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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow. Just amazing. Lots of thoughts about this one. It's the kind of book that makes your heart ache. It's raw and real, refusing to spare any details, however harsh. It was incredible.
First part of the story: my heart broke for the grandma. Widowed and alone, having to manage and care for her broken family. My heart goes out to her strength, tenacity, and resilience to hold on and love so fully despite the crippling loneliness and tiredness she must've felt.
The residential school experience itself left me as aghast and disgusted as it always has and always will.
The hockey aspect of the book was seriously special. The descriptions were wonderfully eloquent and the imagery was vivid. The author masterfully captured the essence of every scene, using the right details to bring a still-frame moment of mere physical properties to a distinct, lively memory. Saul's hockey career was just infuriating. The whole situation was heartbreaking to read.
My one main criticism for the book came at the end. Saul's willingness to tell Virgil his whole life story was—to put it simply—off-putting. Sure, he was making significant progress towards healing and was learning to speak about his past at the alcoholic centre. But to share your darkest secret that openly felt so out of character. This scene snapped me back into reality and partially ruined the otherwise good ending.
First part of the story: my heart broke for the grandma. Widowed and alone, having to manage and care for her broken family. My heart goes out to her strength, tenacity, and resilience to hold on and love so fully despite the crippling loneliness and tiredness she must've felt.
The residential school experience itself left me as aghast and disgusted as it always has and always will.
The hockey aspect of the book was seriously special. The descriptions were wonderfully eloquent and the imagery was vivid. The author masterfully captured the essence of every scene, using the right details to bring a still-frame moment of mere physical properties to a distinct, lively memory. Saul's hockey career was just infuriating. The whole situation was heartbreaking to read.
My one main criticism for the book came at the end. Saul's willingness to tell Virgil his whole life story was—to put it simply—off-putting. Sure, he was making significant progress towards healing and was learning to speak about his past at the alcoholic centre. But to share your darkest secret that openly felt so out of character. This scene snapped me back into reality and partially ruined the otherwise good ending.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-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:
Complicated
Incredibly touching and heartbreaking. Should be a required reading for all high school students!
A heartbreaking but important story centered around the Canadian Indian residential school system and the 60’s Scoop. I knew absolutely nothing about this part of Canada’s history and I’m glad I was able to learn about it, even though it is a tough topic.
The story is heavy on the hockey, which didn’t surprise me, but it is not a hockey story. This is a story of resilience and forgiveness and the evils that man can commit to further their own agenda.
I thought the writing in this book was brilliant as it changed in style as our main character, Saul, changed.
I read this with my book club and it was a great choice. There was so much to learn about and talk about. This is definitely a book that will stay with me a long time.
The story is heavy on the hockey, which didn’t surprise me, but it is not a hockey story. This is a story of resilience and forgiveness and the evils that man can commit to further their own agenda.
I thought the writing in this book was brilliant as it changed in style as our main character, Saul, changed.
I read this with my book club and it was a great choice. There was so much to learn about and talk about. This is definitely a book that will stay with me a long time.
if you have not read the book yet: please do!
the storytelling was heartbreakingly beautiful and i am definitely going to read more novels by richard wagamese after reading this one!!
the storytelling was heartbreakingly beautiful and i am definitely going to read more novels by richard wagamese after reading this one!!
Another exposition of important truths that we all need to face - the abysmal treatment of fellow humans. The subject matter is serious and important. And yet, content is not always enough, and as a ‘novel’, a fictional account, it really didn’t grab me as much as I expected it would.
An incredibly sad and important story. Even though it is fiction, there are so many truths in this book. Having grown up in the area where the story starts, I am very familiar with the after effects of the schools, the long devastating effects that still exist in the alcoholism, drug abuse and poverty that plagues northwestern Ontario.
Well worth the read, if not just for some deeper understanding.
Well worth the read, if not just for some deeper understanding.
3.5 stars.
I think my expectations were a little too high for this one (a friend assured me that this book would change my life; I'm afraid it didn't), but it was still an interesting and compelling read.
It was a bit hard to get into at the beginning, and I found it dragged a bit in the middle with the endless hockey game descriptions... The fault probably lies with me there; I'm just not a sports person.
Serious and devastating issues are dealt with, but it ends with a message of hope.
I think my expectations were a little too high for this one (a friend assured me that this book would change my life; I'm afraid it didn't), but it was still an interesting and compelling read.
It was a bit hard to get into at the beginning, and I found it dragged a bit in the middle with the endless hockey game descriptions... The fault probably lies with me there; I'm just not a sports person.
Serious and devastating issues are dealt with, but it ends with a message of hope.