After the Fire

by Jane Rule

In this fluid, often witty novel set on a small rural island off the coast of Vancouver, five solitary women at different stages in life learn how to function alone as well as together. Canadian-Japanese Karen, who has left her lesbian lover of eight years, befriends Red, a young woman with an unknown background who cleans houses for three others--acrid Milly, divorced by her husband after a 20-year marriage; Henrietta, whose husband is institutionalized in Vancouver; and Miss James, an eccentric, elderly spinster. Birth, illness and death follow one another, uniting the five independent and incisively drawn protagonists. "All that time I was trying to teach you how to live alone and really take care of yourself, I was teaching myself, too," Henrietta tells Red. The resulting warmth is not saccharine but realistic, as Rule illuminates the vagaries and pain of abandonment and loss, and the fragile joy of new bonds.

Genres: Fiction, Lesbian, LGBT, Canada, Queer

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Jane Vance Rule was a Canadian writer of lesbian-themed novels and non-fiction. American by birth and Canadian by choice, Rule's pioneering work as a writer and activist reached across borders.

Rule was born on March 28, 1931, in Plainfield, New Jersey, and raised in the Midwest and California. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Mills College in 1952. In 1954 she joined the faculty of the Concord Academy, a private school in Massachusetts. There Rule met Helen Sonthoff, a fellow faculty member who became her life partner. They settled in Vancouver in 1956. Eventually they both held positions at the University of British Columbia until 1976 when they moved to Galiano Island. Sonthoff died in 2000, at 83. Rule died at the age of 76 on November 28, 2007 at her home on Galiano Island due to complications from liver cancer, refusing any treatment that would take her from the island.

A major literary figure in Canada, she wrote seven novels as well as short stories and nonfiction. But it was for Desert of the Heart that she remained best known. The novel published in 1964, is about a professor of English literature who meets and falls in love with a casino worker in Reno. It was made into a movie by Donna Deitch called Desert Hearts in 1985, which quickly became a lesbian classic.

Rule, who became a Canadian citizen in the 1960s, was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 1998 and the Order of Canada in 2007. In 1994, Rule was the subject of a Genie-awarding winning documentary, Fiction and Other Truths; a film about Jane Rule, directed by Lynne Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman, produced by Rina Fraticelli. She received the Canadian Authors Association best novel and best short story awards, the American Gay Academic Literature Award, the U.S. Fund for Human Dignity Award of Merit, the CNIB's Talking Book of the Year Award and an honorary doctorate of letters from the University of British Columbia. In January of 2007, Rule was awarded the Alice B. Toklas Medal “for her long and storied career as a lesbian novelist.”

Proud Life - Jane Rule: 1931 - 2007 by Marilyn Schuster
Jane Rule 1996 - George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award

Reviews

[Erika Nerdypants · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few books which I feel should be required reading for women of all ages. The story is about a group of women who all, for one reason or another are learning to live alone, rely on themselves while still making community for one another. They learn to find their strengths, come to terms with their limitations and thrive. A very positive read.

[Ari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really what I expect from this author. The dialogue was not even remotely intriguing and the plot was downright boring. Yes, there are strong women, and one is even a lesbian. But seriously, there's no action whatsoever. Someone gets a dog and has a kid. Someone else dies. Someone beats cancer. These are all great things, but I feel like this book is like a cafeteria brownie. I mean how could you mess up chocolate?! Apparently there is a way.

[Sarah Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about single women, young and old, on a Canadian island. Rule's characterization is excellent; she is a fine novelist. One associates her with lesbianism but that is probably because it was not usual to write about lesbianism matter-of-factly when she wrote--I cannot figure out this period from the publishing dates, because all of her stuff has been re-copyrighted to her estate. One younger character is half Japanese, her Japanese-Canadian (150% Canadian) handsome father the president of a university, moving out of a long same-sex relationship within which she was financially dependent, with low self esteem. She works two jobs and then too is on the fire brigade. One character actively chooses to be a single mother. One rather unpleasant (of very low self-esteem) divorced character in her forties grows more pleasant as her fibroids are removed and she re-connects with her daughter, and one strong older woman collapses for a long time when her husband who has long had dementia and been in care dies. The novel is essentially about how these characters and the more minor characters interact, and because they are so finely drawn you care about them and keep reading.

[Rita]

1989
blurb:
"In this fluid, often witty novel set on a small rural island off the coast of Vancouver, five solitary women at different stages in life learn how to function alone as well as together. Canadian-Japanese Karen, who has left her lesbian lover of eight years, befriends Red, a young woman with an unknown background who cleans houses for three others--acrid Milly, divorced by her husband after a 20-year marriage; Henrietta, whose husband is institutionalized in Vancouver; and Miss James, an eccentric, elderly spinster. Birth, illness and death follow one another, uniting the five independent and incisively drawn protagonists. "All that time I was trying to teach you how to live alone and really take care of yourself, I was teaching myself, too," Henrietta tells Red. The resulting warmth is not saccharine but realistic, as Rule illuminates the vagaries and pain of abandonment and loss, and the fragile joy of new bonds."

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a relatively short read, but one that is also chewy; it gave me something to chew on and chew over in my mind. The blurb gives a fairly accurate view of the plot, though the book is much more character- than plot-driven. That factor is a good thing as the characters are interesting and well developed, even when not always likeable.

Aside from the description given by the blurb, the book is also about: coming of age, or at least into ones' own; relationships and how we interact with one another; families and how we define them; home and how we define it; communities and how we create them; and really, how we see, and define, and create ourselves as human beings. But, all of this substantial content is conveyed in a gentle, engaging way.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. I will look up other work by this author.

[Bobbie N · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a small island off the coast of Vancouver, five women at different stages of their lives learn how to live alone while dealing with past hurt and grief and attempting to forge new bonds of friendship.

[Stefie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this story. it was all about resilience but also loss, sadness and love. i am really enjoying this author!

[mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

an incredible little novel about community

[Westcoast_girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Jane Rule book. Now I see why I've heard so many good things!
The characters in 'After the Fire' are so dynamic and interesting. You get involved with everyone. But that's not to say they are all wonderful likable characters. Each one has their faults of course, but even the ones that seem to have many many faults still have their good points too.
Jane Rule also does brilliantly in describing the west coast. Yes, I'm sure I'm a bit bias as an island girl myself but she really was quite good.
While you're reading you'll mostly just be enjoying the story, but after you will realize the metaphors, symbolism etc.
I recommend this book!

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this character novel about four women at different ages and stages of life, and how their lives interconnected. The ending seemed so abrupt that I wondered if a page or two had been left out of the e book.

[RoseMary Achey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Four women on island in Canada and how they have helped each other.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a Gulf Island off the coast of Vancouver, we are privy to the interconnected lives of women, some elder and ailing, some young and bruised, each tending to and learning from one another.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book that explores the lives, interactions and personalities mostly of women in a small town.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has still stuck with me even after so many months. I finished this since January 2016. It's now 2017 and I can still remember Red and her baby. And that little cottage she inherited. I must say the lesbian theme was subtle. But it was a great read.