A review by cb_reads_reviews
77 Fragments of a Familiar Ruin by Thomas King

4.0

Thomas King, best known for his influential and iconic book about Indigenous history, “The Inconvenient Indian” and novels like “Green Grass, Running Water” and his “Dreadful Water” mystery series has published his first book of poetry, “77 Fragments of a Familiar Ruin.” King, known for his sardonic wit and vivid storytelling brings his talent and his experience to this new collection. Each fragment provokes our understanding of ourselves in this modern and consumer-based society, incorporating mythical characters and animals, like Coyote and Raven, from King’s oft-told stories (hear “The Women Who Fell from the Sky” in King’s Massey Lectures - available on CBC archives and on iTunes). Political without being dogmatic, challenging behaviour and action, as in Fragment no. 34 which suggests an amnesia in the collective will of Canadian society to recognise and address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. This often thought provoking series is an excellent and enjoyable read.