Basking in the glow of the brash and fiery metropolis, Maureen tries to create a new life for herself. On a trip to sing at Expo 67, Maureen and her best friend manage to escape the vigilant eye of Sister Imobilis. She’s determined to get there, even if it means faking her way into the school choir. John’s, Maureen dreams of what her life could be like in Montreal. If life at home is difficult, school is torture, with the nuns watching every move Maureen makes. Feeling trapped in St. John’s, Maureen is the second-youngest daughter of a bitter and angry mother and a father who tells the best stories (but only when he’s drunk). In this brilliantly funny and poignant debut, Canadian actor, comedian and social activist Mary Walsh tells the unforgettable story of a young woman coming of age in 1960s Newfoundland. Crying for the Moon explores the many ways in which one day can reverberate through a lifetime. John’s to Montreal and back, Mary Walsh’s dazzling debut novel is darkly hilarious but also paints a very real portrait of the challenges of being young and female and poor in 1960s Newfoundland. She wants to go to sexy, exciting Montreal and be part of Expo 67, even if it means faking her way into the school choir.įinally achieving her goal of reaching Montreal, Maureen escapes the vigilant eye of Sister Imobilis and sneaks away, and over the course of a few hours, one humiliating encounter with a young Leonard Cohen and a series of breathtakingly bad decisions change the course of her life forever.Ī riotous and heart-rending journey from St.

If life at home is difficult, then school is torture, with the nuns watching every move she makes. John’s, Maureen is the second-youngest daughter of a bitter and angry mother and a beaten-down father who tells the best stories (but only when he’s drunk). “A page-turner with an indelible heroine.” -Ann-Marie MacDonaldĬanadian actor, comedian and social activist Mary Walsh explodes onto the literary scene with this unforgettable story of a young woman coming of age in late 1960s Newfoundland

Crying for the moon by mary walsh