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"I found
The Summer Before the Storm to be a bigger-than-life family saga. It
reminded me of R. F. Delderfield's A Horseman Riding By. In my opinion,
Gabriele Wills's ability to evoke a feeling for the times and characters is
equal to Delderfield's. She has an amazing ability to portray multiple
characters, most of whom are quite wealthy, during an idyllic Muskoka summer as
it was in pre-war 1914. This summer contrasts starkly with how their lives are
dramatically changed by the onset of WW1. The reader will surely draw parallels
between the senselessness of this war and the current conflict in Iraq. I knew
this novel was far above average when I found myself neglecting important
business matters to sneak in another hour or two of reading. If you like grand
scale novels, this is the one. I anxiously await book two." - Robert
Schoenberger, Pittsford, NY
"I
literally just finished The Summer Before the Storm and wanted to write
to you about it. I haven't had a chance to collect my thoughts, but will do so
in a little while so I can provide you with a proper and detailed dissertation.
In the interim, I just wanted to say how lovely and yet how evil it was of you
to end the book that way. I had purposely delayed and found ways not to finish
the story -- including starting to read the book again and even rereading your
first two novels -- knowing full well I would hate to finish this one (I just
didn't know how much). All that said, it was an absolutely wonderful read. I
haven't been that emotionally invested in a story in many years. Initially I
had worried it would not live up to your first two novels, but it actually
turned out to be even more enjoyable." - Amitav Dash, Guelph, Ontario
"I just
finished the Muskoka book and it was fantastic!! Congratulations on another
great book! ... many points in the book brought me to tears.... I love history
but tend to find the war stuff quite boring - however you made it all
interesting by connecting it to great characters! Thanks for a great read." -
Colleen McKay, Ajax, Ontario
"I just
finished reading a signed copy of The Summer Before The Storm. I have
summered on Lake Rosseau for over 50 years. The Eatons' cottage was close by
and we heard lots of stories about 'The Big Boathouse' that housed their steam
ship, The Wanda. Your book brought back many memories. My grandfather
came up every weekend in his Ditchburn from the Gravenhurst wharf." - A
Muskoka cottager
"Excellent as always, can't wait till the next one! The Summer
Before The Storm is definitely a page turner. The characters, setting and
story are so real and vivid. How wonderful it is that there is more to come!" -
Eunice Lay, Toronto, Ontario
"Your
thorough research in combination with deep personal memory has given your story
an authentic richness. Your book has succeeded where many others have failed,
for it is evident you lived enough of the 'Muskoka life' to enrich so many of
your images. You successfully wove your own personal tapestry of granite,
water, sky, sun, wind, waves, the exhiliration of running freely in the
magnificent company of nature with daringly delightful individual souls, each
of whom had stories to tell, lives to live as part of and seperate from the
Muskoka backdrop. Your sholarly imagination provided the chinking that has held
the story so firmly together. I especially love how well you captured the
tensions and contrasts of an era when the world had seemingly gone mad,
families were uprooted, lives changed while others were destroyed. The world
was being redefined, yet Muskoka prevailed to bring comfort and joy amidst
times of tumultuous upheaval. I hope the next book in the saga is well underway
for certain lives must continue, changes must occur, disasters and wars must
meld with the beautiful, romantic, sustaining images of Muskoka. A Muskoka that
will not relent despite what the fates might have in store! Well done!" -
Marilas McInnis, Lindsay, Ontario |
I'm looking forward to
hearing your comments! I won't promise that all of them will be published on
this webpage, but I will read and respond to them all. Let me know if you don't
want your comments made public.
I'm deeply grateful to
all those who have taken the time to write to me. You've inspired me to keep
writing!
"You
have created a masterpiece. I loved every moment I shared with Augusta, Chas,
Jack and Ria. I am eagerly awaiting the next Muskoka novel and in the meantime
I am sharing my love of this one. My mom vacationed on Lake Joseph as a child
in the 1930's and waitressed at Windermere house in the 1940's. She lived in
Rosedale and travelled to Europe and plays all those tunes on our piano. I am
very appreciative for your depiction of the first world war. My grand-mother
lost two brothers in that war and I've always felt that I had no real
understanding of it. Today with the war in the Middle East, I still feel as
though I have no understanding again. This novel gave me a glimpse of the
horror of war, it felt like a first hand account. I'm now enjoying the CD for
The Summer Before the Storm, but please publish your sequel soon. In the
meantime I'm sure I will enjoy A Place To Call Home ... [and} Moon
Hall, so as you can see you have an avid and dedicated fan." - Janet
Porter, Lindsay, Ontario
"The
Summer Before the Storm: "How do I love this book? Let me count the ways".
This book is more than a novel. It is social history. It is about a privileged
community living a hedonistic lifestyle in a specific historical period in a
real, specific summer retreat, Muskoka, Canada. A very large cast of characters
has been imagined. The larger context for their story is world events and their
shapers.
The author's familiarity and love of Muskoka is obvious. Her
meticulous, scholarly research is evidenced by an extensive bibliography. The
inclusion of the words of the songs of the period was inspired. Many readers
will relate to Vera Brittain's TESTAMENT OF YOUTH listed in the bibliography.
For this reader, in the England part of the book V. Woolf's MRS. DALLOWAY came
to mind.
Re the actual story .. the listing of the characters and their
relationships at the beginning of the book is a handy and necessary accessory.
I liked the heroine, Victoria (well named) .. a defier of convention who
encouraged others to be the same. She was not a crusading suffragette. She was,
rather, a toned down feminist. Her premonitions kept the reader engaged as did
Jack's strategic moves. Other interesting personalities, to mention only a few
were autocratic Augusta (well named); Helena and Lizzie "on the make" and
Phyllis, the venomous prune.
It was a given that those who found themselves
overseas would find ways to stay connected. The reader knows there is more of
this story to be told... I eagerly await volume 2." - Muriel Cluett,
Toronto, Ontario
The
Summer Before The Storm is simply marvelous! Another wonderful story which
captivated me from beginning to end. Your vividly descriptive settings
transported me to a new place each time I read. It was like watching a movie in
my head. Your fascinating and intriguing characters are so real, so believable,
each one unique and passionate in his/her own way. I couldn't help but be drawn
into the emotions and circumstances of their lives. Once again, you have
intertwined fact and fiction into a compelling story that educates and stirs
emotion. As I read, the 'Forward' of your book periodically came to mind,
making me think about how lucky the people are who have found their own
'Muskoka'. (You may have coined a new phrase.) Congratulations on another
fabulous story! I am anxiously awaiting 'Part 2'! - Nancy Graham Lindsay,
Ontario
"I
thoroughly enjoyed The Summer Before The Storm from start to finish!! A
reader always knows you have a good book in hand when there is a compelling
urge to sneak ahead a couple of pages!!! I can only imagine the task it is to
assemble such a rich cast of characters, develop their roles in the story and
wrap them all up in a book. You have a wonderful talent!! Of course, I am
always looking for those architectural gems and am never disappointed!!
Congratulations Gabriele, and continued success." - Allan Dracup, Cavan,
Ontario.
"I got
up at 5A.M on Saturday morning to read the last bit of The Summer Before The
Storm . I didn't want to spend the whole day doing mundane chores without
knowing how it ended. I'm totally addicted! I enjoy your writing style, and
love your /my characters, and resent the fact that I cannot continue my
relationship with them right away. I'll read anything, it's an addiction, but
most of the stuff I read leaves me feeling like I've wasted my time. Like a
food addiction, I usually stuff it quickly into my mouth and swallow without
chewing. I chewed and savoured every word in your book. I loved it! Get
cracking on number 2!!!" - Susan Salvati, Mississauga,
Ontario
"This
is another fabulous read. You have a way of drawing the reader into the lives
and emotions of your characters. Your characters are so very real. I felt I was
right there with them. It is also meaningful to me to have signed copies of
your books. I can hardly wait for your next Muskoka novel. Keep on writing!
" Marie North, Courtice, Ontario |
