Wayne Johnston Boeken

For Bill, the end has always been in view. His life has seen a series of unlikely extensions. When he was young, he hated his father and contemplated suicide. Later in his life he was diagnosed with leukemia and expected to die within months. Bill's childhood was spent on a communal evangelical mission, but eventually Bill began to question his parents' strict religious beliefs. His father reacted with violence and Bill felt trapped between the dishonesty of trying to conform to his parents' beliefs and the conviction that he was doomed to hell for questioning them. Eventually he provokes his father into a confrontation that leads to an outcome that redefines their relationship and alters the course of both of their lives. By midlife, Bill has been married for twenty years and has his own family. The challenges he has faced at sea as chief engineer on tugboats have helped him heal. His thoughts of suicide have faded. His father's recent descent into Alzheimer's Disease has created an avenue for the reconciliation the two have worked on for years. Then, unexpectedly, a story emerges about his father, involving his sister, and Bill is confronted once again with the dark side of his father's personality.

"Wayne Johnston's family -- his mother, father, and three brothers -- were always on the move. The year he turned eight, the most memorable year of an unusual childhood, they found themselves occupying a wreck of a house in the community his mother Jennie was from: Goulds, Newfoundland was not so much a place as a scattering of homes along an unpaved road. Everyone knew him as "Jennie's boy," and his tiny, ferocious mother felt judged for Wayne's sickly, skinny condition -- he had to spend much of his time in a bed on wheels that was moved from room to room. While his brothers went off to school, Wayne passed his days with his witty, eccentric maternal grandmother, Lucy, whose son Leonard had died at the age of seven and whose photo stood alongside a statue of the Blessed Virgin. Jennie's Boy recalls a boyhood full of pain, laughter, tenderness, and the kind of wit for which Newfoundlanders are known. By that wit, and by their love for each other -- so often expressed in the most unloving ways -- he, and they, survived" -- Provided by publisher

"The Colony of Unrequited Dreams" is a sweeping mystery and love story set in Newfoundland, following Joey Smallwood, who rises from poverty to become the first premier, and Sheilagh Fielding, a satirical writer. Their intertwined lives reflect themes of ambition, love, and the clash of personal and historical narratives.

Set in a Catholic colony established in the 1620s on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula, the narrative revolves around the Johnston family across three generations of fathers and sons. The story is rich with vivid descriptions and features a compelling cast of stubborn and acerbic characters, capturing the essence of family dynamics in a historical context. It evokes a unique sense of time and place, reflecting the qualities found in Wayne Johnston's acclaimed works.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows Sheilagh Fielding, a tall and striking woman navigating life on a deserted Newfoundland island. With a crippled leg and a sharp wit, she has made enemies through her revealing newspaper columns about St. John's society. The mysterious figure known as her Provider has shadowed her for two decades, holding the key to her secrets. The narrative explores themes of power, vulnerability, and resilience in a historical context, making Fielding a compelling and complex character.

Wayne Johnston captivates audiences in his lecture at the University of Alberta, where he explores the myths and realities of Newfoundland. As a master storyteller, he enriches his talk with engaging anecdotes and spontaneous asides, offering listeners a blend of entertainment and insight into his native land. His participation in the Canadian Literature Centre's Henry Kreisel Lecture Series highlights his prominence as a Canadian writer and his ability to connect with an enthusiastic audience.

At the centre of THE NAVIGATOR OF NEW YORK is the rivalry between Robert Peary and Frederick Cook to be the first American to reach the North Pole. Its protagonist, however, is Devlin Stead, a young man from St John's, Newfoundland. Devlin's mother dies, in mysterious circumstances, when he is only five, and he endures a lonely childhood before discovering the truth about his parentage. That discovery transforms his life- he finds his true father and embarks on a journey of unbelievable risk. His adventure brings him celebrity, acclaim from New York 'society', real love, and finally the truth about the bitter feud between two strange, driven men.

Beloved author Wayne Johnston returns to the territory of his #1 national bestseller The Colony of Unrequited Dreams with this sweeping tale of ambition, remorse and hope. A World Elsewhere is an astounding work of literature with all the hallmarks of Wayne Johnston's most beloved and acclaimed novels: outsiders yearning for acceptance, dreams that threaten to overpower their makers, and unlikely romance. The beating heart of this story is the touching relationship between a father and his adopted son. This sweeping tale immerses us in St. John's, Princeton and North Carolina at the close of the 19th century. Landish Druken is a formidable figure: broader than most doorways, quick-witted and sharp-tongued. As a student at Princeton, he is befriended by Padgett "Van" Vanderluyden, son of the wealthiest man in America. Years later, when Landish and his son turn to Van for help, he invites them to his self-constructed castle and pulls them into his web of lies and deceit.

Set against the backdrop of the television revolution, the story follows Henry Prendergast, who not only grew up watching TV but also starred in the hit children's show "Rumpus Room." As he navigates life in the spotlight, shaped by his mother Audrey's creative vision, Henry's journey reflects the complexities of fame and family dynamics. The narrative blends humor and poignancy, exploring how the rise of television transformed his family's life from ordinary to extraordinary, while also critiquing the impact of media on personal identity.

This collection features haunting micro fiction that captivates with its blend of black humor, horror, and tragedy. Each story offers unexpected surprises and plot twists, engaging readers in a unique exploration of diverse themes and genres. The emphasis on word play and conceptual games adds depth, making it a thought-provoking read for those who appreciate literary experimentation.