Beneath That Starry Place

Ellen Pilon is a library assistant in the Patrick Power Library at Saint
Mary’s University in Halifax.

Nathan Mann is determined to unearth the truth about his conception,
birth, and upbringing. His journey to self-discovery begins with a visit
to his grandmother, Madeleine; she is the former wife of Eamon Mann
(Nathan’s grandfather) and the mother of Ryan (Nathan’s father). At
the core of his childhood is a mystery. As Nathan tries to make sense of
his past, he peeks into the private, intimate lives of his parents and
his father’s parents. Shocking details emerge, particularly in
connection with Eamon’s and Ryan’s exploits.

The choppy narrative, which moves back and forth in time, is an
effective way of expressing the memories that filter piecemeal into
Nathan’s mind. Each memory adds a new piece to the puzzle and, by the
end, the process of delving into and absorbing the details of his
family’s past leads Nathan to a catharsis of sorts.

Terry Jordan won the 1994 Saskatchewan Book Award for his short-story
collection It’s a Hard Cow. Beneath That Starry Place is a lively and
imaginative first novel.