Doig has such an irresistible way of drawing the reader in.
In this novel, The Whistling Season he began with Paul
Milliron,
a Montana state employee who’s assignment was to close
one room schools. His reflection goes back to the one room
school of his youth in Marias Coulee.
The story is mostly told by Paul’s eleven year old self. Paul had
two brothers, Damon and Toby, the family baby and his
widowed father, Oliver.
By page two a newspaper advertisement was introduced
with the title: Can’t Cook But
Doesn’t Bite. Paul’s father
showed him the ad and there was some debate over not
whether to look into it, because the household had struggled
with four bachelors and disorder, but that Oliver also
needed someone to cook.
By the end of the first chapter, Paul was once again the
Montana state employee tasked with deciding the fate of
56 county rural schools aka one room school houses.
Chapter two plunges us into the saga of the Milliron family,
Friends and neighbors and their way of life. Doig seamlessly
time travels between the early 1900s and 1957, when his
character Paul is tasked with the duty of pushing progress
in Montana’s educational system.
In close to half a century, Paul Milliron witnessed monumental
change; He was philosophical about what was lost and what children
gained from a one room school education.
This story goes way beyond its own borders and could be a
metaphor for humanity’s wisdom when stupidity is usually,
initially an easier path.
As Doig added characters and complications and they affected
the Milliron family, we can see how they could just as well
be us.
Frankly, at the end, I was impressed with the choices of two young boys
and I believe you, the reader, will be, too! The ending underscores
the power of love and Doig gives us all hope!
I heartily recommend The
Whistling Season.
Raintreepoet, reporting.
Hello Teacher and a Raintree Poet. I am a Pastor from Mumbai, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on t he blogger and the blog post on the book review of "The Whistling Season" and your recommendation to read it. I am blessed and feel privileged and honored to get connected with you as well as know you and about your desire to help less fortunate, homeless and hungry the people. I am sure what I am going to share next will be an opportunity for you and your family and young grown up kids to have an opportunity to serve such people in Mumbai, India. I love getting connected with the people of of God around to the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 40 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. we also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have young people from your contact to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life changing experience. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends also wishing you a blessed and a Christ centred rest of the year 2018. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede
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