Status
Checked out
Call number
Call number
FIC RIC
Collection
Description
"With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow. The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision."--… (more)
Series
Publication
ECW Press (2018), Edition: 1, 224 pages
Original publication date
2018
Original language
English
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member richardderus
Real Rating: 3.25* of five
A tale of the end of the world as we know it. The twist of the tail: The storytellers are those left out of the world that's ending. Evan and Nicole live on the rez all the way north in Ontario, ever so close to the Inuit lands surrounding Hudson Bay. Author Waubgeshig
We meet Evan Whitesky as he's butchering his last moose of the season, field dressing the huge bull because it's too much for him to handle alone. He's lucky, he feels, to have grown up more in tune with the old hunting ways; he'd've been sad and guilty if he'd had to abandon this huge meat source from inability to move it to a truck by himself. He offers sacred tobacco...the store-bought kind, dammit, he forgot the uncured stash!...in thanks for the life he was allowed to take that he may feed his family, his citified little brother and his aging parents and the members of the band whose hunting luck wasn't as good as his.
And that's how we meet the main PoV character in a post-apocalyptic story. Yes indeed, this'll be a good read!
It was, it was...I particularly approve of the extremely limited sense we're given of just exactly *what* happened to the world of the white people. The difference between before and after is really a matter of degree for the characters in Author Rice's tender care. /irony
Much happens. Two young men come back from college in white people-land with a harrowing report of what happened when things changed, but they had no clue as to what had actually occurred. White people show up on the rez looking for safety. Several conflicting voices are heard regarding the advisability of helping strangers in the Brave New World. Shots are fired, bodies are disposed of, things get very upsetting.
But...and this is why I'm not giving the book more stars...the collapse of outer Canada and the fractures of inner reservationland aren't made much of. That means I see characters responding to...to...stress, bad people's bad actions, the atavistic pummeling of the need to protect and guard and hoard who and what you love. Great. Not enough. I, as a jaundiced old party of one, want the responses to require balancing what's lost by responding not being in any way proactive against what's gained by acting at last.
I was not as invested, therefore, as I'd need to be to give this a four on up-star rating. But don't let that put you off getting this book. I'm very glad I read it. I am deeply convinced of Rice's rightness in creating the world of the rez. The words used that're not translated will get in some readers' way. I am not one of those. At every turn the meaning of the words is made clear by context or by the English response of another character to what was said.
Treat yourself to a trip to the northern forest. You and I should probably limit our stay to a book's length. This is hard country with hard living for its people. Apocalypses really only hurt those with a lot to lose, and Evan's family has more to gain than to lose from the end of the world as whites know it.
A tale of the end of the world as we know it. The twist of the tail: The storytellers are those left out of the world that's ending. Evan and Nicole live on the rez all the way north in Ontario, ever so close to the Inuit lands surrounding Hudson Bay. Author Waubgeshig
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Rice is a First Nations native from a less-northerly band than Evan and Nicole's, so I was ready to believe him when he told me the details of his novel's land. I needn't even have considered it. I felt I could go to Thunder Bay, Ontario, get in a car or on a snowmobile, and I'd find the Whitesky clan soon enough.We meet Evan Whitesky as he's butchering his last moose of the season, field dressing the huge bull because it's too much for him to handle alone. He's lucky, he feels, to have grown up more in tune with the old hunting ways; he'd've been sad and guilty if he'd had to abandon this huge meat source from inability to move it to a truck by himself. He offers sacred tobacco...the store-bought kind, dammit, he forgot the uncured stash!...in thanks for the life he was allowed to take that he may feed his family, his citified little brother and his aging parents and the members of the band whose hunting luck wasn't as good as his.
And that's how we meet the main PoV character in a post-apocalyptic story. Yes indeed, this'll be a good read!
It was, it was...I particularly approve of the extremely limited sense we're given of just exactly *what* happened to the world of the white people. The difference between before and after is really a matter of degree for the characters in Author Rice's tender care. /irony
Much happens. Two young men come back from college in white people-land with a harrowing report of what happened when things changed, but they had no clue as to what had actually occurred. White people show up on the rez looking for safety. Several conflicting voices are heard regarding the advisability of helping strangers in the Brave New World. Shots are fired, bodies are disposed of, things get very upsetting.
But...and this is why I'm not giving the book more stars...the collapse of outer Canada and the fractures of inner reservationland aren't made much of. That means I see characters responding to...to...stress, bad people's bad actions, the atavistic pummeling of the need to protect and guard and hoard who and what you love. Great. Not enough. I, as a jaundiced old party of one, want the responses to require balancing what's lost by responding not being in any way proactive against what's gained by acting at last.
I was not as invested, therefore, as I'd need to be to give this a four on up-star rating. But don't let that put you off getting this book. I'm very glad I read it. I am deeply convinced of Rice's rightness in creating the world of the rez. The words used that're not translated will get in some readers' way. I am not one of those. At every turn the meaning of the words is made clear by context or by the English response of another character to what was said.
Treat yourself to a trip to the northern forest. You and I should probably limit our stay to a book's length. This is hard country with hard living for its people. Apocalypses really only hurt those with a lot to lose, and Evan's family has more to gain than to lose from the end of the world as whites know it.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice is a powerful post-apocalyptic story set in a small northern Anishinaabe community. When an unnamed something causes the world to go dark, this small Indian community is cut-off from the rest of the world. The people must learn to live without
The winter is long and harsh and many people are not prepared to survive but the community tries to keep everyone supplied with food and heat as best as they can. Main character, Evan Whitesky and his mate Nicole have two children, they are living on the reservation and are relearning their traditional ways of living. When a white man arrives seeking refuge, Evan and the community allow him to stay even though they have doubts as to his willingness to fit in. As the winter progresses power struggles arise and hostility and slow burning tensions built to a stunning climax.
I was spell-bound by Moon of the Crusted Snow. The author’s writing drew me into the story and his descriptions of nature and weather set the stage for this interesting dystopian tale. A story of survival that was unsettling yet hopeful, Rice is a born storyteller and I look forward to reading more from this author.
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electricity, phones and delivery of goods and food from the south. The winter is long and harsh and many people are not prepared to survive but the community tries to keep everyone supplied with food and heat as best as they can. Main character, Evan Whitesky and his mate Nicole have two children, they are living on the reservation and are relearning their traditional ways of living. When a white man arrives seeking refuge, Evan and the community allow him to stay even though they have doubts as to his willingness to fit in. As the winter progresses power struggles arise and hostility and slow burning tensions built to a stunning climax.
I was spell-bound by Moon of the Crusted Snow. The author’s writing drew me into the story and his descriptions of nature and weather set the stage for this interesting dystopian tale. A story of survival that was unsettling yet hopeful, Rice is a born storyteller and I look forward to reading more from this author.
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LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
Moon of the Crusted Snow, an apocalyptic tale by author Waubgeshig Rice, is divided into three sections based on seasons:
Autumn - the beginning as a northern Anishinaabe reserve in Canada loses all communication with the outside world
Winter - band struggles to survive as it becomes clear there
- some members become passive while others including Evan Whitesley do their best to keep the community together and safe
- a stranger arrives and quickly unsettles and divides the band
- deaths begin to mount
Spring - the remaining members of the band make plans to leave the reserve and seek a new safe home hopefully far away from whatever urban civilization if any still survives
Moon of the Crusted Snow is as much an allegory for colonization as it is an apocalyptic tale. As one elder of the band who still knows their history and keeps their culture alive says when the issue of apocalypse is raised:
Our world isn't ending. It already ended. It ended when the Zhaagnaash* came into our original home...and took it from us...[A]pocalypse. We've had that over and over. But we always survived. We're still here. And we'll still be here, even if the power and the radios don't come back on and we never see any white people again
This is a well-written story full of action, suspense, and tragedy. It also gives a different perspective on what apocalypse means to people who have experienced colonization and, as such, it ends on a surprisingly hopeful note. A definite high recommendation from me.
*white people
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and ECW Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
Autumn - the beginning as a northern Anishinaabe reserve in Canada loses all communication with the outside world
Winter - band struggles to survive as it becomes clear there
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will be no new supplies and what foodstuffs they have are dwindling- some members become passive while others including Evan Whitesley do their best to keep the community together and safe
- a stranger arrives and quickly unsettles and divides the band
- deaths begin to mount
Spring - the remaining members of the band make plans to leave the reserve and seek a new safe home hopefully far away from whatever urban civilization if any still survives
Moon of the Crusted Snow is as much an allegory for colonization as it is an apocalyptic tale. As one elder of the band who still knows their history and keeps their culture alive says when the issue of apocalypse is raised:
Our world isn't ending. It already ended. It ended when the Zhaagnaash* came into our original home...and took it from us...[A]pocalypse. We've had that over and over. But we always survived. We're still here. And we'll still be here, even if the power and the radios don't come back on and we never see any white people again
This is a well-written story full of action, suspense, and tragedy. It also gives a different perspective on what apocalypse means to people who have experienced colonization and, as such, it ends on a surprisingly hopeful note. A definite high recommendation from me.
*white people
Thanks to Edelweiss+ and ECW Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member DedDuckie
Moon of the Crusted Snow, authored by Waubgeshig Rice, popped on my radar by way of the Bookriot article titled: Welcome To Indigenous Horror: 4 Indigenous Books To Try, written by Amanda Diehl. This was the only title on this list I have been able to get my hands on so far (borrowed from my
I rated this novel 4.5 stars.
The way the world ends could be endlessly written about, ranging from the fantastical to the horrific, mired in scientific explanation or religious signs; presented with hopeful to despondent emotion. I had not yet read a story of the modern world ending from the viewpoint of of a people already so isolated due to marginalization and separation onto reservations, but I was looking forward to it.
If your communication with everyone off the rez (reservation) is spotty at best during the colder weather, then when it happens with finality, you wouldn’t know right away; that gets under my skin, creeps me out. I know they were already preparing, stocking up for winter, but they still thought everything was a-okay with the people that stock their diesel, restock their grocer’s store. There was a whole safety net they thought was under them that had been ripped away.
How they dealt with everything that followed, as a small community, fascinated me. These were not random survivors thrown together hashing out their differences, fighting bitterness over perceived slights; these were family, lifetime friends, whose dedication to pulling their weight for the community (or not) was bare for all to see, more complicated to deal with, I’m sure. And having to decide what to do with outsiders asking for shelter, and all the good and bad that can come from that, I thought was another strong pull on the tension that had been building steadily from the first chapter.
If I ever get to the point where listening to audio books are possible for me (not while the kids have school from home!), I would love to hear the Anishinaabe written within the book spoken. There are English words I’ve only read that I know I butcher trying to say; I can only imagine at this point how lovely the words shared with us in this novel really sound.
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library) but I remain hopeful, and diligent in my searching. I also would like to read the other works by this author. My honest review is below, freely given.I rated this novel 4.5 stars.
The way the world ends could be endlessly written about, ranging from the fantastical to the horrific, mired in scientific explanation or religious signs; presented with hopeful to despondent emotion. I had not yet read a story of the modern world ending from the viewpoint of of a people already so isolated due to marginalization and separation onto reservations, but I was looking forward to it.
If your communication with everyone off the rez (reservation) is spotty at best during the colder weather, then when it happens with finality, you wouldn’t know right away; that gets under my skin, creeps me out. I know they were already preparing, stocking up for winter, but they still thought everything was a-okay with the people that stock their diesel, restock their grocer’s store. There was a whole safety net they thought was under them that had been ripped away.
How they dealt with everything that followed, as a small community, fascinated me. These were not random survivors thrown together hashing out their differences, fighting bitterness over perceived slights; these were family, lifetime friends, whose dedication to pulling their weight for the community (or not) was bare for all to see, more complicated to deal with, I’m sure. And having to decide what to do with outsiders asking for shelter, and all the good and bad that can come from that, I thought was another strong pull on the tension that had been building steadily from the first chapter.
If I ever get to the point where listening to audio books are possible for me (not while the kids have school from home!), I would love to hear the Anishinaabe written within the book spoken. There are English words I’ve only read that I know I butcher trying to say; I can only imagine at this point how lovely the words shared with us in this novel really sound.
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LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
I'm not going to give anything away about what happens in this novel. It's a fantastic book, doing much of what Leave the World Behind does, only in a different way and more effectively.
Evan lives with his wife and two children in an Anishinaabe community in northern Ontario. One morning in late
This is a short novel, without a wasted word or unnecessary scene. Rice creates a sense of rising tension that was highly effective and by centering the story not on the community leaders, but on the guy who drives the snowplow, there's also a sense of being in the middle of things. Highly recommended.
Evan lives with his wife and two children in an Anishinaabe community in northern Ontario. One morning in late
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autumn, they wake to find themselves without electricity and service for their cell phones or internet. This isn't unusual in a neglected and underpopulated part of the country, but it soon appears as though the interruption might last longer than a few days. This is a short novel, without a wasted word or unnecessary scene. Rice creates a sense of rising tension that was highly effective and by centering the story not on the community leaders, but on the guy who drives the snowplow, there's also a sense of being in the middle of things. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member ChelleBearss
This was a great short novel by Canadian novelist Waubgeshig Rice from the Wasauksing First Nation near Sudbury. I randomly picked up this novel when my library had it displayed on the front counter. I'm a big fan of apocalyptic novels and this was told from an interesting First Nations point of
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view. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member janismack
I like canadian fiction and our canadian first nation people included. Story of the end of modern civilisation as the power goes out. Tender family moments and instincts of survival are the theme of this book. It’s a short book, perhaps a sequel is coming?
LibraryThing member MaggieFlo
This is a novel of an apocalypse that takes place in a remote Northern Ontario indigenous reserve.
The main character is Evan who works for the reserve as a maintenance man with multiple other functions. The power goes out on the eve of another winter. The reserve has prepared for such an emergency
It’s an interesting story but the dialogue is lame, the emotional toll is not well described and the ending leaves many questions regarding the future.
The main character is Evan who works for the reserve as a maintenance man with multiple other functions. The power goes out on the eve of another winter. The reserve has prepared for such an emergency
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with backup diesel generators and many families have stocked freezers with game and other foods. However, the outage continues, people becomes anxious, hungry and cold and a visitor from the South, arriving on a snowmobile causes a rift between families. It’s an interesting story but the dialogue is lame, the emotional toll is not well described and the ending leaves many questions regarding the future.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
The world as we know it collapses and this small native village is thrown back on their well honed survival skills. But their exposure to the outside world means some of their community fall prey to evil outside influences. The story starts with a moose hunt that seems like a symbol of the kind of
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action that needs to happen to save the community. Show Less
LibraryThing member caanderson
Excellent thriller. The tension and suspense is wonderful. It keeps you reading to find out what happens to the tribe. Great characters in a scary situation.
LibraryThing member greeniezona
Early in July there was one of those twitter threads that blows up where the OP asked people to pick a country and list three books available in English, by authors from that country, living or recently dead, to recommend that more people should read. The outpouring of recommendations was
I could not put this book down, except to engage my husband in conversations about the slow-build sense of impending doom this book creates, as well as psychology and survival strategies during a collapse of civilization in a winter-climate. I devoured this. As I read, it was actually unbearably hot in my house, which you might think would undermine the everyone-might-freeze-to-death mood, but actually for two days my brain was stuck on EVERYTHING IS UNBEARABLE -- HOW DO WE BEST MANAGE OUR RESOURCES SO WE DON'T DIE?
In many ways, this is an unusual apocalypse/post-apocalypse novel that evades a lot of tropes. The focus is actually more on Anishinaabe culture and history -- at one point making explicit the way they have survived multiple apocalypses -- the waves of death following the arrival of white settlers, the removal of their land, the removal of their children and the attempts to erase their cultural history. The legacy of all that is woven seamlessly into the book, infusing every page with a sense of reclaiming what has been lost, even before the power goes out.
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tremendous, and I was frantically adding books to my to-read list. I looked up this book from Canada mostly because it was on the same list as Jonny Appleseed, which I am always yelling about, so I had faith in that poster's taste. When I looked it up on goodreads, I found rave reviews from two friends whose taste I trust, so off to the library I went.I could not put this book down, except to engage my husband in conversations about the slow-build sense of impending doom this book creates, as well as psychology and survival strategies during a collapse of civilization in a winter-climate. I devoured this. As I read, it was actually unbearably hot in my house, which you might think would undermine the everyone-might-freeze-to-death mood, but actually for two days my brain was stuck on EVERYTHING IS UNBEARABLE -- HOW DO WE BEST MANAGE OUR RESOURCES SO WE DON'T DIE?
In many ways, this is an unusual apocalypse/post-apocalypse novel that evades a lot of tropes. The focus is actually more on Anishinaabe culture and history -- at one point making explicit the way they have survived multiple apocalypses -- the waves of death following the arrival of white settlers, the removal of their land, the removal of their children and the attempts to erase their cultural history. The legacy of all that is woven seamlessly into the book, infusing every page with a sense of reclaiming what has been lost, even before the power goes out.
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
Post-apocalyptic novels are pretty common but I don't know of any others that are set in a remote aboriginal reservation. Mr. Rice has brought that idea to life and done it quite brilliantly. And since the success of an audiobook relies so much upon the narrator kudos must also be given to Billy
Winter comes early to Northwest Ontario where the Anishinaabe community that is the setting for this novel is located. And then the power and communication systems go out leaving the band to rely upon diesel generators and their own resources. This would work for a short period of time but as the days turn into weeks and then into months the people realize that the leadership is failing them. A man who works for the band, Evan, takes on more and more responsibility; he checks on elders; he delivers food; he picks up the bodies of people who die and stores them in the band's garage; he worries about his mother and father; he worries about his partner and their two children; most of all he worries about the white stranger who showed up in town on a snowmobile with supplies of liquor and guns. If anyone in this small community survives it will be thanks to Evan's efforts.
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Merasty who gave voice to the characters.Winter comes early to Northwest Ontario where the Anishinaabe community that is the setting for this novel is located. And then the power and communication systems go out leaving the band to rely upon diesel generators and their own resources. This would work for a short period of time but as the days turn into weeks and then into months the people realize that the leadership is failing them. A man who works for the band, Evan, takes on more and more responsibility; he checks on elders; he delivers food; he picks up the bodies of people who die and stores them in the band's garage; he worries about his mother and father; he worries about his partner and their two children; most of all he worries about the white stranger who showed up in town on a snowmobile with supplies of liquor and guns. If anyone in this small community survives it will be thanks to Evan's efforts.
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LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
Phones, televisions, internet, and power go out on the reservation. To spread information, the people rely on “...all moccasin telegraph all the time these days.”
I can’t imagine all those things failing right now, during the current pandemic! For the people on the 'rez', it's unimaginable
I can’t imagine all those things failing right now, during the current pandemic! For the people on the 'rez', it's unimaginable
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too! Evan, the main character, must protect his family and friends, help his community, and be on guard against outsiders. It's a Herculean task, made worse as the winter deepens. It's a well told tale, with lots of insight into Native American ways, traditions, and languages. The 'run' on the food market reminded me so much of how things were at the start of our current pandemic right now. Scary and uncertain. This whole book is scary and uncertain. Probably why I enjoyed it! Show Less
LibraryThing member unclebob53703
I read a lot of apocalypse novels, and I thought this one was a bust.(Spoilers) The power goes out in a remote Native American village and they lose touch with the outside world. Nothing much happens until a sketchy white guy comes to town and tries to take over. He's a loose canon, but the
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villagers response to him is curiously passive, even when he kills someone, until he finally crosses a line the main character can't stomach. The apocalypse element is defined solely by a brief passage where two boys return from college and tell of mayhem on their campus--there's no exploration of it beyond that. The Native American element is pervasive and even interesting, but it adds little to the narrative other than a rural setting and some native language. The writing is satisfactory but nothing special, and there's no real attempt to connect the simple story line to any larger themes--like for instance The World Ending. The story comes to an abrupt finish and offers nothing in the way of a resolution or even a summation. I found it very unsatisfying. Show Less
LibraryThing member LDVoorberg
Rather elementary, in that the writing style is like a chapter book from a grade five reading assignment. Not my preference. The story was relatively pat and obvious. There are clear "bad guys" and "good guys" which means the characters are rather flat and static. Especially the bad guy, who is
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painted as such from the moment his all-in-black archetype arrives in the village. Yes, there's some sharing of indigenous culture, but nothing I haven't read in other, better written, more interesting works. Sure, as an "all community read" it works, but that overarching demographic matches its mediocrity. Show Less
LibraryThing member labfs39
Evan Whitesky is out hunting moose when the cell phones stop working. Soon after, the reservation loses electricity, sat phones, and all other contact with the outside world. Then the blizzards begin.
I enjoyed becoming immersed in this dystopian novel and quickly sped through it in a day. The
I enjoyed becoming immersed in this dystopian novel and quickly sped through it in a day. The
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author is from Wasauksing First Nation, and the novel is set on an Anishinaabe reservation. Without being heavy-handed, some history of the tribe is included as well as native words and customs. It made for a very interesting read. Show Less
LibraryThing member being_b
I wish this book had been longer- I'd have loved to learn more about how the Anishinaabe culture works in the context of this new apocalypse. The story is focuses primarily on how Anishinaabe ways help people to physically survive independent of modern technological infrastructures and supply
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lines. Spirituality is touched on briefly, but not much more than that. I'd have liked to see more about how peoples' identities and roles in the community changed over the course of the two years covered by the story. I assume more people in the community would become interested in rediscovering their heritage and culture, but what would that look like? Show Less
LibraryThing member japaul22
A recent review by nickelini of this book made me want to pick it up. I've committed to reading some books by Native Americans this year and this is written by a First Nations member. It has great detail about this Anishinaabe community trying to save some of their traditions and get back to their
This novel is a little hard to describe, but it's basically an apocalyptic suspense/thriller. The community is in northern Ontario and suddenly, as winter is beginning, they lose power and cell service. At first they believe it is just a fluke and will be repaired. But then they learn that it is not just their community that has lost power. They need to decide how, together or apart, they will survive the winter.
I really liked this. The setting is great, both in terms of the location and the cultural setting. I will say that it wasn't quite as "thrilling" to me as it was set up to be. I wasn't really surprised by any of it and I thought something even more dramatic would happen than what actually did happen. But, overall I'd still recommend it.
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roots. It actually tied in surprisingly well to a nonfiction book I'm reading called [Braiding Sweetgrass]. A lot of Native American traditions especially regarding respect for the land are described in both. This novel is a little hard to describe, but it's basically an apocalyptic suspense/thriller. The community is in northern Ontario and suddenly, as winter is beginning, they lose power and cell service. At first they believe it is just a fluke and will be repaired. But then they learn that it is not just their community that has lost power. They need to decide how, together or apart, they will survive the winter.
I really liked this. The setting is great, both in terms of the location and the cultural setting. I will say that it wasn't quite as "thrilling" to me as it was set up to be. I wasn't really surprised by any of it and I thought something even more dramatic would happen than what actually did happen. But, overall I'd still recommend it.
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LibraryThing member LGCullens
Alas, given variances in subjective perspectives there are more than a few that may find this eloquently simple story slow and dull. In my view though, it's not intended to be distracting entertainment, but rather an interesting story encapsulating contrasting cultural proclivities. Something that
I don't see modern civilization crashing overnight as it does in the beginning of this story, but such was necessary in getting on with the intended story. To the story's credit it does, succinctly within context, relate how a majority of humans have been on a destructive path far too long.
Foregoing details that could give a false impression, I will say it's a hopeful story if enough see the value inherent in its telling.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” ~ Albert Einstein
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more need see the value in if we truly care about our children's futures.I don't see modern civilization crashing overnight as it does in the beginning of this story, but such was necessary in getting on with the intended story. To the story's credit it does, succinctly within context, relate how a majority of humans have been on a destructive path far too long.
Foregoing details that could give a false impression, I will say it's a hopeful story if enough see the value inherent in its telling.
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” ~ Albert Einstein
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LibraryThing member janerawoof
A slow-burner where suspense builds up to a shocking climax. Haunting, telling the tale of a modern First Nation tribe in northern Ontario, struggling to survive without the trapping of modern life: infrastructure and all that goes with it; food shortage; a hard, unforgiving winter with blizzard
Highly recommended.
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conditions and cold. I appreciated what these people went through, especially with outsiders--white people--coming onto the reservation to escape the same situation down south, and with their leader's brutality, forcing themselves upon this community. Writing was spare and characterizations full-blooded. I got a sense of some of the Ojibwa customs. A small thing, but I wish when native words were used [most meanings of which you could figure out by context] if the words in the spoken language are accented, accent marks had been used to show syllable stress. The title to me meant the time of year when the story took place.Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member ZeljanaMaricFerli
In the wake of a mysterious catastrophic event, an isolated Anishinaabe community seems to be much better prepared than the people down south. For them, being left to survive on their own is not something new.
However, soon the refugees from the south will find their way up north. How are the
This was a quick and atmospheric read. The plot was interesting, if slow at times.
I loved reading about the way of life of this community, especially the dialogues between the Elders and the main character. This aspect of the book was the best part for me.
The novel is written in very plain language which came across as both a strength and a weakness. The atmosphere was good throughout the novel and very evocative of the title.
However, there were multiple issues with the writing style. I felt some parts were forced on the reader and we keep being told the obvious, which I really disliked.
With books like this, it is clear that the author tries to showcase a culture as well as tell a story. But, often this was done in a way where certain descriptions felt redundant as they didn't add anything to the plot or character development. Characters felt shallow and there was not much development. Even though there are a lot of things happening, we can barely tell by the way characters behave.
The thing I really disliked was the final conflict which was pushed to the extreme. Clearly, the whole setup is an allegory for the complex relationship between the First Nations and the colonial conquerors, but it felt heavy-handed which tilted the balance of an otherwise quiet book. But, judging by all the positive reviews, it struck a chord with the audience.
It seems like there's a sequel in the making. I will definitely pick it up when it comes out simply because I want to see what is left to be said about this story.
However, soon the refugees from the south will find their way up north. How are the
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Elders going to react? Can they work together to make it through the winter? This was a quick and atmospheric read. The plot was interesting, if slow at times.
I loved reading about the way of life of this community, especially the dialogues between the Elders and the main character. This aspect of the book was the best part for me.
The novel is written in very plain language which came across as both a strength and a weakness. The atmosphere was good throughout the novel and very evocative of the title.
However, there were multiple issues with the writing style. I felt some parts were forced on the reader and we keep being told the obvious, which I really disliked.
With books like this, it is clear that the author tries to showcase a culture as well as tell a story. But, often this was done in a way where certain descriptions felt redundant as they didn't add anything to the plot or character development. Characters felt shallow and there was not much development. Even though there are a lot of things happening, we can barely tell by the way characters behave.
The thing I really disliked was the final conflict which was pushed to the extreme. Clearly, the whole setup is an allegory for the complex relationship between the First Nations and the colonial conquerors, but it felt heavy-handed which tilted the balance of an otherwise quiet book. But, judging by all the positive reviews, it struck a chord with the audience.
It seems like there's a sequel in the making. I will definitely pick it up when it comes out simply because I want to see what is left to be said about this story.
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LibraryThing member 37143Birnbaum
Pretty good story. About indigenous people living in northern Ontario when some event occured and there was no longer electricity or water or any modern conveniences. So, they had no choice but to live off the land as their ancestors had.
LibraryThing member LDVoorberg
Rather elementary, in that the writing style is like a chapter book from a grade five reading assignment. Not my preference. The story was relatively pat and obvious. There are clear "bad guys" and "good guys" which means the characters are rather flat and static. Especially the bad guy, who is
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painted as such from the moment his all-in-black archetype arrives in the village. Yes, there's some sharing of indigenous culture, but nothing I haven't read in other, better written, more interesting works. Sure, as an "all community read" it works, but that overarching demographic matches its mediocrity. Show Less
LibraryThing member whitewavedarling
Rice's writing is absolutely gorgeous, and this post-apocalyptic novel rates with the best of them. Reminiscent of Pat Franks' Alas, Babylon (which I adored), this offers a wonderful slow-burn entrance that brings readers close to the characters and offers insight into an insulated First Nations
That said, there is undoubtedly a formula to this very distinct genre, and readers who've read quite a number of them (as I have) will recognize it once events really begin unfolding. Admittedly, I stopped enjoying the book quite so much at that point because it did fit so smoothly into the formula (minus the very important cultural factor, which is a big part of this book, and one of the most distinguishing factors). I also didn't love the ending, and have some gripes there, but I can't get into those without offering spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.
In conclusion, I just have to say that Rice does a masterful job of integrating non-English words in a way that feels both natural and accessible, so that the words' meanings are clear even to someone who doesn't know the language, and that takes incredible talent. The book has absolutely made me a fan of his writing, and although I don't see myself picking up the sequel to this one simply because of the genre focus, I'll absolutely seek out more of his work, and I'd recommend this one to anyone interested.
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community's day-to-day live. Moving slowly into the story as the dread and the suspense built, I completely fell in love with this book, and it will remain towards the top of my favorite post-apoc novels alongside Alas, Babylon and McCarthy's The Road.That said, there is undoubtedly a formula to this very distinct genre, and readers who've read quite a number of them (as I have) will recognize it once events really begin unfolding. Admittedly, I stopped enjoying the book quite so much at that point because it did fit so smoothly into the formula (minus the very important cultural factor, which is a big part of this book, and one of the most distinguishing factors). I also didn't love the ending, and have some gripes there, but I can't get into those without offering spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.
In conclusion, I just have to say that Rice does a masterful job of integrating non-English words in a way that feels both natural and accessible, so that the words' meanings are clear even to someone who doesn't know the language, and that takes incredible talent. The book has absolutely made me a fan of his writing, and although I don't see myself picking up the sequel to this one simply because of the genre focus, I'll absolutely seek out more of his work, and I'd recommend this one to anyone interested.
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LibraryThing member TobinElliott
I wasn't sure what to think of this, as I was going through it.
On one hand, it's an intriguing idea...what if you weren't quite sure the world was ending and winter's coming on? And what if you're in an isolated northern community?
On the other hand, I found that, far too often, there was a lot of
Yes, this is what I'd call a quiet apocalyptic novel, but it seems to look inward a lot, but not outward. You're part of a community that's close to both starving and freezing...you don't think it might be a good idea to try and contact the outside world to see what's going on? Like, not once in several hard months?
I didn't mind this, but I didn't love it. It was a good glimpse into life on a reservation, and it's an interesting story in the slow breakdown in society, but overall, there just seemed to be too much missing to allow me to settle in and completely buy into the story.
Not terrible, but not great. I won't be bothering with the follow-up novel.
On one hand, it's an intriguing idea...what if you weren't quite sure the world was ending and winter's coming on? And what if you're in an isolated northern community?
On the other hand, I found that, far too often, there was a lot of
Show More
attention spent on seemingly small tasks. Smoking cigarettes, fetching snow in a pot to boil, hitting the snooze alarm before getting up in a cold house. Yes, this is what I'd call a quiet apocalyptic novel, but it seems to look inward a lot, but not outward. You're part of a community that's close to both starving and freezing...you don't think it might be a good idea to try and contact the outside world to see what's going on? Like, not once in several hard months?
I didn't mind this, but I didn't love it. It was a good glimpse into life on a reservation, and it's an interesting story in the slow breakdown in society, but overall, there just seemed to be too much missing to allow me to settle in and completely buy into the story.
Not terrible, but not great. I won't be bothering with the follow-up novel.
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ISBN
1770414002 / 9781770414006