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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape
challenging
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:
No
Funny at times, then devastatingly horrible and it rips your heart out. This was my Truth & Reconciliation Day read and I probably would have put off reading it indefinitely otherwise, which would have been a shame cause this was beautifully done. Wagamese's quiet, understated prose is so perfect and the structure was impeccable. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
Bit of a slow start but then I really got into it. Well written and good emotional ending
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
A beautiful, sad, and hopeful book clad in beautiful, deliberate, and evocative words. I highly, highly recommend it. That's all I can say without sounding hollow and like I'm not doing the book justice.
4.5
First of all, huge trigger warning for child abuse and suicide.
This book is such an important story and I think everyone (especially Canadians) need to read this. Wagamese does such an incredible job of conveying the impact of the main character's story. The writing is simple, and without a ton of embellishment but the emotion Wagamese brings is breathtaking. He is never gratuitous in writing about violence or suffering, nor does he go into great detail which I appreciate. Although this is a work of fiction, what happens to the main character happened to many, many individuals in real life and as I said before, this story is so important.
The ending to this novel truly drove it home for me. The journey of the main character was devastating and painful, but also hopeful. It definitely makes you feel the full range of emotions, from shock over the atrocities committed to excitement that you can share with Saul (the main character) particularly when he plays hockey.
I was never bored for a second in this book, though it's only about 200 pages. My only complaint is that I wish it were a little longer and that we got to explore more of Saul's life.
This is a book I think everyone should read, regardless of who you are or what types of stories you like.
First of all, huge trigger warning for child abuse and suicide.
This book is such an important story and I think everyone (especially Canadians) need to read this. Wagamese does such an incredible job of conveying the impact of the main character's story. The writing is simple, and without a ton of embellishment but the emotion Wagamese brings is breathtaking. He is never gratuitous in writing about violence or suffering, nor does he go into great detail which I appreciate. Although this is a work of fiction, what happens to the main character happened to many, many individuals in real life and as I said before, this story is so important.
The ending to this novel truly drove it home for me. The journey of the main character was devastating and painful, but also hopeful. It definitely makes you feel the full range of emotions, from shock over the atrocities committed to excitement that you can share with Saul (the main character) particularly when he plays hockey.
I was never bored for a second in this book, though it's only about 200 pages. My only complaint is that I wish it were a little longer and that we got to explore more of Saul's life.
This is a book I think everyone should read, regardless of who you are or what types of stories you like.
“Sometimes ghosts linger. They hover in the furthest corners, and when you least expect it they lurch out, bearing everything they brought to you when they were alive. I didn’t want to be haunted. I’d lived that way for far too long as it was.”
The story-line and main character reminded me of one of my favorite books, [b:When The Legends Die|879299|When The Legends Die|Hal Borland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320463379l/879299._SY75_.jpg|1145904] I’ve loved that book since I first read it 47 years ago, so it has been the standard by which I compare all books of a similar theme. Not one has risen up to that standard until now.
Wagamese’ story of Saul Indian Horse mirrors the story of Thomas Black Bull in Borland’s masterpiece. Both characters were young Indian boys when they were left by their families to face the odd and dangerous white man’s world alone. Both were held captive by abusive adults in “Indian” schools, and grew up full of anger, shame, and confusion. Both find an outlet through sports--Thomas through rodeo; Saul through ice hockey.
I’m not a fan of hockey, but Wagamese’ crisp writing made it totally relatable.
“We were hockey gypsies, heading down another gravel road every weekend, plowing into the heart of that magnificent northern landscape. We never gave a thought to being deprived as we traveled, to being shut out of the regular league system. We never gave a thought to being Indian. Different. We only thought of the game and the brotherhood that bound us together off the ice, in the van, on the plank floors of reservation houses, in the truck stop diners where if we’d won we had a little to splurge on a burger and soup before we hit the road again. Small joys. All of them tied together, entwined to form an experience we would not have traded for any other. We were a league of nomads, mad for the game, mad for the road, mad for ice and snow, an Arctic wind on our faces and a frozen puck on the blade of our sticks.”
Parts of this book are painful to read, especially when you know that these evil things really did happen to thousands of Indian children, who were “scooped up” (stolen) from their families and carted off to foster homes and residential schools by the Canadian government, so they could be civilized and taught Euro-Canadian and Christian values. The fictional Saul Indian Horse is representative of the 20,000 plus Indigenous children who were removed from their families during the 1950s to the 1980s. So, yes, a lot of this story is heartbreaking.
But, it is also a story of hope, and of the strength of the human spirit. Saul Indian Horse is a superb character to root for. He tells his story in a straightforward manner with crystal observations written simply, making it a breeze to read, even the most painful parts.
It isn’t all heartbreaking though; There are some beautiful people and relationships here too, so tenderly and subtly rendered...
“Erv Sift was an angel. I have no doubt of that. He understood that I bore old wounds and didn’t push me to disclose them. He only offered me security, friendship and the first home I’d had in a long time.”
“‘Now I’m just tired of the way I’ve been living. I want something new built on something old. I wanted to come back. This is the only place I felt like something was possible for me. Don’t know what I want to do. Just want to work on the idea of what’s possible.’ I wrung my hands together and looked at them.
Fred reached over and took Martha’s hand. They smiled at each other. ‘We hoped you would, some day,’ she said. ‘We all wanted to go out and find you, but we knew we couldn’t. We knew you’d have to find your own way. The hardest part was that we knew how hard your road would be--but we had to let you go.’
‘They scooped out our insides, Saul. We’re not responsible for that. We’re not responsible for what happened to us. None of us are,’ Fred said. ‘But our healing--that’s up to us. That’s what saved me. Knowing it was my game.’
‘Could be a long game,’ I said.
‘So what if it is?’ he said. ‘Just keep your stick on the ice and your feet moving. Time will take care of itself.’
‘I know how to do that,’ I said.
‘I know you do,’ he said.”
INDIAN HORSE may not replace WHEN THE LEGENDS DIE as one of my favorite books, but it is a superb work with a wonderful ending. I feel very fortunate to have read it.
The story-line and main character reminded me of one of my favorite books, [b:When The Legends Die|879299|When The Legends Die|Hal Borland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320463379l/879299._SY75_.jpg|1145904] I’ve loved that book since I first read it 47 years ago, so it has been the standard by which I compare all books of a similar theme. Not one has risen up to that standard until now.
Wagamese’ story of Saul Indian Horse mirrors the story of Thomas Black Bull in Borland’s masterpiece. Both characters were young Indian boys when they were left by their families to face the odd and dangerous white man’s world alone. Both were held captive by abusive adults in “Indian” schools, and grew up full of anger, shame, and confusion. Both find an outlet through sports--Thomas through rodeo; Saul through ice hockey.
I’m not a fan of hockey, but Wagamese’ crisp writing made it totally relatable.
“We were hockey gypsies, heading down another gravel road every weekend, plowing into the heart of that magnificent northern landscape. We never gave a thought to being deprived as we traveled, to being shut out of the regular league system. We never gave a thought to being Indian. Different. We only thought of the game and the brotherhood that bound us together off the ice, in the van, on the plank floors of reservation houses, in the truck stop diners where if we’d won we had a little to splurge on a burger and soup before we hit the road again. Small joys. All of them tied together, entwined to form an experience we would not have traded for any other. We were a league of nomads, mad for the game, mad for the road, mad for ice and snow, an Arctic wind on our faces and a frozen puck on the blade of our sticks.”
Parts of this book are painful to read, especially when you know that these evil things really did happen to thousands of Indian children, who were “scooped up” (stolen) from their families and carted off to foster homes and residential schools by the Canadian government, so they could be civilized and taught Euro-Canadian and Christian values. The fictional Saul Indian Horse is representative of the 20,000 plus Indigenous children who were removed from their families during the 1950s to the 1980s. So, yes, a lot of this story is heartbreaking.
But, it is also a story of hope, and of the strength of the human spirit. Saul Indian Horse is a superb character to root for. He tells his story in a straightforward manner with crystal observations written simply, making it a breeze to read, even the most painful parts.
It isn’t all heartbreaking though; There are some beautiful people and relationships here too, so tenderly and subtly rendered...
“Erv Sift was an angel. I have no doubt of that. He understood that I bore old wounds and didn’t push me to disclose them. He only offered me security, friendship and the first home I’d had in a long time.”
“‘Now I’m just tired of the way I’ve been living. I want something new built on something old. I wanted to come back. This is the only place I felt like something was possible for me. Don’t know what I want to do. Just want to work on the idea of what’s possible.’ I wrung my hands together and looked at them.
Fred reached over and took Martha’s hand. They smiled at each other. ‘We hoped you would, some day,’ she said. ‘We all wanted to go out and find you, but we knew we couldn’t. We knew you’d have to find your own way. The hardest part was that we knew how hard your road would be--but we had to let you go.’
‘They scooped out our insides, Saul. We’re not responsible for that. We’re not responsible for what happened to us. None of us are,’ Fred said. ‘But our healing--that’s up to us. That’s what saved me. Knowing it was my game.’
‘Could be a long game,’ I said.
‘So what if it is?’ he said. ‘Just keep your stick on the ice and your feet moving. Time will take care of itself.’
‘I know how to do that,’ I said.
‘I know you do,’ he said.”
INDIAN HORSE may not replace WHEN THE LEGENDS DIE as one of my favorite books, but it is a superb work with a wonderful ending. I feel very fortunate to have read it.
This book is beautifully written, captivating and devastating all at once. It tells pieces of atrocious stories that need to be told, about children who were ripped from their families and traditions and forced into residential schools. This book looks at the impact of the traumas faced in those schools. Wagamese brings the reader on a journey through a child's discovery of his passion for hockey and how it provides an escape. A gut-wrenching read that gives a glimmer of home in the midst of horrific events.
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
Excellent.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I felt like this book was very raw. You go in to it expecting the experiences the main character has to be awful and by the end you are blown away. My jaw was left open
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence