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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
I'm struggling to find the words to describe this book. It is engaging, powerful, and heartbreaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Colonisation
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-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:
Yes
challenging
emotional
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:
Yes
Horrifying & devastating. But captured w/ honesty & lovely language.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book in around 24 hours. I was a little surprised by this book. It was my second time attempting it, my first being years ago, shortly after the 2013 Canada Reads competition. Then, I couldn’t get past those first few pages.
In hindsight, maybe it was a good thing I couldn’t read it then. Would I have taken it as seriously? Would my heart have been as broken by the way Saul Indian Horse - and thousands of children like him - was broken? Would I have been as angry? As hopeful for the glimmer of restoration that Wagamese gives in the final pages?
Or, would I have just seen it as a well-written, sad story, but certainly not something I have anything to do with?
Anyway. This book is fabulous. It’s about hockey. Like, all about hockey. Detailed descriptions of puck passing from stick to stick. But, I am not all about hockey and somehow still enjoyed it, even saw a beauty in the game. Wagamese is a master and I wish I could thank him for putting this book out into the world.
In hindsight, maybe it was a good thing I couldn’t read it then. Would I have taken it as seriously? Would my heart have been as broken by the way Saul Indian Horse - and thousands of children like him - was broken? Would I have been as angry? As hopeful for the glimmer of restoration that Wagamese gives in the final pages?
Or, would I have just seen it as a well-written, sad story, but certainly not something I have anything to do with?
Anyway. This book is fabulous. It’s about hockey. Like, all about hockey. Detailed descriptions of puck passing from stick to stick. But, I am not all about hockey and somehow still enjoyed it, even saw a beauty in the game. Wagamese is a master and I wish I could thank him for putting this book out into the world.
What an incredible story of survival!
As my journey to read all Richard Wagamese’s writings progress I can’t help but feel the sadness of knowing that he is gone. I would love to look forward to a new book each and every year.
As my journey to read all Richard Wagamese’s writings progress I can’t help but feel the sadness of knowing that he is gone. I would love to look forward to a new book each and every year.
There are just certain writers that are so incredibly gifted that describing how incredible their words are is difficult.
Richard Wagamese has changed me
This author showed me beauty and soul where I thought I saw it...but I didn't.
He showed me the strength of the human spirit...and how we cope to survive when surviving is what we need to do.
My heart hurts yet it is also fuller, my mind is more open, and I see the beauty in the earth as I never have before.
This book is certainly on my all time favourite list
Richard Wagamese has changed me
This author showed me beauty and soul where I thought I saw it...but I didn't.
He showed me the strength of the human spirit...and how we cope to survive when surviving is what we need to do.
My heart hurts yet it is also fuller, my mind is more open, and I see the beauty in the earth as I never have before.
This book is certainly on my all time favourite list
For my Around the World challenge (Canada).
Wow. I had no expectations when I picked this up on the "new fiction" shelf at the library, but I noticed the Canada Reads endorsement and the blurb sounded interesting, even though Catholic residential schools and ice hockey aren't necessarily topics of interest for me. But I am drawn to many Native America writers (Silko, Erdrich, Alexie, among others) and I was curious about Richard Wagamese. And what an amazing writer he is. I was just blown away by this powerful story and the beautiful, sparse style. I read most of it in one sitting, but I know the story will stay with me for a long time. I will definitely look for more of Wagamese's novels.
Wow. I had no expectations when I picked this up on the "new fiction" shelf at the library, but I noticed the Canada Reads endorsement and the blurb sounded interesting, even though Catholic residential schools and ice hockey aren't necessarily topics of interest for me. But I am drawn to many Native America writers (Silko, Erdrich, Alexie, among others) and I was curious about Richard Wagamese. And what an amazing writer he is. I was just blown away by this powerful story and the beautiful, sparse style. I read most of it in one sitting, but I know the story will stay with me for a long time. I will definitely look for more of Wagamese's novels.