This is the story of the Connor family of Newfoundland, Canada and how their entire way of life changed when over fishing depleted stocks of cod, causing the Canadian government to suspend fishing in 1992. The story travels between 1974 and 1992, and show the impact the ban has on the Connors, a family whose livelihood depended on the sea, as their village slowly dies and the Connors are one of the last families left.

In 2015, I had the pleasure of reading a little gem of a story called, Etta and Otto and Russell and James, and now musician Emma Hooper with the same lyrical and child-like style brings readers another beautifully crafted story: Our Homesick Songs, coming out this August!

Set in Newfoundland, Canada we follow the Conner family; Aidan and Martha and their two children Cora and Finn. We see a glimpse of how Aidan and Martha meet as kids, but the main story focuses on Cora and Finn. This story is odd, magical, but overall a very beautiful one!!

When fish start disappearing completely in this fisherman populated town, families start disappearing too, because there is no work left. For Martha and Aidan they decide to switch off parenting every few months where one stays home and the other travels for work. The school has closed and so the kids are left to their own devices. Cora is creative and smart and decides she is going to decorated the abandoned houses resembling different countries and Finn decides he is going to sail in his small boat to a neighboring town where an elderly lady lives, named Mrs. Callaghan to learn the accordion and listen to her stories. Maybe through listening and playing Finn can find a way to bring the fish back and save his beloved home.

If you are not familiar with Emma Hooper’s writing style; it is very unique. It has a certain formula that suits song lyrics or poems, making it seem in parts like a child wrote it. I like this element to a point, but I’ll be honest sometimes this did get on my nerves, because I could see such a beautiful story forming and then the line would repeat itself.

But overall, I really really loved this! It’s a treat to finish this book and see the story as a whole!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for giving me an advanced copy!

Poignant story, with a lovely voice and especially well-written child protagonists. Loved the magical realism.

Beautifully written but did not hold my attention. For me it was a struggle to figure out what was going on.

A small fishing island in Newfoundland is the home to few, as the fish began to vanish so too did the islands inhabitants. One by one seeking life elsewhere. This is the story of two generations of Connors and those that refuse to leave the only home they’ve ever known. Aiden and Martha take turns working on the main land to support their children Cora and Finn. Finn has a plan to bring the fish back and Cora after decorating every abandoned home to look like far lands makes a plan for herself. Aiden and Martha’s stories are also told in flashback chapters connecting it all. Reminds me of Swamplandia! By Karen Russell, but more hopeful and way less dark.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for giving me an ARC of Our Homesick Songs by Emma Hooper in exchange for an honest review.
Our Homesick Song is a special book as, on the one hand, it alternates between 1974 and 1992/3, describing Newfoundland in times of change, and, on the other hand, includes old folk songs and folk memories. The text is lyrical, the characters are well-rounded - but the plot develops slowly (sometimes too slow for my liking),. What bothered me the most, however, is the use of dialogues as the author doesn’t use speech marks. At the same time, the dialogue often read redundant as it doesn't add much to the actual story which makes the story so slow..

I really couldn’t get absorbed by this book. The writing style was unique ..but choppy and not enjoyable to read through. I was 60% if the way through the book before I could even venture a guess as to what the book was even about. It was sort of all over the place to me jumping about and flittering here and there. The characters were interesting though and each enticing in their own way. I just didn’t enjoy the writing style or the story itself. The author is a talented writer but this just wasn’t for me.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for giving me an ARC of Our Homesick Songs by Emma Hooper in exchange for an honest review.

I was attracted to this book because of the story location: Newfoundland. My hubby is originally from this wonderful place. He took me there two years ago for a visit and I fell in love with this magical place.

Our Homesick Songs is a story of old tales, folk’s songs, mermaids, coming of age, changes, and hope. This lyrical saga jumps in time and tells the story of the folks of Little Running and Big Running. When the codfish were nowhere to be found, the Newfoundlanders left their boats and nets and moved to Alberta for work. Towns were abandoned and hope left with the people… except for one boy who is determined to bring back the codfish.

Emma Hooper writes a beautiful story filled with folk’s songs and determination. The dialogues are sometimes long and do not add much to the story. The song lyrics can be repetitive. She does end the book on a high note and leaves it to the reader’s imagination to determine how the book ends.

This is not a read for everyone, but if you like Newfoundland and its history, you will like it. This book will be available at your favorite bookstore on August 14, 2018.

What a lyrical and musical story. Set in Newfoundland, it’s a homage to the people, traditions and music there and told in the most beautiful ways. Finn is only eleven but he gives himself the task of trying to get the fish back to the waters so the islanders won’t starve. The island will die without them, their parents are away working and the children have to do what they can.
It’s a slow, gentle read but there’s so much beauty and simplicity in being in the moment that I didn’t mind. Newfoundland is the essence of this novel which may be set in a fictional village but has the traits of a proud community and people.

It’s character focused but the mix of that, the setting and the music made it a very unique read. I could almost see the glow in the sky a bit like the northern lights as I read, it’s that kind of ethereal prose.

I enjoyed the author’s earlier novel, Etta and Otto and Russell and James, which was a pick for my book club. This book, however, I couldn’t quite get into.

Does anyone remember Emma Hooper's Etta and Otto and Russell and James? Oh, I loved it. I was so thrilled to see her new novel - out mid August - that I moved it clear to the top of my stack. Our Homesick Songs kind of reminded me of The Rathbones and also a little bit of The Light Between Oceans. It's set in a small fishing village called Big Running that once was flooded with fish but has now run dry. The fish shortage has sent all of the town's inhabitants away to find work, slowly slowly the town has dwindled down to only 6 occupied houses among the dozens of deserted ones. In one home lives the Conner family - Martha and Aidan and their children Cora and Finn. In alternating chapters we get the story of Martha and Aidan's courtship and the story of their present. What I love about Emma Hooper are the little details that make magic - Cora, sneaking into abandoned houses and redecorating them according to different nationalities (an Italian house, a Mexican, Russian etc). Finn, trying his best to lure the fish back according to any old folklore he comes across. Martha with her finely knotted nets. This is a slow novel, but beautiful. 4 stars