I was reading this book at the same time as honouring our veterans on Remembrance Day, so the parts of the novel taking place in France seemed especially poignant. When I read this book, it seemed to me a story of a holy grail. That is for Angus and his wife Hettie Ellen: Ebbin, Hettie Ellen's brother, and Angus' dear friend. In that analogy, I felt Angus to be Galahad, but instead of Angus dying once he sets eyes upon the grail, it is Angus' innocence once he finds out the truth. Without going into spoilery details, I appreciate Duffy's choice. Upon first blush, I thought there would only be two solid choices. I always appreciate when an author can go beyond the black and white, and still weave a realistic tale.

There are a few things which tripped me up, mostly the family dynamic of MacGrath. I wasn't sure how it all came to play.

The parallels between the family waiting for Angus in Nova Scotia and the mother and son which supported him in France - Angus' choice when he wasn't really given one years ago were beautifully done.

The note Duffy has prior to the story even beginning says it all, for me. She hesitated writing about Vimy, but an "old-timer" urged her to do so. Duffy felt "it had been done", and while it's true, the advice she was given, "but too many have forgotten" (paraphrased) rings true. The more we forget history, the more doomed we are to forget it, and more families like the fictional MacGraths will be tormented with loss, and the unknown.