The Undertaking of Billy Buffone

by David Giuliano

The Undertaking of Billy Buffone is a story about the trauma - immediate and ongoing, personal and collateral - inflicted by Rupert Churley, who preyed on boys in Twenty-Six Mile House, an isolated town in northern Ontario. The suicides, the conspiracy of silence, the secrets and the damage done to the boys, their friends and families, persist long after the murder of Scouter Churley

Genres: Canada, Fiction

291 pages, Unknown Binding

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Kaylie’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content Warning: sexual abuse of children, graphic scenes, death of a child

Set in Northwestern Ontario, David Giuliano’s novel The Undertaking of Billy Buffone is a tale about how one person’s heinous actions can impact lives for many years to come through trauma and grief. Told from the ghostly perspective of Matthew, Billy’s childhood best friend who died as a youth, the reader will learn about the dark secrets that have engulfed the small town of Twenty-Six Mile House for decades. Billy Buffone is an eccentric, middle-aged funeral home director in Northwestern Ontario. Billy has never been away from home for long, and he is deathly aware of the secrets that want to remain buried in this sleepy town.

I am from Northwestern Ontario myself, so it was really neat to see this location used and used well. Giuliano is also from the area and it is clear to the reader that he did his research and did Northwestern Ontario proud. Giuliano has created some unique characters that bring a much-needed lightness to this macabre novel, and they are a joy to read. The Undertaking of Billy Buffone also pays homage to Anishinaabe (who reside in Northwestern Ontario) culture and traditions respectfully and with warmth, another beacon of light in this sad story.

The Undertaking of Billy Buffone touches on some heavy topics that the reader should be made aware of before diving in, mainly the sexual abuse of children, which can get graphic. Giuliano has managed to write about these difficult topics gracefully while maintaining the bluntness of them. The Undertaking of Billy Buffone also touches on trauma, grief, friendship, and love. While there can be difficult-to-read scenes, Giuliano has written a touching story about the brotherly love between friends and how that love is unconditional. The Undertaking of Billy Buffone is a beautifully written piece of literary fiction that will bring the reader heartache and warmth.

*Thank you, Latitude 46 Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Originally published on Cloud Lake Literary, link below:

https://www.cloudlakeliterary.ca/blog...

[Sarah (more.books.than.days) · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Giuliano surprised me at every turn, with his clever, multilayered, and well crafted storytelling. He was able to create characters that I believed completely, and came to care for deeply. His prose was full of wit and observation that set place and time so firmly I felt like I was truly present in the story.
This book is a wild ride, that defies the limitations of genre. Threading a delicate balance between gothic, thriller, literary, and romance, you will find yourself turning pages thinking you are heading in one direction, only to realize that Giuliano has taken you exactly where you didn't know you needed to go until he revealed the path.

[Skip Shand · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Giuliano, The Undertaking of Billy Buffone. (Sudbury: Latitude 46, 2021). (Full disclosure: Twenty-six Mile House is a thinly fictionalized version of my hometown.) Rapid-paced and compelling, this novel is about two remote settlements on the North Shore of Lake Superior, one a fairly recent pulp-mill town, the other its nearby Indigenous neighbour. It is about victims and survivors of a highly-placed pedophile, now dead and gone. It’s about facing the traumatic truths and strategic survival fictions of that past (and others), about recovering one’s essential self, about moving on in hope, and about inevitable loss. Above all, it’s about forgiveness. The novel proceeds steadily toward spring and an Easter-time regeneration that is both joyous and sobering. Matthew, the narrator, who participates in the present from a world beyond the grave, takes us sensitively through profound encounters between best friends and lovers, both settler and indigenous. He uncovers stunning revelations. Billy himself, a deep well of secrets, has become the town’s funeral director, and his personal journey is at the novel’s centre. Giuliano has a sharp and caring eye for characters who matter deeply. He writes bravely, with telling and often graphic detail, and with deep love for the dark boreal hills and pounding rocky shores of Lake Superior, and for the people, settler and native, who endure there. Definite yes.

[Sarah Newbery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Set in Northern Ontario, it follows the story of a loving family and a broken one, through the emerging lives of Matt and Billy as these young men come to experience the effects of sexual predation - on themselves, on their friendship, and for Billy, on his community. In parallel and woven through is a story of the resilience of an indigenous community, and the grace, humour and welcoming healing that community extends.

Although painful in places, the humour and redemption carried me along and kept me reading, and allowed me to feel more hopeful about humanity at the end than I did as the story launched.

It is a very worthy read and will be on my bedside table to revisit for a long time, partly because of the story, and partly because the lessons in love, healing, hope and community, are lessons that we need now, perhaps more than ever.

[Karan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic, a very well told story.

[Gail Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than a summer read - this book will take you to places you've been before but perhaps not really seen. Some of these places may be in your head, in your hometown, on your street, hidden plain sight or denied.
Characters are familiar and real. Anyone who has lived in a small town anywhere in Canada will recognize them.
Descriptions of the landscape conjure a difficult yet beautiful, natural place.
Giuliano doesn't dwell on the disturbing images of heinous acts -this is a story of trauma personified and its consequences.
The Undertaking of Billy Buffone

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book for many reasons. I am born and raised in Northern Ontario and resonated with Giuliano's references to locale. As an aware 'white' person I was educated in some ways about the indigenous component/characters in the story. The first chapter is blunt and to the point, perhaps a trigger warning could be inserted in future publications. The book is more than just about the brutality of the crime. The beauty and isolation of a small town in Northern Ontario as a backdrop, is also part of this story. But he gets on from there to drawing us into characters and a tragedy, mystery and romance. Truths are revealed and characters are developed and the community's secret is revealed. I think everyone should have this book on their shelf.

[Kelly Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. Slow to catch my attention, in fact I seriously considered giving up on it; I’m glad I didn’t. The writing is beautiful, very evocative prose. The story is a tragic one of a small Canadian town hiding, or rather ignoring secrets that should never have been kept and how the despicable behaviour of one man, a so-called pillar of society (as they so often are) brought about the downfall of so many young boys. Almost every character in the book is tragic. Two twists at the end; one was a surprise, the other I saw coming way earlier in the story. 3½ stars for me.

[Anne Beattie-stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtaking, humbling, powdrful.

This book is full of pain and hope, the horror of history and the beauty of love, the brokenness of humanity and the promise of redemption. The power of the story and the lyricism of the words kept breaking me open, and filled even my dreams with images of transformative love.

It's is not an easy read, but it is a powerful one and I am grateful to David for having written it.

[V. Constantineau · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beauty of the language in this book is poetic in much of its phrasing. I was involved from the first few pages. I bought the book because I attended a reading with the author and the segment he read was enough to capture my attention. Does it deal with subject matter that's tough? Yes. Is it the least bit sensational? No. I can see myself reading this one again because a first reading of any book, especially one with an interesting storyline sometimes means details are missed the first time around. Well done David Giuliano.

[Eveline Maedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Giuliano has really captured the essence of what a small Northwestern Ontario town is like. This is a poignant and difficult tale - the subject matters of sexual assault, pedophilia, suicide and grief are not easy ones to deal with and yet the author has managed to build the story so well, with characters you can't help but want to know more about. It's both haunting and poetic. I hope that we will get more novels from Guiliano - I look forward to reading them.

[John Lochead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is fiction award material. It has an intriguing plot, memorable characters who are all very distinctive. The concise and at times witty prose capture the landscapes and lives of small town rural Canada.
I have enjoyed reading all of David Giuliano’s previous books. This novel is exceptionally entertaining and tenderly written.

[Cmrushton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully written story that really resonates with anyone familiar with small town Northern Ontario. While the plot deals with significant tragedy and abuse, it is ultimately a tale about love and forgiveness. I think it would make a great movie or mini series. I also think it could be considered for Canada Reads or perhaps the Giller?

[Susan Marrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll just say that I agree with the other reviewers, especially Kaylie Seed (q.v.). I have to downgrade my rating because of some poor editing: missed or transposed words, poor grammar (singulars and plurals), misplaced punctuation, etc. A story of this caliber deserves better. But well worth the read; just be forewarned about difficult subject matter, some graphically described.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent novel written with warmth and humour despite it’s very difficult subject matter. The shocking beginning is followed by portrayals of a cast of characters who are unique and at times quirky with enough plot twists to keep you riveted. Our book club had the great good fortune to have him attend and I look forward to reading his other books!

[Mona]

This was an excellent book! The setting is on the north shore of Lake Superior and the plot explores many issues found in small towns across Canada. The character development is very engaging and draws the reader into the unpacking of a sad story. I highly recommend this book:)

[Mitchel Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Undertaking of Billy Buffone is an amazing novel written by small town author David Giuliano. Based on the horrific events that took place in a small community, bringing to light the information that has been hidden away for so long.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

David has an incredible empathy telling this tragic story. He has a real ability to describe difficult emotions in a way that makes you feel them deeply.

[Page Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book paints a vivid picture of life in a small Northern Ontario town. It is devastating and hilarious.

[Rachelle Mallet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It was well written, horrifying , funny and thoughtful. I listened to the audio version and it was very well narrated.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who grew up in Marathon, the place this book is fictionally based on, this was a difficult read. I was engrossed by the book, but found it hard to endure the pain and trauma the characters felt.