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iris_krauze's review
3.0
Okay, so I'm writing yet another review where I came into reading the book with really high expectations and left feeling... a bit mediocre about the book? And simultaneously tons of mixed feelings, in which I so appreciated so much of this book and what it has to offer, and I also very much felt frustrated, tired and annoyed by a lot of this. Here I'll explain with a "on one hand, on the other hand" format.
On one hand the book seemed to be beautifully written at first, and then throughout much of the book, the writing style sentence for sentence never declined. The book was written in vivid detail that brought clear images to my mind, and there was a sense of awe and wonder brought about in the descriptions of nature, the stars, the universe and connection to family, culture, tradition, ritual and childhood memory. There was a tenderness and humour as well as awe-inspiring way that the book was written that pulled me in at the start, and got me excited for what was to come.
On the other hand, what was to come was more beautifully written, vivid, and detail, oh so detailed, oh so descriptive chapters of childhood stories and memories. There was detail ad nauseam, and it became... unfortunately tiring after a while. Many of the chapters were accounts of memories from life in Brochet, the Reserve that Highway grew up on, or Guy Hill, the residential school he attended, or memories of nomadic life with his family, which was extremely interested and such a valuable record of life, history and culture, but then, while I thought I would be given a taste of these stories so I can build up a sense of his world as he delved into deeper reasons and stories that would lead us through the arc of the book, no arc really came. We did get into a few chapters that delved into darker times of his life, but most of the book simmered around these vignettes that made the rhythm of the book a bit exhausting, and honestly felt more like a relatives' list of childhood stories they'd tell around a dinner table without much realization that folks are starting to drift, rather than really a coherent memoir.
On one hand, while the detail and even the story telling style was important- the record of all the names, places, roads, ways that his father catches his fish, etc, etc, are an incredible record of Cree culture, and even the way the memoir is structured may not follow a typical formula but more of a story-telling style that is valuable in it of its self...
On the other hand, I guess it wasn't my cup of tea after a while?
I also want to get into a bit of a discussion here around something some other people in the reviews have touched on in terms of Highway's depiction of residential schools. I am not the authority on whether or not Highway's memoir does overall damage to our collective understanding of the damaging and disgusting legacy of residential schooling. I am also of the belief that no experience is solely good or bad, and if it so happened that Highway had many good memories at his residential school, then he has full right to write openly and honestly about his experiences in a truthful way. All that said, reading this book, it was surprising to read so many positive and warm accounts of the residential school, the staff, and Highway's experience to the point that it did raise my eyebrows. On further research, it looks like even Highway's brother has spoken out about Tomson's positive portrayal of residential schools, saying that Highway didn't tell the whole story and that for what he did tell, him and his brother were some of the "luckier ones". Tomson does discuss his experience of abuse in a particular chapter of the book, and there are definitely other moments and things that he cites were common practice at his school that are reflective of not the best of institutions, but on the whole, Highway writes about his experiences with a lot of positive nostalgia, and while those are allowed to be his personal experiences, I find it difficult to digest for a few reasons.
One- Highway, being in his sixties now is well aware of the legacy of residential schooling on the whole, and by not heavily contextualizing his positive experiences as an exception, to that of MANY others or at least, recognizing the larger historical legacy of residential schooling while writing about his own experiences, I feel concerned that although he does mention he was abused, those who have less education on the genocidal history of residential schooling for Indigenous kids, may come out of reading this thinking that this was representative of many people's experiences and the dark history people talk about is overblown in some way. Yes, he experienced abuse, but a more ignorant person reading this may just make that out to being an abuse moment and a bad apple in an otherwise safe and appropriate environment which it is and was not.
Second, beyond reader interpretation, there actually are accounts of Highway's words being use to downplay the importance of addressing the continued affects and disgusting history of residential schools, such as the actions taken by New Brunswick senator Lynn Beyak who put up posters featuring quotes by Highway, and who has real political influence. It is not Highway's fault his words are twisted against him and I don't believe his intention is to contribute to residential school denialism, but the effects need to be weighed.
Last- even in the chapter where Highway mentions his abuse, again he shows respect and care for other victims who were his peers who dealt with lifetimes of trauma from the abuse they experienced, but in the next paragraph he goes on to talk about how he lives his life looking for the good, learning from his dad who taught him to make beautiful things out of ugliness, and living in permanent astonishment at every breath. I found that this section, while somewhat poetic, was also somewhat distasteful since, while I don't think this was the intention, Highway basically contrasted his reaction to abuse with that of his peers by going on to talk about how he looks to the silver linings in life in order to survive, and that honestly comes off in an insensitive and toxic positive way to me. Don't get me wrong, Highway was just explaining his capacity for resilience, but I still find that since the book focused so little on those abuses and any criticism/ critical discussion of residential schools, going on about his capacity to see silver linings in the next sentence after mentioning the lifetime trauma your peers had to deal with, feels uncomfortable at best.
So, I guess ya, tons of mixed feelings, I appreciated reading this and don't regret it, but a 3 is all I can honestly rate this one
On one hand the book seemed to be beautifully written at first, and then throughout much of the book, the writing style sentence for sentence never declined. The book was written in vivid detail that brought clear images to my mind, and there was a sense of awe and wonder brought about in the descriptions of nature, the stars, the universe and connection to family, culture, tradition, ritual and childhood memory. There was a tenderness and humour as well as awe-inspiring way that the book was written that pulled me in at the start, and got me excited for what was to come.
On the other hand, what was to come was more beautifully written, vivid, and detail, oh so detailed, oh so descriptive chapters of childhood stories and memories. There was detail ad nauseam, and it became... unfortunately tiring after a while. Many of the chapters were accounts of memories from life in Brochet, the Reserve that Highway grew up on, or Guy Hill, the residential school he attended, or memories of nomadic life with his family, which was extremely interested and such a valuable record of life, history and culture, but then, while I thought I would be given a taste of these stories so I can build up a sense of his world as he delved into deeper reasons and stories that would lead us through the arc of the book, no arc really came. We did get into a few chapters that delved into darker times of his life, but most of the book simmered around these vignettes that made the rhythm of the book a bit exhausting, and honestly felt more like a relatives' list of childhood stories they'd tell around a dinner table without much realization that folks are starting to drift, rather than really a coherent memoir.
On one hand, while the detail and even the story telling style was important- the record of all the names, places, roads, ways that his father catches his fish, etc, etc, are an incredible record of Cree culture, and even the way the memoir is structured may not follow a typical formula but more of a story-telling style that is valuable in it of its self...
On the other hand, I guess it wasn't my cup of tea after a while?
I also want to get into a bit of a discussion here around something some other people in the reviews have touched on in terms of Highway's depiction of residential schools. I am not the authority on whether or not Highway's memoir does overall damage to our collective understanding of the damaging and disgusting legacy of residential schooling. I am also of the belief that no experience is solely good or bad, and if it so happened that Highway had many good memories at his residential school, then he has full right to write openly and honestly about his experiences in a truthful way. All that said, reading this book, it was surprising to read so many positive and warm accounts of the residential school, the staff, and Highway's experience to the point that it did raise my eyebrows. On further research, it looks like even Highway's brother has spoken out about Tomson's positive portrayal of residential schools, saying that Highway didn't tell the whole story and that for what he did tell, him and his brother were some of the "luckier ones". Tomson does discuss his experience of abuse in a particular chapter of the book, and there are definitely other moments and things that he cites were common practice at his school that are reflective of not the best of institutions, but on the whole, Highway writes about his experiences with a lot of positive nostalgia, and while those are allowed to be his personal experiences, I find it difficult to digest for a few reasons.
One- Highway, being in his sixties now is well aware of the legacy of residential schooling on the whole, and by not heavily contextualizing his positive experiences as an exception, to that of MANY others or at least, recognizing the larger historical legacy of residential schooling while writing about his own experiences, I feel concerned that although he does mention he was abused, those who have less education on the genocidal history of residential schooling for Indigenous kids, may come out of reading this thinking that this was representative of many people's experiences and the dark history people talk about is overblown in some way. Yes, he experienced abuse, but a more ignorant person reading this may just make that out to being an abuse moment and a bad apple in an otherwise safe and appropriate environment which it is and was not.
Second, beyond reader interpretation, there actually are accounts of Highway's words being use to downplay the importance of addressing the continued affects and disgusting history of residential schools, such as the actions taken by New Brunswick senator Lynn Beyak who put up posters featuring quotes by Highway, and who has real political influence. It is not Highway's fault his words are twisted against him and I don't believe his intention is to contribute to residential school denialism, but the effects need to be weighed.
Last- even in the chapter where Highway mentions his abuse, again he shows respect and care for other victims who were his peers who dealt with lifetimes of trauma from the abuse they experienced, but in the next paragraph he goes on to talk about how he lives his life looking for the good, learning from his dad who taught him to make beautiful things out of ugliness, and living in permanent astonishment at every breath. I found that this section, while somewhat poetic, was also somewhat distasteful since, while I don't think this was the intention, Highway basically contrasted his reaction to abuse with that of his peers by going on to talk about how he looks to the silver linings in life in order to survive, and that honestly comes off in an insensitive and toxic positive way to me. Don't get me wrong, Highway was just explaining his capacity for resilience, but I still find that since the book focused so little on those abuses and any criticism/ critical discussion of residential schools, going on about his capacity to see silver linings in the next sentence after mentioning the lifetime trauma your peers had to deal with, feels uncomfortable at best.
So, I guess ya, tons of mixed feelings, I appreciated reading this and don't regret it, but a 3 is all I can honestly rate this one
benrogerswpg's review
4.0
This was a great Indigenous read.
I learned a lot.
I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of traditions and cultural items and events.
Highway is an impressive writer!
4.2/5
I learned a lot.
I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of traditions and cultural items and events.
Highway is an impressive writer!
4.2/5
vanitar's review
5.0
It took me a couple chapters to be completely engaged, but then I was fully in. Tomson is a brilliant storyteller, from his beautiful use of language to the way he sets up a story- I found myself laughing and crying and inspired by his perspective on life. His story is full of hope, love, and family and I hope there are future memoirs that detail the rest of his life.
gabbyr_books's review
I found it hard to concentrate while reading and I found it hard to follow.