The Way the Crow Flies

The Way the Crow Flies follows a Canadian Air Force family in the 1960s as they relocate to a rural Ontario base. Eight-year-old Madeleine McCarthy navigates her new school and community while her father Jack, an officer, becomes involved in Cold War operations. The novel shifts between two timelines - the McCarthy family's life on the base in 1962 and Madeleine's return decades later as an adult comedian. The parallel narratives reveal how past events continue to impact the present, particularly regarding a local murder case that occurred during Madeleine's childhood. Through multiple perspectives and carefully constructed plot lines, MacDonald examines how secrets, loyalty, and duty affect both families and nations. The Cold War setting provides a backdrop for exploring larger questions about truth, innocence, and the complex relationships between personal and political betrayals.

Readers note the book's accurate portrayal of life on a Canadian military base in the 1960s and its rich historical detail. They connect with the childhood perspective and family dynamics, particularly between Madeleine and her father. Readers appreciate: - The complex handling of difficult themes - Authentic Cold War era atmosphere - Strong character development - Memorable prose style Common criticisms: - Length (832 pages) with slow pacing in parts - Too many subplots and side characters - Emotionally draining subject matter - Abrupt ending that leaves questions unanswered A frequent comment is that the first half focusing on Madeleine's childhood surpasses the second half dealing with adult events. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (16,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.2/5 (2,000+ ratings) "Haunting but overlong" and "brilliantly written but exhausting" appear frequently in reader reviews.

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🖋️ Ann-Marie MacDonald spent her childhood on various RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) bases, similar to the novel's protagonist Madeleine McCarthy, lending authentic detail to the military base setting. 🌟 The book's murder mystery subplot was inspired by the real-life 1959 murder of Lynne Harper in Clinton, Ontario, and the controversial conviction of Steven Truscott. 📚 The novel's title comes from the children's skipping rhyme "One crow sorrow, Two crows joy," which appears throughout the book as a motif representing innocence and its loss. 🎭 Before becoming a novelist, MacDonald was an accomplished playwright and actress, winning the Governor General's Award for her play "Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)." 🕰️ The story takes place during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, weaving cold war tensions and nuclear fears into the narrative's exploration of childhood trauma and family secrets.