The Years Between

This delightful collection of colourful anecdotes from Fay Pettapiece's upbringing and married life in urban and rural British Columbia brings on both laughter and tears -- but more of the former than the latter. The Years Between is a fascinating reflection of British Columbia's history, as told from the perspective of an only child whose father's sundry jobs hauled the family from one challenge to the next around the province, and whose grandmother lived a pioneer type of life in Bella Coola. The author recounts hilarious stories of naively trying to breed a variety of animals for profit, all through trial-and-error; of using her smarts and determination to excel at various jobs, as well as her career as a dietitian; of the adventures she and her family experienced in a series of boats they owned over the years, each determinedly referred to as the "never-again." There are also more serious historic tales of injustices to Indigenous Peoples, of politics and pollution in Victoria, and of the ravages of pulmonary fibrosis that took her husband too soon. All the stories combine to make this book a thoroughly enjoyable read.