When Joys Were Vivid: An Immigration Memoir

We were put onto a boat and set adrift. Often Catharina ponders the life-changing April morning in 1951 when she and her family boarded the Volendam in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on a voyage to Quebec City, Canada. For her, these words symbolize the challenges she faced as an immigrant growing up in Western Canada. Catharina's retrospective journey identifies some of the cultural and religious aspects of her upbringing that influenced her transition into adulthood - shaping her into the person she is today. When Joys Were Vivid is a story of resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and the universal longing for joy.

Author: Catharina Kooman
Publisher: FriesenPress
Published: 08/22/2023
Pages: 162
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781039173545

About the Author
Kooman, Catharina: - Catharina Kooman was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Alberta, Canada. Her formative years were set against the backdrop of postwar Canada where she, her parents, and her siblings sought to establish a new life for themselves. After graduating from the University of Alberta School of Nursing, she earned a master's degree in biological sciences from Simon Fraser University. Fascinated by the human condition, she enjoys writing stories gleaned from personal life observations experienced across Canada and the Caribbean. Catharina currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.