Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
This is an extremely well written and poignant story about a tough subject. This is a great book club pick, there will be a lot to discuss both technically and societally. This was the first Wagamese novel I've ever read, and definitely will not be the last.
*** Minor spoilers for the structure of the story to follow ***
I always find it fascinating when the conclusion of a book can recontextualize the entire story, especially when it's not a big mystery solved and the story already worked as it was. The middle section of this book, while certainly still a well told tale, felt slight and seemed like an odd story for Wagamese to tell, but by the time the book was over the realization of why it was told that way was very impactful.
From a technical perspective, the prose is really free-flowing and easy to read, and I love how it's divided into very short chapters, often 2-3 minutes long only. I was able to tear through this book and it always kept me wanting to just read over more chapter before putting it down.
*** Minor spoilers for the structure of the story to follow ***
I always find it fascinating when the conclusion of a book can recontextualize the entire story, especially when it's not a big mystery solved and the story already worked as it was. The middle section of this book, while certainly still a well told tale, felt slight and seemed like an odd story for Wagamese to tell, but by the time the book was over the realization of why it was told that way was very impactful.
From a technical perspective, the prose is really free-flowing and easy to read, and I love how it's divided into very short chapters, often 2-3 minutes long only. I was able to tear through this book and it always kept me wanting to just read over more chapter before putting it down.
I have no idea why good reads thinks I’ve never read this book lol !!!!????? I’ve read it so many times at this point. It is one of my favourite books of all time and I could cry thinking about it. Harrowing, well written, beautiful, upsetting, Canadian, uplifting - it’s everything and I am sad we lost Wagamese!
My first ever 6/5 star rating. As a lifelong avid reader I often get asked "whats the best book you've ever read?'" and I've never had a good answer - until now. I really took my time with this book, and given how it takes place over the course of Saul's life I really recommend you do the same. At only 219 pages I had the option to read it in one sitting but I didn't want to just fly through it and move on. This is not a book you can move on from. It may be a work of fiction but it is an all too real part of Canadian history and will stay with me for the rest of my life. Masterfully written. Tops my list of required reading for Canadians.
“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.”
I really loved this, it was so well written and highlights an important, often neglected part of Canadian history that we like to forget happened. But it did, and people like Saul feel the ramifications long after their childhood, long after they left the schools.
My heart broke for Saul at the beginning of the novel, and continued to break until the last page.
I really loved this, it was so well written and highlights an important, often neglected part of Canadian history that we like to forget happened. But it did, and people like Saul feel the ramifications long after their childhood, long after they left the schools.
My heart broke for Saul at the beginning of the novel, and continued to break until the last page.
I had so many mixed feelings about this book, I wasn't enjoying it at first, about halfway through I starting thinking it would get a lot better, and then I hated it towards the end because I thought there was going to be such a bad ending, but the ending turned out to be pretty good.
Richard Wagamese, my heart. This book. Indian Horse. About Saul Indian Horse, a young Ojibwe boy whose own familial experiences of the residential schools precede him, who, in a time of unimaginable loss, has his entire life turned upside down when he is forced to attend the same school, and who later, finds both joy and suffering in the racist world he lives in and the sport he excels in, and in his own painful path towards his history and his truth. This book. If you only ever read one book again make it this book. Wagamese is, I’ve decided, the most important writer of our generation, and this is his most important story. He is a master storyteller and this book is his masterpiece (so is medicine walk. How did he even hold two books so beautiful inside of himself?). This novel tells a story about the residential schools as real as anything. You will feel despair. You will see into the heart of the colonial machine and you will understand that it, at it’s core, crushes children so it can have the land and the resources and the power. You will also see life. Beautiful resilient life. And community, and ancestors, and joy, and truth. This book is from one place and from the entire Indigenous and racialized world. It is small and enormous. And if you’re worried that this book talks about hockey and you don’t like the sport (me!), you’ll see Wagamese’s writing at it’s best, because you’ll be astoundingly, impossibly touched by that too. This is the book. Tell your family. Tell your friends. Share this post. I want the world to read this book.
A well written view of an unimaginable situation. To know that it is not truly unimaginable for so many is heart breaking. It takes strength, courage and a lot of love to survive. Everyone should read this book, and begin to help with that survival rate.
This book has been living rent free in my mind ever since ive read it, so im bumping my rating up to 4 stars
This was an excellent book - emotionally draining, but with flashes of humour. And I very much appreciated the optimism that came through.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A quick read but very intense content. I got a little bored during the chapters going into detailed descriptions of the hockey scenes, but it ultimately set up the progression from his love of the game to being consumed by rage from the racism, and as we learn at the end, sexual abuse that he endured.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault