For this week’s book club selection, we travel to Canada and France in midst of World War I in The Cartographer of No Man’s Land (Liveright) by P.S. Duffy. Angus leaves Nova Scotia and enlists in the war, even though he’s not a fighter. He’s really an artist and is promised a position as a cartographer. He hopes that being closer to the war will help him find his missing in action brother-in-law. Instead of drawing maps, Angus is sent to the battlefield. While his family eagerly awaits his return and his brother-in-law’s return, Angus discovers a lot more than he bargained for.
Take a look at what From Left to Write members had to say about The Cartographer of No Man’s Land:
- Rebecca of Life of an Army Wife is the wife of a Cartographer in the Army.
- Tasha from Frozen OJ is thankful her friends and family are safe.
- Ashley Bunker at Memoirs of a Modern Day Wife has stories shared by her family who fought in one, or more wars.
- Catherine of everyday epiphanies muses about war, pacifism, books, movies, and theology.
- Karen from Time Crafted remembers a childhood love.
- Joy of Joy’s Book Blog found a letter from her grandfather sent while training for World War I.
- Martha at Running Into 30 writes about her after work, off the grid lifestyle.
- Char from I (Don’t) Know Mommy had a calling from a young age to work with children.
- Kelly of Cupcake Kelly’s discusses the trend of the Father and Son relationship.
- Jennifer Wolfe from mamawolfe was compelled to step out of her safety zone. . .twice.
- Nancy at The Real Nani finds fate waiting for her at the crossroads of life.
- Amy of Occupation: Mommy loves the idea of traveling all over the world.
- Melanie from tales from the crib reflects on the significance of family commitment.
- Lorien at kaenix.com wonders what family is supposed to be.
- Thien-Kim of I’m Not the Nanny meditates through creating art.
- Robin from The Not Ever Still Life strategizes how best to care for her kids when their daddy isn’t around.
- Karen at A Magical Mommy thinks life is your biggest adventure.
- Meghan At Crazy Casa K connects with life on the ocean in Nova Scotia.
- Michelle of Honest & Truly! always hated the school assignments asking about famous ancestors.
Have you read The Cartographer of No Man’s Land? Join in the conversation by leaving a comment below. If you haven’t read it yet, there’s an excerpt of the book on P.S. Duffy’s website and you can follow the author on Facebook for updates.
About The Author
Thien-Kim
Thien-Kim is Editor of From Left to Write. She sneaks in her reading time late at night after her family is sound asleep. She also writes at I'm Not the Nanny.
So many amazing posts for this book! You can tell how much everyone enjoyed it!
As the author of The Cartographer of No Man’s Land I would like to say that the comments inspired by it have inspired me in turn. Each one unique and each valued. A letter home from one blogger’s grandfather who served in the First World War reminds us of the language of the time and the upbeat pluck that carried our boys overseas. The work it takes to manage the sacrifice life as a military spouse entails reminds us of all of what military spouses, do for our country. I was glad to see that Cartographer, which in many ways is a love story about fathers and sons, brought new thoughts on the topic from one blogger. I was taken, too, by the considerations about pacifism expressed by another blogger who referred to the “moral wound” we instill in those who must fight by not giving them the opportunity acknowledge that they have had to “give up their “normal unwillingness to kill..” I think my own father, an Episcopalian minister and pacifist, would have sympathized with those words, as I do. I hope that Angus’s struggle over his ‘war dead” which includes German soldiers he’d killed helps to highlight that need to address the moral wounds of those we ask to sacrifice on our behalf. A story lives on only in the imaginations of readers and the places it takes them. How moving for me to be witness to some of those places. Thank you readers, one and all. P.S. Duffy
I just love the language and imagery in this book. It is one of those books I wish I could sit and read for hours straight, like I used to when I was a kid!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our members’ post!