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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I found the book itself entertaining enough but I started reading it for a book club and didn’t finish in time for the chat. I kept reading it after but ultimately decided I had other books I wanted to read more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'd like to see another book from this author with a less predictable plot.
"There is no word for goodbye in Lakota. That's what my mother used to tell me. Sure, there were words like toksa, which meant 'later,' that were used by people as a modern substitute. She'd told me that the Lakota people didn't use a term for farewell because of the idea that we are forever connected. To say goodbye would mean the circle was broken."
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Winter Counts is a stark look at modern life on a reservation, the author states in his author's note that this is a fictionalization of what he has experienced as true to life on his reservation. As an "own voices" novel, I am tentative to write my review in such a way that is not at all critical of the people portrayed within. I fully acknowledge my status as descendent of colonizers and hate that element of our history. I have always found the Native American culture intoxicatingly beautiful and I love the way it is portrayed in this story. The author perfectly illustrates the balance between those who want to raise up their tribe and revel in their culture and those who find it more reasonable to assimilate.
The heart of this story is about the continued marginalization of the Lakota tribe and how there are members of the tribe who continue to facilitate this for their own personal gain. Virgil is not a model citizen by any means but as this story starts he is trying to do everything he can to survive and allow his nephew to thrive. When the case he is charged to investigate by tribal leaders entangles itself with his own life, we see just how far people will go to take advantage of the tribe. The crime story at the center of this story is so compelling and told with such a careful, metered approach you'll be wanting more of Virgil's brand of justice by the end.
In these characters we see both the good and bad of humanity. Having worked with the IHS for many years, I can tell you there are immensely good people working to support the health of indigenous people on the reservations but it's definitely not enough. If you want to see a snapshot of the challenges faced by these programs, this book has a great view of it.
----------------------------------------
Winter Counts is a stark look at modern life on a reservation, the author states in his author's note that this is a fictionalization of what he has experienced as true to life on his reservation. As an "own voices" novel, I am tentative to write my review in such a way that is not at all critical of the people portrayed within. I fully acknowledge my status as descendent of colonizers and hate that element of our history. I have always found the Native American culture intoxicatingly beautiful and I love the way it is portrayed in this story. The author perfectly illustrates the balance between those who want to raise up their tribe and revel in their culture and those who find it more reasonable to assimilate.
The heart of this story is about the continued marginalization of the Lakota tribe and how there are members of the tribe who continue to facilitate this for their own personal gain. Virgil is not a model citizen by any means but as this story starts he is trying to do everything he can to survive and allow his nephew to thrive. When the case he is charged to investigate by tribal leaders entangles itself with his own life, we see just how far people will go to take advantage of the tribe. The crime story at the center of this story is so compelling and told with such a careful, metered approach you'll be wanting more of Virgil's brand of justice by the end.
In these characters we see both the good and bad of humanity. Having worked with the IHS for many years, I can tell you there are immensely good people working to support the health of indigenous people on the reservations but it's definitely not enough. If you want to see a snapshot of the challenges faced by these programs, this book has a great view of it.
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
A character-driven, multilayered crime novel that I enjoyed reading very much. Not only was I entertained and thrilled, but also educated. I learned a lot about reservations and the social injustice of Native Americans - long ignored, thus significant parts of American history. The author gives some more insight and recommends further reading if you are interested in the topic after this book (which I definitely am).
It is very absorbing and profoundly moving—an extraordinary suspense novel with brilliant prose.
It is very absorbing and profoundly moving—an extraordinary suspense novel with brilliant prose.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Winter Counts is a gripping, character-driven thriller that explores identity & belonging, family, and justice.
We follow Virgil Wounded Horse, who has become his reservation’s protector & justice enforcer. When the American legal system fails and local tribal police refuse to investigate, Virgil’s acts of vigilantism (while violent), defend the innocent and incapacitate the guilty parties.
But when hard drugs enter the reservation and kids die from overdoses, the stakes get higher for Virgil. He’s got to enlist his ex-girlfriend and go on a hunt for the truth in order to protect his teenage nephew. As Virgil struggles to uncover the truth, he also contemplates his own indigenous identity and grapples with old traditions and future dreams.
The writing is simple & direct. Virgil’s commentary is earnest and clear, and it’s very easy to step into his shoes. This is a character-driven work, but when the action scenes appear they are high-stakes, descriptive, and violent.
The mystery aspect is smaller - and you will probably start to put the pieces and foreshadowing together very quickly - but the thrilling aspect is incredibly well-done. I was so afraid for Virgil and his nephew, and though I anticipated the “bad guy”, I had no idea if the protagonists would be safe. My heart was pounding throughout most of the story.
I also appreciated the snippets of life throughout the Rosebud Indian Reservation. We follow Virgil to the local spots, get to know how the community both supports and divides each other, feel teenage angst from the kids and anxiety over belongingness to the world from the adults, and so on. Virgil is conflicted about his identity and has stepped away from traditions of the past, but leans in a bit over the course of the story, determining what he wants to keep in his life and what no longer serves him.
The theme of identity is explored in fascinating ways, both through extremely modern struggles and deep trauma. Themes of justice (how the American legal system has failed the reservation) and ethics also play a large part.
While at times the dialogue and writing were a little too plain (sometimes unrealistically so) for my taste, I love this novel and can’t wait to read the next chapter of Virgil’s adventure.
CW: murder, death (incl. death of children), racism & slurs, colonization, classism, drug use, overdosing, gun violence, alcoholism, suicide, rape, kidnapping, torture, pedophilia, genocide, cultural appropriation
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In #WinterCounts the author has wielded an engrossing thriller about claiming one’s identity and seeking justice as a Native American that is equally suspenseful and thought-provoking. Virgil Wounded Horse, is our protagonist who is a recovering alcoholic & a local law “enforcer” in Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota who gets sucked into the game of power and money. When drugs makes its way to his family, he id willing to takedown the chain of command to deliver justice! My favourite thing about the writing is Weiden has cleverly juxtaposed “a white way of looking at the world” with how things should actually be looked at - beautiful. Culturally accurate historical details rolled along with the state of order in marginalised Native American communities, this novel stands high amongst its peers and this debut deserves to be read.
Thank you Ecco & Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thank you Ecco & Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
v steeped in Lakota cultural traditions and history, and touches on so many important issues eg food sovereignty, drug and alcohol abuse, imperialism, land sovereignty, and white vs native conceptions of justice etc that was very cool to see in thriller genre. Unfortunately, never felt connected to broody protagonist, and writing style kind of severed off at the end. also just not my favorite genre (thriller/mystery) overall, but better to read one where I actually learn something :D
challenging
tense
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:
Complicated