Curriculum Approved Titles

The Places Where Names Vanish explores the frightening, encoded, and potentially explosive realities of Quebec and Montreal as seen by Ecuadorean expatriates. Marta longs for escape from her impoverished village, where she is pulled between traditionalism, spiritualism, Catholicism, and a dirty, brutal reality. She gives herself to a soldier stationed nearby who dreams of North America and a career in music. They leave and Marta learns the refugee's signposts: Escape, Exile, Endurance. The Places Where Names Vanish is a wonderfully evocative, subtle and heartfelt novel, which concentrates on one brave human spirit, but raises more questions than any sociological expose.

Ages 13+

Reviews

“Book Briefs,” Ottawa Citizen, November 8, 1998
Besner, Neil. “Letters in Canada 1998: English Fiction,” University of Toronto Quarterly, (Fall 1999-Winter 2000)
Fagan, Cary. “Olé for the ‘sin of self-love,’” Montreal Gazette, June 6, 1998
Keller, Betty. “New books examine dark side of the Canadian dream,” Coast Independent, September 7, 1998
Peters, Joanne.“The Places Where Names Vanish,” Canadian Materials, Vol. V No. 4, October 16, 1998
Rengger, Patrick, “Humane novel is missing its heart,” The Globe and Mail, June 27, 1998