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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
Found it hard to get into and was kind of bored. Didn't love. My least favorite Thomas Kong book.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened on audio book. I found the narration somewhat difficult to follow at times as he switched between characters - so this lead to some confusion on my part.
I appreciated the indigenous creation story's integration into this novel, as well as the social, political, racial and environmental issues faced by indigenous communities
I appreciated the indigenous creation story's integration into this novel, as well as the social, political, racial and environmental issues faced by indigenous communities
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Yes
Sonny is energetic, confused, and determined to watch the beach for salvage and guide the turtles back to Smoke River. Crisp is generous, larger than life, and works to keep what's left of the community from falling apart. Mara paints her pain, portraits of the dead to accompany her in the deserted reservation.
And finally there is Gabriel, who has destroyed everything: his career, the reservation, his family and the lives of all those who used to live in Smoke River Reserve (human, animal, and plants alike). Gabriel has come back home to kill himself. But he finds himself saving people from the sea, rediscovering the past through different eyes, and maybe finding a reason to keep living despite himself.
Thomas King is a fantastic novelist. It's easy to guess at his literary background; his work is full of references to other works, stated outright or hidden within sentences (I'm sure there were many more than the ones I spotted). The book does not have a neat resolution. There are a lot of things left hanging in the air: Domidion's responsibility for several catastophes that is never addressed, the ambiguousness of Mara and Gabriel's friendship, the hesitancy between Crisp and Sonny. But as Gabriel notes, life is rarely a neat circle. Some things can't be forgiven or forgotten - but life moves on regardless.
And finally there is Gabriel, who has destroyed everything: his career, the reservation, his family and the lives of all those who used to live in Smoke River Reserve (human, animal, and plants alike). Gabriel has come back home to kill himself. But he finds himself saving people from the sea, rediscovering the past through different eyes, and maybe finding a reason to keep living despite himself.
Thomas King is a fantastic novelist. It's easy to guess at his literary background; his work is full of references to other works, stated outright or hidden within sentences (I'm sure there were many more than the ones I spotted). The book does not have a neat resolution. There are a lot of things left hanging in the air: Domidion's responsibility for several catastophes that is never addressed, the ambiguousness of Mara and Gabriel's friendship, the hesitancy between Crisp and Sonny. But as Gabriel notes, life is rarely a neat circle. Some things can't be forgiven or forgotten - but life moves on regardless.
3.25/5. Showed a lot of promise but I don't know if there was any pay off. The ending felt rushed.
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
I'm impressed by the range of King's writing style and ability to weave indigenous storytelling in every stroke. I would be happier if Dorian dies a painful death but realistically doesn't happen to most villains (except Steve Jobs).