CBC NEWS: London-Area Author Draws on Huron County Farm Experience for Debut Novel
Read the CBC News article that showcases John Van Rys and his debut novel, Milksop - a transcription of his on-air interview and an audio link to listen to the conversation.
Retired literature professor John Van Rys says Milksop is a hopeful coming-of-age story
LONDON — A retired English professor who spent decades teaching Canadian literature has now added his own work to the shelves.
John Van Rys recently released his debut novel, Milksop, which has been included on the Giller Prize's Craving CanLit summer reading list.
Set in the London area and rural Huron County in 1979, the novel follows 17-year-old Evan Mulder after he's sent to work on a dairy farm for the summer. The story draws on Van Rys's own experience as a London teen working on a farm.
A coming-of-age novel by John Van Rys
The summer of 1979 should have been simple: two months on a dairy farm in rural Ontario to make up for a disastrous winter term. But for seventeen-year-old Evan Mulder—awkward, angsty, and armed only with a gift for running and numbers—nothing about the Logan farm proves simple.
Dumped in a dark laneway by his disappointed parents, Evan finds himself among strangers: the reserved Niall, warm-hearted Connie, their two young children, and one very judgmental farm dog. Between early morning milkings and mucking out stalls, Evan discovers that the Logans are caught between a rock and a hard place—mounting debt, a predatory neighbour circling their land, and farm records buried in desk drawers like secrets no one wants to face.
As Evan learns to navigate life beyond his suburban comfort zone, he also confronts the truth he’s been running from all year. In a summer of chickens and calculations, flower gardens and financial ledgers, he’ll find unexpected ways to belong—and discover that being small in a world of big egos might not be weakness, but wisdom.
A tender coming-of-age story set against the rhythms of rural life, Milksop is about the quiet courage it takes to show up, the healing power of honest work, and learning that sometimes the smallest acts of care matter most.
