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Trillium
Over 250 years, from 1750s to 2001, three distinctly different men arrive, settle and strive in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario, Canada. As time passes, their growing families mix and mingle in the burgeoning wine region known as Niagara.
Expect very good times, expect very bad times.
Expect very good times, expect very bad times.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2018
2 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 11, 2019
Spanning 250 years, and set in the lush wine-making district of southern Ontario, this hybrid historical fiction examines the lives of three very distinct families. Expect the good, the bad and the downright ugly.
The very limited 'Artist First Edition' was released at the end of October, 2018, and is no longer available. The updated mainstream print and e-book editions are now available via Amazon.ca. > https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07J2TV7GX - Alternate e-book formats are available at Books2Read link - https://www.books2read.com/TRILLIUM
This title is 'formally' releasing in late March, 2019, at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. In the meantime, an informal 'Meet & Greet' with me, the author, is happening at 'A Different Drummer Books' in beautiful downtown Burlington, Ontario, Canada, on Friday, December 7th, from 7-8pm. Note: cider & cookies on hand! - Please do drop in, if in the 'hood.
An author review came out last month, but, SPOILER ALERT, do NOT read until you've read the novel. In it, I discuss form, character development, plot twists and writing motivations .... > https://authorsinterviews.wordpress.c...
Now back to the craft. I hope you will enjoy this new work. - mlholton
The very limited 'Artist First Edition' was released at the end of October, 2018, and is no longer available. The updated mainstream print and e-book editions are now available via Amazon.ca. > https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07J2TV7GX - Alternate e-book formats are available at Books2Read link - https://www.books2read.com/TRILLIUM
This title is 'formally' releasing in late March, 2019, at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. In the meantime, an informal 'Meet & Greet' with me, the author, is happening at 'A Different Drummer Books' in beautiful downtown Burlington, Ontario, Canada, on Friday, December 7th, from 7-8pm. Note: cider & cookies on hand! - Please do drop in, if in the 'hood.
An author review came out last month, but, SPOILER ALERT, do NOT read until you've read the novel. In it, I discuss form, character development, plot twists and writing motivations .... > https://authorsinterviews.wordpress.c...
Now back to the craft. I hope you will enjoy this new work. - mlholton
August 15, 2019
If you like multi-generational sagas, then Trillium will be right up your alley. Myself, I am not such a fan of sagas because I find it difficult to follow all the characters in such a vast story. If this were the only book I was reading, I could probably struggle with it, but as I read from several books at a time, my mind needs a refresher so I can recall what was occurring where I left off reading. Ms. Holton's writing style is certainly easy to follow, and she excels at recreating the time periods covered throughout the story. She comes across as a very knowledgeable writer so that this is more of a historical novel; one will learn many things about living in and around the Niagara escarpment area of Ontario through the years and the many changes it has gone through. A great summer reading book!
May 10, 2020
A true Canadian classic
The author presents the recipe for a true Canadian classic. Richly drawn characters rooted in essential threads of this country’s historical fabric weave a tale inextricable from the land, which has always been the signature feature of our best literature.
A daring and insightful read.
The author presents the recipe for a true Canadian classic. Richly drawn characters rooted in essential threads of this country’s historical fabric weave a tale inextricable from the land, which has always been the signature feature of our best literature.
A daring and insightful read.
September 9, 2019
TRILLIUM by Margaret Lindsay Holton
Original and unique, both the story premise and the setting of Margaret Holton’s TRILLIUM triggered my interest. TRILLIUM tells the story of Canada’s Niagara Peninsula from the advent of the first European settlers in 1750 up to the beginning of this millennium, a story that becomes an epic journey not only through time but also a very specific location. A story? No: an epic saga of three families spanning generations. Three young settlers, Tom, Franco, and Paddy sow the seeds of the novel, that grows as organically as the peach trees in Tom’s orchard.
That enterprise alone merits praise, as it not only requires sound historical knowledge but also the skill to portray a lifestyle very different from ours. Historical novels are actual time machines, perhaps the only ones we will ever see. I certainly enjoyed being transported back into a world where the horseshoe falls were not besieged by tourism but were still a thundering miracle in a wondrous wilderness. I enjoyed reading about the struggles of the first Europeans and their interactions with the original dwellers of this land.
I would have loved to read more about these interactions, would have enjoyed seeing the story of a First Nation family woven into the strand. Alas, this is an author’s choice.
In a world where fast-paced, action-packed reads have become the norm, Holton goes the other way, giving us a narrative that is as unrushed and serene as a slow-flowing river. Steeped in what strikes me as a keen love for nature and lovingly viewed with the eye of an artist, Holton paints settings with words and shows us a place long lost in time.
“Franco watched the changing sky with wonder. Birds, beautiful colourful birds, big ones, little ones, fast ones, slow ones, divers, shore birds, hawks and dainty yellow-tailed finches, bold white gulls and swift black-tipped terns. So many birds. All circled the skies above feeding on the marshland below. Such abundance. Such glory.”
Indeed. Holton is at her best when she zooms in from the omniscient and shows us tantalising glimpses of a time when humanity was not so abundant as it is now. Nature is not there to be protected, it is a formidable opponent instead.
But just as nature isn’t always benign, Holton’s tale is not all peaches and roses, there’s plenty of conflict as well. One of the families, the O’Sullivans, acts as the proverbial snake in paradise. And they get to keep all the apples.
“Sean realised that fairness was not a virtue that his father or his grandfather ever subscribed to. Neither of those men were one iota like Tom Hartford. Sean knew O’Sullivans were grasping and greedy. They destroyed all in their way and wake. “
I trusted the author to bring it all to a satisfactory conclusion, and she did not disappoint. Now, is this amazing journey, filled to bursting capacity with a large cast of characters, without flaw?
Few novels ever are. I believe the biggest challenge was contained in the premise – to follow the footprints of three families over 250 years is an awe-inspiring endeavour. It comes at the cost of story dramatisation. I would have loved to see more of the characters, to follow them through the individual conflicts they fight – and by no means always win.
We are being given glimpses of this, but to a large degree, necessitated by the difficult task Holton set for herself, large parts of the story are told. Told exceedingly well, but still told. For me, that dulled the experience somewhat. I thoroughly enjoyed those moments where I was with the characters, hearing their voices, experiencing their strife. As I said, there is plenty of conflict in the story, but given the scope, not all of it is shown first hand.
Otherwise, this could well have been the Canadian version of “Outlander” – minus the magic, of course. Actually, magic isn’t needed here, or rather: It’s there, in the words.
I received an advance copy of this novel for an honest review
Original and unique, both the story premise and the setting of Margaret Holton’s TRILLIUM triggered my interest. TRILLIUM tells the story of Canada’s Niagara Peninsula from the advent of the first European settlers in 1750 up to the beginning of this millennium, a story that becomes an epic journey not only through time but also a very specific location. A story? No: an epic saga of three families spanning generations. Three young settlers, Tom, Franco, and Paddy sow the seeds of the novel, that grows as organically as the peach trees in Tom’s orchard.
That enterprise alone merits praise, as it not only requires sound historical knowledge but also the skill to portray a lifestyle very different from ours. Historical novels are actual time machines, perhaps the only ones we will ever see. I certainly enjoyed being transported back into a world where the horseshoe falls were not besieged by tourism but were still a thundering miracle in a wondrous wilderness. I enjoyed reading about the struggles of the first Europeans and their interactions with the original dwellers of this land.
I would have loved to read more about these interactions, would have enjoyed seeing the story of a First Nation family woven into the strand. Alas, this is an author’s choice.
In a world where fast-paced, action-packed reads have become the norm, Holton goes the other way, giving us a narrative that is as unrushed and serene as a slow-flowing river. Steeped in what strikes me as a keen love for nature and lovingly viewed with the eye of an artist, Holton paints settings with words and shows us a place long lost in time.
“Franco watched the changing sky with wonder. Birds, beautiful colourful birds, big ones, little ones, fast ones, slow ones, divers, shore birds, hawks and dainty yellow-tailed finches, bold white gulls and swift black-tipped terns. So many birds. All circled the skies above feeding on the marshland below. Such abundance. Such glory.”
Indeed. Holton is at her best when she zooms in from the omniscient and shows us tantalising glimpses of a time when humanity was not so abundant as it is now. Nature is not there to be protected, it is a formidable opponent instead.
But just as nature isn’t always benign, Holton’s tale is not all peaches and roses, there’s plenty of conflict as well. One of the families, the O’Sullivans, acts as the proverbial snake in paradise. And they get to keep all the apples.
“Sean realised that fairness was not a virtue that his father or his grandfather ever subscribed to. Neither of those men were one iota like Tom Hartford. Sean knew O’Sullivans were grasping and greedy. They destroyed all in their way and wake. “
I trusted the author to bring it all to a satisfactory conclusion, and she did not disappoint. Now, is this amazing journey, filled to bursting capacity with a large cast of characters, without flaw?
Few novels ever are. I believe the biggest challenge was contained in the premise – to follow the footprints of three families over 250 years is an awe-inspiring endeavour. It comes at the cost of story dramatisation. I would have loved to see more of the characters, to follow them through the individual conflicts they fight – and by no means always win.
We are being given glimpses of this, but to a large degree, necessitated by the difficult task Holton set for herself, large parts of the story are told. Told exceedingly well, but still told. For me, that dulled the experience somewhat. I thoroughly enjoyed those moments where I was with the characters, hearing their voices, experiencing their strife. As I said, there is plenty of conflict in the story, but given the scope, not all of it is shown first hand.
Otherwise, this could well have been the Canadian version of “Outlander” – minus the magic, of course. Actually, magic isn’t needed here, or rather: It’s there, in the words.
I received an advance copy of this novel for an honest review
July 2, 2019
Three men, three families, and 250 years of life stories and secrets flow through this masterful tale by author M.L. Holton. War between the British and French comes to an end, at the dawn of a new Canada. Land is royally granted, setting up the beginning of unimaginable fortunes and business opportunities for the few, agricultural livelihoods supporting generations for others, and power schemes fueled by jealousy and envy for some that will do anything to get their way.
The Trillium storyline is magnificent in the way it has been structured, moving the reader seamlessly through the happenings in each family generation and disclosing the decisions that will impact descendants in the future. Author Holton cleverly ties in historical events to the fictional families and agricultural details of the region that yield surprising new ventures, giving you several 'ah-hah' moments that this reader enjoyed.
As the family destinies play out, the lives of the rich and famous, as well as those of more modest means unfold over the decades, giving you an insight to their love lives, fated relationships, family tragedies, scheming personalities, joys and dreams as the generations within the families grow and adapt to this wonderous land. The sadness of lives lost, cruel deeds, revenge driven intentions, illness and lost hope will keep you turning page after page to see how the characters will react---and who will survive and thrive, or not.
The surroundings detailed in Trillium pull you in to witness the beauty and splendor of the land, grand homes, and the drama as it unfolds. I couldn't put this book down--I was enchanted and mesmerized by the storylines of the families, the characters, and settings from beginning to end. The scope and depth of this story is fantastically told, taking you through generations of family love, hope and drama---slowly revealing the secrets that will bind these families together forever. A fantastic read, highly recommended!
The Trillium storyline is magnificent in the way it has been structured, moving the reader seamlessly through the happenings in each family generation and disclosing the decisions that will impact descendants in the future. Author Holton cleverly ties in historical events to the fictional families and agricultural details of the region that yield surprising new ventures, giving you several 'ah-hah' moments that this reader enjoyed.
As the family destinies play out, the lives of the rich and famous, as well as those of more modest means unfold over the decades, giving you an insight to their love lives, fated relationships, family tragedies, scheming personalities, joys and dreams as the generations within the families grow and adapt to this wonderous land. The sadness of lives lost, cruel deeds, revenge driven intentions, illness and lost hope will keep you turning page after page to see how the characters will react---and who will survive and thrive, or not.
The surroundings detailed in Trillium pull you in to witness the beauty and splendor of the land, grand homes, and the drama as it unfolds. I couldn't put this book down--I was enchanted and mesmerized by the storylines of the families, the characters, and settings from beginning to end. The scope and depth of this story is fantastically told, taking you through generations of family love, hope and drama---slowly revealing the secrets that will bind these families together forever. A fantastic read, highly recommended!
August 29, 2019
A sweeping, multi-generational, multi-family saga, Trillium tells the story of the European settlement and development of the Canadian lands bordering Lake Ontario, the Niagara Peninsula in particular.
Many more decades ago than I like to admit, in my final year of high school I took a locally-developed history course focused on exactly the same time period as the first section of Trillium, and even covered some of the same historical characters that are interwoven in the fictional story here. The book took me back to that course, my second-favourite in all my high school courses.
For readers interested in the details of this area, from the names of personalities behind towns such as Beamsville, or the vagaries of technological advances that left Ancaster and Dundas as sleepy towns compared to Hamilton’s industrial bustle (I’ve canoed the vestiges of the Desjardin Canal many times) Trillium is a wealth of detail and research framing the fortunes of three fictional families. In its early stages, it is primarily a story told, not fully shown, but that is true of many historical sagas.
Characterization in the first sections – ‘Seeds’ – of the book is perhaps a weak facet of Trillium, characters are to some extent place-holders establishing the foci and purpose of the three families. Again, the same could be said of other sweeping tales, such as London and Sarum by Edward Rutherford. The subtlety and space needed to fully round out characters in a story of this scope, especially in its early stages, may be beyond its mandate.
But as Trillium approached the modern day – and perhaps the years experienced rather than researched by the author – the story comes alive. As the stories of the three families entwine through friendship and employment and marriage, pressures both external and internal create conflict, and the focus shifts more to personalities. The tone of the narrative changes, too, the themes become more adult and more fully described, the author reflecting, perhaps, the increasing freedom and changing behavior of the post WWII years.
It is obvious that the author knows the geography and history – both political and social – of the Niagara Peninsula well, and her deeply appreciative eye shines through. Recommended for anyone wishing to better understand the long European settlement history of this area, a district of rich agricultural bounty fast disappearing under the demands of housing and transportation. One consideration: reading the first sections of the book might suggest it is suitable for a skilled young adult reader, but adult themes and descriptions in late sections might also suggest otherwise.
Many more decades ago than I like to admit, in my final year of high school I took a locally-developed history course focused on exactly the same time period as the first section of Trillium, and even covered some of the same historical characters that are interwoven in the fictional story here. The book took me back to that course, my second-favourite in all my high school courses.
For readers interested in the details of this area, from the names of personalities behind towns such as Beamsville, or the vagaries of technological advances that left Ancaster and Dundas as sleepy towns compared to Hamilton’s industrial bustle (I’ve canoed the vestiges of the Desjardin Canal many times) Trillium is a wealth of detail and research framing the fortunes of three fictional families. In its early stages, it is primarily a story told, not fully shown, but that is true of many historical sagas.
Characterization in the first sections – ‘Seeds’ – of the book is perhaps a weak facet of Trillium, characters are to some extent place-holders establishing the foci and purpose of the three families. Again, the same could be said of other sweeping tales, such as London and Sarum by Edward Rutherford. The subtlety and space needed to fully round out characters in a story of this scope, especially in its early stages, may be beyond its mandate.
But as Trillium approached the modern day – and perhaps the years experienced rather than researched by the author – the story comes alive. As the stories of the three families entwine through friendship and employment and marriage, pressures both external and internal create conflict, and the focus shifts more to personalities. The tone of the narrative changes, too, the themes become more adult and more fully described, the author reflecting, perhaps, the increasing freedom and changing behavior of the post WWII years.
It is obvious that the author knows the geography and history – both political and social – of the Niagara Peninsula well, and her deeply appreciative eye shines through. Recommended for anyone wishing to better understand the long European settlement history of this area, a district of rich agricultural bounty fast disappearing under the demands of housing and transportation. One consideration: reading the first sections of the book might suggest it is suitable for a skilled young adult reader, but adult themes and descriptions in late sections might also suggest otherwise.
September 18, 2019
Take an opportunity to sit back and enjoy Trillium - an enlightening and insightful portrayal of multi-generations of families. You will be immersed in their way of agricultural life throughout historical events as they occur. The book superbly weaves fact and fiction to create a fascinating journey of the character's lives.
This is a great read for all saga lovers or readers who would like to try something new.
This is a great read for all saga lovers or readers who would like to try something new.
March 11, 2020
A compelling family drama of love, hate and everything in-between. Trillium is a multi-family saga, told over several generations. A story of the European settlement in the wine-making region known as Niagara in the Golden Horseshoe region, Ontario, Canada. Spanning over a 250 year period from 1750's to 2001.
Three men settle to make their fortune and raise their families. The story sweeps through each family story, moving onto the next generation, revealing unrequited love, family loyalties, misplaced trust, and retribution. As the financial success of those who have passed is handed down through inheritance, it brings with it greed and heartbreak. Characters to love and hate, leap from the pages, as the author has filled the storyline with descriptive prose throughout. I love this in a book, to be able to imagine the scene, the people because it really pulls you in to a story.
There are plenty twists to keep the reader compelled throughout, which is why I would recommend this book as a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Three men settle to make their fortune and raise their families. The story sweeps through each family story, moving onto the next generation, revealing unrequited love, family loyalties, misplaced trust, and retribution. As the financial success of those who have passed is handed down through inheritance, it brings with it greed and heartbreak. Characters to love and hate, leap from the pages, as the author has filled the storyline with descriptive prose throughout. I love this in a book, to be able to imagine the scene, the people because it really pulls you in to a story.
There are plenty twists to keep the reader compelled throughout, which is why I would recommend this book as a thoroughly enjoyable read.
December 17, 2018
A wonderful intergenerations saga following 3 families who come to Canada in the 1750s. We watch them grow as the country grow and despite themselves they come intertwined. Holton creates memorable families and individuals. A great read!
March 20, 2019
I couldn't put this book down. I thoroughly enjoyed the well-written family saga of compelling, lovable (and some downright detestable) characters who settled in the Niagara region, and over the centuries developed its fertile land into the world-renowned wine country it is today.
September 20, 2020
Set in Canada, this well written book is a multi-generational saga. The great descriptive writing and character development make the passing of time seamless. Very compelling plot that keeps you turning pages and wanting more. Great read.
February 12, 2021
Trillium, is a wonderful story of three families’ interwoven legacy, from early beginnings to successful entrepreneurs, business partners and dirty scoundrels.
A touching story about strong work ethics and love for a land. The struggles to keep a family heritage together while in a circle of secrets and deceit.
Also an excellent look at the development of southern Ontario’s history and its wineries.
I recommend this novel.
A touching story about strong work ethics and love for a land. The struggles to keep a family heritage together while in a circle of secrets and deceit.
Also an excellent look at the development of southern Ontario’s history and its wineries.
I recommend this novel.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews