Reading Circle - Tilly and the Crazy Eights / Copy 8

by Monique Gray Smith

Paperback, 2018

Status

Available

Call number

FIC GRA c. 8

Call number

FIC GRA c. 8

Collection

Reading Circle

Tags

indigenous, adult, fiction, novel, travel, multi-generational, powwow, adventure, healing, friendship, USA

Description

Fiction. Literature. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: Winner of the 2019â??20 First Nation Communities READ Indigenous Literature Award An unexpected journey can be powerful medicine. When Tilly receives an invitation to help drive eight elders on their ultimate bucket list road trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow, she impulsively says yes. Before she knows it, Tilly has said goodbye to her family and is behind the wheelâ??ready to embark on an adventure that will transform her in ways she could not predict, just as it will for each and every one of the seniors on the trip, who soon dub themselves "the Crazy Eights." Tilly and the Crazy Eights each choose a stop to make along the wayâ??somewhere they've always wanted to go or something they've wanted to experience. This takes them on a route to Las Vegas and Sedona, with a final goal of reaching the Redwood Forest. Each stop becomes the inspiration for secrets and stories to be revealed. The trip proves to be powerful medicine as they laugh, heal, argue, and reveal hopes and dreams along the way. With friendships forged, love found, hearts broken and mended, Tilly and the Crazy Eights feel ready for anything by the time their bus rolls to a stop in New Mexico. But are they? Bespeak Audio Editions brings Canadian voices to the world with audiobook editions of some of the country's greatest works of literature, performed by Canadian act… (more)

Genres

Publication

Second Story Press (2018), 230 pages

Original language

English

Language

English

User reviews

LibraryThing member Lindsay_W
A van of 8 Elders and Tilly (from Tilly, 2018) travels on a bucket list tour through the western United States. Their destination is the Grand Nations Powwow, but each passenger is also on their own personal journey, a journey to heal from the pain and hurt that is unresolved within them. The pain
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 stems from years of trauma, personal and intergenerational, and internalized racism that resulted from residential school abuses. As they peel back the layers of their grief, each comes to terms with the truth of what they experienced and resolve to no longer live with the hurt imposed on them. After a series of road trip adventures (and misadventures) they emerge with a stronger connection to their traditional teachings and a pride in their culture.

Monique Gray Smith introduces this book by saying it was her favourite to write. I can see why, because she actually went on the road trip that Tilly and the Crazy Eights went on. Plus there is something hopeful about knowing that healing can occur and life can be good again, even near the end of life. There is reconciliation - but not the kind that makes white people feel better- as Chuck would say.
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LibraryThing member Mooose
Yes, it was kinda simple and kinda predictable but I liked it. Nice reminder that family can be all around us, not just direct blood ties.
LibraryThing member juniperSun
A quick read about the learning that takes place on a road trip. There isn't much in depth development of the issues each person is dealing with, and the characters often use humor to lighten emotional tension.
I needed to review each of the characters to get straight on who matched which
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 background & current relationship. It might have been easier if I had read the earlier Tilly book.
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LibraryThing member JRlibrary
I’m certain that this book would not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed the characters. I listened to the audiobook and although the pace of the narration was a bit slow for my liking... I still enjoyed it immensely. There were many moments where I found myself identifying and connecting with
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 what the characters were thinking and experiencing. It’s one of those books where I’m sad that it’s finished.
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LibraryThing member jetangen4571
Elders, pow-wow, Indigenous-people, road-trip, Gathering-of-Nations, friendship, healing, First Nations, nurture, family, relationship-issues, relationships, cultural-heritage, cultural-exploration, supernatural, situational-humor, verbal-humor*****
Tilly is in a rut, so when the elder *Aunties*
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 determine to go to the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow from their homes in Vancouver to New Mexico because one of them is on a timeline, she finds herself going along as driver (among other things). Sarah is the one on a cancer timeline, and the trip is viewed to be of such importance that her grands hold a garage sale with some of their favorite things to raise *pocket money* for her. She is also *Big Sister* to Annie who has a lot of past horrors in her life. Most of them have anger and horrible memories of the time when as children, they were drastically removed from all they knew, forced to remain in a foreign environment (the residential school) and not allowed to speak to or of their own people while being told they were worthless and dirty. And abused and violated by people who were supposedly without stain so add in PTSD to most of them. This trip is funny, sad, redeeming, and a healing venture for each and every one of them. They even learned to recover the memories and rituals that are so very important. Very moving.
For the most part, Michelle Thrush is an excellent narrator, but... Her interpretation of Lucy sounds too frail for only 64 and healthy (I am 10 years older).
I requested and received a free temporary e-book copy from Bespeak Audio Editions via NetGalley. Thank you!
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
As a white person, I really appreciated reading a book grounded in contemporary native life. I loved the characters. I’m loved their individual struggles and their different connections to their community and to their spiritual heritage. I loved that there were frank discussions of the traumatic
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 damage that residential schools did to the children who were forced into them. I loved that there was healing, and that the healing was different for each character. It was funny, moving, and a very compelling read. The short, declarative sentence style worked well with the way the story was told, but I can see how the author might grow and polish this as she continues in her career.

Advanced Readers Copy provided by Edelweiss.
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LibraryThing member vnfc
The character's didn't have enough descriptors or backstory added to the book for my liking. However, the idea was good and certain parts reminded me of my aunties. I really wanted to like it. I also listened to it on Audible and would give Audible 4 stars because the voice actress mad the
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 characters.
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ISBN

177260075X / 9781772600759

Barcode

89781772600759

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