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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
This is a stunning story about belonging, grief, and the difference between understanding and only wanting to. Jennifer Manuel is incredibly gifted with words, especially in the way that she conveys the physical (and almost otherworldly) setting of Vancouver Island, and in how she easily describes the cold, sharp realities of grief and truth.
It's also a beautiful and respectful telling of Indigenous culture, specifically that of the Nuu-chah-nulth people of Vancouver Island. The way their culture weaves stories is woven into this story itself, and I really enjoyed learning little bits and pieces of what's important to the people in the book, inspired by people Manuel knows in real life.
I can't recommend this book enough. It's beautifully written and engaging the whole way through. Bonus points for reading on the West Coast!
It's also a beautiful and respectful telling of Indigenous culture, specifically that of the Nuu-chah-nulth people of Vancouver Island. The way their culture weaves stories is woven into this story itself, and I really enjoyed learning little bits and pieces of what's important to the people in the book, inspired by people Manuel knows in real life.
I can't recommend this book enough. It's beautifully written and engaging the whole way through. Bonus points for reading on the West Coast!
I was a little bit skeptical going in to this book because I don't always trust white people who write about Indigenous people. This novel deals with some really heavy subject matter (domestic violence, s*xual abuse of minors, suicide, FAS, and lots of death) and I wasn't sure if Manuel was going to be able to pull it off while maintaining the necessary cultural sensitivity.
In the end, I was impressed with the way she unraveled the story of this small (imaginary) coastal community. The dynamic and rebellious character of the young nurse, Wren, was a useful tool to bring in the "outsider/white" perspective and the outrage and frustration that many of us feel about Canada's colonial history. Our protagonist, Bernie, was incredibly self-reflective and so I, as a reader, was able to work through a lot of my own discomfort alongside her.
And as much as Bernie loved, understood, and supported the community within which she worked for so long (and was loved by them in return), I appreciate how Manuel insisted in her "otherness" and brought to the forefront of her story the fact that white people can not and will not ever be able to fully understand the impact of colonization, and especially residential schooling, on the First Nations of this country.
I loved that this novel was set on Vancouver Island, just a few hours from where I live. As sad and heartbreaking as much of this story was, Manuel was able to capture some of the strength and beauty of the communities and the culture of her subject. I feel so lucky to be able to live here and learn about this land and the first people who lived here and still live here today.
In the end, I was impressed with the way she unraveled the story of this small (imaginary) coastal community. The dynamic and rebellious character of the young nurse, Wren, was a useful tool to bring in the "outsider/white" perspective and the outrage and frustration that many of us feel about Canada's colonial history. Our protagonist, Bernie, was incredibly self-reflective and so I, as a reader, was able to work through a lot of my own discomfort alongside her.
And as much as Bernie loved, understood, and supported the community within which she worked for so long (and was loved by them in return), I appreciate how Manuel insisted in her "otherness" and brought to the forefront of her story the fact that white people can not and will not ever be able to fully understand the impact of colonization, and especially residential schooling, on the First Nations of this country.
I loved that this novel was set on Vancouver Island, just a few hours from where I live. As sad and heartbreaking as much of this story was, Manuel was able to capture some of the strength and beauty of the communities and the culture of her subject. I feel so lucky to be able to live here and learn about this land and the first people who lived here and still live here today.
I am having a very difficult time giving this book any kind of rating... I just can't decide! I will tell you why, but first...
Jennifer Manuel has written an autobiographical, yet fictional, novel navigating themes of identity. Primarily inclusion and participation within an identity. Her main character, Bernadette, has been a nurse for over forty years to a secluded island reserve belonging to the Nuu-chal-nuth peoples. Bernadette believes that she is apart of the reserve, basically family. However, this belief is contested through various actions and reactions that happen throughout the tale. The plot is mainly driven by the disappearance of her pseudo-son Chase Charlie.
While this book intrigued me thematically, I have a lot of problems with it:
1) The plot centered around Chase Charlie's disappearance is wayy too similar to that of [b:Monkey Beach|292706|Monkey Beach|Eden Robinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348963592s/292706.jpg|314881] (one of my all time favourite books).
2)Bernadette's holier-than-thou attitude runs counter to the book's plot regarding a white person's influence on First Nation's life. Like, okay, maybe this is supposed to be written like this? With Bernadette being one of the most annoying characters to grace the pages of a book (in my experience). She herself classifies people who work with FN communities as either: Users, Savers, or Runners... without ever acknowledging that Bernadette herself falls into each of these categories during different times of the book. Additionally, this character complexity is completely denied by the end of the book; Bernadette receives some kind of redemption without ever fully acknowledging her conflicting role in the community. Manuel attempts to discuss this in different ways through B's mistakes and interactions with Wren, but I felt she wasn't fully aware of her character, and thus herself. (Either that or she didn't see herself as any of the classifications she so willingly pushed on others.)
3) Millennial Bashing: Did anyone else get the feeling that Wren was written in response to the rise and attempt of younger generations to be more politically correct, politically minded/involved? As a "millennial" (a term I hate) I feel like this is just an underhanded way to discredit any good that young people might be trying to do. And not to mention, making her a drunk just details a negative perception of young people.
4) The big reveal/ was so forced, unimaginative and just.... BLAH that I rolled my eyes at how unfortunate that plot ended. I wish that he just remained missing instead of that happening.
Overall, this book had beautiful writing once the author got into her flow, and is an interesting story, but not much else redeems it for me.
Jennifer Manuel has written an autobiographical, yet fictional, novel navigating themes of identity. Primarily inclusion and participation within an identity. Her main character, Bernadette, has been a nurse for over forty years to a secluded island reserve belonging to the Nuu-chal-nuth peoples. Bernadette believes that she is apart of the reserve, basically family. However, this belief is contested through various actions and reactions that happen throughout the tale. The plot is mainly driven by the disappearance of her pseudo-son Chase Charlie.
While this book intrigued me thematically, I have a lot of problems with it:
1) The plot centered around Chase Charlie's disappearance is wayy too similar to that of [b:Monkey Beach|292706|Monkey Beach|Eden Robinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348963592s/292706.jpg|314881] (one of my all time favourite books).
2)Bernadette's holier-than-thou attitude runs counter to the book's plot regarding a white person's influence on First Nation's life. Like, okay, maybe this is supposed to be written like this? With Bernadette being one of the most annoying characters to grace the pages of a book (in my experience). She herself classifies people who work with FN communities as either: Users, Savers, or Runners... without ever acknowledging that Bernadette herself falls into each of these categories during different times of the book. Additionally, this character complexity is completely denied by the end of the book; Bernadette receives some kind of redemption without ever fully acknowledging her conflicting role in the community. Manuel attempts to discuss this in different ways through B's mistakes and interactions with Wren, but I felt she wasn't fully aware of her character, and thus herself. (Either that or she didn't see herself as any of the classifications she so willingly pushed on others.)
3) Millennial Bashing: Did anyone else get the feeling that Wren was written in response to the rise and attempt of younger generations to be more politically correct, politically minded/involved? As a "millennial" (a term I hate) I feel like this is just an underhanded way to discredit any good that young people might be trying to do. And not to mention, making her a drunk just details a negative perception of young people.
4) The big reveal/
Spoiler
explanation for Chase's suicideOverall, this book had beautiful writing once the author got into her flow, and is an interesting story, but not much else redeems it for me.
This book was hauntingly beautiful & devastating. The resilience of the community of Tawakin will continue to break your heart and lift your spirits throughout.
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Technically, that was a good book but I did not enjoy it; it was just too bleak and depressing for me to really ever want to get into it. Still, I recognize that this was well-written, evenly paced, strong sense of place, deft characterization, etc. so I'm giving it 4 stars with the caveat that it is not a book for the faint-of-heart.
Thank you to Douglas & MacIntyre who were kind enough to send me this free copy for review.
Thank you to Douglas & MacIntyre who were kind enough to send me this free copy for review.
This novel is haunting and beautiful. Jennifer Manuel captures intimacy and isolation in this story of a small community bound together by geography, history, memory, and tragedy. You will be transported by this book and I can promise that you won't come back the same way you left.
A patient narrative that allows the reader, as if arriving from away, to learn the nuances of the characters and place as we come to terms with the situation we find ourselves in.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes