun to read about as John Alex 😁
We liked the setting of rural Cape Breton. It’s a place neither of us have been to but are keen to visit. I have a wee dream to learn Cape Breton fiddling…
Dad made a note “breadmaking?” but we could not figure out what that was about, lol.
A sequel just came out last fall – The Untimely Resurrection of John Alexander MacNeil . We wondered, “What would a sequel be about?” Well! It does sound a bit intriguing… perhaps we’ll pick it up one day.
Final Thoghts: 💭 We both give this book ★★★★. Recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with dynamic relationships and plenty of spunk and heart.
I plucked this book off my to-read list cos 1) it’s Canadian, 2) it sounded like something Dad might enjoy, and 3) it was available via the public library in both physical and digital copies. (That third reason is the precipitating factor. I was scrolling through my to-read-fiction shelf and specifically looking for books available at the library.) Penny @ Literary Hoarder’s review originally put the book on my radar. Back in October 2017, I commented “Ooh, these kinds of stories don’t usually intrigue me but your praise + the Cape Breton setting are making me think of checking this one out.”
Perhaps shortly before we started this Family Read feature in 2015, Dad’s taste in books began to evolve. He used to exclusively read mysteries or thrillers – David Baldcacci, Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham, etc. But he had lost interest in those, so to reignite his reading, he started exploring other genres. He discovered he enjoys slice of life fiction, focused on people interacting with each other in everyday ways. That was the first point he mentioned when I asked if he enjoyed this book. (Which was satisfying for me, because that was what I’d hoped he think when I picked out this book, haha.)
We both appreciated that this story isn’t too twee. I’m wary of “old man does something unusual or unexpected” plots. Dad had read The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window once upon a time. He confirmed for me that that story is a lot more whimsical and cutesy than this one. Thankfully for me, John Alex’s life remains pretty grounded and relatively realistic, even when the highly improbable situation of a pregnant teen moving into his house occurs. The Unlikely Redemption of John Alexander MacNeil has its moments of humour, but overall is more reflective and serious than other stories about unusual senior citizens. It has some lovely yet bittersweeet emotional moments as well, primarily when John Alex reminisces about his wife Eva.
And in that moment, I ffelt again my own loss of Eva, gone these many years. I almost cried out her name but instead walked to the tiny stream, bent down with cupped hands and tasted the cold water on my tongue. I felt as if I had been living too long and could no longer bear the overwhelming combination of beauty and sadness that a human being was expected to endure. (pg 65)We spent some time discussing the titular ‘redemption’. From what did John Alex need to be redeemed and which part of the story comprised that redemption? I shan’t say here in order to avoid explicit spoilers, but we discussed several different aspects of redemption and whether John Alex was truly redeemed or not. The matter of redemption is one reason why this book would be a good book club pick!
We also discussed the supernatural elements of the story, which primarily manifest as John Alex speaking with Eva. Were they truly supernatural experiences or were they signs of dementia? One could argue Eva is clearly portrayed as a ghost or spiritual manifestation, while perhaps some of John Alex’s other unusual experiences are more likely attributed to his aging.
We both found the story to be a quick read, although we debated whether we would describe it as “fast paced”. I read almost the entire thing in one day. However, it did take me awhile to get started. The first 40 pages or slow felt like a bit of a slog. But I came to appreciate that section once the plot started rolling. Those early pages help establish John Alex’s past and personality.
Somehow we didn’t discuss the great cast of characters! So I’ll just quickly note that this story features a host of characters with personalities just as fun to read about as John Alex 😁
We liked the setting of rural Cape Breton. It’s a place neither of us have been to but are keen to visit. I have a wee dream to learn Cape Breton fiddling…
Dad made a note “breadmaking?” but we could not figure out what that was about, lol.
A sequel just came out last fall – The Untimely Resurrection of John Alexander MacNeil . We wondered, “What would a sequel be about?” Well! It does sound a bit intriguing… perhaps we’ll pick it up one day.
Final Thoghts: 💭 We both give this book ★★★★. Recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with dynamic relationships and plenty of spunk and heart.
February 11, 2022
3.5 stars.
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