Review: Burden of Memory

Many Canadians have hazy images of the heyday of the Muskokas, often based on Tamarack's lyrics or Leacock's stories. In these images, the Muskokas are a tame version of the Canadian wilderness; the water and forests juxtaposed with the enormous 'cottages' to which wealthy Torontonians escaped for the entire summer, bringing a full staff of servants with them to their wilderness getaways, of course. This vision of the decorous lifestyle of the elite on holiday in the Muskokas is a particularly Canadian version of a period that appears far more elegant and gracious than our own - for the families, if not the servants. For a balanced view, it is important to remember that this period, finally concluded by World War II, saw terrible suffering, and the moneyed elite who summered in the Muskokas did not escape. But can any period of history be so neatly encapsulated; tidily contained within the boundaries of the turn of the century and the end of World War II? In 'Burden of Memory', long-ago events still cast their shadows and ghosts of old tragedies linger on.

Moira Benson rules her family's historic Muskoka cottage with both generosity and a certain degree of rigidity, hosting the remainder of her family when they make the traditional pilgrimage to the Muskokas for holiday weekends. As she nears the end of her life, she decides to have a memoir written focussing on her experiences as a Canadian Army Nursing Sister during World War II. The first writer she hires cannot swim, and drowns in the lake during a Benson family holiday weekend. The death must surely be a tragic accident - although the police seem less certain - and Elaine Benson, Moira's second choice, agrees to take on the job. Elaine revels in the opportunity to return to her first love, Canadian history, after having been lured away during her unhappy marriage, but some of the Bensons are less enthusiastic about the memoir. Elaine herself becomes convinced that Moira is leaving out important details of her life story.

The action moves backwards and forwards between the present day and the period just before and during World War II, during which Moira matured from a girl to a woman. The physical and mental agonies of war are in stark contrast with the gentle aging of the old cottage and the somewhat more irascible aging of its chatelaine.

In describing Moira's early adulthood and old age, "Burden of Memory" combines a view of the last of the great days of the Muskoka summer cottages with a tribute to the Canadians in World War II. In both cases, the approach is clear-eyed and unsentimental.

The mysteries - there are actually two of them - are a little slight for a mystery novel, but work well to tie together the two eras in the story, reminding us how the past lives on in the memory and actions of those who survive. I would highly recommend 'Burden of Memory' to anyone wanting a light mystery with more depth than usual.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM

Book Review: Burden of Memory