Louder Than the Sea
Louder Than the Sea by Wayne Bartlett, published by Cormorant Books in 2001, is a 338-page novel that explores the life of Martin Bellman, a fourteen-year-old boy grappling with the challenges of relocating from his family’s small home port on Sacred Island to a larger village in Newfoundland. The narrative presents a vivid portrayal of Newfoundland’s outports, characterized by sharp observations and a distinctive local dialect, steering clear of the sentimental tropes often found in Atlantic fiction.
Readers will find a story that delves into themes of isolation and adaptation as Martin navigates his tumultuous adolescence, marked by conflicts with friends and struggles in school. The backdrop of the seal hunt adds a layer of complexity to his journey, culminating in a return to Sacred Island where he confronts the harsh realities of his environment. This edition offers a detailed glimpse into both the historical and literary aspects of the region, making it a noteworthy addition for those interested in fiction that captures the essence of Newfoundland life.
Official synopsis Publisher
Wayne Bartlett’s Louder Than the Sea is an ice-rimed foray into Newfoundland’s outports. A harsh, sharp-eyed, occasionally hilarious novel, it shirks much of the mawkish reverence that plagues so much Atlantic fiction in favour of a style packed with luminous detail and the lilt of Newfoundland speech.
Martin Bellman, the youngest son of a family forced to abandon their tiny home port (located on a mere rock known as Sacred Island) and settle in a larger village on Newfoundland proper, is finding it difficult to adjust to his new home. Fourteen years old, he fights with his friends, gets expelled from school, and shows all the signs of turning into a career ne’er-do-well. In the midst of the seal hunt, Martin decides to return to Sacred Island, only to be stranded there to face the elements in arduous isolation.
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