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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
A novel that demonstrates our societies' need to question and act on the inequities that we see around us. Or perhaps to look for them, for they exist. Racism and injustices are not something of the past. The pain and horrors that indigenous people have endured and continue to endure are deep. They say that the traumas of residential schooling in Canada will take 7 generations to heal.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wagamese's ability to evoke such strong emotional responses with his writing is something I deeply admire about him as an author. This read was emotionally heavy due to its graphic content depicted, and much of its implied content was enough to evoke a visceral nauseous reaction.
It truly is vile and devastating to know of the innocence that was stripped from too many of children in the residential school systems. It's difficult to explain the full extent that this novel goes to describe the continuous and lasting effects of residential schools, but it is dealt with in such a careful and delicate manner that makes the ending all the more impactfulwhen we are faced with Saul reconciling with the past. His choice to reclaim his strength through forgiveness and to acknowledge the pain dealt rather than run, both metaphorically and literally, provided a really strong cathartic ending that felt hopeful and grounded. Many of the closing passages had really resonated and it really had a beautiful ending that had brought me to tears.
It truly is vile and devastating to know of the innocence that was stripped from too many of children in the residential school systems. It's difficult to explain the full extent that this novel goes to describe the continuous and lasting effects of residential schools, but it is dealt with in such a careful and delicate manner that makes the ending all the more impactful
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
challenging
emotional
informative
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
Short Review
This should be required reading in schools, not just in Canada but in the U.S. Richard Wagamese evokes a lot of emotion in this story, and it's not an easy read due to the content. I did enjoy the way he writes about hockey, but by the end I felt incredibly sick due to revelations later in the book. It's an important read.
This should be required reading in schools, not just in Canada but in the U.S. Richard Wagamese evokes a lot of emotion in this story, and it's not an easy read due to the content. I did enjoy the way he writes about hockey, but by the end I felt incredibly sick due to revelations later in the book. It's an important read.
It’s hard to describe how incredible this book is. And how important. And heartbreaking. And angering. And beautiful. It should be a required read in all Canadian schools. It’s also written like poetry. When Wagamese is describing moments in nature, I felt like I could see and feel everything myself.
The first portion of the novel details the harrowing lives of children in residential school. But it's done like a list of atrocities, rather than building them into the characters or the plot.
But when Wagamese focuses on the hockey, it really comes to life. I never thought someone could describe a sport - namely hockey - and make it so captivating and believable.
The arc back to his life was heart wrenching and revealed so much about the devastation of the residential schools and the depravity of the Church, affecting generations of indigenous people.
But when Wagamese focuses on the hockey, it really comes to life. I never thought someone could describe a sport - namely hockey - and make it so captivating and believable.
The arc back to his life was heart wrenching and revealed so much about the devastation of the residential schools and the depravity of the Church, affecting generations of indigenous people.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Exquisitely written dramatic narrative; raw poignant and touching.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
Post 1/8:
In the opening of Indian horse by Richard Wagamese, Saul Indian Horse, now adult reflects on his troubled past and his painful childhood as he went threw a lot of traumatic events. He is currently living in isolation with addiction problems such as being an alcoholic. He begins to recall his past, growing up in Northern Ontario receiving lots of love by his family wich was then demolished after his family was torned apart by colonizers and the results of racism. The novel opens with him introducing himself and talking about his past wich left a big scar of struggles with his identity. It was also mentioned how he was forced into residential school at a very young age. The opening is dark but also interesting to see how it was for him in the residential school and to see the emotional and physical impact it left. I think in the next few chapters, the main focus will be his tragic journey there and how it started. So far im enjoying reading the book, I think it's important to read a book like so, to really be able to feel the struggles indigenous people went threw.
Post 2/8:
Reading more into the book gets deeper and deeper. Saul is currently talking about how he ended up in residential school. The autor's tone is beautifully written as you can feel the powerful tone. You can feel Saul's emotions while reading as he was taken away from his Ojibway culture and how he was being taught to act otherwise. As his innocent childhood is being taken away with the brutal truth of reality he endures the feelings of loss and hopelessness. It is now clear that what Saul is about to go threw will have leave him with the struggles to overcome his trauma and to reclaim his place in the world as a Ojibway person. The residential schools threat humans being as if they're not humans. I'm hoping to see some sort of light in the darkness he's going threw. So far the book is deep and can really get you emotional wich is why im enjoying this book.
Post 3/8:
What happens next gives the readers some hope that the strory won't be so dark after-all. With Saul's natural talent for hockey as he discovers while playing with an old stick. Impressed by his abilities, he begins enjoying to play more and more wich gives him some sense to life. He thinks that this could be an escape situation for him and a sense of worth. He begins to take it seriously and soon enough, more people from the residential school notices his talent. This gives the story a sense of light in the deep and sad darkness. I think this will give Saul opportunities as he keeps getting better and better. Finding something that makes him happy really makes the readers feel certain emotions wich is interpreted amazingly. Not only does this gives him hope, but it also gives him a purpose to stop existing and to start living.
Post 4/8:
"What image or object from your novel could be considered a symbol?"
Great question asked to talk more about the book with a deeper level of understanding.
I think in the following book there is multiple things that could considered a symbol. To start, An Indian horse. Book being named after and being a famous indigenous symbol i think it fits correctly to be considered a symbol. Another thing is hockey. Being Saul's escape way and having a big impact on the story and Saul's life is also pretty accurate for it to be a symbol. Lastly I would also add residential schools. Residential schools are horrible but could be considered a symbol since more then half of the story takes place there and it has one if not the biggest impact in the story.
Post 5/8:
"Is it acceptable to ban books if their concepts are deemed offensive by a large fraction of society?"
In my opinion, if a large fraction of society thinks that a certain book is offensive, it should be banned. Some books are not only fantasies and fake scenarios made to be entertaining. Some book are truly the reality for some people and it could be offensive for them because their abuses shouldn't be talked about casually. Some people have no respect for that no matter what and if some people take it offensively, It would only be right to ban it or remove it from getting sold.
Post 6/8:
"What is the point of view from your novel?"
The point of view from my novel in first person as Saul is telling us his experience and life story.
"Why do you think the author selected this point of view for you novel?"
I think the author picked this point of view because the way the story is told can only be the best in first person as you get to feel exactly the emotions felt and the way they are being told. Also, for a story like so, having the point of view in first person is more entertaining and easier to understand any type of messages being told in the story. Saul being able to talk about his story in his perspective is way easier for the readers to feel the same emotions as him while reading.
"Do you think a different point of view would be better for your story?"
I don't think another point of view would be better for my story, I dont think the emotions and feeling can be interprutated in any way better then the main character telling us his story. Also, especially that it's a sensitive subject like in the following book, i think it would only be right if its told in first person because not only is it easier to undertsand but its also better to feel the exact and right emotions that are trying to be sent threw the story.
Post 7/8:
Reading more deeply into the book, Saul went a long way with his love for hockey and was even recruited to play for a team. He was extremely happy and exited until he was facing struggles on the ice such as racism and a disadvantage. This made him and his teammates sad leading to a tragic ending. Unfortunately he couldnt take it anymore and gets distant from the sport he once gave all his purpose too. His journey reaches a tragic end and from there, it only gets worst for him. From this point Saul experiences more racism wich leads to more identity and personal struggles. He then faces problems with addiction as he starts drinking heavily to try to forget his traumatic past and the discrimination he was facing. This turns the whole story around and that light found in the darkness was turned off. This shows that someone who worked hard can be threaded so badly just because of the way they look and their background wich is honestly so sad and emotional for the readers who had hope for Saul.
Post 8/8:
In the end, its a sad ending for Saul, he went threw so much his whole life and when he found one thing that made him happy it was taken from him by the sad truth of racism, discrimination and injustice. The fact that this is the reality for so many people who has it even worst is devastating and i think that was the main goal of the author. The story can really leave a mark especially if you got attached to the character as you read more deeply in his story. His character development was obvious to detect and was impressive. He went threw so much since he was a child wether it was facing the loss of his grandmother, being taken away from his family, being forced into residential school, having to quit what he likes to do becomes of being mistreated. He came a long way and at the end, his story ended with a heartbreaking end. The book is amazing and can really leave someone speechless with a whole bunch of emotions. Knowing that this is the reality for a lot of kids and adults just for their culture is so sad and makes me so frustrated. After all, im glad that i've read this book and i would recommend it to more people so that they too can grasp what it's like to experience reading a book with such emotions and sad reality.
In the opening of Indian horse by Richard Wagamese, Saul Indian Horse, now adult reflects on his troubled past and his painful childhood as he went threw a lot of traumatic events. He is currently living in isolation with addiction problems such as being an alcoholic. He begins to recall his past, growing up in Northern Ontario receiving lots of love by his family wich was then demolished after his family was torned apart by colonizers and the results of racism. The novel opens with him introducing himself and talking about his past wich left a big scar of struggles with his identity. It was also mentioned how he was forced into residential school at a very young age. The opening is dark but also interesting to see how it was for him in the residential school and to see the emotional and physical impact it left. I think in the next few chapters, the main focus will be his tragic journey there and how it started. So far im enjoying reading the book, I think it's important to read a book like so, to really be able to feel the struggles indigenous people went threw.
Post 2/8:
Reading more into the book gets deeper and deeper. Saul is currently talking about how he ended up in residential school. The autor's tone is beautifully written as you can feel the powerful tone. You can feel Saul's emotions while reading as he was taken away from his Ojibway culture and how he was being taught to act otherwise. As his innocent childhood is being taken away with the brutal truth of reality he endures the feelings of loss and hopelessness. It is now clear that what Saul is about to go threw will have leave him with the struggles to overcome his trauma and to reclaim his place in the world as a Ojibway person. The residential schools threat humans being as if they're not humans. I'm hoping to see some sort of light in the darkness he's going threw. So far the book is deep and can really get you emotional wich is why im enjoying this book.
Post 3/8:
What happens next gives the readers some hope that the strory won't be so dark after-all. With Saul's natural talent for hockey as he discovers while playing with an old stick. Impressed by his abilities, he begins enjoying to play more and more wich gives him some sense to life. He thinks that this could be an escape situation for him and a sense of worth. He begins to take it seriously and soon enough, more people from the residential school notices his talent. This gives the story a sense of light in the deep and sad darkness. I think this will give Saul opportunities as he keeps getting better and better. Finding something that makes him happy really makes the readers feel certain emotions wich is interpreted amazingly. Not only does this gives him hope, but it also gives him a purpose to stop existing and to start living.
Post 4/8:
"What image or object from your novel could be considered a symbol?"
Great question asked to talk more about the book with a deeper level of understanding.
I think in the following book there is multiple things that could considered a symbol. To start, An Indian horse. Book being named after and being a famous indigenous symbol i think it fits correctly to be considered a symbol. Another thing is hockey. Being Saul's escape way and having a big impact on the story and Saul's life is also pretty accurate for it to be a symbol. Lastly I would also add residential schools. Residential schools are horrible but could be considered a symbol since more then half of the story takes place there and it has one if not the biggest impact in the story.
Post 5/8:
"Is it acceptable to ban books if their concepts are deemed offensive by a large fraction of society?"
In my opinion, if a large fraction of society thinks that a certain book is offensive, it should be banned. Some books are not only fantasies and fake scenarios made to be entertaining. Some book are truly the reality for some people and it could be offensive for them because their abuses shouldn't be talked about casually. Some people have no respect for that no matter what and if some people take it offensively, It would only be right to ban it or remove it from getting sold.
Post 6/8:
"What is the point of view from your novel?"
The point of view from my novel in first person as Saul is telling us his experience and life story.
"Why do you think the author selected this point of view for you novel?"
I think the author picked this point of view because the way the story is told can only be the best in first person as you get to feel exactly the emotions felt and the way they are being told. Also, for a story like so, having the point of view in first person is more entertaining and easier to understand any type of messages being told in the story. Saul being able to talk about his story in his perspective is way easier for the readers to feel the same emotions as him while reading.
"Do you think a different point of view would be better for your story?"
I don't think another point of view would be better for my story, I dont think the emotions and feeling can be interprutated in any way better then the main character telling us his story. Also, especially that it's a sensitive subject like in the following book, i think it would only be right if its told in first person because not only is it easier to undertsand but its also better to feel the exact and right emotions that are trying to be sent threw the story.
Post 7/8:
Reading more deeply into the book, Saul went a long way with his love for hockey and was even recruited to play for a team. He was extremely happy and exited until he was facing struggles on the ice such as racism and a disadvantage. This made him and his teammates sad leading to a tragic ending. Unfortunately he couldnt take it anymore and gets distant from the sport he once gave all his purpose too. His journey reaches a tragic end and from there, it only gets worst for him. From this point Saul experiences more racism wich leads to more identity and personal struggles. He then faces problems with addiction as he starts drinking heavily to try to forget his traumatic past and the discrimination he was facing. This turns the whole story around and that light found in the darkness was turned off. This shows that someone who worked hard can be threaded so badly just because of the way they look and their background wich is honestly so sad and emotional for the readers who had hope for Saul.
Post 8/8:
In the end, its a sad ending for Saul, he went threw so much his whole life and when he found one thing that made him happy it was taken from him by the sad truth of racism, discrimination and injustice. The fact that this is the reality for so many people who has it even worst is devastating and i think that was the main goal of the author. The story can really leave a mark especially if you got attached to the character as you read more deeply in his story. His character development was obvious to detect and was impressive. He went threw so much since he was a child wether it was facing the loss of his grandmother, being taken away from his family, being forced into residential school, having to quit what he likes to do becomes of being mistreated. He came a long way and at the end, his story ended with a heartbreaking end. The book is amazing and can really leave someone speechless with a whole bunch of emotions. Knowing that this is the reality for a lot of kids and adults just for their culture is so sad and makes me so frustrated. After all, im glad that i've read this book and i would recommend it to more people so that they too can grasp what it's like to experience reading a book with such emotions and sad reality.