Reviews

The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp

myza's review against another edition

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4.0

There is a lot to think about in this book. It is a very interesting read and has really powerful moments about being a teenager in a small northern community. Would recommend it.

carlybeth1987's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

tiffani_reads's review against another edition

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1.0

If I didn't have to read this for class, I would have put it down after the first few pages. Thankfully it is a short book because I was bored out of my mind reading it. I know it deals with important issues in the First Nations community but I feel like the way this novel was pitched to me did not live up to the hype. I kept waiting to find out what this accident was and what actually happened but you never find out beyond some sketchy details that may or may not be true because the "flashbacks" happen during blackouts. The entire plot of this book is basically Larry trying to have sex with Juliet and when he succeeds the book ends.... ummmm.... ok. Overall, I was not impressed and will most likely never read this book again or recommend it to anyone.

greatlibraryofalexandra's review against another edition

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3.0

I appreciate this and really valued its cultural impact. The insight into the mental health and generational trauma of the children of residential schooled indigenous people was grim and instructive. The relationship between Larry and his (almost) stepfather was heartwarming to read.

However, it’s pretty obvious the author was 19 when he wrote this, and for me it was unpleasant to spend this much time in a teenage boys head. From the way he talked about women / thought about women to the over used punctuation, it wasn’t an enjoyable read for me from that standpoint. It was very juvenile in a way that often made me cringe. YA but with R-rated content.

That said, I do want to note that the sex scene was an ACHIEVEMENT in writing. Well done. This is certainly a modern Canadian/indigenous classic and worth a read.

gitli57's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective

3.0

Our best Indig writers can place a story in an extremely bleak setting and, somehow, still make it life affirming. RvC does that here. The traumas and struggles of adolescent Indig characters from dysfunctional, poor families is familiar stuff. But The Lesser Blessed holds up pretty well 25 years on. It's a short novel at just 137 pages and this "20th Anniversary Edition" fills things out by including two short stories that are set in the same town and feature characters from the novel. Small town First Nations folks' struggles in late 20th Century Canada. It's cold. And you have to love a short Christmas story that begins "Things to do today: Get laid"

Content warnings for drug abuse, physical violence, animal death and explicit sexual encounter

NOTE: I came back in and changed my rating from 3.5 to 3 because as I thought back over the book, I didn't find the women characters convincing.

emily_poll's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

hollygjay's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5/5

ribread's review against another edition

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5.0

This was so well written—I couldn’t put it down and I read it all in one sitting. TW-a lot of trauma/sexual violence.

mikayllawilson's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

brijeanson's review against another edition

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4.0

I couldn’t rate it 5 stars because of how some of vulgarity bugged me, but the writing was quite good and the story pulled you to it, just takes a bit to get into it.

I recommend actually reading the blurb that tells you a bit about the story because I think it contains some information that aids the stories clarity. If I hadn’t read the blurb part way through my reading I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much as I did.

Also, I found that the added short stories were fine but not really worth the read so if you feel like skipping them do, they’re okay, just the novel is way better. They weren’t really needed.