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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Touching, sad story, about an old indigenous man (Ojibway) from Canada telling his life's story, including horrible times when he was taken from his family to be re-educated in government-run schools. His passion and talent for ice hockey became his salvation for a while, but his life still took a few detours before he settled in peace.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
[Reading the World Challenge - Canada]
An incredibly insightful and emotional story that provides a window into some of Canada's darkest history - Indian Schools - alongside some of the most positive Canadian elements - the natural beauty and hockey culture. The prose was easy to digest and the story really sucked me in. I loved the prose and the descriptions of both the natural world and the protagonist's emotions. In many ways this was a "boys book" - not many female characters, with a heavy emphasis on hockey, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the book. The alcoholism related sections were particularly impactful to read. The only parts of the book that I didn't like were the very detailed descriptions of the hockey games. But overall, it was a great read, and I felt like it embodied a very Canadian story.
An incredibly insightful and emotional story that provides a window into some of Canada's darkest history - Indian Schools - alongside some of the most positive Canadian elements - the natural beauty and hockey culture. The prose was easy to digest and the story really sucked me in. I loved the prose and the descriptions of both the natural world and the protagonist's emotions. In many ways this was a "boys book" - not many female characters, with a heavy emphasis on hockey, but that didn't impact my enjoyment of the book. The alcoholism related sections were particularly impactful to read. The only parts of the book that I didn't like were the very detailed descriptions of the hockey games. But overall, it was a great read, and I felt like it embodied a very Canadian story.
A very moving story. The very sad (but all too true) story of an Indian boy who lived at a residential school and later fell into alcoholism. It was actually very easy to read and should be required reading in Canadian schools
Saul Indian Horse is just a young boy when he is taken to live in a residential school, a boarding school set up to force First Nations children to lose their native way of life. It's a brutal life where many don't survive, and those that do are broken, but Saul finds an outlet and escape in hockey, playing first with other boys from the school, but then moving on to the Native League and further.
Richard Wagamese packs so much into this slender book, and does so with the assurance of a master at his craft. There's a real joy communicated as Saul plays hockey, and the harshness of his childhood is written about with a matter-of-factness that makes the abuse seem both routine and extraordinary. There's a grace to this harsh tale that will stay with me.
Richard Wagamese packs so much into this slender book, and does so with the assurance of a master at his craft. There's a real joy communicated as Saul plays hockey, and the harshness of his childhood is written about with a matter-of-factness that makes the abuse seem both routine and extraordinary. There's a grace to this harsh tale that will stay with me.
This is an important book. There are so many stories out there and it’s our job to listen. The stories are hard to hear. There is a lot of hurt and pain in these stories, and it’s privilege that allows us to pause the story, go about life, and come back to it when we’re ready - so many people cannot pause the story.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism
*4.5 stars* A memoir-style novel about an Ojibwe boy growing up in Canada in the 1960s who was forced into a horrifying reservation school and only escapes through his prodigal skill at hockey.
This book has so. much. hockey. I know almost nothing about hockey so it was hard to follow sometimes, but exciting nevertheless. There’s also some really dark stuff in this book. Even though it’s fiction, I understand the portrayal of events at the reservation school are based on actual accounts and it’s blindingly infuriating that any of that was allowed to happen, and it was state sanctioned….in the 60s!
It’s mostly a sad story of this boy’s decent into alcoholism and depression, but there are a few bright moments and a somewhat happy ending. I would recommend this but don’t expect a fun time.
This book has so. much. hockey. I know almost nothing about hockey so it was hard to follow sometimes, but exciting nevertheless. There’s also some really dark stuff in this book. Even though it’s fiction, I understand the portrayal of events at the reservation school are based on actual accounts and it’s blindingly infuriating that any of that was allowed to happen, and it was state sanctioned….in the 60s!
It’s mostly a sad story of this boy’s decent into alcoholism and depression, but there are a few bright moments and a somewhat happy ending. I would recommend this but don’t expect a fun time.
Amazing work of (just barely) fiction. A true story of truth and reconciliation, should be a mandatory read for all Canadians.