Friday, March 2, 2012

Three Day Road - Joseph Boyden

Two Cree, as close as brothers, go off to fight in the Great War. Both residential school survivors, one is talkative, the other silent. Their hunting skills come in handy in the war, but the war changes them. There is the expected racism and classism that are staples of stories about the First World War, but the two Cree gain respect for their ability to kill. The war story alternates with the story of Nishka, the wild Indian woman who lives in the bush and suffers from visions. When only one of the boys returns from the war, she takes him home, a three day journey in which they both tell their stories. The war details are gory and the ending somewhat predictable, but it's a good read nonetheless.

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