dclark32 's review for:

Keeper'n Me by Richard Wagamese
2.0

I'm not the first reviewer to note that as Wagamese's first novel, this is very much a case of a writer (with potential) learning their trade - and if I'm being honest I somewhat regret not giving those reviews greater heed, as "Keeper'n Me" became quite a tedious read by the end. The first 80 pages or so contain a genuinely interesting story, and made me really want to give this 3 stars at least. But Wagamese basically resolves the entire conflict by the end of Book 1 (of 4). The remaining 130 pages or so are little more than a series of purposeless vignettes and miscellaneous Ojibway spiritual teachings that only barely fit the narrative. No doubt I would appreciate the latter more if I were part of the culture, but alas I am not.

Wagamese is a talented writer, and that does come through in this novel: he has a tremendous ear for dialect, and a clear message that he wants to convey to the reader. It would appear he just needed more attempts to figure out how to get it out there.