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creaseinthespinebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Joseph Boyden is brilliant in bringing his characters to life that it feels like your reading about a true story.
I felt so I tuned to this story right from the beginning and I felt like I was inside this story with them. I also loved reading thoughtful and interesting descriptions of northern Canada.
Every Canadian should read this book. Particularly ones like me who have little or no context of daily lives of our First Nations brothers and sisters. There are references which shed light into past tragic histories, while the modern setting tells us their story as it happens today.
I felt so I tuned to this story right from the beginning and I felt like I was inside this story with them. I also loved reading thoughtful and interesting descriptions of northern Canada.
Every Canadian should read this book. Particularly ones like me who have little or no context of daily lives of our First Nations brothers and sisters. There are references which shed light into past tragic histories, while the modern setting tells us their story as it happens today.
dclark32's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kelli_stephenson's review against another edition
2.0
I so do not get why this book has such a high rating and why it was chose as a Reader's Choice book. I kept hoping something would change and the book would get better, but NOPE.
thingtwo's review against another edition
3.0
I suppose if I'd bothered to read the jacket, I wouldn't have been quite so confused at the beginning of this book. Written in first person, the story is narrated by two characters, but it took me a while to figure out who was who since Boyden doesn't give them a name until well into the story.
This book won the Giller award (Canadian author prize) in 2008, so I was interested to find out why. the story was engaging enough, although it took quite a while for me to actually care much about either character, I probably won't revisit Boyden again.
This book won the Giller award (Canadian author prize) in 2008, so I was interested to find out why. the story was engaging enough, although it took quite a while for me to actually care much about either character, I probably won't revisit Boyden again.
conversational_trout's review against another edition
4.0
Stunning story, cleverly composed, and that drew me into the details and vivid descriptions. I found the first part of the book to be a bit slow, but by 3/4 of the way through I was hooked. I particularly fell in love with the author's description of hunting and being in the bush, which felt honest and tangible. I wish I had read as a hardcopy, though. I wasn't engaged by the male narrator - his intonation felt too earnest and naive... which I felt didn't reflect well on Will Bird's character.
eileennurse's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The story is rich and the characters are fascinating and well developed. The duality of life experience for a First Nations person who crosses between the culture of modern society and the 'old ways' of our indigenous people is explored without judgement or sentiment - it just is what it is. The book also looks at the complexities of balancing modern problems within rural communities. Family life, relationships, and the rich culture of Canadian indigenous people it's all here. A great read
jade_flynn's review against another edition
3.0
Don't get me wrong, Boyden accurately portrays the vast beauty of the wildness area of Northern Canada but I did feel a disconnect with the characters, more so with Annie, than with Will. I would have been happy with the entire book being dedicated to Will's narrative and if it was it probably would have been a four star read for me but unfortunately the beautiful descriptions of the landscape and the enjoyment I felt whilst reading Will's story didn't outweigh the sheer boredom of having to trudge through Annie's.
cjc_555's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I wont recap the story for you but will say the characters are wonderful and it left me wanting to know more. I will read his other books!
lorrainecurren's review against another edition
5.0
Book #3, January book club pick. I just moved back to Yellowknife but if I hadn't this book would make me extremely homesick. A beautifully written story where I was so invested in what happened with all of the characters. Boyden is definitely one of my favourite Canadian authors.
madicornelisse's review against another edition
5.0
Some notes about the book from back when I read it (contains many spoilers)
- Recommended by my dear friend as it was there favourite book!
- Loved the deep Ontario setting
- Indigenous story telling which focuses on a real human story outside of exploiting trauma (themes of intergenerational trauma and addictions are woven in)
- Flipping between past and present is captivating just enough of all the story lines
- When the old ill couple in the hospital was the same couple from the uncles hideaway hunt camp my heart grew a lot and I cried a small tear definitely my favourite part
- Ending is good and thought provoking however, my biggest critique is it doesn’t address how the sister escapes her problems or if she does idk it’s definitely meant to be vague maybe someone with better deduction skills than i would love it
* Post reading PSA Boyden is not Indigenous and portrays himself to be after learning this I would not recommend this book.
- Recommended by my dear friend as it was there favourite book!
- Loved the deep Ontario setting
- Indigenous story telling which focuses on a real human story outside of exploiting trauma (themes of intergenerational trauma and addictions are woven in)
- Flipping between past and present is captivating just enough of all the story lines
- When the old ill couple in the hospital was the same couple from the uncles hideaway hunt camp my heart grew a lot and I cried a small tear definitely my favourite part
- Ending is good and thought provoking however, my biggest critique is it doesn’t address how the sister escapes her problems or if she does idk it’s definitely meant to be vague maybe someone with better deduction skills than i would love it
* Post reading PSA Boyden is not Indigenous and portrays himself to be after learning this I would not recommend this book.