Naomi's Houses

“In Naomi’s Houses, Tennison brings us not only into her own tumultuous upbringing, but also into a time and place in Canada that no longer exists. This book overflows with the small intimate details of a life of struggle––but also of love, resilience, and family.” —Christina Myers, award-winning author of Halfway Home and The List of Last Chances “In this moving account of relentless poverty and struggle in 1960s rural Manitoba, we watch a resilient mother and observant child adapt to life after the loss of their breadwinner. Tennison keeps sentiment in check, heightening the power of the narrative.” —Marjorie Doyle, award-winning broadcaster, journalist, and author of Mary Foley, Mary Doyle: Unravelling a Mother’s Secrets “Blending rural Prairie history and personal narrative, Rosalie I. Tennison’s memoir honours the love and courage of her mother, the sure centre of her childhood. Naomi’s Houses is the richly detailed story of the houses that hold a family across generations and the people that make a house a safe home.” —Jenna Butler, author of the Governor General's Award–nominated Revery: A Year of Bees “A spellbinding examination of home, hardship, loss, love, and family resilience. The diary excerpts that begin each chapter create an intimate bridge between Tennison’s personal reflections and that of her mother’s—her life, raising children, securing housing, and dealing with the stranglehold of poverty. Certainly, a thought-provoking and captivating journey to savour.” —Rowan McCandless, author of the Governor General's Award–nominated Persephone's Children