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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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:
Complicated
This book deals with Canadian history that has largely been glossed over. The atrocities that were committed against the native peoples in the residential schools are horrendous. It's unfathomable that they happened and ruined so many lives. This book is important for uncovering those ugly truths and the racism that so many endured.
But after reading a few books on the residential schools now, this book didn't have the same power that some of the others did. This book suffered from being disjointed. It moved from one major event to the next rather abruptly. There also seemed to be something blocking me from connecting with the main character and his struggles. As a reader, I wasn't really let into his internal feelings. If I could give half star ratings, this book would be a 3.5 for me. It's really quite good, but for all the reasons I just mentioned as well as long winded minute detail descriptions that got tiring after awhile, it was a 3.5 for me.
But after reading a few books on the residential schools now, this book didn't have the same power that some of the others did. This book suffered from being disjointed. It moved from one major event to the next rather abruptly. There also seemed to be something blocking me from connecting with the main character and his struggles. As a reader, I wasn't really let into his internal feelings. If I could give half star ratings, this book would be a 3.5 for me. It's really quite good, but for all the reasons I just mentioned as well as long winded minute detail descriptions that got tiring after awhile, it was a 3.5 for me.
First off, it will never cease to amaze me what one group of people think they are justified in doing to another group of people, in the name of their god. Remove the savage Indian from the child? How about remove the corrupt, blind, arrogant faith in a wrathful, small-minded, omnipotent white guy from the Christian? I know that all cultures and religions have their black marks, none are perfect. But the fact that I was born in Canada in 1975 and didn’t learn about the schools until I was well into adulthood shows me the depth of secrecy that was surrounding this issue. It’s shameful.
That out of the way, the beginning of this book didn’t wow me. It was choppy and a bit flat and I had a hard time getting into it. In hindsight, I think it was meant to seem abrupt and disjointed-like the memories of a small child. Things started picking up around the middle and then bam! chapter 39 happened and I just lost it. Everything just fell apart (again) for Saul and it broke my heart. He came so close to having his version of a happy ending, and if anyone deserved it, it’s a child that survived the horror of residential schools. By the time he remembered the true story of what happened at the school near the end of the book, I was a blubbering mess. It takes a lot for me to cry like that with a book. Sure I’ll shed a random tear here and there, but to feel this heartbroken caught me off guard. I think it was because I now know the stories are true. This may be fiction but it was as close to the truth as it can get. I’ll never forget all of those children ripped from their families and forced to endure nothing short of torture. If they managed to get out alive, I’m sure it was with broken spirits. Should be required reading for all Canadians. RIP Richard Wagamese and thank you for writing this story.
That out of the way, the beginning of this book didn’t wow me. It was choppy and a bit flat and I had a hard time getting into it. In hindsight, I think it was meant to seem abrupt and disjointed-like the memories of a small child. Things started picking up around the middle and then bam! chapter 39 happened and I just lost it. Everything just fell apart (again) for Saul and it broke my heart. He came so close to having his version of a happy ending, and if anyone deserved it, it’s a child that survived the horror of residential schools. By the time he remembered the true story of what happened at the school near the end of the book, I was a blubbering mess. It takes a lot for me to cry like that with a book. Sure I’ll shed a random tear here and there, but to feel this heartbroken caught me off guard. I think it was because I now know the stories are true. This may be fiction but it was as close to the truth as it can get. I’ll never forget all of those children ripped from their families and forced to endure nothing short of torture. If they managed to get out alive, I’m sure it was with broken spirits. Should be required reading for all Canadians. RIP Richard Wagamese and thank you for writing this story.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Strong emotional writing, imagery, and connection. Absolutely worth the read. Educational on a personal level and a glimpse into a very real mind set of First Nations people.
A very worthwhile read ... this was a Canada Reads selection and it was voted in as the University of Alberta's Faculty of Education Reads book for the 2014-2015 academic year. Wagamese's descriptions of the natural world and the world of the hockey rink are quite compelling (and that's something coming from a reader who often skips over descriptions of the physical world in a novel).
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Amazing book! Instantly one of my favorites. I'm a tough person to make cry but this came pretty close. Many Canadians can relate to the growing up with hockey experience in the book and it is a great resource for teaching about Aboriginal people and the horrors of residential school