This Bright Dust is a Story of Survival, Division, and Perserverance in 1939 Prairie Canada

Jan 20, 2025 - Nancy C.
Review

This Bright Dust tells the story of two families whose perseverance, dedication and sheer will kept them in their prairie homesteads long after droughts, dust storms and banks drove their neighbours away, essentially killing the small town of Grayley which had supported the farming population.

Nina Berkhout’s writing is evocative and yet as sparse as the landscape it depicts. Set in 1939, as the depression is winding down, Abel Dodds and his neighbours, the Wisharts are eking out an existence from what is left of their parched and decimated fields. Against formidable challenges, the two families work together to once again plant their crops, desperate for a harvest that will save them from foreclosure. In spite of an imminent war in Europe, it is announced that King George VI and Queen Elizabeth will visit Canada and travel across the country by train. While Abel reacts cynically, his neighbour Una has embraced the news whole-heartedly and looks to celebrate the occasion, hoping that the Royal entourage will stop at their local train station.

This heart-wrenching story reveals the kinds of divisions that leave long-lasting scars in a country while also demonstrating the power of love in the face of immeasurable challenges.

Nancy C.
Library Assistant, John M. Harper Branch

Nancy has worked at the John M. Harper Branch as a Library Assistant for over 11 years. Her best days are when she can introduce readers, both young and not-so-young, to new authors/series. She feels like a kid in a candy store at the library, always amazed at the new finds that she discovers. She loves the wide selection of movies/TV series and has done a good number of the amazing puzzles that are in the collection. Nancy sings in a local choir and hits the stage with a theatre production company in New Hamburg. She is an avid reader, gardener, golfer, and newly back to skiing after a 30-year hiatus.