Reviews

Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson

donomak's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Colonisation, Drug abuse, and Rape

purplemuskogee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I loved this coming-ou-of-age novel where we follow Lisa, growing up in the late 1980s in a Haisla community in Princess Royal Island, Canada, in Kitamaat Village, through several timelines during her teenage years. We start as she goes out to look for her brother Jimmy, and then go back to earlier as she explores the coastline with her Jimmy and her uncle Mick, forages with her grandmother, looking for medicinal herbs, and then later on befriending her bullies and becoming part of their group of 3 boys. Lisa is also plagued by visions, dreams, is often visited by a little man with ginger hair who appears to her before tragedy strikes, and then there is the b'gwus, a magical creature said to live nearby. 
I found this novel had a lot in it and was so dreamlike, partly because of the blurred timelines, partly because there is so much magic infused in every paragraph. I liked the characters - her grandmother especially, her brother Jimmy the future Olympic swimmer - and I loved the writing. 

readbyashleyd's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

2.0

This was quite a letdown for me if I’m being honest. It’s nowhere near as good as other work by the author and I was very disappointed by it. 

raecomeau's review against another edition

5.0

This is my new favourite book. It’s so well done and beautiful. Absolutely wonderful. A must read for sure!

leekaufman's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

karism576's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Was going to give this 4 stars but then I didn't like how rushed the ending felt. Otherwise enjoyed the in-depth exploration of the characters over time.

lisamchuk's review against another edition

4.0

I decided to read Monkey Beach because I was still on and aboriginal literature kick, plus the main character has the same first/middle name combo as me. Couldn't pass that up! When the story opens, Lisamarie's 17 year old brother Jimmy has been lost at sea. From there, the book moves back and forth through time as Lisa tells the story of their childhood and wayward teenage years, growing up in a contemporary Haisla community on the west coast of B.C. She weaves the lives of her family and friends throughout, and includes compelling lessons about native culture and traditional ways of life. As the book progresses, it becomes quite clear Lisa has spiritual gifts and those are integral to her survival as she goes searching for her brother. The narrative is interesting and funny and tragic all at the same time.

This novel was fantastic! It was almost lyrical, full of rich description about nature and customs and folktales. Sometimes books that bounce in time annoy me but Robinson does a superb job of not making the time shifts jarring or confusing. I didn't want the story to end, I was all wrapped up in the setting and lives of the characters.

And then it ended. Just ended. And it's not that it ended badly or that I was unsatisfied, it's just that it ended. I just wanted another page, heck another paragraph. I guess that's the mark of a good book and a thought provoking ended?

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more from contemporary aboriginal literature. I taught me about life in a community in a different part of Canada. It was a great follow up to Indian Horse and I understand why they chose it as a book of the year.

sophia_p_g's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

cecewychwood's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

novemberscorpio's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0