lilliangrey 's review for:

Heat and Light by Ellen van Neerven

3.75

reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Another strange but important book (seems as though I have a type...). I read this book for class where we looked at the importance of First Nations literature. In many ways I am thankful for this book, there is much that my eyes have been opened to and there is so much to discuss when it comes to nuances and "themes" and even in that, there is only so much that I (a 20-year-old, straight, white, cis-woman) can dissect. While I can say I do not forget the impact White people have made on First Nations globally, I can certainly admit that there are times when all I remember is what I was taught in school - and as we all know, what they teach us is only brushing the surface. But, now and again, I come across a piece of art that forces me to sit down and listen, and this book is one of those artworks. I could not engage with this novel temporarily, I had to entangle myself with its storyline in a way that had me taking notes in the margin (of my own accord). 
I should, when the time approaches me, very much like to read this collection once again and involve myself in ways that I was not able to before. In this, perhaps I can add more to the conversation as to why I believe this to be such an important novel.