The Leaving: Stories

by Budge Wilson

Book by Wilson, Budge

Genres: Short Stories, Canada, Literary Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction

172 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

Budge was educated in Halifax schools and at Dalhousie University (degree in Philosophy and Psychology, Diploma in Education, Physical Education teaching certificate). She did two years of graduate work in English at the University of Toronto, and worked at the Institute of Child Study (U. of T.) for four years--filing, illustrating, editing, writing. She illustrated three books for the University of Toronto Press, worked for several years as a freelance commercial artist and child photographer, and was a fitness instructor from 1968 to 1989. She has been writing juvenile and adult fiction since 1978, with her first book published in 1984. Her work has been published in ten countries and in seven languages.

After living in Ontario for over twenty-five years, Budge and Alan returned to Nova Scotia in 1989, and live in a small fishing village on the South Shore of the province.

Reviews

[Ines · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice little book, short stories of girls and their mothers struggling with delicate moments and turning around in their lives, all written with touch and grace...almost like a soft whisper.
Stunning!!



Un libricino proprio bello, piccole storie di ragazzine e mamme alle prese con momenti delicati e di svolta nella loro vita, tutto scritto con maestria e garbo...quasi con un sussurro. Bello!!!

[Marion Pilger · Rating 5 out of 5]

First read The Leaving somewhere around 1996. Since then I have re-read the book a number of times. This year it was a book club pick and everyone in our club thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories. They are stories about many different kinds of leaving. Leaving childhood, leaving adolescence, leaving a way of life, leaving a mark on a family and many other kinds of leaving. In my mind that is a fantastic book for a book club in that it will bring out lots of discussion. The stories mainly focus on girls and women but there are male characters as well. My son and I read the book when he was about 14 years old and he enjoyed the stories.

[Mav · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short stories I read in 7th grade that touched me with its messages, its simplicity and complexity and subtext. They're all stories about growing up, about that point in our young lives when we begin to notice all the flaws in the world, when we begin to notice changes in ourselves and others.

Unfortunately, its out of print.

[S Daly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stories feel like they are reaching a good climax but never get there. Even the narrator admits to the fact. The fact that the stories are based in Canada in the 40s, 50s, and 60s changes the tone of the book. Finally, the last story makes it all a worthy read.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this at 45 wishing I had read it 32 years ago. Will revisit this book many times in the future I think.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved, "The Metaphor". It's the best short story I have ever read.

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the whims of adolescence, sharing secrets with pen pals and pondering the comradery between siblings, to the regrets of adulthood, decisions made too late and memories trudged up from decades past, the realm of a woman is a menagerie of ups and downs, ever blooming and ever familiar. Wilson offers a selection of poignant tales that capture the raw emotions of womanhood, charmingly concise story to story. The touch of a woman's love can be subtle - or a surging wave.

[Emma Gravel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read The Leaving for school

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can certainly understand why Budge Wilson has won writing awards. There wasn't a bad story in this collection of short stories. Her characters are very well written and have a great deal of personality and dimension. This is another teen book that I would easily recommend to adult readers. Four stars.

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not usually a fan of short stories, they end to quickly and not enough detail and meat. The first one or two were pretty dark and I almost called it quits, but thankfully I read on. Her stories are full of emotion, agnst, and relationships and several had an epilogue that fills the reader with hope and for and joy over the happiness and contentment that can come later in life, even to the most desolate of earlier lives.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have always loved this book and still do years later after reading it again. It speaks to me as daughter, woman, wife, and mother of two girls. The writing is top notch, the background is our beautiful Nova Scotia and there is history preserved here.

[Amy Mathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

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