Curve of Time

May 1, 2015

Suddenly widowed in 1922 with five children to raise, Blanchet decided against moving to the city, opting instead to spend the next 15 years in her remote cottage on Canada's Vancouver Island, homeschooling her children and taking them boating in the summer to explore the British Columbia coastline. Not a conventional memoir, this account is more akin to a series of journal entries, describing encounters with loggers, fishermen, and the ever-concerning weather. She mentions the children but not as her main focus and usually only three of them, which may cause listeners to speculate about the other two. Appearing generally stoical while dealing with bears, engine problems, and dragging anchors, Blanchet introduces the children to the explorations of Capt. George Vancouver and the mariner Juan de Fuca. The author comes across as an independent woman, quite unconventional for her time. While listeners may wish she had provided more details about her children and how she managed them, the book, nonetheless, has delighted readers for more than 50 years, since its first publication in 1962, and will continue to do so in this format. Heather Henderson narrates in a clear voice that captures Blanchet's can-do attitude. VERDICT Strongly recommended for memoir enthusiasts, feminists, and listeners who love boating and nature.--Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo

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