In 1990, writer Charles Gaines and his wife, Patricia, bought a slice of land overlooking the sea in Nova Scotia. Their goal: to create a place where they could retreat every summer to escape the distractions of the modern world and reinforce their marital and familial ties. They would even build their own cabin, with the help of friends and new neighbors, from the ground up. And as they came together in their tight-knit new community to construct the home they hoped would house a wealth of happy memories, the Gaineses gradually rebuilt the family that had very nearly shattered months before. A Family Place is Gaines's thoughtful, poignant account of this harebrained adventure, interwoven with tales of his Alabama childhood, his early marriage and joyful fatherhood, and the quest for success that almost destroyed his marriage. It's a beautiful tribute to family and second chances, set against the stunning backdrop of Nova Scotia.