Ann
isolated woman, likes to paint
John
hard-working man, “would take more than a storm to stop [him]”
Steven
unfaithful friend, opportunist, attractive
Ellen (The Lamp at Noon)
isolated woman, in denial of her baby’s death, wants to run away
Paul
hard-working man, sexist, has faith in the land
the baby son
killed by his mother, suffocated in a dust storm/in her arms
Ellen’s nephew, Tim’s owner
13 y.o., searches for two yearlings
Tim
a tired horse, rode for a whole day in snow, deserves a break
Ellen (One’s A Heifer)
sends nephew to find yearlings, puzzled but indulgent
Arthur Vickers
uneasy eyes, long black overcoat, plays checkers, definitely crazy
Arthur’s “girl”
cleaner and cook, slow-witted, probably got killed
Isabel’s rider
13 y.o., craven, “butterfingers”, impressionable, imaginative, frostbitten ears
Isabel
beautiful, “dangerous killer”, threw and killed a man, threw and broke another’s collarbone, misunderstood, patient
Millie Dickson
school girl, narrator’s crush, motivator for narrator
Johnny Olsen
“show-off swede”, narrator’s rival
Newscaster’s son
likes to wear his father’s jackets, foolish
Newscaster’s wife
works for government, makes crafts and quilts, loves her son, makes a quilt out of her ex’s shirts,
Newscaster
strong and reassuring voice, foolish, leaves his family, rejects his son to go to California, crepey
Erica
production assistant, had affair with the newscaster, lives downtown
Barbara
weather girl, dated the newscaster, bitter
Jennifer
summer student journalist, dated newscaster, goes with him to California
Eleanor MacLeod
dream is to be a lady, husband and son supported her this dream, loves order, lies about upbringing
Grandfather MacLeod
dream was to be a classical scholar, sacrifices his dream for his wife’s
Ewen MacLeod
dream was to be a merchant marine, gave it up to become a doctor after brother’s death out of guilt, lied about how his brother died to console his mother, worries about wife/baby
Beth MacLeod
had a miscarriage, knows the truth of her brother-in-law’s death
Vanessa MacLeod
10 y.o., finds old books/magazines in the attics, lies about finishing a history book to please her grandmother, has superstitious belief about death because her family doesn’t teach her about it
Edna MacLeod
honest aunt, takes care of her sister after the pregnancy, dislikes Eleanor
Roderick MacLeod
lost an eye to his brother’s air-rifle, died in war, baby is named after him
Mr. MacInnes
told his daughter every night “God loves order”, horse doctor
Amery’s brother
junior executive at oil company, “wakes up” at 12, dreams of being the most talented fisherman in town, gets a scholarship
Amery
7 y.o., wide and bright eyes, chews nails, “wakes up” early, kinship with narrator, works in the gutting plant, doomed to end up like his father
Amery’s father
demanding, criticizing, wanted son to have a better and stable future, gave up on goodness of life, “lukewarm water [flowed] through his veins”
Amery’s mother
has worry lines, always anxious, died early, wife of a fish gutter
Mackerel Cove
fishing town, South Shore of Nova Scotia, setting of “Dreams”
Pat’s brother
put a curse on a house, wanted to see himself in his family’s stories, identity crisis
Bernice
Pat’s aunt, arranges sale of narrator’s house, lives in a small and snug house, next door to nine kids
Pat
oldest sister, has a diver’s license,
Jennie
Pat’s younger sister, cried in the backseat when the house was sold
Coco
got hit by a car, bit the driver
Tim (Mirrors)
neighbour to Aunt Bernice, shares everything with 8 siblings
Pat and Jennie’s mother
put in a clinic, wanted to take the boat out for a picnic when it was snowing
Yvonne
Liza’s kindly aunt, compared to rose petals in a summer breeze, vulnerable and delicate
Loonie
offensive name for someone who lives on the island in Lake Winnipeg
Bryan
Liza’s crush
Liza
father’s smile and eyes, tall and skinny, blonde hair, has to spread her father’s ashes on the island but loses her nerve, Ojibwa
Danny Mitchell
first boy to kiss Liza
Ronette
oldest of the Linklater kids, kind and mature, used to sharing everything, including her mother’s attention
Delia
Liza’s rude and often insensitive cousin, crush on guitarist
Wicked Willie
lead guitarist in a heavy metal band
Jason
older brother, punished for vandalism, helps his principal
Cory
5 y.o., acts as a band-aid, brother calls him a “bathtub mouth”, first to skate on the rink
Mr. Givens
former principal, widower, bad relationship with his son
Michael
grown son who isn't very understanding of his father, lives in Toronto, doesn't skate anymore
Bradley
Michael’s son, doesn't want to skate
Shane
“Gang” leader of Jason's group of friends, eggs and pellet guns old principal’s house, goes to “jaydees”
Jaydees
Place for juvenile delinquents, Shane is sent there
Lida Snider
Nicknamed “Lider”, always gets picked last for teams, brown hair, large green eyes, grade 7, compared to a water lily
George
Team A leader in Lida’s gym class
Helena
Team B leader in Lida’s gym class, knobby knees
Tiffany
fairy-like, wide grey eyes, blonde curls, "stands like a Duchess... moves like an angel,” likes to gossip
Mr. Snider
drinks, unemployed, hugs and apologizes to his daughter sometimes
Mrs. Snider
works in Wal-Mart stockroom, loved a ragdoll as a kid that became faceless, had high hopes for family, never says sorry, vakes chocolate chip cookies
Dartmouth
Municipality in Nova Scotia
Sally and Kitty
Lida’s imaginary older and younger sisters
Julie Halloway
tall, straight black hair, father in the Navy, moves a lot, owns pet canary, 12 y.o., compares her friend to a water lily
Mrs. Jollifee
Lida’s teacher at Tower Road School, teaches about similes
Cliff Halloway
Julie’s brother, grade 12, plays piano, self-confident