Along the Border

by Elias, David

• ISBN13: 9781561487240
• ISBN10: 1561487244
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-01-07
• Publisher: Good Books

Summary

    
     A noted Canadian writer tenderly and wistfully tells the stories of a rural, hardworking community near the U.S./Canadian border.

     
     A wistful tenderness lies over the stories in this collection by David Elias. Steven and Bill see over into the U.S. from their farming community in Canada. Wondering and wishing about life across the border, the two boys walk up to other startling lines in their adolescent world that eventually leave them perplexed, angry, wishful. Steven watches his mom, Nettie, and his dad, Clarence, grow far apart, despite the strong expectations of their religious community. He sees blind Uncle Abe romance Miss Nickel, the schoolteacher, unsuccessfully. What are Steven's chances when he meets Marie after nearly hitting her cat with his car? Are there buried rockets across all the borders, leaving a happy marriage and a satisfying career—and trusting friendship with anyone—in likely jeopardy? 
    
     Elias sets his stories in concrete detail; then he masterfully settles an aura of disquieting mystery over each one. David Elias is the author of four books—two short-story collections and two novels. His work has appeared in many journals and periodicals in Canada and the U.S. His short story "How I Crossed Over" was a finalist for the Journey Prize. His novel Sunday Afternoon was nominated for numerous awards, including McNally Robinson Book of the Year, the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction, and the Books in Canada First Novel Award. He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Author Biography

     
     David Elias was born in Haskett, Manitoba and currently lives in Winnipeg. His short stories, novel excerpts, and poetry have appeared in such journals as Grain, The Malahat Review, and The New Quarterly. His short story, How I Crossed Over, was a finalist for the 1995 Journey Prize. He is the author of two collections of short stories: Crossing The Line and Places Of Grace. More recently he has produced novels: Sunday Afternoon (2004) was nominated for numerous awards, and was a finalist for the Books In Canada First Novel Award. His most recent novel Waiting for Elvis was published in 2008.