Being Mary Ro by Ida Linehan Young

The winter of 1891 was a particularly difficult one for 14 year old Mary Rourke. After a diphtheria outbreak sweeps through John's Pond, Newfoundland Mary finds herself orphaned and alone. Accepting that she would be destined to a life of spinsterhood after her childhood sweetheart marries another woman,  she set about living a simple, yet hard life, in her outport community. Trying to maintain the two story saltbox house left to her by her parents while working in the lobster cannery during the spring fishery was not much of a life for a young woman. With a heavy heart, keen intellect and a dream of being somebody more than just a lonely outport lady, Mary quickly finds herself in the throws of yet another tragedy.....a tragedy that would bring an injured stranger in need of first aid, a rediscovered passion, and the opportunity of pursuing a new life in Boston.  Mary is faced with a series of tough decisions as she attempts to navigate the love she feels for her home but the desire to break the bonds of isolation and step out into an unknown and frightening new world. She begins to discover that she is no longer a victim of circumstance haunted by her past but is capable of great things and of loving again. This coming of age story will leave you transfixed and rooting for the woman who just wants to be, Mary Ro. 

Being Mary Ro is the first historical fiction novel for Newfoundland author Ida Linehan Young. Inspired by stories told by her father and based loosely on real events, the story of the people of John's Pond and surrounding communities is captivating on so many levels. As I first read this book I found myself transported back in time to the place and circumstances that the author so eloquently describes. With wonderfully descriptive language and well researched historical content, the reader is made to feel part of the community. For example, in describing the community of John's Pond, Linehan Young writes; 

"Barns and stables in several shades of cracked red paint on grey weathered boards scattered throughout the meadows beyond the mostly dull, white-coloured houses. The fishing stages lay half empty of bounty on the seashore, waiting to be filled with stacks of dried cod. Smaller skiffs and punts had been hauled up, their owners on the wharf getting ready to sign on with the schooners."

Ida Linehan Young also does a superb job in developing the characters of this novel. Young Mary Rourke, initially portrayed as a victim whom we feel great sorrow for, demonstrates resilience and strength throughout the entire novel. At first fractured by the vision she has of herself,  the reader is afforded an opportunity to be a part of her journey of self discovery and transformation. At the end of the novel, we cannot help but feel like proud parents and are relieved that Mary has found her place. She is relatable and is a reminder that we can all overcome the adversities of life. 

"Mary's heart skipped a beat as she realized that she did what she did because she was who she was, and that revelation briefly exposed for examination all the inadequate, undermining self-reflection of the last number of months - maybe even years. She wasn't a heroine, she didn't want accolades, she was Mary Ro - plain and simple - and there was nothing wrong with that."

Being Mary Ro is the full meal deal! It will whisk you away to the Victorian era of the late 19th century but also contains drama and crime. And of course, no great story would be complete without a healthy dose of true love and romance. Being Mary Ro is a Flanker Press publication. 

Other titles by Ida Linehan Young can be found here.