Prolific Thunder Bay writer Bill MacDonald is back with Happy-Go-Lucky: Silver Islet Shenanigans, his 26th book to date. Set in the late 1800s, the book is based on the diary of a young woman named Lucy, who worked as a prostitute at a house called Happy-Go-Lucky during the heyday of the Silver Islet offshore mine. The diary was discovered by MacDonald’s grandmother, who bought Happy-Go-Lucky in 1912, and is pieced together with chapter headings by MacDonald, whose obvious passion for the history of Silver Islet and for maintaining the accuracy of Lucy’s story shows through in his careful deciphering and editing. Offering rare insight into the day-to-day life in a late 19th century mining town, this is a great summer read for anyone interested in local history.
[rating:3.5]
-Amy Jones
