Tantramar

by Eric Sparling

"This is the story of my mother's death, my father's lighthouse, my slutty sister and the dog I betrayed." A heart-felt, at times funny, coming-of-age story set in Nova Scotia about a quirky couple who adopt a 16-year-old girl when their son, the main character, is 14.

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jen Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always find it fascinating to read stories that take place in my little hometown. This one breaks your heart and then sews it back together. Trigger warnings: car accident, suicide, animal abuse, bullying.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would like to see more books written about rural Nova Scotia - especially Cumberland County- and the Tantramar Marsh. So much history there. Eric Sparling writes memorial characters and scenes. I recommend this book.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother gave me this book,not a good sign for a book-atleast not with me.My mother reads romance novels and not the good ones with a nice story and belivable characters,no she reads the ones with the frightening huge man with an unbuttoned shirt and pony tail on the cover that cost a toonie at the drugstore.I was extremly reluctant to read this book,and being about my area of atlantic Canada didn't help since most books about around here are about fishing, hunting or the lumber industry.
This book was really good.Once i started I finished in an afternoon!The main character Dante seems so real and he has so few pages in which to become so!I loved Pickle and seemed to need him just like Dante.This was a very well written novel,Eric Sparling is amazing.He must write another book!
loved it!:)

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute Maritime novella that would have benefited from a bit more length. Many of the scenes, while well-crafted, are rushed and the reader is left wanting more. Removing the slut-shaming of Crystal would also strengthen the book considerably, but, overall, an extraordinary first book.