Reviews

No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod

mimster's review against another edition

4.0

Better than I’d expected - mix of historic and contemporary story 

kendra_reads_24's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

ldv's review against another edition

4.0

Another great Canadian novel!

There's a nice weave of two storylines: middle-aged Alexander MacDonald visiting his oldest brother Callum and younger Alexander as he grows up. Plus the mingling of the Clan's history with Canadian history. Such a rich heritage!

What I find most intriguing about this novel is its "telling not showing" writing style. Usually writers are encouraged to "show" events and emotions, but MacLeod seems to tell them, yet in a way that still expresses so much and draws you in to love the characters -- the grandparents especially. I think they steal the show. Back to the writing style: it's very straightforward and simple, yet still has a depth to it. So even though some of the history went over my head because I'm so unfamiliar with it, the story that was told came through.

A very worthy read.

sasmort's review against another edition

4.0

I have read a fair few of these kind of books that are memoir of old ways of life in rural communities. This one really stood out for a few reasons. The blending of past and more recent present the meandering story that built up throughout the chapters. The conversation sequences that were so perfectly crafted- especially the one near the end with grandma who has dementia- clever mix of acceptance and frustration.
I was also interested in the links between Cape Breton and my home country of Scotland and the way language and culture passes down the generations.

donaldleitch's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

msvenner's review against another edition

5.0

Alistair McLeod writes beautifully. His language is thought provoking and his prose beautifully constructed. It is a shame this was his only novel.

ashep's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

cassandralynne's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

macwoods's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is economic and lovely… I also appreciate a little Gaelic in my life. There are so many relatable parallels here I’m not sure I understand its universal appeal though. The family is so wrapped up in a past that doesn’t describe their current experience, and yet somehow it does. The story is circular and iterative in the way that life is.

The image that most resonated with me was that of the tree that they cut down to build a wharf or some structure for boats… they cut the tree at its base but it just stayed there, held up by the others. I felt that was one of the important lessons of the book relating to the importance of family and the long felt connection between the folks in this particular culture. The fact that 3 characters had the same name (passed down from one generation to the next) had the effect of restating this more plainly

The end felt very rushed in relation to the rest of the story, and that is too bad. It was also so laden with nostalgia that I think younger readers might have a hard time relating… we’ll see. 

mad_eleine_c's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5