By the Rivers of Brooklyn

by Trudy J. Morgan-Cole

In the 1920s, Jim, Bert and Rose Evans all move from Newfoundland to Brooklyn, New York, in search of work and a better life, leaving their sister Annie back home in St. John's. By the Rivers of Brooklyn traces the story of the Evans family across two countries and three generations, exploring the hopes, passions and heartbreaks of those who went away and those who stayed behind.

By the Rivers of Brooklyn transforms into fiction the experience of the 75,000 first- and second-generation Newfoundlanders who once lived in Brooklyn, New York - and the experience of Newfoundlanders throughout history who have gone away to find work and prosperity but never stopped dreaming of home.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Canada

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published May 3, 2009

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading multigenerational family sagas with roots from an old Newfoundland. When i’m in the mood for such a tale, Trudy Morgan-Cole never disappoints.
I found all the characters within this book were interesting and felt real. The family tree recorded at the back was a nice reference.
Pour up a cup of tea and fall deeply into the days of yesteryear.

[(Lonestarlibrarian) Keddy Ann Outlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel! And if life didn't demand me to be places and accomplish things, I most certainly would have read it straight through. By the Rivers of Brooklyn has an old fashioned feel; I wanted to crawl into its pages. Good storytelling from Morgan-Cole with a rich cast of Evans family characters, a few who never leave their native Newfoundland, and many others who emigrate to Brooklyn.

A family tree thoughtfully included at the back of the book helped me keep the three generations of the Evans family straight. Starting with five brothers and sisters, leaping ahead a few years at a time, I rejoiced or mourned for these characters as if they came from my own family. Love gained or lost, sudden death, children who delight or disappoint their parents, alcoholism, religion, economic woes and the inevitable push-pull of the homeland all rang true. I wish it were a series so I knew there was more to come! Instead, I will search out more novels by Trudy Morgan-Cole.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a way, this is a flawless story. The family saga of three generations of Newfoundland ex-pats and their relatives at home. A universal story of immigration, adaptation and assimilation brought to life through a cast of intriguing and sometimes sympathetic characters.
The most interesting is Rose. Drawn to the shadier side of Brooklyn, Rose leaves home and doesn't look back. She slowly severs all of her connections, and ends up completely lost to her family, except for the illegitimate child she bears and then sends back home for her sister to raise. Rose holds the story together and drives the plot forward. Without Rose the story wouldn't be interesting enough to tell.

[natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to come across this book and hoped for insight into my mother's family who emigrated from Newfoundland to Brooklyn in the early/mid-20th century. I would have liked more about Newfoundland, its history and characteristics of the people. Not surprisingly, the immigrant story is much the same across cultures. But I did find little bits and pieces that reminded me of my mother's family. I'll seek out more by this author.

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book scenes from Newfoundland to my birthplace Brooklyn .Each character leapt off the page.Eggcreams Coney I sland the crowded beaches Nathan’s hot dogs added to my.memories of Brooklyn . This is a wonderful saga full of characters you cheer for an old fashioned saga for me.Just ordered the Authors latest book .

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ... why doesn't this thing allow for halves?!

[Wanda Pollard-skiffington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great look at what it was like for some immigrants who lived in Newfoundland and went to brooklyn to work much like my own great grandparents! I enjoyed it!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Could not put it down! One if the best birthday presents I've ever received!

[Karis · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved it. It was a tad bit difficult at first to keep track of who was who, but absolutely riveting to see the multiple perspectives.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this book!

[Jodi R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely book. I enjoyed learning about life in St. John's and about the Newfoundlanders who made their way to New York to make a living and life. From the sounds of it, plenty of them did, which surprised me - I often think of Altantic Canadians emigrating to Toronto or "out West," or, if they did go to the States, to Boston. So it was a pleasant surprise to learn about the community of Newfs in New York. I also appreciated learning a bit about the Salvation Army.

I did find the end of the book confusing with a jumble of offspring characters that I could not keep straight - nor did I feel connected to most of them or terribly interested in their stories at that point. But overall, I thought the characters and plots were very well written. I also liked that things didn't all work out the way you might have expected - just like in real life.

[Wendy Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

It disappointed me every time I had to put it down!!! Such a great book. I found myself thinking of a window of time I could create so I could get back to it. I am passing it on to my niece who was born and raised in AB by two NL parents. I hope she loves it as much as I did. Highly recommend!!

[Heather Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story . Could have been any family in Newfoundland during those times.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know the strong hold the Salvation Army had in Newfoundland beginning in the late 1800s.

[Mavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story of the Evans family saga. I really enjoyed.

[Amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.

[Pam Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of love, loss, family, choices, consequences, and relationships of all kinds. A beautifully written story that spans over 80 years and 3 generations, it examines the experience of three family members who leave Newfoundland to find work and a better life in New York and those who stayed behind. It explores the decisions each person made and the consequences and ramifications each of those decisions had on all of the other family members for generations. Most importantly, it delves into the definition of home: what is home and where is home? "'Everyone in my family is obsessed with home,' Anne tells Brian..."My Aunt Ethel wants to die at home. I have this cousin, Dennis, who's never been to Newfoundland in his life, and he says he'd like to go home sometime. Home is a place he's never been. Isn't that weird?'"

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A multi-generational story of family, loss, choices and consequences - the story of siblings who move to Brooklyn from Newfoundland.

This was OK. I read it in a few days but there were times when I couldn't keep the characters straight. Also, things I wanted to know about when they were alluded to (shock treatments?) were never mentioned again.

Some really great insights, as well as interesting inter-personal relationships.

[V · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to follow the lives of so many women related or married to the Evans family. I liked the historical touches of Joey Smallwood and Confederation. I liked how the extended family pitched in to take care of its own and how the children grew up and what they became. However, there were just a few too many characters that did not fully develop and could have stayed off the story without loss. This is a fun and quick read.

[Bobbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, however the last part introduced so many new characters that I had a difficult time figuring out who they were. I felt that the story line was moving at a reasonable pace throughout most of the book, however it felt very rushed at the end.

[Julie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a little slow starting, a wonderful read. Not all loose ends come together by the end, but neither does real life!

[Jacqueline]

Loved it!