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Quarry
Set in southern Ontario during the 1980s, acclaimed poet Catherine Graham's debut novel is as layered as the open-pit mine for which it is named. Only child Caitlin Maharg lives with her parents beside a water-filled limestone quarry, but her idyllic upbringing collapses when she learns her mother is dying. After a series of family secrets emerges, she must confront the past and face her uncertain future. Lyrically charged, jewelled with images, and at times darkly comic, Graham's prose weaves a mysterious, hypnotic tale of loss, deception, and the courage to swim the depths of life alone.
266 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
About the author
Catherine Graham
34 books24 followersCatherine Graham, writer, educator and creativity consultant, was born in Hamilton, Ontario. She holds a Masters' degree in creative writing from Lancaster University in England. Her poems have been anthologized internationally, published on CBC's Sounds Like Canada website, broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and she is included in The White Page / An Bhileog Bhan: Twentieth Century Irish Women Poets. After living for years in Northern Ireland, she now lives in Toronto, Ontario. In addition to teaching Elements of Poetry at Sheridan College, Catherine teaches creative writing at McMaster University and the University of Toronto where she was nominated for an Excellence In Teaching Award.
(from http://canpoetry.library.utoronto.ca/...)
(from http://canpoetry.library.utoronto.ca/...)
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 5, 2026
This was a special and unusual book. Thanks to Jodi for her review and recommendation, always wonderful to read another top Canadian writer, this was Ms Graham's first novel. The writing style was very different and often challenged me, but always most interesting. Caitlin is our sole narrator and tells her story of being an only child growing up next to a quarry filled with water not far from Niagra Falls. Swimming there every day as a child with her mother or father watching her from the dock. I too really liked this one, thanks again Jodi. 4+ stars
"But the hole in my body continued to refuse him. My inner thighs clenched. I let my mouth or hands do the work. I didn’t care if he reciprocated. I could do that myself. With two losses, I had an even bigger excuse for what was closed to him."
"But the hole in my body continued to refuse him. My inner thighs clenched. I let my mouth or hands do the work. I didn’t care if he reciprocated. I could do that myself. With two losses, I had an even bigger excuse for what was closed to him."
March 12, 2022
A wonderfully haunting, searching story of a young girl coming of age while grappling with a very sick mother, cancer, love, and other life issues. At the centre of it all, like a sentinel is the quarry, a symbol of life, and renewal. "Dive in. Turn to water before it freezes."
Recommended for mature young readers and up.
Recommended for mature young readers and up.
July 6, 2017
A gorgeous new novel from a gorgeous new press (Two Wolves Press), Catherine Graham’s debut novel blazes from start to finish. Like the limestone quarry that figures so prominently, blown apart by dynamite, the young protagonist Caitlin Maharg is gutted by grief and mourning, but as much as absence haunts her, this is not a novel about loss. Rather, so much love, resilience, fortitude and empathy is found in these pages, rises to the surface, accompanies the reader. There are crystals in the quarry and they dazzle in the light of Graham’s adept eye—her poetic prose amplifies and stuns. Definitely a must read.
June 13, 2017
Catherine Graham has lyrically told the story of Caitlin Maharg here. Living beside a quarry presents an idyllic childhood of exploration and excitement for the young girl, but all that is shattered when her mother becomes terminally ill. Through the course of the illness – and the growth of Caitlin – a series of embarrassing family secrets emerge that require the young girl to attempt to; understand, deal with, and heal. And the journey requires the young girl to mature a bit too fast at times.
http://tinyurl.com/yablc4v6
http://tinyurl.com/yablc4v6
July 15, 2017
A strong debut novel that quietly unfolds, drawing readers ever deeper into the coming-of-age narrative of one Caitlin Maharg, an Ontario-born heroine painted with the literary chops to recall her sisters in prose supplied by our Nobel laureate, Alice Munro.
In the lives of girls and women presented here, Caitlin's mother is dying of cancer, and her grandmother has moved in to be caring (i.e., disruptive) influence. Caitlin's father is a strong presence, and his drama dominates the second half of the book. (Not telling.)
The quarry of the title is the former open-pit mine, now flooded, beside the family home, which serves as a swim hole and source of much mystery and metaphor.
The book takes us through Caitlin's childhood, teens and into her early 20s. She suffers much loss, and she is forced to navigate much uncertainty. Managing the needs of others while trying to find her own path forward is a recurring theme. Time and again Caitlin finds the middle path, wondering if she's gone too far, and also if she's gone far enough.
Does she find herself? Will she break out of what's holding her back? Let's just say the narrative comes to a pleasing conclusion, while also leaving Caitlin's destiny unresolved. She is surely a survivor. What next challenges await ahead? Readers leave the novel assured of Caitlin's resilience.
In the lives of girls and women presented here, Caitlin's mother is dying of cancer, and her grandmother has moved in to be caring (i.e., disruptive) influence. Caitlin's father is a strong presence, and his drama dominates the second half of the book. (Not telling.)
The quarry of the title is the former open-pit mine, now flooded, beside the family home, which serves as a swim hole and source of much mystery and metaphor.
The book takes us through Caitlin's childhood, teens and into her early 20s. She suffers much loss, and she is forced to navigate much uncertainty. Managing the needs of others while trying to find her own path forward is a recurring theme. Time and again Caitlin finds the middle path, wondering if she's gone too far, and also if she's gone far enough.
Does she find herself? Will she break out of what's holding her back? Let's just say the narrative comes to a pleasing conclusion, while also leaving Caitlin's destiny unresolved. She is surely a survivor. What next challenges await ahead? Readers leave the novel assured of Caitlin's resilience.
November 4, 2018
This quiet and deep novel brought explosions of
recognition, sparks of memories rooted in familiar settings and objects released from memory. It was a deep dive in a bracing quarry. I opened my eyes underwater and was surrounded by illuminated life floating against the sunlit surface.
recognition, sparks of memories rooted in familiar settings and objects released from memory. It was a deep dive in a bracing quarry. I opened my eyes underwater and was surrounded by illuminated life floating against the sunlit surface.
March 23, 2018
Quarry paints an intimate portrait of a loving, yet, complicated family. It includes the dark secrets we hide from ourselves and each other. Would you run hard and fast when grief strikes? The heroine, Caitlin, wants to flee, but eventually she finds that this does not ease her anguish. She painfully learns to become one with her deep loss, and to trust the compassion and understanding of those who love her. Quarry is a beautifully crafted novel, ultimately celebrating the survival of the human spirit.
July 3, 2017
When I finished reading Quarry, the stories, the twists, the characters, the vivid images, the lyrical language, and the deep darkness followed me like my shadow, persistent and provoking thought.
I couldn't know what parts of the book were autobiographical and what portions fictitious, but regardless, this work was a very brave effort. I commend Catherine Graham, accomplished Canadian poet, for her strength and courage in this, her first novel.
I couldn't know what parts of the book were autobiographical and what portions fictitious, but regardless, this work was a very brave effort. I commend Catherine Graham, accomplished Canadian poet, for her strength and courage in this, her first novel.
June 29, 2017
In Quarry, Catherine Graham deftly plumbs the depths of longing, love and grief through the eyes of young Caitlin Maharg and her parents. The locus of this compelling debut novel is the family's home at an abandoned limestone quarry set on the Niagara Escarpment in Southern Ontario but the universalities and quirks of the human psyche and its quarry are vividly sketched and textured here - as you would expect by an accomplished poet in deep imagery and language that is both muscular and musical. Graham's quarry is a central character is this stunning book that shows her as a gifted novelist of people and place. Highly-recommended.
July 3, 2018
Beautifully written. Full of gorgeous imagery - painting the scenes in my mind’s eye. Haunting and lyrical, with shades of the fairy tale (evil grandmother). And the quarry, the central element, both literally and metaphorically… the pit, the prey, the search, the window.
A tale of grief, it starts off as a seemingly happy family story - happy summer days lazing about - but right off the bat there is an underlying hint of malevolence, of something not quite right… something brooding… Mom and her cancer, the mystery of the parent’s marriage/elopement… something else, something darker in the background perhaps?
I love her use of language - the spareness - like an Alice Munro short story. Every sentence, every word, so carefully crafted.
And beyond the details, the way descriptive passages play into - shed light on - what she wants to leave us with, what she wants to say about family, and memory, and grief.
It’s also, unabashedly, a love letter to Southern Ontario… from Southampton and Owen Sound (Harrison Park!), all the way down to Grimsby and the Niagara Escarpment… and McMaster!
And it is a brilliant little period piece… true to its time… from the music to the hair products (who doesn’t remember Timotei commercials… OMG!! The horror!) and Donny and Marie, Black Russians and Brown Cows, Johnnie Carson and Joan Rivers, or the Olde Hide House (it’s worth the drive to Acton, p173… OMG! It’s still there and they still use the same slogan). And, then, there’s Hagar (as in The Stone Angel)... Really? What’s not to love?
A tale of grief, it starts off as a seemingly happy family story - happy summer days lazing about - but right off the bat there is an underlying hint of malevolence, of something not quite right… something brooding… Mom and her cancer, the mystery of the parent’s marriage/elopement… something else, something darker in the background perhaps?
I love her use of language - the spareness - like an Alice Munro short story. Every sentence, every word, so carefully crafted.
And beyond the details, the way descriptive passages play into - shed light on - what she wants to leave us with, what she wants to say about family, and memory, and grief.
It’s also, unabashedly, a love letter to Southern Ontario… from Southampton and Owen Sound (Harrison Park!), all the way down to Grimsby and the Niagara Escarpment… and McMaster!
And it is a brilliant little period piece… true to its time… from the music to the hair products (who doesn’t remember Timotei commercials… OMG!! The horror!) and Donny and Marie, Black Russians and Brown Cows, Johnnie Carson and Joan Rivers, or the Olde Hide House (it’s worth the drive to Acton, p173… OMG! It’s still there and they still use the same slogan). And, then, there’s Hagar (as in The Stone Angel)... Really? What’s not to love?
July 10, 2017
Catherine Graham is an accomplished poet who earns serious cred as a novelist with this debut, Quarry. It’s a beautifully told story about how all of life changes, like the seasons—humans too. No one is immune. The central setting of the novel is protagonist Caitlin’s family home, built at the edge of a water-filled limestone quarry: layers constantly shifting, uncovering the unexpected, but always renewing. A metaphor for Caitlin, and all of us, navigating life’s unpredictable waters.
Graham turns an unblinking eye on themes that might make us squeamish, by their very ordinariness—love and loss, heroes falling from their pedestals and most searingly, family secrets brought into the light of day. Every family has them--but as Caitlin’s grandmother says,“Things come out”. Graham shows the damage done on both sides, the keeping and the telling. But once the poison of the secret is finally released, Caitlin begins to heal.
And this is what Graham tells us: If we pay attention, we can learn deep truths about ourselves and still find a course through life’s roughest waters. “All of life is a bend of the truth, the curve in the question mark,” says Caitlin. This is the sort of novel you return to again and again, finding something new each time. It has earned a permanent place on my bookshelves.
Graham turns an unblinking eye on themes that might make us squeamish, by their very ordinariness—love and loss, heroes falling from their pedestals and most searingly, family secrets brought into the light of day. Every family has them--but as Caitlin’s grandmother says,“Things come out”. Graham shows the damage done on both sides, the keeping and the telling. But once the poison of the secret is finally released, Caitlin begins to heal.
And this is what Graham tells us: If we pay attention, we can learn deep truths about ourselves and still find a course through life’s roughest waters. “All of life is a bend of the truth, the curve in the question mark,” says Caitlin. This is the sort of novel you return to again and again, finding something new each time. It has earned a permanent place on my bookshelves.
July 6, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, and have thought about it often since finishing. The writing is beautiful - waves are ”wind tents of blue moving in the jewelled sunlight” - and the author vividly captures what it feels like to be a child. It is through Caitlin’s eyes we see her parents, cousin and extended family, and as she grows into her teen years and young adulthood, and we feel the confusion, pain and desires of a child whose mother is dying from cancer, and who cannot fully understand the strong undercurrents of anger, resentment, duty, fatigue and expectations that flow through her family dynamics. As Caitlin matures, some mysteries are revealed; unfolding both naturally and yet are startling. I can’t help but think there are many parents who believe they will reveal secrets to their children once their offspring are older - but what happens when that is not possible? The mysteries of our origins, and our parent’s very human hearts, can haunt us. This was a fast read - I finished it in a day, but still reflect upon it. You can feel the sun on your skin and the cold water you are swimming in as a child - those days will come back to you.
February 2, 2018
Graham’s poetry writing is evident in her spare prose. Lots of space for the reader to use their imagination to flesh out a scene, feel an emotion. Graham doesn’t spoon feed the reader, so unlike some novels where your mind can wander and still keep up with the details, you have to give your full attention to this book. Blink and you will miss something important that you didn’t see coming.
The plot is most definitely not typical but the way it unfolds and all the characters in it feel very authentic.
An unexpected bonus, the novel is set in southern Ontario primarily in 2 small towns, Ridgeway and Grimsby. My husband grew up in Ridgeway, which I now know well from visiting his family, and both of us had vivid images of all the places Graham mentioned. He has very fond memories of swimming in Sherkston Quarry. His sister lives in Grimsby so we recognized the references in that town as well.
The plot is most definitely not typical but the way it unfolds and all the characters in it feel very authentic.
An unexpected bonus, the novel is set in southern Ontario primarily in 2 small towns, Ridgeway and Grimsby. My husband grew up in Ridgeway, which I now know well from visiting his family, and both of us had vivid images of all the places Graham mentioned. He has very fond memories of swimming in Sherkston Quarry. His sister lives in Grimsby so we recognized the references in that town as well.
March 30, 2018
"Long white bread and shepherd's staff. That wasn't the picture of God my mind conjured up. It held a medley of images: sunlight crackling over the quarry water, the wing flap of the great blue heron, a face-to-face encounter with the white -tailed deer. These were the moments that took me out of my fears and concerns, my worries and downfalls, to the stillness that knew no bounds, unearthly moments I felt most human."
I suspected that I would like Quarry before picking it up, but I was not prepared for how much I liked it. Catherine Graham is a poet and you can see it in the beauty of her precise language. This novel deals with loss and grief in a manner that is both gentle and unblinking. To describe this book in one word- exquisite.
I suspected that I would like Quarry before picking it up, but I was not prepared for how much I liked it. Catherine Graham is a poet and you can see it in the beauty of her precise language. This novel deals with loss and grief in a manner that is both gentle and unblinking. To describe this book in one word- exquisite.
July 14, 2017
I just finished reading "Quarry" yesterday. I can't say enough about this work. The prose is incredibly rich and luscious - as if a poet had taken the time to craft a novel. :-)
The characters are so very real it's as if you're in the story with them and could stop and say hello, and they'd look up and smile a hello back and then carry on with their important business of being characters in a novel.
I loved the engaging plot twists. I loved the story. I hope to see more novels from Catherine Graham. A great read!
The characters are so very real it's as if you're in the story with them and could stop and say hello, and they'd look up and smile a hello back and then carry on with their important business of being characters in a novel.
I loved the engaging plot twists. I loved the story. I hope to see more novels from Catherine Graham. A great read!
May 1, 2018
This is a great novel! I couldn't put it down. I was so interested in the story of the main character - I read it over two days! It is a powerful book with beautiful nature imagery throughout. The characters are richly portrayed, especially the main character. She is a fully fleshed: wise and insightful but also naive at times. There are many touching moments, as well as, laugh out loud humour. I highly recommend this book. It would make a great TV/netflix series!
July 26, 2017
I really enjoyed it. The story held my attention from start to finish. Catherine's lyrical writing style makes for a very pleasant read. She paints an intense picture so I could see and feel the scenes unfolding. Some aspects of the story are autobiographical. This is a courageous first novel. I hope we see more from Catherine Graham.
March 4, 2018
Beautifully told and heart wrenching. Catherine’s poetic sensibilities weave into a story of profound grief while coming of age. Elegantly developed characters so dimensional they felt familiar. I wanted to read it slowly but I just couldn’t. So I’ll have to read it again just to enjoy the language. Very highly recommended.
July 8, 2018
It’s no surprise that Catherine Graham is receiving accolades and awards for this book. Deception, loss , discovery and courage - at times heartbreaking, at times heartwarming, so much more than a coming of age tale. Graham writes of life challenges with images as sharp as the stone walls of the quarry for which her novel Is named. Read this book!
November 20, 2018
Catherine Graham uses her sophisticated poetic eye and ear to bring alive this gripping story of young Caitlin Maharg, as she and her family love their way through devastating loss and family intrigue. The setting is a character in its own right, remote, haunting, and beautiful. You won't want to put this novel down, even after you've finished reading. Graham's writing is magic!
October 27, 2018
I loved this book. I appreciated the place based nature of the story, featuring my own local towns and countrysides. A beautiful and heart breaking story of the inner life of a young woman.
March 3, 2019
Really enjoyed reading Catherine Graham's Quarry - very insightful story about the nature of being a teenager and also about the very nature of grief and some of its unexpected manifestations. The 'quarry' of the title comes to mean so many different things, and we feel we have entered it in fundamental ways. Highly recommended, get yourself a copy now and walk right in that complex world.
December 18, 2021
I loved this book at first, then didn’t like the middle and then liked the ending.
It was nice reading a book set in Ontario.
It was nice reading a book set in Ontario.
March 7, 2026
🍁🇨🇦—An absolutely gorgeous Canadian novel. Takes place in the 60s and 70s, not far from where I grew up (there was a quarry behind our house too), and reminds me of those endless, carefree, young-adult, teenage years.😴💭 Very highly recommended!
5 “Life–has–to–end,–love–doesn't” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 “Life–has–to–end,–love–doesn't” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 11, 2025
Clear-eyed, heart-wrenching look at the many ways in which we grow up. Told from the perspective of a girl from the ages of 11 to about 23, and I suspect highly autobiographical, the author (who is also a poet of some renown) captures the confusion and innocence of those years as well as the hard truths about adults. An excellent work which would appeal to those who enjoy literary fiction (or who grew up in Niagara or who went to McMaster University or who are only children or who are human!).
June 24, 2024
Hey this book is genuinely stunning and heartbreaking. A really raw and difficult portrayal of grief and what constitutes idyllic childhood/journey into adulthood. Really gorgeous prose.
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