The Macken Charm

It is the summer of 1956, and although Rusty Macken is eager to leave rural Vancouver Island and his family for university, the events of Glory's funeral will not make it easy. Over the course of a single day, the rambunctious Macken clan gathers at the site of the burned-down seaside hotel that was once the family base to mourn and remember the glamorous city girl who married the wildest Macken of all but never quite adapted to their country ways. By the time the sun comes up on the following day, Rusty may have participated in something of a miracle. At the very least, he will have been forced to confront the uneasy secrets of his own heart. Compassionate, hilarious, and wise,The Macken Charmbrilliantly captures the joys, the frustrations, and the rich human drama of family life.

<b>Jack Hodgins</b> was born and raised on Vancouver Island. He taught Creative Writing at a number of Canadian universities, and retired from the University of Victoria in 2002.<br><br>He is the author of seven novels, including <i>The Invention of the World</i>; <i>The Resurrection of Joseph Bourne</i>, winner of the Governor General’s Award; <i>The Macken Charm</i>; <i>Broken Ground</i>, winner of the Ethel Wilson Prize for Fiction; and <i>Distance</i>; and three books of short stories, <i>Spit Delaney’s Island</i>, a finalist for the Governor General’s Award; <i>The Barclay Family Theatre</i>; and <i>Damage Done by the Storm</i>. He is also the author of <i>A Passion for Narrative: A Guide for Writing Fiction</i>. <br><br>Hodgins has been awarded the Canada-Australia Prize, among many others, has received three honorary degrees, and has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.<br><br><br><i>From the Hardcover edition.</i>