Rating: 
Summary: Great when not over-reaching
Review: Alistair MacLeod has written a short but moving novel about the experiences in the life of a Nova Scotian of Scottish descent. I lost track of how many times the author touched me with a passage in "No Great Mischief". That is no small feat given the mere 283 pages that seem like they're double-spaced. The life of the main character is touched by many of his relatives and we are able to become closely acquainted with many of them. The tragedies that befall family members touch us; deeply at times. We know that there is a pathos to the story right from the beginning as MacLeod jumps back and forth in time (sometimes going centuries in a single bound). Through it all, our narrator is witness to many things and it is his remarkable ability to bear witness that is the success of the book. The problem with "No Great Mischief" is that it trys to do and be too much. The story is best when the narrator witnesses an event. This enables him to share his feelings. There are too many places when the narrator tells of what had been told to him. This makes him "create" the feelings of others and he is much better when he sticks to his own. In addition, the author seems to be in search of a greater theme for his story. We are given scenes from Scottish Highlander history that are, apparently, "recreated" in a modern way; at least that's what I THINK the author was trying to do. The title comes from a quote out of the Battle of Quebec in the 1700's about aScottish military unit in the battle. I understood it to mean that the British general was dismissing the importance of his Scottish Highlanders. I understood that to mean that we were given a glimpse of the lives of people whom the world would otherwise dismiss as unimportant. All of this is fine but it is not necessary because the book stands better without it. On the other hand, those proud of their Scottish ancestry are free to disagree with this point. Read it and see what you think. I assure you, this is a book well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Great when not over-reaching
Review: Alistair MacLeod has written a short but moving novel about the experiences in the life of a Nova Scotian of Scottish descent. I lost track of how many times the author touched me with a passage in "No Great Mischief". That is no small feat given the mere 283 pages that seem like they're double-spaced. The life of the main character is touched by many of his relatives and we are able to become closely acquainted with many of them. The tragedies that befall family members touch us; deeply at times. We know that there is a pathos to the story right from the beginning as MacLeod jumps back and forth in time (sometimes going centuries in a single bound). Through it all, our narrator is witness to many things and it is his remarkable ability to bear witness that is the success of the book. The problem with "No Great Mischief" is that it trys to do and be too much. The story is best when the narrator witnesses an event. This enables him to share his feelings. There are too many places when the narrator tells of what had been told to him. This makes him "create" the feelings of others and he is much better when he sticks to his own. In addition, the author seems to be in search of a greater theme for his story. We are given scenes from Scottish Highlander history that are, apparently, "recreated" in a modern way; at least that's what I THINK the author was trying to do. The title comes from a quote out of the Battle of Quebec in the 1700's about aScottish military unit in the battle. I understood it to mean that the British general was dismissing the importance of his Scottish Highlanders. I understood that to mean that we were given a glimpse of the lives of people whom the world would otherwise dismiss as unimportant. All of this is fine but it is not necessary because the book stands better without it. On the other hand, those proud of their Scottish ancestry are free to disagree with this point. Read it and see what you think. I assure you, this is a book well worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: A haunting, beautifully written novel
Review: Alistair MacLeod's first novel about a Cape Breton family is both haunting and beautiful in its writing. Other reviewers have detailed the key incidents in Scotland, Ontario, Cape Breton, and the mines that are moving and memorable, so there is no need to repeat these here. The love and support of the MacDonald clan members for one another and their links to the lands of their ancestors on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean are what I will always remember. And there are also the descriptions of the omnipresent ice and snow, and their effects, which are unforgettable. This short novel is one of the best works of fiction that I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: What it means to be a Celt ! ! !
Review: Although I read a lot I tend to shy away from pure fiction as I find real life more to my liking.Just because a book is an award winner and particularly if it owes its existance to some grant doesn't mean it's for everyone.I found this a real gem.I had a little trouble trying to decide what I really thought of it.To start with I grew up in the center of Nova Scotia ,as opposed to Cape Breton.My ancestery is both Scottish and Irish as well as Catholic and Protestant.I went to "X" as did the author and lived among the Celtic descendents of Maritimers be they from NFLD,NB,PEI and NS.I am very familiar with the locations,highways,and experiences throughout the book;right down to the tavern beneath the Lord Nelson where we Engineers from "Tech" enjoyed a few cool ones.As with the author most of us left home and settled in Quebec,Ontario as well as scattering all over North America,mainly in the search of jobs.This was the
same as for our ancestors from Scotland and Ireland.While many left,many stayed behind.In fact the population of the Maritimes is still about the same it was 150 years ago.What this novel does is describe the way of life,hopes, fears,love,family,and trials and tribulations of a people and their life.This same has happened throughout history;and similar to what Steinbeck wrote about in The Grapes of Wrath.I am not surprised that some readers find this somewhat dull or boring and even though they lived through it; would just as soon leave it all behind.The only thing I found somewhat lacking was any reference to faith or religion ,a central component to the life of these
people.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: Beautiful is not a word I use often, but it is appropriate for short and moving novel. Every word, scene, and action in No Great Mischief seems to have been selected with the utmost care and artistry. MacLeod's themes are exile, family loyalty, and the destruction of traditional cultures by the modern world. MacLeod writes about the descendents of Scottish emigrants who settled on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, providing an unsentimental and eloquent picture of the traditional way of life of the poor fishers and farmers of that region. Their powerful family ties, their preservation of Gaelic language and Scots traditions, and the ways in which the modern world erodes these traditions is shown through the story of one extended Cape Breton family. Few will be able to read this book without having to pause to control strong emotions.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Literature
Review: For those of you that admire great writing, you'll enjoy this book. Alistair MacLeod is a master at describing great beauty found in some very ordinary people. Other reviewers found the book slow moving. Some people also find waiting for a sunrise a big waste of time, children giggling at the table - annoying, and vacations to Maui boring. This book is not for you if you seek the entertainment of a fast-paced plot. But, if you enjoy character development and thoughtful prose, you'll enjoy this book. The reason I rated this a 4 instead of a 5 is that I enjoyed his short stories in his book "Island" even more than this book.
Rating:
Summary: Quiet, low key and beautifully understated
Review: If anyone should doubt the book critics' relevance in guiding readers' choices, look no further than Alistair MacLeod's "No Great Mischief (NGM)". If not for its constant appearance on their notable reads list, the publication of NGM would likely have gone unnoticed because it's a low key unshowy kind of book that's unlikely to attract attention. But thanks to them, I have discovered a gem about one's family, clan, and roots. Quiet, reflective, and lovingly narrated by a modern day MacDonald in Ontario, the story traces the history of the MacDonalds back to the 17th Century when its first immigrant parent arrived from Scotland to settle in Canada, desperate and poor. The author takes certain liberties with chronology - eg, toggling between scenes of the narrator as a successful dentist and a coal miner working alongside his older brothers can be a challenge - but it's consistent with the story's dreamlike quality. Recurring images or memories unfold like a chorus that locks you into the rhythmn of the song. There are many scenes that are simply unforgettable and will remain firmly etched in your mind, like that of the dead immigrant's wife being offloaded into the sea, the family dog swimming against the tide into the arms of its owner, the tragic ice accident that claimed his parents' lives, his brothers melting ice from buckets to make their morning coffee, the horrific decapitation of a MacDonald in the mines, etc. These floating images, coupled with the impression that the MacDonalds have multiplied like rabbits and all but conquered Ontario, only serves to reinforce the novel's theme of blood and kinship. If only MacLeod had been less presumptuous about his reader's knowledge of Canadian Confederation history and its Scottish anticedent, the references to how key characters fought for opposite sides at different points would have made more sense. Despite these slight misgivings, I enjoyed NGM tremendously. MacLeod's prose has a beautifully understated and intimate cadence to it that suggests an assuredness absent from much of what passes today as good contemporary writing. NGM won't change your life but it'll add to it. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: fantastic
Review: It is amazing how many stories one can pack into a day. Alistair McLeod let's his protagonist's mind wander through the lifetime of several generations in just a few hours. What emerges is the absorbing family history and much more. At one level this novel is the story of Alexander MacDonald, his twin sister and their older brothers, belonging to a family of tremendous loyalty and commitment, steeped in tradition and history. We follow them from early childhood when tragedy befalls them, leaving them orphans, through their adolescent years and to adulthood. At a deeper level, it is a testament to 'blood is thicker than water'. The MacDonalds trace their roots back to the legendary Calum Ruadh ("the red Calum") and his brood of 12 children who arrived in the New World in the 1770s as one of the early settler families in Cape Breton. The descendents of the founding father, Alexander and his siblings, remain cocooned in the close-knit family, protected by the strength of family ties and values which help them through the sometimes painful dramas in their lives. The past stays vividly in the minds of all its members; the grandparents reminding the younger generation constantly through stories of lives lived. Time seems "to compress and expand almost simultaneously"; events are repeated to allow the author to present them from different perspectives. Convictions are expressed almost like mottos throughout the novel: "Always look after your own blood" or "We are all better when we're loved". While Alexander and his sister, living in the relative comfort of their grandparents' home, are encouraged and financially supported in their academic ambitions, the older brothers have to fend for themselves. Poverty is their primary school as they struggle to keep themselves and the farm alive. For the young twins a visit to the brothers is always an adventure where no grown-ups rules apply. McLeod portrays the different characters well - reflecting the particular affection that Alexander has for the grandparents. Most intriguing is the other grandfather, a quiet and withdrawn man, who lives by himself having lost wife and only daughter through tragedies. Despite his doubts about himself stemming also from the stigma of being a single mother's child whose father died before he was born, he exudes strength and compassion and plays an increasingly important balancing role in the life of the family. To escape increasing financial difficulties, the older brothers leave the island for the uranium mines of Ontario and elsewhere. However, the location of home is never in doubt and it draws them back forcefully. After one of the MacDonald team is killed in the mine, Alexander, having progressed well in his academic studies, drops everything to join the brothers to make up the required number. His action manifests the strong loyalty to the family while allowing McLeod to continue the narration from Alexander's perspective. Life in the mining community is well drawn in its crudeness and harshness. While there, the MacDonalds are pitched against a group of francophone Quebeckers. Tension and outright hatred between the two leaders add another layer of complexity and provide in the end an explanation for another major story line - the here and now of the day in the life of... McLeod's enthralls the reader with his portrayal of the land of Cape Breton, its history and mores. It would be difficult to find a more hauntingly beautiful description of the landscape, of the impact that the seasons have on the surroundings and the ever-present power of the sea. This is a book to treasure and to read more than once. Friederike Knabe
Rating:
Summary: Family ties
Review: It is amazing how many stories one can pack into a day. Alistair McLeod let's his protagonist's mind wander through the lifetime of several generations in just a few hours. What emerges is the absorbing family history and much more. At one level this novel is the story of Alexander MacDonald, his twin sister and their older brothers, belonging to a family of tremendous loyalty and commitment, steeped in tradition and history. We follow them from early childhood when tragedy befalls them, leaving them orphans, through their adolescent years and to adulthood. At a deeper level, it is a testament to 'blood is thicker than water'. The MacDonalds trace their roots back to the legendary Calum Ruadh ("the red Calum") and his brood of 12 children who arrived in the New World in the 1770s as one of the early settler families in Cape Breton. The descendents of the founding father, Alexander and his siblings, remain cocooned in the close-knit family, protected by the strength of family ties and values which help them through the sometimes painful dramas in their lives. The past stays vividly in the minds of all its members; the grandparents reminding the younger generation constantly through stories of lives lived. Time seems "to compress and expand almost simultaneously"; events are repeated to allow the author to present them from different perspectives. Convictions are expressed almost like mottos throughout the novel: "Always look after your own blood" or "We are all better when we're loved". While Alexander and his sister, living in the relative comfort of their grandparents' home, are encouraged and financially supported in their academic ambitions, the older brothers have to fend for themselves. Poverty is their primary school as they struggle to keep themselves and the farm alive. For the young twins a visit to the brothers is always an adventure where no grown-ups rules apply. McLeod portrays the different characters well - reflecting the particular affection that Alexander has for the grandparents. Most intriguing is the other grandfather, a quiet and withdrawn man, who lives by himself having lost wife and only daughter through tragedies. Despite his doubts about himself stemming also from the stigma of being a single mother's child whose father died before he was born, he exudes strength and compassion and plays an increasingly important balancing role in the life of the family. To escape increasing financial difficulties, the older brothers leave the island for the uranium mines of Ontario and elsewhere. However, the location of home is never in doubt and it draws them back forcefully. After one of the MacDonald team is killed in the mine, Alexander, having progressed well in his academic studies, drops everything to join the brothers to make up the required number. His action manifests the strong loyalty to the family while allowing McLeod to continue the narration from Alexander's perspective. Life in the mining community is well drawn in its crudeness and harshness. While there, the MacDonalds are pitched against a group of francophone Quebeckers. Tension and outright hatred between the two leaders add another layer of complexity and provide in the end an explanation for another major story line - the here and now of the day in the life of... McLeod's enthralls the reader with his portrayal of the land of Cape Breton, its history and mores. It would be difficult to find a more hauntingly beautiful description of the landscape, of the impact that the seasons have on the surroundings and the ever-present power of the sea. This is a book to treasure and to read more than once. Friederike Knabe
Rating:
Summary: Profound
Review: It is hard to find the words to describe the beauty of Alistair MacLeods novel "No Great Mischief". It is truly, storytelling at its best. As you read, it is like you are listening. The trials, tribulations, loss, spirituality and love that the narrator experiences throughout his life are rich and poignant. So many times I had to put the book down because I was so emotional about the story. His descriptions of his grandparents, sister, brothers and their natures and personalities were tremendous. Although I am not from Cape Breton Island, I am Canadian and of Scottish descent and I felt that the commonalities between the narrator's family life and my own were uncanny. Alistair MacLeod is in my opinion the greatest writer of our time.
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