The House on 9th Line

My grandfather Roland was the kindest man I ever knew. His unconditional love held our family together for generations. When he died, everything fell apart.

The House on 9th Line is a raw and deeply personal memoir about love, loss, and the unravelling of a family broken by silence, favouritism, and emotional wounds left unhealed. Set against the backdrop of a modest yet symbolic family home in a small town north of Toronto, I take readers on a reflective journey through generations shaped by war, trauma, addiction, and misplaced loyalty.

I explore the manipulations of an emotionally immature grandmother, the deep scars of parental favouritism, and how inherited trauma contributes to those left behind being betrayed.

This book isn't just about the house; it's about the legacy of those who lived within its walls, and the emotional wreckage that can destroy relationships when no one is held accountable for the damage they leave behind.

Despite the heartbreak, The House on 9th Line is also a story of healing, remembrance, and the reclamation of truth. I ask readers to follow my journey in the hopes that they can also find peace with their own past.

Aaron R.B. Bangay is a Canadian writer whose work explores memory, grief, and the complex bonds of family. Drawing from personal experience, he writes with honesty and vulnerability about loss, resilience, and the hidden dynamics that shape our closest relationships. He currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with his husband, whom he credits for his unwavering support as a cornerstone in the therapeutic process of writing this book.