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A review by doritobabe
The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew
5.0
4.5/5
I love this book and definitely think it is one of my favorite books of 2016.
(Why did I give it a 4.5/5 then, you ask? Well, I will get to that...)
Wab Kinew's [b:The Reason You Walk|24876654|The Reason You Walk|Wab Kinew|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426691135s/24876654.jpg|44524801] is a biographical account and moving tribute to his late father. Tobasonakwut's story is one that most Canadians (or historians) are familiar with: that of a residential school survivor. However, [a:Wab Kinew|13479348|Wab Kinew|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1426796283p2/13479348.jpg] writes this memoir with so much optimism and hope that one feels differently about this book than one may with other aboriginal accounts, for instance, my most recently read [b:The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America|15797509|The Inconvenient Indian A Curious Account of Native People in North America|Thomas King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357136064s/15797509.jpg|21520410].
This book's strength also lies within the narrative. The beginning chapters that detail Tobasonakwut's life read almost like a story rather than the pragmatic writing often associated with biographies. This is carried out through the text beautifully. Alas, where [a:Wab Kinew|13479348|Wab Kinew|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1426796283p2/13479348.jpg] begins to fail is through his moments of advice to the reader regarding reconciliation. Additionally, there are a few instances in the text where the chapters and story prove pointless and unnecessary to the large vision of the text.
Overall, this was a lovely account of a relationship between father and son. One that details the beauty of human relationships and the strength of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.
I love this book and definitely think it is one of my favorite books of 2016.
(Why did I give it a 4.5/5 then, you ask? Well, I will get to that...)
Wab Kinew's [b:The Reason You Walk|24876654|The Reason You Walk|Wab Kinew|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426691135s/24876654.jpg|44524801] is a biographical account and moving tribute to his late father. Tobasonakwut's story is one that most Canadians (or historians) are familiar with: that of a residential school survivor. However, [a:Wab Kinew|13479348|Wab Kinew|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1426796283p2/13479348.jpg] writes this memoir with so much optimism and hope that one feels differently about this book than one may with other aboriginal accounts, for instance, my most recently read [b:The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America|15797509|The Inconvenient Indian A Curious Account of Native People in North America|Thomas King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1357136064s/15797509.jpg|21520410].
This book's strength also lies within the narrative. The beginning chapters that detail Tobasonakwut's life read almost like a story rather than the pragmatic writing often associated with biographies. This is carried out through the text beautifully. Alas, where [a:Wab Kinew|13479348|Wab Kinew|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1426796283p2/13479348.jpg] begins to fail is through his moments of advice to the reader regarding reconciliation. Additionally, there are a few instances in the text where the chapters and story prove pointless and unnecessary to the large vision of the text.
Overall, this was a lovely account of a relationship between father and son. One that details the beauty of human relationships and the strength of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.