What do you think?
Rate this book
On South Mountain : The Dark Secrets of the Goler Clan
Stories of South Mountain and its notorious Goler Clan are often told in whispers--or not at all. For over a century, a gruesome pattern of sexual and physical abuse, incest, and psychological torture defined the isolated mountain community, and residents of the nearby Annapolis Valley turned a blind eye. But when a fourteen-year-old South Mountain girl finally spoke up, the story and its ensuing investigation captivated the country. In this twentieth-anniversary edition of the bestselling book The Vancouver Sun called "a terrible story, beautifully told," acclaimed authors David Cruise and Alison Griffiths return to South Mountain with a new Preface and the original, startling text.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
64 people are currently reading
2652 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
March 12, 2018
That’s the way it was on South Mountain
You took yourmedicine
You kept your families dark secrets
You gagged
You wept
You coiled
You survived.
One day, in 1984, in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, 13 year old, Sandra Goler burst into tears in her classroom.
When questioned by her teacher Sandra’s response was that her father had been using her as a wife.
What emerges then are the dark secrets of The Goler Clan of Nova Scotia.
They are not easy to bear witness to.
Sandra is not the only victim.
All of the children of the Goler Clan have been brutally and repeatedly used for sexual pleasure, by the adult men and women of South Mountain.
It has been going on for generations.
For generations, no one from the closest village in the valley,
No one among those in contact with the children; no doctors or teachers or anyone, brought forward any concern for these children.
Once the oppressed
Now the oppressor
I apologize for the crudeness of my words.
But the hard core testimony I heard from these children,
should not be cloaked in luscious prose. (even if I was capable of writing it)
I have been gutted.
I feel drained.
Just a puddle
So I walked around the block my nose full of perfume and the smell of her skin, my head swirling with what I had seen and heard in the house, so much like ours, and yet not at all. And I realised as I walked through the neighbourhood how each house could contain a completely different reality. In a single block, there could be fifty separate worlds. Nobody ever really knew what was going on just next door.
"White Oleander"
You took your
You kept your families dark secrets
You gagged
You wept
You coiled
You survived.
One day, in 1984, in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, 13 year old, Sandra Goler burst into tears in her classroom.
When questioned by her teacher Sandra’s response was that her father had been using her as a wife.
What emerges then are the dark secrets of The Goler Clan of Nova Scotia.
They are not easy to bear witness to.
Sandra is not the only victim.
All of the children of the Goler Clan have been brutally and repeatedly used for sexual pleasure, by the adult men and women of South Mountain.
It has been going on for generations.
For generations, no one from the closest village in the valley,
No one among those in contact with the children; no doctors or teachers or anyone, brought forward any concern for these children.
Once the oppressed
Now the oppressor
I apologize for the crudeness of my words.
But the hard core testimony I heard from these children,
should not be cloaked in luscious prose. (even if I was capable of writing it)
I have been gutted.
I feel drained.
Just a puddle
So I walked around the block my nose full of perfume and the smell of her skin, my head swirling with what I had seen and heard in the house, so much like ours, and yet not at all. And I realised as I walked through the neighbourhood how each house could contain a completely different reality. In a single block, there could be fifty separate worlds. Nobody ever really knew what was going on just next door.
"White Oleander"
November 27, 2023
It is hard to enjoy a book with such a gruesome focus. Especially interesting to me since I grew up in the Annapolis Valley, and went to school in Wolfville in the years just before these events came to light. I have to say I was struck at the division between the mountain and the valley described in the book, because, yes, I did not know these towns just a few miles away on the South Mountain. (On the other hand, I've been all over the North Mountain). The "Stile" also was completely unfamiliar, and I've driven along the Ridge Road many times.
I'm not sure why social services tends to break up siblings, but this was one of the saddest developments in this case, that Donna and her younger sister were separated and effectively estranged.
All in all, I'm not sure how much has even changed since this story came to light in the early 80s.
I'm not sure why social services tends to break up siblings, but this was one of the saddest developments in this case, that Donna and her younger sister were separated and effectively estranged.
All in all, I'm not sure how much has even changed since this story came to light in the early 80s.
February 9, 2017
I'm still having a hard time rating this book. On one hand, the writing was awful and I didn't care for it at all, but on the other hand, the story of the *JUST* the Goler Clan was fascinating and terrifying.
I found the majority of this book to be a throwaway but the only reason why the authors kept in these irrelevant parts was because they likely didn't have enough information about the Goler's to have more than 100 pages. The throwaway parts contained the long, long history of South Mountain, and how it got the way, way back in the day (read: 150 million years ago). I don't know about you, but in this case, I didn't care about the geography, geochronology, or too much information about the history of the land, and who walked there before the Golers. It was ridiculous and completely unneeded. Maybe I'm just one of those people who don't like to be teased for 100+ pages, but I wanted the details. I wanted to know everything that happened to the children and why the Goler's were the way they are. The authors spent too much time hitting us over the head with how isolated the land was (is), and the gap between those who lived there and 'city folk.' Yeah, I get it. There's no need to say it another 50 times. All in all, the writing was all over the place and it seemed like the authors LOVED their thesaurus and adverbs. Looks like Stephen King's On Writing would have been helpful to them.
That being said, the parts I did like were the court transcripts because the authors didn't write that shit. Whenever the kids were talking about their abuse and trauma or whenever the perpetrators were denying any wrong-doing were the only viable parts of the book. I also found the aftermath to be intriguing but heartbreaking. Seeing what Donna was going through after the entire court fiasco, and her never being let go of her Goler identity was awful to read about. Sadly, it's something that happens more often than not. "Once a Goler, always a Goler"
Because my experience with reading the book was negative, mostly due to the writing, I'll give the book a 2.5/5
I found the majority of this book to be a throwaway but the only reason why the authors kept in these irrelevant parts was because they likely didn't have enough information about the Goler's to have more than 100 pages. The throwaway parts contained the long, long history of South Mountain, and how it got the way, way back in the day (read: 150 million years ago). I don't know about you, but in this case, I didn't care about the geography, geochronology, or too much information about the history of the land, and who walked there before the Golers. It was ridiculous and completely unneeded. Maybe I'm just one of those people who don't like to be teased for 100+ pages, but I wanted the details. I wanted to know everything that happened to the children and why the Goler's were the way they are. The authors spent too much time hitting us over the head with how isolated the land was (is), and the gap between those who lived there and 'city folk.' Yeah, I get it. There's no need to say it another 50 times. All in all, the writing was all over the place and it seemed like the authors LOVED their thesaurus and adverbs. Looks like Stephen King's On Writing would have been helpful to them.
That being said, the parts I did like were the court transcripts because the authors didn't write that shit. Whenever the kids were talking about their abuse and trauma or whenever the perpetrators were denying any wrong-doing were the only viable parts of the book. I also found the aftermath to be intriguing but heartbreaking. Seeing what Donna was going through after the entire court fiasco, and her never being let go of her Goler identity was awful to read about. Sadly, it's something that happens more often than not. "Once a Goler, always a Goler"
Because my experience with reading the book was negative, mostly due to the writing, I'll give the book a 2.5/5
October 25, 2019
A disturbing read about an extremely dysfunctional family living in Nova Scotia. This book has haunted me since I've read it over 15 years ago!
November 15, 2017
This is a carefully researched account of the physical, sexual and emotional abuse which was carried out within the Goler clan for generations. The extended family committed sexual acts and beatings upon very young children, including much incest. This occurred in impoverished shacks where the Golers lived in South Mountain near Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Doctors, social workers and police were aware of some of the horrendous abuse within the family and their in-laws, but the children were always returned to their homes.
I lived nearby for a couple of years in the early 1970s, but had never heard of the clan or the area, but read that some people in the town suspected. Everything came to light in 1984 when 16 people were charged with child abuse and incest. The children were removed from the dilapidated shacks, and were witnesses at the trials.
The book is most disturbing to read, and contains very crude language from testimony at the trials. I read that this was an update of the book as 20 years since the first edition was published. However, although the authors had conducted new interviews with some of the abused, they decided out of consideration not to use them in the update. Instead proceeds from the book are to be donated to an organization helping victims of abuse.
I felt there was a lot of filler: geological history of the region back to the Triassic and Jurassic period, the human history of the earliest settlers to the Annapolis Valley, Wolfville and the inhabitants of South Mountain. As there was a lot of genealogical research into the Goler clan and their antecedents, a family tree would have been helpful as even those people seemed confused about family relationships. It was confusing to follow what the relationships were, although there was an effort to describe this to the reader. Thought some photos should accompany the narrative.
In 2012 an excellent novel was published inspired by the true events; Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis. Fictional characters included a member of a incestuous clan and several people living in the nearby town. The names of the Clan and the town were changed. It was a selection of my book club. I tried to get a copy of On South Mountain. It was no longer available and used paperbacks were selling for $50 to $100 dollars. I was glad that On South Mountain is again available, although it is a most upsetting, unpleasant read.
I lived nearby for a couple of years in the early 1970s, but had never heard of the clan or the area, but read that some people in the town suspected. Everything came to light in 1984 when 16 people were charged with child abuse and incest. The children were removed from the dilapidated shacks, and were witnesses at the trials.
The book is most disturbing to read, and contains very crude language from testimony at the trials. I read that this was an update of the book as 20 years since the first edition was published. However, although the authors had conducted new interviews with some of the abused, they decided out of consideration not to use them in the update. Instead proceeds from the book are to be donated to an organization helping victims of abuse.
I felt there was a lot of filler: geological history of the region back to the Triassic and Jurassic period, the human history of the earliest settlers to the Annapolis Valley, Wolfville and the inhabitants of South Mountain. As there was a lot of genealogical research into the Goler clan and their antecedents, a family tree would have been helpful as even those people seemed confused about family relationships. It was confusing to follow what the relationships were, although there was an effort to describe this to the reader. Thought some photos should accompany the narrative.
In 2012 an excellent novel was published inspired by the true events; Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis. Fictional characters included a member of a incestuous clan and several people living in the nearby town. The names of the Clan and the town were changed. It was a selection of my book club. I tried to get a copy of On South Mountain. It was no longer available and used paperbacks were selling for $50 to $100 dollars. I was glad that On South Mountain is again available, although it is a most upsetting, unpleasant read.
July 3, 2014
So very disturbing!!
I read this book many years ago and decided to read it again. Having read a fictional book (Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis) with the same 'theme'..a non fiction book brings life right into our faces!
Oh human..the things you do..the very most disturbing animal of the world we live in.
I read this book many years ago and decided to read it again. Having read a fictional book (Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis) with the same 'theme'..a non fiction book brings life right into our faces!
Oh human..the things you do..the very most disturbing animal of the world we live in.
January 13, 2023
I can't say that this was a fun book to read, because it sure fucking wasn't. But it was written beautifully. While I don't live in the part of the province that it happened in, I still see the types of classism that the Valley showed (and still shows) around me. The book is infuriating and horrifying - horrifying because of the crimes, but infuriating because there were so many opportunities to stop them, so many times where punishments could have been more severe, where victims could have been treated better post-crime. So many times where their poverty was used against them as a weapon. I know that "Donna" didn't want this book re-released, and with good reason because it's re-opening old wounds, but I'm glad I read it because I really admire her - it's easy to say that you admire someone for being strong against terrible trauma (they're only strong because what else are they supposed to do?) but I admire her love for "Lisa" and her children, and never wanting to just give into that idea that 'it's the Mountain - that's what they do'.
August 24, 2012
bought this at the Bathurst Market, figured it would hold my attention....
Although the middle of the book is quite graphic because it includes the text from the trial, the book is a fascinating sociological study about regions, generations, and the isolation of families and culture that can happen in such close proximity.
Although the middle of the book is quite graphic because it includes the text from the trial, the book is a fascinating sociological study about regions, generations, and the isolation of families and culture that can happen in such close proximity.
April 18, 2019
A sound, if disturbing, look at local history.
"The social workers, health professionals, educators, were like everyone else in the Valley ... They might know something but were content not to really know—at least to the point of doing anything ..."
I'm not sure at what point I became aware of the Golers and what they did. I remember being in junior high about five years after this book was released. It was not uncommon to hear people joke that certain students lived on "Goler mountain", and understanding what was meant by it. I didn't know which of the mountains was "Goler" mountain (having grown up in town), but at thirteen, that's irrelevant information.
As such, I write this review from the perspective of someone who grew up in the Annapolis Valley and who, on at least some level, has been "aware" of the nightmare surrounding the Goler family for as long as I can remember.
The story itself is an interesting one—I can't say I really enjoyed the book, given the subject matter, but it certainly both sated and inspired further morbid curiosity. Eventually.
The first several chapters were...unnecessary, to say the least. The valuable content they contained (the lack of agricultural promise on the mountain, and the societal rift between mountain and valley) could have been summed up in a quarter of the pages without the authors waxing poetic about Pangaea and plate tectonics. While the section on the Acadians and their subsequent expulsion was more interesting, it still struck me as wholly unnecessary to a book subtitled The Dark Secrets of the Goler Glan.
Once we're finally introduced to the family itself, the book picks up steam and becomes vastly more engaging, though not perfect. The inclusion of court transcripts in some points helps to underpin the horrors these children endured, but in others, because of the English used, make it more difficult to follow.
The last segment of the book shows Donna as an adult and her efforts to regain custody of her own trial. Frustratingly, rather than discuss the outcome of these efforts, the epilogue instead lists new charges for Cranswick and William.
"The social workers, health professionals, educators, were like everyone else in the Valley ... They might know something but were content not to really know—at least to the point of doing anything ..."
I'm not sure at what point I became aware of the Golers and what they did. I remember being in junior high about five years after this book was released. It was not uncommon to hear people joke that certain students lived on "Goler mountain", and understanding what was meant by it. I didn't know which of the mountains was "Goler" mountain (having grown up in town), but at thirteen, that's irrelevant information.
As such, I write this review from the perspective of someone who grew up in the Annapolis Valley and who, on at least some level, has been "aware" of the nightmare surrounding the Goler family for as long as I can remember.
The story itself is an interesting one—I can't say I really enjoyed the book, given the subject matter, but it certainly both sated and inspired further morbid curiosity. Eventually.
The first several chapters were...unnecessary, to say the least. The valuable content they contained (the lack of agricultural promise on the mountain, and the societal rift between mountain and valley) could have been summed up in a quarter of the pages without the authors waxing poetic about Pangaea and plate tectonics. While the section on the Acadians and their subsequent expulsion was more interesting, it still struck me as wholly unnecessary to a book subtitled The Dark Secrets of the Goler Glan.
Once we're finally introduced to the family itself, the book picks up steam and becomes vastly more engaging, though not perfect. The inclusion of court transcripts in some points helps to underpin the horrors these children endured, but in others, because of the English used, make it more difficult to follow.
The last segment of the book shows Donna as an adult and her efforts to regain custody of her own trial. Frustratingly, rather than discuss the outcome of these efforts, the epilogue instead lists new charges for Cranswick and William.
June 30, 2015
The first few chapters, while interesting history of the valley and mountain, were a bit difficult to get through for me personally because I wasn't concerned about things like how the mountain was formed and what geographic features dot the landscape. But then the real story began and I was engrossed, horrified, amazed. It's truly difficult to believe that in the very months that my parents were getting used to the little infant who was me, less than six hours drive away the Goler trials were taking place.
This book did an amazing job of describing the horrors of South Mountain and the Goler Clan, and I'm left shivering with disgust at the thought that some of these people still live just a few hours away from where I'm raising my own child.
This book did an amazing job of describing the horrors of South Mountain and the Goler Clan, and I'm left shivering with disgust at the thought that some of these people still live just a few hours away from where I'm raising my own child.
September 4, 2017
I don't even know how to review this book. I am from Nova Scotia and grew up hearing the Goler name. I was morbidly curious to read this heartbreaking, stomach churning story. I must say, I was horribly disappointed with this book. The writing is so dry and poorly put together, it was a real struggle to stay focused. It took me 2 months to finish reading it and it's only 283 pages long! The first 10 pages felt like 100. The best (and I use that word loosely due to the horrific content) part of the book were the court transcripts as it was the words spoken by these poor children and not the authors dry writing. Part three of the book wasn't terrible, but by that point my brain was so glazed over it barely held my interest. I feel this book did not do this story justice.
June 11, 2017
Terribly written. The content was interesting if you take out the filler. Because boy, was there a lot of filler. The geography, the terrain, the Acadians, the Stile where Acadia students hang out? The most interesting part of this book were the court transcripts, because the author didn't write them. Again, the content was interesting and horrifying... but this was painfully drawn out.
January 12, 2010
This book is true and onpoint, saw the t.v. commentary of the actual girl along with the two authors' I now will write my own story that this book has come out. It still is happening today although this includes all the denials that come with it.
May 5, 2021
This book was so so so so so boring for the first 200 pages and then overly graphic for the rest. The more I read the worse I felt about reading the book in the first place. Overall this book is voyeuristic and unkind to its subjects.
August 10, 2021
As a Nova Scotian it’s incredible to think that this was going on just several decades ago, so close to home. It feels like something out of a movie or fiction book. It was well written and I appreciated the fact that it gave a bit of an update on some of the kids as grown ups.
July 4, 2015
Slow to start - VERY slow to start, actually, so a bit hard to get into - but once it gets going, this is a really interesting read.
July 3, 2024
Huge trigger warnings of incest and rape. I thought it would be more academic, but it’s exploitative. Do not recommend.
January 23, 2022
While I was born and raised in British Columbia, both of my parents are Nova Scotians. One unique Nova Scotian-ism they imparted upon myself and my brothers is an understanding of Goler references, usually following any mention of rednecks and/or inbreeding.
The Golers are a family (or mountain clan, as they're more often known) famous for their terrific propensity for incest and child abuse. To cut a long story short (skipping over the first 60 or so pages) the Golers are descended from religious and social outcasts and a freed black man who found themselves exiled from valuable lands in the Annapolis Valley to marginal hilly areas in northern King's County, Nova Scotia. Generations of folklore (and incest) mythologized these people as dirty savages unworthy of attention or consideration. People in the Valley were more than happy to complain about their trollish mountain neighbours. Many a stolen possession, slashed tire, or obliterated mailbox were rightly or wrongly blamed on the mountain dwellers.
Now this is probably not what you think of when Nova Scotia comes to mind. Pleasant fishing communities? Good seafood? Salty air? Sure, those make sense. Inbred hillbilly child sex ring? Not quite. One local notes: "we got to be known as the incest capital of the world [...] I don't think it did much for the tourist trade" (p.240).
At times needlessly wordy (get to the point already, I don't need pages upon pages of exposition!!!), I didn't particularly like the writing style. That said, this was more than readable. The sections containing courtroom transcriptions were perhaps the best and most gripping in the entire book. I'm generally imperturbable as a rule, but even I found myself wincing at some of what was described. You can't help but feel sad for the kids. If you're sensitive to this sort of thing then you'd best avoid this book. My vague cultural connection to the story as the son of Nova Scotians, as well as the inherently unique and macabre events discussed, kept me engaged. Worth a read if you're into dark backwoods exposés or enjoy watching disasters unfold.
The Golers are a family (or mountain clan, as they're more often known) famous for their terrific propensity for incest and child abuse. To cut a long story short (skipping over the first 60 or so pages) the Golers are descended from religious and social outcasts and a freed black man who found themselves exiled from valuable lands in the Annapolis Valley to marginal hilly areas in northern King's County, Nova Scotia. Generations of folklore (and incest) mythologized these people as dirty savages unworthy of attention or consideration. People in the Valley were more than happy to complain about their trollish mountain neighbours. Many a stolen possession, slashed tire, or obliterated mailbox were rightly or wrongly blamed on the mountain dwellers.
Now this is probably not what you think of when Nova Scotia comes to mind. Pleasant fishing communities? Good seafood? Salty air? Sure, those make sense. Inbred hillbilly child sex ring? Not quite. One local notes: "we got to be known as the incest capital of the world [...] I don't think it did much for the tourist trade" (p.240).
At times needlessly wordy (get to the point already, I don't need pages upon pages of exposition!!!), I didn't particularly like the writing style. That said, this was more than readable. The sections containing courtroom transcriptions were perhaps the best and most gripping in the entire book. I'm generally imperturbable as a rule, but even I found myself wincing at some of what was described. You can't help but feel sad for the kids. If you're sensitive to this sort of thing then you'd best avoid this book. My vague cultural connection to the story as the son of Nova Scotians, as well as the inherently unique and macabre events discussed, kept me engaged. Worth a read if you're into dark backwoods exposés or enjoy watching disasters unfold.
Read
August 5, 2024I stumbled upon the Goler clan case on youtube and, upon discovering the existence of this book, I wanted to find out more about the tragic events as well as the picturesque setting. this is one of the most depraved and infuriating true crime cases I have ever encountered and my heart shatters for the countless of children involved.
I struggle with rating nonfiction books; especially nonfiction books handling such a horrific topics as this one. despite my decision to not rate this book, I feel the need to stress that it is a very important read which endeavours to expose and inform its readers about previously disguised transgressions, as well as the ignorance displayed by systems that failed to protect their most vulnerable people.
before reading this book I highly suggest you look up content and trigger warnings!
I struggle with rating nonfiction books; especially nonfiction books handling such a horrific topics as this one. despite my decision to not rate this book, I feel the need to stress that it is a very important read which endeavours to expose and inform its readers about previously disguised transgressions, as well as the ignorance displayed by systems that failed to protect their most vulnerable people.
before reading this book I highly suggest you look up content and trigger warnings!
August 17, 2024
I found myself grappling with the initial chapters of this book, as they proved to be quite challenging for me. While I appreciate the author's intention to weave in some historical context about the area, I felt that it extended beyond what was necessary for the narrative. The level of detail seemed to overshadow the main storyline and made it difficult for me to stay engaged.
However, once the author transitioned from the background information to the actual story of the family, my perspective began to shift dramatically. I found myself immersed in their tale, feeling a deeper connection to their experiences and struggles. The gruesome nature of the events they endured was portrayed with a haunting authenticity that kept me on edge.
The telling of this family's narrative is not just an account of horrific events; it is a poignant reminder of resilience and the weight of history. The deeper I delved into their story, the more captivated I became, drawn into the complex emotions and challenging realities they faced. Overall, despite my initial struggles, I came to appreciate the book for its powerful and unflinching portrayal of a true story that needed to be told.
However, once the author transitioned from the background information to the actual story of the family, my perspective began to shift dramatically. I found myself immersed in their tale, feeling a deeper connection to their experiences and struggles. The gruesome nature of the events they endured was portrayed with a haunting authenticity that kept me on edge.
The telling of this family's narrative is not just an account of horrific events; it is a poignant reminder of resilience and the weight of history. The deeper I delved into their story, the more captivated I became, drawn into the complex emotions and challenging realities they faced. Overall, despite my initial struggles, I came to appreciate the book for its powerful and unflinching portrayal of a true story that needed to be told.
December 11, 2022
I thought I wanted to know more about the Goler Clan after hearing snippets about them while living in the valley, but wow, so much worse than I ever imagined ☹️. It’s hard to enjoy a book that focuses on such disturbing topics, but ignoring it and brushing it under the mat is exactly how the situations on South Mountain got so bad in the first place. A truly sad story.
The book itself could have used a few more rounds of editing. I skipped almost the entire first part, and got annoyed at how repetitive some other parts were.
2/5 stars for the writing, 4/5 for the in-depth explanations and content. 3/5 overall.
The book itself could have used a few more rounds of editing. I skipped almost the entire first part, and got annoyed at how repetitive some other parts were.
2/5 stars for the writing, 4/5 for the in-depth explanations and content. 3/5 overall.
May 14, 2018
Never before have I read a true crime book covering something truly horrific that doesn't just revel in the dirty details but instead takes a wide, anthropologic perspective on the community that created this horror and why it happened at all. Masterfully done, with the first part really informing everything that comes after. The power of religious institutions and human nature really can't be overstated. Great reporting, great writing, great job all-around.
August 8, 2017
I was introduced to this book by the author of Our Daily Bread, Lauren B. Davis. It was partly based on a family of "hillbillies" in Nova Scotia. It is a very hard book to read. The children were all abused, physically, sexually and emotionally. It made me so angry that they hardly spent any time in jail. Thus is our legal system, right? Justice? Both books are amazing, and I hope that you read them both. God bless the children of the Goler clan.
March 6, 2024
really enjoyed this non-fiction on an important piece of Canadian history. some of the choices from the authors re: actual involvement with clan members were a bit weird, in my opinion... but a very good book. obviously very well-researched.
November 10, 2024
This is a story worth telling but it is horribly graphic, sad and purely based on the subject matter, distasteful.
Read it, for the sake of the children that suffered. Just know what you’re in for.
Read it, for the sake of the children that suffered. Just know what you’re in for.
August 27, 2021
This is a very demented book and I'm incredibly conflicted on how to feel about it.
On one hand, there really isn't a lot of nonfiction that document cases like this. Unlike fiction, nonfiction completely lacks the necessity of making sense to the reader, which is why some of the sexual abuse described in these pages are absurdly and abjectly horrifying. The details within are not graphic at all, but the mundane responses of the children from the court documents just compounds the weight of their trauma.
There's so much to take in and absorb: how generational, incestual rape is present in branches of the family that escaped poverty, how every public institution was aware of the abuse but did nothing to intercede or even investigate, how the survivors were resigned to their fate with non-human social statuses and their coping mechanisms with their trauma, how the system is in place to maintain and compound preconceptions of the underprivileged. So much indignation and sadness that leaves any reader exhausted after finishing it.
Yet there is a hint of exploitation that I cannot hand-wave away. The prologue reveals that the Golers who cooperated with this writers, especially Donna Goler, regret their participation and did not see this book as a net benefit (indeed, perhaps a net loss) on their lives. Disregarding the ethics of their feelings, I also believe the book mischaracterizes the lives of the Golers. I suppose that the authors were focused on the crimes, and most of the material available on the Goler clan - police and court documents - are focused on their sex lives. Obviously sexual and physical abuse is a part of the family life, but these were not the sole experience. The narrow lens on the Golers' sexual deviances complete ignores the other aspects of family life that can explain why their children returned to them years later, even those who are not in denial about their abuse. It's easy to dismiss this through armchair psychology but I can't help but feel the writers were lazy with their research and could have asked broader open-ended questions with their interviewees. They briefly touched on this when Donna describes her happiest childhood days in school, but for everyone else it sounds as if their lives were a 24/7 fever dream of Marquis de Sade.
The biggest takeaway I have taken from this book is how prevalent and widespread childhood sexual abuse is. This is not a conclusion that the authors advocate or even propose. But I just can't brush away this eerie feeling about how dismissive people are about childhood sexual abuse as much as Novia Scotia was about the Golers. Online, there are conspiracies about powerful pedophiles who indulge in their vices behind the curtains when in reality everyone is aware of sexual abuse in the countryside but don't care enough to raise outrage. In Jeannette Walls' whimsically delightful memoir, she comes across and stops her rustic grandmother from molesting her younger brother. That night, she and her siblings briefly speculate if their grandmother made similar advances to their father, to which Jeannette's older sister Lori ends with "don't think about it." And that's the first and last time that the hypothesis was discussed. This is a sentiment that continues today, where we make plenty of jokes about the underprivileged and dehumanize them to explain their behaviors but do nothing to help.
On one hand, there really isn't a lot of nonfiction that document cases like this. Unlike fiction, nonfiction completely lacks the necessity of making sense to the reader, which is why some of the sexual abuse described in these pages are absurdly and abjectly horrifying. The details within are not graphic at all, but the mundane responses of the children from the court documents just compounds the weight of their trauma.
There's so much to take in and absorb: how generational, incestual rape is present in branches of the family that escaped poverty, how every public institution was aware of the abuse but did nothing to intercede or even investigate, how the survivors were resigned to their fate with non-human social statuses and their coping mechanisms with their trauma, how the system is in place to maintain and compound preconceptions of the underprivileged. So much indignation and sadness that leaves any reader exhausted after finishing it.
Yet there is a hint of exploitation that I cannot hand-wave away. The prologue reveals that the Golers who cooperated with this writers, especially Donna Goler, regret their participation and did not see this book as a net benefit (indeed, perhaps a net loss) on their lives. Disregarding the ethics of their feelings, I also believe the book mischaracterizes the lives of the Golers. I suppose that the authors were focused on the crimes, and most of the material available on the Goler clan - police and court documents - are focused on their sex lives. Obviously sexual and physical abuse is a part of the family life, but these were not the sole experience. The narrow lens on the Golers' sexual deviances complete ignores the other aspects of family life that can explain why their children returned to them years later, even those who are not in denial about their abuse. It's easy to dismiss this through armchair psychology but I can't help but feel the writers were lazy with their research and could have asked broader open-ended questions with their interviewees. They briefly touched on this when Donna describes her happiest childhood days in school, but for everyone else it sounds as if their lives were a 24/7 fever dream of Marquis de Sade.
The biggest takeaway I have taken from this book is how prevalent and widespread childhood sexual abuse is. This is not a conclusion that the authors advocate or even propose. But I just can't brush away this eerie feeling about how dismissive people are about childhood sexual abuse as much as Novia Scotia was about the Golers. Online, there are conspiracies about powerful pedophiles who indulge in their vices behind the curtains when in reality everyone is aware of sexual abuse in the countryside but don't care enough to raise outrage. In Jeannette Walls' whimsically delightful memoir, she comes across and stops her rustic grandmother from molesting her younger brother. That night, she and her siblings briefly speculate if their grandmother made similar advances to their father, to which Jeannette's older sister Lori ends with "don't think about it." And that's the first and last time that the hypothesis was discussed. This is a sentiment that continues today, where we make plenty of jokes about the underprivileged and dehumanize them to explain their behaviors but do nothing to help.
June 20, 2017
After living in Nova Scotia (more specifically, the annapolis valley, between the north and south mountains,) all my life, I already knew the basics about the South Mountain and the Goler family, although the accuratacy of the information I had was certainly questionable, considering how much teenagers love to make jokes at the expense of victims of incest and sexual violence. I imgaine that the majority of people from this area have heard at least the family's name. So when my friend offered to lend me her copy of the book I appected and begun reading.
The beginning is very slow and quite difficult to read. It goes very far back into the history of the area, who lived there when, what happened to them, etc, and just when you feel that the actual story is about to start, it seems to jump back in time yet again. I can see why you would want some of this information included, as it does set a backdrop to what happened, but in my opinion (and the opinion of pretty much everyone else I've spoken to about it,) there was just way too much.
Once the book progresses to the actual subject it was written about, it moves a little better. Although many people would say this is just as if not more difficult to read due to it's graphic and terrible nature. Horrible things happened to these children, and the book is certainly not for anyone who has a problem reading true stories of graphic CSA.
Past that though, I found the book to be informative. Because so much of what happened has been turned into jokes about rednecks and incest, I would recommend it to any Nova Scotians who only know of the Goler's through gossip. The true story is much more sad, classism and family histories of abuse leading to these horrible things being done to innocent children.
It can be hard to get your hands on a copy, sometimes they seem fairly easy to find, but other times the price rockets up on Amazon and the libraries lose all their copies. If you're interested in what really happened though, it's worth the read when you do come across one.
It wasn't an amazing read, but you could argue it's an important part of history for our part of Nova Scotia.
The beginning is very slow and quite difficult to read. It goes very far back into the history of the area, who lived there when, what happened to them, etc, and just when you feel that the actual story is about to start, it seems to jump back in time yet again. I can see why you would want some of this information included, as it does set a backdrop to what happened, but in my opinion (and the opinion of pretty much everyone else I've spoken to about it,) there was just way too much.
Once the book progresses to the actual subject it was written about, it moves a little better. Although many people would say this is just as if not more difficult to read due to it's graphic and terrible nature. Horrible things happened to these children, and the book is certainly not for anyone who has a problem reading true stories of graphic CSA.
Past that though, I found the book to be informative. Because so much of what happened has been turned into jokes about rednecks and incest, I would recommend it to any Nova Scotians who only know of the Goler's through gossip. The true story is much more sad, classism and family histories of abuse leading to these horrible things being done to innocent children.
It can be hard to get your hands on a copy, sometimes they seem fairly easy to find, but other times the price rockets up on Amazon and the libraries lose all their copies. If you're interested in what really happened though, it's worth the read when you do come across one.
It wasn't an amazing read, but you could argue it's an important part of history for our part of Nova Scotia.
October 4, 2020
Living in Nova Scotia all my life I only learned of the Goler clan a few years back, and on the Internet from a site with no affiliation to the Atlantic provinces. I was shocked that I hadn’t heard of it before.
Intriguingly my local library had this up on Libby, this is quite a sought after book as there aren’t many physical copies prior to the reprinting of the second edition- there was a high demand for this book in my area so I had to wait sometime to read it.
The book can be broken down into 3 parts, the history of the valley region and the mountain, the reveal of the horrid abuse and the subsequent trials, and finally, we follow a survivor in the present-day and the now status of the convicted.
The first half of the book covers the history of the region, this was an especially tedious and at times pointless part of the book that could’ve easily been edited down to be much shorter.
The second half of the book, however, is heartbreaking and nauseating. I just can’t fathom the level of depravity it takes to abuse kids and justify it. One of the most shocking parts is that people in the valley to a degree knew these kids were being abused, some evidence even pointed to them knowing for generations.
Perhaps the most disgusting is how light the sentencing was. Yes, they were uneducated and to a degree were cut off from society and conditioned to think the way they thought, be that as it may, they still knew right from wrong, the adults certainly did, as did their ‘clan’ leader. Those children did not get the justice they deserved, nor did authorities prevent future abuse from happening.
All in all, this book is so many emotions wrapped up into one. It’s hard to rate a book that details so much abuse. Based on the writing, research, reporting of events that transpired, and the amount of care afforded to the survivors, I’d rate it 4 stars.
I would recommend to anyone interested in the case but would caution that this is not a book for someone that gets easily queasy, has gone through childhood sexual abuse, or just can’t handle graphic details of child sexual abuse.
Intriguingly my local library had this up on Libby, this is quite a sought after book as there aren’t many physical copies prior to the reprinting of the second edition- there was a high demand for this book in my area so I had to wait sometime to read it.
The book can be broken down into 3 parts, the history of the valley region and the mountain, the reveal of the horrid abuse and the subsequent trials, and finally, we follow a survivor in the present-day and the now status of the convicted.
The first half of the book covers the history of the region, this was an especially tedious and at times pointless part of the book that could’ve easily been edited down to be much shorter.
The second half of the book, however, is heartbreaking and nauseating. I just can’t fathom the level of depravity it takes to abuse kids and justify it. One of the most shocking parts is that people in the valley to a degree knew these kids were being abused, some evidence even pointed to them knowing for generations.
Perhaps the most disgusting is how light the sentencing was. Yes, they were uneducated and to a degree were cut off from society and conditioned to think the way they thought, be that as it may, they still knew right from wrong, the adults certainly did, as did their ‘clan’ leader. Those children did not get the justice they deserved, nor did authorities prevent future abuse from happening.
All in all, this book is so many emotions wrapped up into one. It’s hard to rate a book that details so much abuse. Based on the writing, research, reporting of events that transpired, and the amount of care afforded to the survivors, I’d rate it 4 stars.
I would recommend to anyone interested in the case but would caution that this is not a book for someone that gets easily queasy, has gone through childhood sexual abuse, or just can’t handle graphic details of child sexual abuse.
October 31, 2020
A difficult book to read, if only because of the subject matter. It does go into great detail about the abuse and sexual abuse of children, so if you can't read that, don't even pick up the book.
I did appreciate reading the background of the area, although I think that part could have been condensed considerably to still give us the information and background that was helpful.
The book actually makes me want to read more about the specifics of the trial and aftermath- it seems unreal that (according to the book) the trial basically succeeded because of the testimony of Donna.
As a Canadian, this is such a horrible blight on our "justice" and child welfare systems. The light sentences of the offenders as well as the casual/bad foster care system that the children ended up in is an indictment of our system.
I did appreciate reading the background of the area, although I think that part could have been condensed considerably to still give us the information and background that was helpful.
The book actually makes me want to read more about the specifics of the trial and aftermath- it seems unreal that (according to the book) the trial basically succeeded because of the testimony of Donna.
As a Canadian, this is such a horrible blight on our "justice" and child welfare systems. The light sentences of the offenders as well as the casual/bad foster care system that the children ended up in is an indictment of our system.
October 19, 2017
The most frequently stolen book in the Annapolis Valley library system. It’s no wonder. People living in the vicinity of where this book takes place would be anxious to read about the misdeeds of the Goler clan but might not want others to see them checking the book out from the library. The Goler family lives a ramshackle life on South Mountain, just a few miles from Wolfville with its pleasant tree-lined streets and well respected Acadia University. The first part of this book provides an informative history of the area. I would recommend this book to anyone living in or visiting Nova Scotia, just for the sake of Part I. If you can’t bear the prospect of reading gruesome details of incest and child sexual abuse then put the book down after Part I and don’t read any further. Reading the rest of the book is liking watching a train wreck. You’re too mesmerized to tear yourself away. You know it’s going to give you nightmares. For years, William Goler and numerous other members of the Goler clan abused the children in the family. When they got into their teens, some of those abused children became molesters themselves. The brave testimony of 11-year old Donna Goler helped to get convictions for many members of the clan. While reading about the court proceedings I had to put the book down more than once. It was just too disturbing. One of the saddest aspects of this whole sordid affair is that it didn’t happen all that long ago, and as of the book’s conclusion it’s still going on.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews