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sophronisba's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I read this because we're going to Quebec in a few weeks, and it made a very interesting follow-up to Champlain's biography. I am a big fan of Moore's work and I found this really compelling.
jdintr's review against another edition
3.0
I read this in advance of a road trip to Georgian Bay, Ontario. It is really the story of two men, a young French migrant named Daniel and Father Laforgue, a Jesuit priest on a mission to bend First Nations to the worship of God. Both learn to love the natives, the first in a carnal/romantic way, the latter in a more wholistic fashion.
Many scenes in the book are graphic: of sex, of torture, of a terrible malaria epidemic that lays a whole village to waste. Moore also chooses to personify the natives with modern epithets like "prick" and "f---." This never failed to derail the story for me. It's not like I expected them to speak the Queen's English, but I have seen better use of native dialogue than here.
Moore's embodiment of the native religions--their sorcery and the lurking Manitous of the forest--is spot on, however. He's done his research. It's a worthwhile read if you're ever headed to the northern Great Lakes.
Many scenes in the book are graphic: of sex, of torture, of a terrible malaria epidemic that lays a whole village to waste. Moore also chooses to personify the natives with modern epithets like "prick" and "f---." This never failed to derail the story for me. It's not like I expected them to speak the Queen's English, but I have seen better use of native dialogue than here.
Moore's embodiment of the native religions--their sorcery and the lurking Manitous of the forest--is spot on, however. He's done his research. It's a worthwhile read if you're ever headed to the northern Great Lakes.
ag_berry's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Cannibalism, Child death, Violence, Colonisation, and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence
jochno's review against another edition
4.0
This novel was exceptionally gripping and demonstrated much of the ignorance and cynicism that was part and parcel of missionary work in the colonial world. The main character begins to struggle more and more with his faith as the novel progresses. I am not sure how much of his work on Native Canadian customs is accurate but it portrays cultural misinterpretations and misgivings in a believable manner.
thulsiprabakaran's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ninawinter's review against another edition
4.0
4 - 4,5 ⭐️
Außergewöhnliche Geschichte, großartig und bildgewaltig geschrieben.
Außergewöhnliche Geschichte, großartig und bildgewaltig geschrieben.
msgtdameron's review
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a look into early Canadian colonization by the French. It is seen from the point of view of the Jesuits and from the point of view from the Algonquins, Iroquois, and Hurons, mostly Algonquin. The difference that each side brings to the invasion of the land by the French is most enlightening. This work is travel log and faith testing both Catholic and Native. The Jesuits trying to convert the natives by any means possible and the natives holding on to their own ways in hope of survival and the life they now know. Quick read.
rachelara91's review against another edition
3.0
Brian Moore captures the emotional anguish of a priest in a crisis of faith surprisingly well for a journey narrative. It was well written, full of incredible metaphors and parallels that make you look past the culture clash and see, instead, the shared humanity of very different people. That being said, I read it for a class and really didn't anticipate how graphic some of the torture scenes were - it was pretty traumatizing. still a better way to spend my night than watching the grammy's, though.
p_ttyb_tch's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Child death, Murder, Torture, and Violence