PunBB
Hugh MacLennan's "Courage" book. - Printable Version

+- PunBB (https://punbb.in)
+-- Forum: General Discussion - Hipbase.com (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=4)
+--- Forum: Tragically Hip Discussion (https://punbb.in/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: Hugh MacLennan's "Courage" book. (/showthread.php?tid=1953)

Pages: 1 2

Hugh MacLennan's "Courage" book. - Stephen Dame - 04-17-2004

I just started reading Hugh Maclennan's "The watch that ends the night."

Obviously, Hugh inspired "Courage," and apparently the "Montreal" break from the song of the same title, and the "Poor Old Montreal" rant in Courage on LBU come straight from the text.

Anybody else read the thing?

- The Heron Outside - 04-17-2004

I've read it, and it still remains one of my favourite stories...although I am bias towards it, as I enjoy Canadian works written about that time in Canadian history, it still is a great novel. I read one of his other books, Voices In Time, and I didn't think it was as good...nevertheless, "The Watch" is a great book. :thumb:

- sherpahigh - 04-17-2004

I've just started reading that book as well. Might take me awhile to get through it though, I won't have much free time for reading for 2 or 3 months.

Pretty good so far though.

- direwolf74 - 04-18-2004

Man, that's a great book. The bridge part of "Courage" is pretty much lifted right out of part 6/chapter IV. I remember watching an interview with Gord circa '92 where he specifically mentioned MacLennan's writing as the inspiration for the song. I went out and bought the book the next day.

- thipfan73 - 11-05-2004

I'm reading it now and it's a great story. I'm almost to the end of the telling of Jerome's childhood.

When I first started reading it I was really surprised that it's fiction. I'm really pleased it's set in Montreal, one of my favorite cities. I get a kick out of the differences in what life was like then and what it is now. Specially when Jerome tells Catherine he's gonna get her pregnant and they're gonna get married and all that. I nearly died reading that.

I watched the Courage video again the other day and it makes more sense to me now. When I first saw it, I was like

"What does all this stuff have to do with this song, it makes no sense what so ever!"

Can't wait to find out when "it couldn't come at a worse time"

- cougar_trader - 11-05-2004

I read about one book a year and I read the whole book just to try to understand the inspiration behind the "there's no simple explantaion......."
I loved it.
Greg

- Billy - 11-05-2004

It's a good read, but Barometer Rising is much better in my opinion.

- chicagoblackhawks77 - 11-05-2004

Just bought on ebay. What is it about? Seems like sort of a Canadian Ernest Hemmingway.

- Stephen Dame - 11-05-2004

chicagoblackhawks77 Wrote:Just bought on ebay. What is it about? Seems like sort of a Canadian Ernest Hemmingway.

It's a fantastic book, I couldn't put it down.

The whole thing is FULL of lyrical and poignant passages like the one Gord used in Courage.

Basically it's about a soldier who returns home after having been thought killed in the SCW/WW2. It deals with identity and insecurities ("Canadian complex" anyone?) and the general emotional tornado that is love and life.

If you've ever been to poor old Montreal, you'll love it even more... a real tribute to the cities Golden Age.

I think you'll love it. And as for the Hemmingway comparison: I'd take Hugh by a long shot.

- skippy the wonder dog - 11-05-2004

Hemingway was kinda an American McLennan. Smile

Actually, the two don't much compare, except in both being writers.

- Chris Tanz - 11-05-2004

Watch that Ends the Night was my favourite of his books. Two Solitudes was also very good, as was The Return of the Sphinx, if you like you're the whole troubled French-English relations schtick (which I do).

Also read Voice in Time and Each Man's Son, but they're not the best.

CT

- PurposelessPlay - 11-05-2004

I really enjoyed both Watch and Solitudes. But Solitudes is my personal fave of the two. Maybe I'll see out Sphinx, as I too like the "whole troubled French-English relations schtick." And I think I'll break out Watch and Solitudes while I'm at it.

- thipfan73 - 11-06-2004

I can almost see a Bobcaygeon inspiration in the book too.

- St.KittsAP - 11-07-2004

thipfan73 Wrote:I can almost see a Bobcaygeon inspiration in the book too.

I couldn't help but think of "Lake Fever" in some of the flashbacks.

- thipfan73 - 11-07-2004

St.KittsAP Wrote:
thipfan73 Wrote:I can almost see a Bobcaygeon inspiration in the book too.

I couldn't help but think of "Lake Fever" in some of the flashbacks.

I just finished the book and I'm thinking that the last chapter or so might have inspired Day For Night because after all Day for Night is alot about death.