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by John Mackay

Built for the new age, the house stood boldly upright on the edge of the ocean withstanding the harsh blasts of a cruel century, nurturing and protecting the family within, watchful of hearts swollen or broken, dreams delivered and dashed. It had absorbed the tears and echoed the laughter.

The Heimat of the Highlands.

The sweeping saga of one family through a momentous century. Different people, divergent lives and distinctive stories. Bound together by the place they called home.

But one of them was missing, lost to the world. An unknown grandchild, born to a son who’d gone off to war and never came back. As the years pass through wars and emigration, social transformation and generational change, the search continues.

And the questions remain the same: Who is he? Where is he?

Will he ever come home?

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2021

Reviews

[A.K. Frailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the interior, introspective view of island life in Scotland. My ancestry reaches back to Scotland, and I could well imagine how family members had to sail off to new lands to make a living, leaving loved ones behind. I never had a chance to imagine what life was like for those who stayed behind in Scotland. This book vividly filled in the details, beautifully and colorfully, highlighting both the light and dark side of life's adventures and stillness. My daughter also read the book and said that it was the best thing she has come across in years. So this is really two reviews in one!
A brilliant family saga told through poignant writing.

[Alison Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story, pure and simple. Not a thriller, crime novel or romance, just a story of a family spanning a century. A good story at that. I felt I knew the family, and the family tree with each chapter was such a good reminder of who was who and how they were linked. I've really looked forward to the opportunities I had over the last couple of days to devour another few chapters. The way the book was broken into sections made it really easy to put down and pick up. Really made me want to go and visit the Islands. In some way a story of a different time even as the 20th century progressed, but showing the different pace of island life. The way of life was clearly illustrated - I'm not one for long drawn out description but the author painted the picture of the life and the people as part of the story in a way that captivated and intrigued. A large family with so many big personalities. We see the effects of life and war and progress and all the family members coming and going from the time Faroe built the "new house". A great read. #home

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads more like a family history or a series of anecdotes rather than a novel. Good premise - what connects generations to one place/ house but so many characters none are really fully developed. Some intetesting facts about island living.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very personal choice. So representative of many Lewisian family histories.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like The Road Dance but a lot less bleak thankfully 😂