The Day the Falls Stood Still

Inside this gorgeous book is an extremely well-crafted story of love and faith. It would be incorrect to say that Niagara Falls serves as a backdrop for the novel as the Falls with its dangerous beauty almost becomes a main character in and of itself. The book begins in 1915. Seventeen-year-old Bess Heath has lived a life of comfortable privilege up until now. A series of tragic events forever changes her family, and this coincides with her meeting rough-hewn and mystical riverman Tom Cole, who is practical Bess' opposite in many ways. Opposites do indeed attract, and Bess and Tom create a life together, one that is not easy especially in the setting of Canada in the World War I time period. The book weaves in true tales of Niagara Falls history along with fictitious newspaper clippings in a way that is utterly charming. The author creates memorable characters that are easy to connect with and who leave a lasting impression. Absolutely recommended.

If this is Cathy Marie Buchanan's first effort, she has much to be proud of. She has taken us to a time (WW I and somewhat after) and a place (the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls), peopling her engrossing story with characters who will remain memorable beyond the book's end. Bess is a marvelous heroine, if you will, as we meet her at age seventeen, just one year short of what would be her finish at Loretto Academy, and follow her through that eventful summer and beyond. Within three hundred pages, the reader becomes involved in more than a love story, with all of the surprise and tensions and tragedy contained therein; one has a sort of history of the times, when early attempts were being made to harness the power of the Falls, sides being drawn, with those for and those mightily against. You will, once becoming involved with Bess and Tom, be unable to put the book down, such is the power of their relationship...such is the power of Buchanan's storytelling...such is the power of the time and place against which the story plays out. One couldn't ask for a more resourceful individual than Bess, as she grows from the seventeen year-old we meet at the book's beginning to the wife, mother, daughter, friend she satisfyingly grows into. You will enjoy this book! And you'll be waiting with great anticipation for writer Buchanan's next effort.

As a person that has made many trips to Niagara Falls during my years, I especially looked forward to reading this book. I was not disappointed. Cathy Buchanan has written a lovely love story combined with some of the many historical occurrences in the Niagara Falls area. While the main characters in the story are fictional their deeds are very closely aligned with true history. As I read I felt as though I could feel the mist from the falls, the rapids, the whirlpool, the islands above the falls as the thunderous currents flowed by, the gorges with their many marks from old water levels, and see the power of the falls, some of which, the power companies have diverted for mass electricity. The family of Bess Heath is not rich but they live as many others did in 1915, from week to week. Her father was one of the directors of the Niagara Power Company but his drinking was his undoing and he lost that job. He kept his secret for a while but the family had to eat and live. Bess had a sister, Isabel, who was not in the best of health so was unable to work. When the family finally discovered that the father had lost his job, Bess's mother, Margaret, went back to the only thing she knew, dressmaking. She even had Bess learning the craft so she could assist the family but with school, Bess did not have much time. Bess decided not to return to school and helped her mother with the sewing, learning as she went. Bess and Tom Cole met each other "accidentally on purpose" seeing each other on Tom's daily walks. Bess was currently engaged but she wasn't sure she wanted anyone but Tom! Tom was an expert on the entire falls area, a subject his father had taught him. Tom was so perturbed that the electric power companies were taking so much of the water to produce electricity. He wanted Niagara Falls to stay the way it always had been with a constant full flow above and below the falls and whirlpool. But this wasn't to be with the advancement of power in Canada and the United States. Tom was well known for his rescues of many that fell, jumped, or went over the falls or into the river by plan. He knew every rock and every situation that would cause unusual rockslides or changing of currents. The love story and the history of the area are wound into a delightful story by the author. She can spin a love story as not many can. There is too much in this story to give away the different plots so I will not go there. You must read this if you have any romance or adventure or any combination of each.

It was hard to believe that this book was the author's first. It was very well written. The setting is 1915-1923 Niagara Falls, Canada. Loosely based on an historical figure, it also details the history of the Falls and the beginning of the Hydro-Electric powerhouse with the spread of the use of electricity during this time frame. But more than that, it is a story of love and passion between two people, a 17 year old year girl, Bess, and the river man Tom. Tom not only has love and passion for Bess, he has a deep and abiding passion for the Niagara River and the Falls and is dismayed at how the river is being diverted for the making of electricity. He is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, also a river man. Both had became well known for their astounding ability to understand the river and their ability to predict danger and being able to rescue people and bodies out of the river. This book is a wonderful glimpse into the lifestyles of this period in time when so much was changing in our world. Tom goes off to serve in the war that we now call World War One while Bess stays home to raise their son and earn their living dressmaking. We see how the electric companies worked to show people how much better their lives would be with all the electric appliances that would be possible is only they were permitted to divert even more water from the Falls for making electricity. Some going so far as to thinking that it wouldn't be a big deal if the Falls were drained dry to make the electricity. If you have every seen the Falls aren't you glad they didn't succeed? This book is about real people going through real struggles with finances, personal philosophy and ethics, caring friends, crumbling friendships and betrayals, and passions that rules their lives and homes. Although there were sad moments in the book, there were also those wonderful moments of triumph as they turn those bad times into growth of character. This is an excellent novel unlike many that seem to think the only way to write a novel is to see how depressed they can make the reader. This book makes you want to cheer on the characters as they stood steadfast on their own moral ethics no matter if they were the lone voice crying in the wilderness. As I finished the book, I thought how much fun it would be to take another trip to Niagara Falls and see if we could find and see them through the eyes of the books' characters. Unfortunately, our world has become closed tighter and we no longer can take a day trip to the Falls without a passport.

I picked this book on a whim, and I am so glad I did! I thoroughly and unexpectedly loved this book. I found the two main characters, Bess and Tom, to be sympathetic and likable people. The background setting of Niagara Falls was very interesting and I even enjoyed the tidbits about dress making. While I did not necessarily love them, I also liked the way the author included newspaper articles about some of the events surrounding the Falls- cool detail I thought. The book definitely had some very sad details, mainly regarding Bess's family, but the book moved right along with ups and downs. I will definitely recommend this book and I feel that it would also make a good Book Club selection.