Frank Starlight, a sixteen-year-old Ojibwe boy, is summoned by his dying father Eldon, a hard drinker who never raised him. Eldon asks to be taken on a walk into the Canadian wilderness to a ridge where he wants to die in the traditional way. During the trek, Eldon tells his story, including the war in Korea and the pain of his life, while Frank learns what he lost. Richard Wagamese writes in a spare style about land, silence and fatherhood.
Readers who like novels of the Canadian wilderness and Indigenous voices will find a moving story of reconciliation. It suits anyone dealing with a difficult father, or wanting a short, quiet and emotionally honest book.
Inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2014
- Language
- EN
