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Susan McBeth’s
TRAVEL BY THE BOOK
“The Day the Falls Stood Still” by Cathy Marie Buchanan
t’s difficult to imagine a Canada without Niagara Falls, yet Having inherited a gift for reading the forces and whims of the
some scientists have predicted that in perhaps 50,000 river from his legendary grandfather, Fergus Cole, Tom is con-
years, this iconic natural wonder will fall victim to ero- nected to, and concerned by, its “awful grandeur” and “fright-
sion, global warming, and the ever-increasing need for ful beauty.” Bess is intrigued, and confused, by his religious-like
Ihydroelectric power. Gone would be the American Falls, worship of the river.
the Horseshoe Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls, all of which con-
tribute to making Niagara Falls one of the most popular tourist When the pair eventually unite forces in marriage, their two
destinations in the world. Gone would be the thousands of tons worlds are destined to collide, especially when they start a
of water that continuously flow over Niagara Falls and the mil- family and find they are unable to support their new family
lions of kilowatts of electricity they are capable of producing. unless Tom takes a job at the hydroelectric power plant that
And certainly gone would be the lure he is convinced is slowly destroying
of outrageous stunts that have drawn his beloved river. As he secretly doc-
record-seekers and daredevils for as uments the domino effect of destruc-
long as we can remember. tion it plays on the natural world, he
explains to Bess how that “kind of
What would remain, however, are the complexity doesn’t happen by chance,”
stories, the history, and yes, the leg- and he becomes increasingly morose
ends, much like those incorporated and conflicted.
into Cathy Marie Buchanan’s debut
novel, “The Day the Falls Stood Still“ Bess eventually comes to realize the
(Voice Publishing 2009). Setting the toll the job is taking on her husband’s
romance of young lovers Bess Heath conscience and sets in motion a
and Tom Cole amidst the develop- scheme that will cost him his job, but
ment of hydroelectric power in the salvage his principles. What they have
early 1900’s, Buchanan skillfully de- learned collectively is that it is pos-
velops a dialogue of specific interest sible to accept the role of the hydro-
to travelers--the challenges inher- electric power industry in the human
ent in balancing exploitation of our desire for progress, so long as it is bal-
natural resources for the benefit of anced with a mechanism designed to
humans versus preservation and pro- protect nature’s gifts for future gener-
tection of these pristine wonders for ations to enjoy and admire.
future generations.
The confluence of Buchanan’s under-
Born and raised in Niagara Falls, On- graduate degree in biochemistry, an
tario, Buchanan is uniquely qualified MBA, and a distinct talent for writing
to represent both interests, which she does through Bess, who has allowed her to create a novel that flows much like the Niag-
lives a life of privilege as the younger daughter of a successful ara River itself—naturally and beautifully. But when it reaches
Niagara Power Company executive who believes the bounties the brink of the falls and its destiny, it is incumbent upon the
of nature ought to be utilized for progress, and working class reader to decide where is “that thin line that separates eternity
Tom, who subsists on the river and is driven by an intense de- from time.” (James K. Liston, “Niagara Falls: A Poem”)
sire to preserve and protect the same river that is being exploit-
ed by the emerging hydroelectric power industry. So if Niagara Falls is on your bucket list, there is no need to rush
your visit, as it will not be disappearing anytime soon. But in
At age seventeen, Bess’s affluent lifestyle comes to an abrupt preparation for your travels, or just for an engaging book selec-
end when her father loses his job and the family suffers a hor- tion in the meantime, The Day the Falls Stood Still will provide
rendous loss. When she meets Tom through a chance encoun- some historical context and fodder for stimulating discussion,
ter at this precise moment, the undercurrent of attraction is preferably over dinner: fresh catch of the day and a good bottle
as strong as the flow of the river which is so integral to both. of Canadian wine of course. ~By Susan McBeth
Wine Dine & Travel Summer 2014 57

