Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden

Through Black Spruce

Joseph Boyden

An unusual narrative based on two one-way conversations between Cree bush pilot and trapper, Will Bird and his niece Annie. While Annie leaves their home town of Moosonee to search for her missing twin sister in New York, Will battles with his demons at home and in the wilderness. I found Will's voice is more convincing than Annie's - but this didn't spoil my enjoyment of this interesting tale of contemporary Indian life and family ties.

Extract
I can sense wabusk, the polar bear, snuffling and drooling here where I walk and rest, nieces, here where I remember the parts of my living world that led me to this dream world. I have not felt fear on this journey until now. But it isn't total fear I feel. More like the fear you get walking up the stairs from your darkened basement that makes you want to rush up to the light. Does this mean that the dusk road I feel my way along is near its end? I'd like to ask wabusk, but I don't think it will have the answers I want.
Parallels
  • The Outlander by Gill Adamson
  • Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
  • Three Day Road by Jospeh Boyden