Jack Hodgins s'est imposé comme un romancier et nouvelliste acclamé, ses œuvres explorant fréquemment les profondeurs de l'expérience humaine avec un mélange unique d'humour, d'empathie et d'observation perspicace. Son style, marqué par une prose riche et des personnages complexes mais captivants, explore les thèmes de l'identité, de la famille et de la quête de sens dans la beauté souvent rude mais saisissante du paysage canadien. L'approche narrative de Hodgins est profondément ancrée dans l'observation de la vie quotidienne, révélant des vérités intemporelles à travers des récits apparemment ordinaires. Sa fiction résonne auprès des lecteurs pour son authenticité et sa profonde capacité à capturer l'essence de la connexion humaine.
With The Barclay Family Theatre, his second collection of short stories, Jack Hodgins introduces us to a cast of characters who transform the everyday world of Vancouver Island into a wondrous world of human warmth and comic energy.
Focusing on the challenges faced by fiction writers, this guide offers insights from renowned authors on overcoming common obstacles. It covers essential topics like story finding, character development, plot structure, and the importance of revision, along with practical writing exercises. Jack Hodgins, an award-winning novelist and experienced teacher, shares his expertise to help readers enhance their writing skills. With numerous examples and a personal touch, this book aims to improve both your writing and reading abilities.
Recognized as a Notable Book of the Year by the Globe and Mail, this work stands out for its compelling narrative and insightful themes. It weaves together rich character development and thought-provoking ideas, inviting readers to explore complex emotions and societal issues. The author’s unique voice and perspective contribute to an engaging reading experience that resonates with a diverse audience, making it a significant addition to contemporary literature.
The story of a bizarre Irish religious colony which immigrates to Vancouver Island at the turn of the century and of the present day descendants of the group.
It is the summer of 1956, and although Rusty Macken is eager to leave rural Vancouver Island – and his family – for university, the events of Glory’s funeral will not make it easy. Over the course of a single day, the rambunctious Macken clan gathers at the site of the burned-down seaside hotel that was once the family base to mourn and remember the glamorous city girl who married the wildest Macken of all but never quite adapted to their country ways. By the time the sun comes up on the following day, Rusty may have participated in something of a miracle. At the very least, he will have been forced to confront the uneasy secrets of his own heart. Compassionate, hilarious, and wise, The Macken Charm brilliantly captures the joys, the frustrations, and the rich human drama of family life.
Avro, a seventy year old retiree, restores wrecked and abandoned vehicles including a Cadillac Cathedral hearse. When an old friend passes away, Avro and his friends use the hearse to take a road trip to pick up the body; along the drive, they encounter adventures and share their stories.
Broken Ground is a riveting exploration of the dark, brooding presence of the First World War in the lives of the inhabitants of a “soldier’s settlement” on Vancouver Island. From out of a stubborn, desolate landscape studded with tree stumps, the settlers of Portuguese Creek have built a new life for themselves. But when an encroaching forest fire threatens this fledgling settlement, it also intensifies the remembered horrors of war. The story of Portuguese Creek is told by several of its citizens, including a boy trying to recover from the sudden loss of his father, and a former teacher haunted by what happened to the soldiers he led in France. With a memorable cast of characters, and by turns heart-rending and tragic, humorous and humane, Broken Ground is a powerful novel that immerses us in the lives of an entire community.
Amid the vibrant backdrop of Los Angeles' entertainment scene, the novel explores the complexities of love and loss, highlighting the courage required to confront the challenges of aging. Through its engaging narrative, it delves into the vulnerabilities that come with growing older, offering a poignant reflection on life's fleeting moments and the resilience needed to navigate them.
When an unknown woman steps off a beached Peruvian freighter and walks into the Vancouver Island town of Port Annie, nothing can ever be quite the same. Stalwart citizens, tired of their milltown routine, grasp at a fresh subject for gossip. Others are suddenly prepared to make momentous decisions. But eccentric old Joseph Bourne, who knows that the endless rain is going to bring a landslide down on the town, is certain that the mysterious woman has come looking for him. Jack Hodgins’ comic masterpiece is filled with social satire, and it is also filled with love, which permits this ordinary town to recollect the past with affection, and to begin its history again. First published in 1979, The Resurrection of Joseph Bourne won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction.
