A breaktaking and spectacular book. I had to stop after every chapter to admire and ponder the writing.
The story is about of two young native men and their experiences in the trenches with the Canadian army in WW I, and growing up in northern Quebec. The aunt of one of them also plays a major role. She brings her wounded nephew back north by canoe and they tell their stories to each other.
Boyden examines the cruelty of the residential schools, the strategy, violence, bravery, filth and sordidness of war, the triumphs of the Canadian soldiers, the loyalty and jealousies of close friendship, morphine addiction, and traditional native life.
Three day road is the road travelled after death to get to heaven.
The story is mesmerizing. Every phrase and detail is a fascinating and necessary part of the story. Every sentence is carved and honed to fit perfectly into the whole.
This is the most essential Canadian novel --- a must read.
Other books by this author reviewed on this blog:
Through Black Spruce ****
The Orenda *****
Published in Vancouver Magazine in 2009, I love these stories. Almost every one reminds me of something that happened to me, and I am sure, most Vancouverites.
http://www.vanmag.com/News_and_Features/Vancouver_Tales_II
I hate these Dummies books, but Chapters has hundreds of books on stock marketing investing, but none are Canadian. I found lots of good basic information, but not a lot of useful strategic information. And I hate the writing style. But it goes on the shelf until I find something better.
I picked this one up one evening at the bookstore, and found it very enlightening. I thought I knew everything about TFSA's but was mistaken. EVERYBODY must read this one.
Anyone at all interested in a clear overview over the Chechnya civil war should read this book. It contains a clear and well written explanation. Interesting too, for Westerners, is the fact that the terrorist and their arms and explosives could proceed across Russia undetected and that certain people seemed to have free access to the theatre while the drama was unfolding.
The main story is the story of a Bulgarian-Canadian man, of the 57 hours in a Moscow theatre being held captive by Chechnya rebels, and how he survived.
The Russians released an unknown gas into the theatre before storming it. Among the dead were all the terrorists and 129 innocent people, who succumbed to the gas after the attack. The Russians had no plan for how to transport 600 unconscious and dying people to hospitals, no medical personnel standing by on site, and never told the doctors what it was, so they were forced to experiment with antidotes before being able to treat the dying people.
My blog will continue in 2011. I really enjoy thinking about books and writers and analyzing their qualities.
All the Adrian Mole books are wonderful, and really, better each time.
