Never Speak of This Again

by Brenda MacLennan-Dunphy

It is 1917 and Nellie, 17 years old and pregnant, has returned to Cape Breton from Boston to find her lover. She encounters rejection and humiliation and is told to clear out and never speak of this again. In her shame, she contemplates suicide but a passing stranger, headed to the World War I front, offers her some gifts that could help her survive, and allow him to run away from his own past. Never Speak of This Again takes the reader from eastern Canada to western Canada, to Europe, and back again. In the messy existence of life, heroes can be victims and villains, and Nellie hopes there is always a chance for redemption, but she wonders how far she can risk society's scorn for her own personal happiness.

Paperback

First published May 15, 2018

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this novel. As a maritimer, it's rare to see local places represented in books, and the author did a great job incorporating the special something that draws us back home. Descriptions were vivid and people's manner of speaking felt very real and homey. I liked that there was a glossary of the Gaelic words used in the novel (though I didn't notice it until about halfway through the book!). The characters were relatable and it was interesting to get a view of how Canada and Boston were affected by WW1. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit history mixed in with a good story.

[CarolynAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this was a pretty good read - I found many sections to be quite interesting, particularly when Nellie was involved with Savannah and her husband, and with Adelaide and even in the beginning at the Boarding house. In these sections, I found the writing to be very interesting and compelling. However, I found other parts to really drag, particularly the whole 'John Archie' section when they were wandering through the graveyard talking. Given the author's background, I can understand her interest in painting in depth pictures of the people and countryside of Cape Breton (I, too, am from Nova Scotia) and in keeping the Gaelic alive. However, I, personnally felt that the insertion of Gaelic was distracting more than colourful and the itallics 'self-thoughts' of the characters became too repetitive for me.

[Vanda Bromwich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. However, whilst I appreciate that the Gaelic might be interesting for a Cape Breton reader I thought there was a bit too much of it and it became slightly irritating.
The story is set in the early 1900's and follows Nellie a young 17 year old who escapes from her poor Cape Breton home to Boston. There she meets and falls in love with a rogue, who it turns out is married. So pregnant, she sets out on a train journey and meets a young WW1 soldier at the station who helps her out.
Through a series of lucky circumstances she has her daughter and finally finds love.
Lots of interesting details about life in Canada at that time and also life at the front in WW1.

[Valli Ostrowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book because I love Cape Breton but I didn't love it. The first part about Nellie's life was OK but the second part about John Archie's dragged. I think it's because the book seemed to only skim the surface of things. There was no real building of the characters. I found it boring at times.

[Marni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written view into the life of a young Cape Breton woman who goes to Boston to work and becomes pregnant. The unlikely people who help her also colour how she matures.

[Linda Mombourquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Cape Breton story…with some Gaelic thrown in.