Courage My Love

June M. Blurton is a retired speech/language pathologist.

Mrs. Phillipa Maria Donahue is a newcomer to Toronto. When she decides
she is losing her individuality, she leaves her husband and smart
Yorkville address, takes a room over a store in Kensington Market,
changes her appearance, and becomes Nova Phillip. In Kensington Market,
she meets an assortment of men and women who have been rejected by
mainstream society and have adopted those in the community as their
family. Foremost is Tommy, an accomplished artist who knows everyone.
Tommy becomes Nova’s mentor; he insists that she learn to really see
the things and people in the community. As she wanders through the
market, she views the stalls piled high with fruits and vegetables,
fresh meat and fish, and second-hand clothes and she smells the
all-pervasive odor of rotting garbage. Gradually, Nova is accepted by
her new friends. Then, just as it looks like things are about to go very
wrong for Nova, Tommy makes an impassioned plea to the community asking
that they tolerate those who have differing outlooks, appearances, and
behavior.

The writing of this novel is very uneven. If, however, the reader can
get through the first chapter the rest of the book presents an
interesting, if muddled, story.