Three women across three different centuries, who live on the shores of Lake Superior, feel the power of The Long-Shining Waters. Lake Superior reflects a strong mysterious presence on the women as they travel through the individual days of their lives. Nora owns a bar and when her livelihood is destroyed she finds herself on a journey around the Lake. Berit lives an isolated life in 1902 and has a love/hate relationship with Lake Superior. Grey Rabbit is an Ojibwe woman in 1622 who has powerful dreams that affect her waking life. All three of these women are connected through time and place.
The theme of connection is powerful. As Nora drives around the largest lake in the world, the readers makes connections to the three women and their influence on each other. The past and present converge in The Long-Shining Waters to create a timeless, meaningful piece of literature.
Lake Superior is a character unto itself that demands respect. The water is cold, heartless and holds its secrets and spirits deep within. The sky above moves and dances like the spirits of the northern lights. The imagery is beautiful and draws the reader in, like the lake draws people to it shores.
Each woman in the story is faced with a personal tragedy that she will struggle to overcome. Each of them struggles to understand the crossroads in their life. Each woman makes a journey around the lake. Each woman is powerful, reserved and respects the power of The Long-Shining Waters.
The Long-Shining Waters is up for the Minnesota Book Award on April 14, 2012.
It gets my vote.
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