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amyboughner's review
4.0
I suggest this book for all Canadians, certainly, and people who want to understand more about Canada's north, our Inuit peoples or climate change
ktonks's review
4.0
"To understand why our people followed directions that were clearly counter to their culture, their wisdom, and their own self-interest, one needs to understand what we Inuit call ilira." This is a book every Canadian should read, certainly. Or every person who has yet to recognise the human face on climate change. It's not just about polar bears or fading sea ice. People, mothers, infants, adults, are all affected. While I do wish Watt-Cloutier had delved deeper into her own experiences, I am so glad she took the risk to tell her story. I hope I keep listening.
michaelkerr's review
3.0
This book begins as a straight-up memoir of Inuit life at the moment of great transition from a traditional hunting culture to what we think of as modernity. Parts of it are shocking, tragic, and reveal shameful actions on the part of Canada's government. This narrative beginning gives context to the drive for change the author clearly demonstrates as the text then shifts to more overt political activism. Watt-Cloutier couches the climate-change argument in human terms, seeing it as a human rights issue; a point of view that resonates powerfully. Well worth your time, even if the text could have benefited from a good brisk edit.
justabean_reads's review
3.0
The content was very interesting, and Ms. Watt-Cloutier has led an inspiring life. I came in as a supporter, but learned a lot, particularly about the interactions between traditional knowledge and culture and policy. I was already familiar with a lot of the climate change issues, but they were well stated.
However, the writing is pretty workmanlike, and it was a rather dull read on the whole. I rarely got much spark or life from the book, when I know that Watt-Cloutier is a vibrant person. It was also a bit repetitive, and could have bumped a lot of lists of people to the end notes.
Well worth a read for such an interesting life, but didn't blow me away.
However, the writing is pretty workmanlike, and it was a rather dull read on the whole. I rarely got much spark or life from the book, when I know that Watt-Cloutier is a vibrant person. It was also a bit repetitive, and could have bumped a lot of lists of people to the end notes.
Well worth a read for such an interesting life, but didn't blow me away.
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