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Indian Horse
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
75 posts | 57 read | 91 to read
Winner of the Canada Reads People's Choice award and the First Nations Communities Reads program and short-listed for the International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award. A Globe and Mail top 100 book of 2012 Saul Indian Horse is dying. Tucked away in a hospice high above the clash and clang of a big city, he embarks on a marvellous journey of imagination back through the life he led as a northern Ojibway, with all its sorrows and joys. With compassion and insight, author Richard Wagamese traces through his fictional characters the decline of a culture and a cultural way. For Saul, taken forcibly from the land and his family when he's sent to residential school, salvation comes for a while through his incredible gifts as a hockey player. But in the harsh realities of 1960s Canada, he battles obdurate racism and the spirit-destroying effects of cultural alienation and displacement. Indian Horse unfolds against the bleak loveliness of northern Ontario, all rock, marsh, bog and cedar. Wagamese writes with a spare beauty, penetrating the heart of a remarkable Ojibway man. Evaluated and Approved by ERAC
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LitsyEvents
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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repost for @Jess861:

Thank you to all for your thoughts on the first book. Excited to announce that our first read for the Oh Canada Book Club will be Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. This book club will run every two months, so this will be the January/February book. Cannot wait to start diving into some Canadian books!

Very low key, all are welcome to join! Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!

34 likes1 comment
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Jess861
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Thank you to all for your thoughts on the first book. Excited to announce that our first read for the Oh Canada Book Club will be Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. This book club will run every two months, so this will be the January/February book. Cannot wait to start diving into some Canadian books!

Very low key, all are welcome to join! Let me know if you want to be added to the tag list!

#OhCanada #BuddyRead #BookClub #2025 @LitsyEvents

Ruthiella Fantastic! Looking forward to reading this new-to-me author next year. 2d
Tamra This is on my TBR! I‘ll join. 😄 Wagamese is terrific. (edited) 2d
See All 10 Comments
CarolynM Looking forward to it 2d
PurpleyPumpkin I‘d love to incorporate more Canadian authors into my tbr. And a two-month schedule is ideal! If you could add me to your list, I‘d appreciate it!😊 2d
Jess861 @Tamra - Awesome, great to have you join :) 2d
Jess861 @PurpleyPumpkin Great! I'll add you to the tag list :)! 2d
Tamra @Jess861 I‘ve ordered a copy. 👍🏾 2d
Kitta Can I be added to the list? 1d
Jess861 @Kitta Of course 🙂! Welcome!! 24h
34 likes10 comments
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LiseWorks
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4w
24 likes1 comment
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LiseWorks
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

Every Canadian should read this book! An Obibway boy who is taken from his culture to be in a residential school in the early 1960s. It is sad and full of racism. As a Canadian, I feel ashamed as to how this could have been allowed to happen to so many children.As a descendent of The Ojibway people (Great Great Grandmother was Ojibway from Sault st Marie, Ont), I felt for this little boy being taken away from his culture.This book touched my heart

26 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Tamra
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Is it raining? Of course, still, again. Good grief will it ever end???

Went to a posh finely curated bookshop in Eau Claire, WI. It was so poshy it felt more like an expensive art gallery in which you would only speak in hushed tones, if you spoke at all. 😜 (I admit I loved the literary quality of the selections.)

JenReadsAlot I don't think it's ever going to end! I'm in southern Wisconsin in the rain..... 5mo
Tamra @JenReadsAlot blech - not my thing! 5mo
JenReadsAlot It's getting really old! 5mo
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Blh87 MN here, and me and my plants are drowning. I am going on strike. No more rain! 5mo
Tamra @Blh87 I‘m in MN too and while I‘m glad the two year drought is done, this is overkill! (edited) 5mo
Blh87 @Tamra I‘m tired of being soggy. 5mo
Tamra @Blh87 agreed. It‘s interfering with my outdoor reading and we get so little of it even in the best of years. 😢 5mo
LeeRHarry Be great if you could send some rain to Melbourne - we seriously need some. Hope it clears soon. 🤞 5mo
Tamra @LeeRHarry I‘m happy to help! Blowing the rain clouds your way! 🌬️🌬️💨 5mo
Tamra @LeeRHarry seriously, the proverbial grass is always greener on the other side. We‘ve been abnormally dry for two years and now we‘ve gone the other direction. Thanks climate change. 🫤 5mo
LeeRHarry @Tamra I‘m wondering if we‘re in for it come spring. 5mo
Tamra @LeeRHarry you might be if this cycle is any indication. Our winter was very dry too. 5mo
51 likes12 comments
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Jas16
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

When tragedy changes the trajectory of his life, Saul Indian Horse is sent to a residential school introducing him to racism and cruelty that will haunt him the rest of his life. A rare talent for hockey gives him a chance for happiness but some things cannot be out-skated. This book manages to be both brutal and easy to read. An undoubtedly important story. #24in2024

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LiseWorks
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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April 30 #SpringSkies MFIndegenousPpl I want to read this one. @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs 🧡📚💙 7mo
kwmg40 Such a great book! 7mo
16 likes2 comments
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MysticFaerie
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

5🌟/5🌟

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ChaoticMissAdventures
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

This is a hard book to read. Tragedy and darkness follow Saul Indian Horse, but he finds hockey and for a while it is the light he needs and he throws himself into the game. The book is heavy and mirrors Sauls life, there is a lightness to the hockey chapters that were needed. The light doesn't last. The book is well balanced and an essential slice of life of Canadian people and history.

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Blueberry
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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ChaoticMissAdventures I am reading this now. Some super tough parts. The horrors the Native children went through in Residential schools, I can't imagine how anyone could do that. 11mo
Andrew65 Sounds must reading! 11mo
53 likes2 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pulling together things for 2024

This is my #24in2024 cart! Mostly it is random books I have had physical copies of that have been on my Goodreads TBR prior to 2023, and then all of my #botm stragglers. I cancelled that subscription because I wasn't reading the books. Time to get them all done!

#24in2024 with @Jas16

LiteraryinPA The cart looks so inviting!! 11mo
Jas16 Great selection and quite a few books I have read and loved! 11mo
40 likes2 comments
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Blueberry
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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🍁 Indian Horse

🍁 finding a 5 ⭐ spooky book to read.

#Two4Tuesday
@TheSpineView
I tag @NataliePatalie

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 1y
31 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

5 ⭐. Very good.
Triggers: sadness, anger, Indian residential schools, alcoholism, abuse

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Blueberry
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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"My name is Saul Indian Horse."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

Creadnorthey So weird- I‘m reading Keeper‘n Me by the same author- just started it and saw your post… 1y
Blueberry @Creadnorthey that looks good. I will read it too. Thanks. 1y
48 likes2 comments
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Blueberry
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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"My name is Saul Indian Horse"

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

ShyBookOwl 💜 1y
CuriousG Such a great novel! I just finished Medicine Walk, another wonderful one. 1y
43 likes2 comments
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CuriousG
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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30 book recommendations in 30 days...

Day 28: Near the end, but still have dozens of books I could easily choose from. This was a great audio listen. Another good one for Canadians to read/expand their understanding of Indigenous experiences. Yes, it is fiction, but sometimes being in a character's head is what we need to connect/learn, and this is very much consistent with any non-fiction I've read. #30recsin30days
Content warnings in comments

CuriousG Content warnings for: residential schools (forced/captive, not voluntary), child abuse, childhood sexual abuse, denial of freedom to practice cultural language and customs, intergenerational trauma, alcoholism, ongoing colonial practices 1y
21 likes1 comment
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Michael_Gee
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

Wide margins and small chapters make this an easier read than you‘d expect considering its emotionally tough subject matter. I don‘t want to say too much about it, but I will say it packs a real blow. Powerful story, beautifully written.

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Blueberry
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Eggs Perfect 💚🐎🤎 2y
50 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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melissajayne
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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A very poignant book, especially in the last year due to the finding of unmarked graves of residential school students in several locations. It‘s a book I need to purchase and mark up. Lots of warnings for this book, especially for sexual abuse. #letteri #alphabetgame

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚❤️📚 2y
25 likes1 comment
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jlhammar
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Heartbreaking, but so good. Definitely had me in tears.

#MadeYouCry #BookMoods
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Prairiegirl_reading I haven‘t read this but I have loved all of the Richard Wagamese books I have read. And I have cried so much over them. He was brilliant. (edited) 2y
Eggs Sounds powerful 👏🏻💔🙏🏻 2y
jlhammar @Prairiegirl_reading This is the only Wagamese I‘ve read so far. I have Medicine Walk so look forward to trying that next. 2y
See All 6 Comments
Prairiegirl_reading @jlhammar ragged company is AMAZING!!! 2y
jlhammar @Prairiegirl_reading Good to know! I‘m definitely adding that to my to-buy list. 2y
kwmg40 I love Wagamese's books. I definitely recommend Ragged Company, and Medicine Walk as well. 2y
47 likes1 stack add6 comments
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bookwrm526
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

Incredibly difficult, but ultimately hopeful. Knowledge if this history, even if it is fictionalized here, is so important and needs to be more widespread. It really wasn‘t that long ago in the scheme of things. I wish I could have appreciated the parts about hockey a little more, but I am not a huge fan.

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Auntynanny
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

I'm really glad I finally read this, even if it was a bit hockey-heavy for me. I think it's an all too common story for many Indigenous people in Canada. It was difficult to read, but also very necessary, especially with all the discoveries of mass graves at residential schools.

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CuriousG
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 55 (Audible edition)

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rabbitprincess
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
Pickpick

Beautifully told and devastating. Whatever else I could say about it would be totally inadequate. So just read it.
#ReadCanada #Ontario
#ShutdownRound3 book 2

DieAReader On a roll!🎉🥳 4y
MsMelissa This book is so good! I hope my daughter has to read it in grade 11 English, which focuses on Indigenous lit. 4y
kwmg40 Wagamese's writing is indeed beautiful. I loved Medicine Walk as well. 4y
rabbitprincess @DieAReader I was doing so well, then hit a wall 😂 @MsMelissa I would love to see the reading list for that course! @kwmg40 I also loved Medicine Walk! 4y
DieAReader @rabbitprincess I‘ve also met said 🧱wall🙄 Unfortunately, we‘re well acquainted recently🥺😬 4y
27 likes5 comments
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Creadnorthey
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

This is a powerhouse of a book- and most certainly for those who understand the love of hockey- BUT don‘t think this is a hockey book. The writing is superb, evocative and authentic encouraging me to find solace and heal where so much anger should be holds the value for forgiveness above the destruction of revenge. Books like this enlighten and offer clarity- should be on everyone‘s TBR pile.

KVanRead Great review. 4y
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MissYaremcio
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

Sol tells the story of his life growing up and his family's experience with colonization. Sol tells this story as a reflection of his life and his family's struggles. I like this book so far, but I haven't read enough of it to get a really concrete understanding of the whole novel. A theme present in this novel is the theme of overcoming adversity.

MissYaremcio Overcoming adversity is an important theme as we see Sol‘s life in a series of flashbacks and reflections on his experiences. (edited) 4y
MrsBabki This was an amazingly powerful story. 4y
9 likes2 comments
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tournevis
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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French-langage lovers, today is the beginning of the annual Combat National des Livres (Canada Reads, but in French).

The defenders are:
Richard Wagamese's Cheval indien (Indigenous territories)
J.R. Réveillé's Le soleil du lac qui se couche (West)
Marguerite Anderson, Mauvaise mère (Ontario)
Nadine Bismuth, Un lien familial (Québec)
Gérald Leblanc, Moncton Mantra (Atlantic)

Go vote now! https://ici.radio-canada.ca/fiches/572/combat-des-livres

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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

It's been a while since a book made me cry. A very shameful part of Canadian history. This should be mandatory reading in Canadian schools, it was very eye opening. I always thought the schools occurred in the late 1800s (and they did), but this book is set in the 1960s. And according to Google the last federal residential school closed in 1996! I had no idea, how recent this all was. A very important read for any Canadian.

Krystle13 I got this one free the other month. I am torn on when to listen to it...ugh. It breaks my heart. I heard it was great and numerous people have said the same thing you did. 5y
Creadnorthey Important read for Canadian and beyond! 4y
87 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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lovelybookshelf
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

This is about trauma and the long road of healing. It's not a fast read, despite its page count (about 220 pages). The narrative is rich, intense, and because it deals with racism and Canada's residential schools, often brutal. This is the kind of book you read slowly, sitting with what's happening and what the implications will be for the character's life. This was my first time reading Wagamese's work, and it won't be my last. #nativeauthors

Suet624 Every time I see this author‘s name come up I get mad at myself for not reading his work yet. 5y
BookNAround This was really a magnificent read, wasn‘t it? 5y
lovelybookshelf @Suet624 I definitely wish I'd read him earlier! 5y
lovelybookshelf @BookNAround It truly was. And I know nothing about hockey and am not into sports, but even though sections had me captivated. 5y
15 likes4 comments
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Blaire
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

This book broke my heart. Painful story of a native Ojibway Canadian taken to an abusive and horrific residential school who finds some solace in playing hockey, but even that joy is tainted by experiences he must confront. Saul‘s story and what so many children went through will stay with me. Beautifully written. #indigenousauthor #booked2019.

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Okiinabastien
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

Indian horse is about a indigenous child from the Ojibway tribe, Saul Indian horse survives the Indian residential school system and grows up to become a star hockey player, the story follows Saul on his journey through residential school and his love of hockey.

MissYaremcio Thank you for the review Okiina! Remember to include all elements of the assignment in your post (you were missing the recommendation and the pacing). 5y
4 likes1 comment
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melissajayne
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Suet624 Shoot. I keep meaning to read one of his books. 5y
melissajayne @Suet624 I read it about a couple years ago and quite enjoyed it. Deals with heavy stuff. 5y
19 likes2 comments
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pigeonsandcrows
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

The story of an Ojibway man sent to residential school in the 1960s and his struggles to find a way to build a life for himself and deal with multiple traumatic events in his life. You'll probably get more out of it if you like sports and especially hockey, although that's certainly not necessary to understand Saul's overall journey.

46 likes1 stack add
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MsLeah8417
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

💔💔💔💔💔
Bless you, Richard Wagamese.

pigeonsandcrows I'm reading this one right now. Your copy has a really good cover! 5y
MsLeah8417 @pigeonsandcrows : ugh, those libraries stickers in the cover art drive me crazy. 5y
10 likes2 comments
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MsLeah8417
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese

Only at chapter three and the tears are coming

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pigeonsandcrows
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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😊 😊Are there any other littens here located in Canada? I see all the beautiful book swaps and whatnot going on and wonder if there is anyone else out there dependent on Canada Post who might want to start a group or a book swap or something similar? 😊

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 💖📖💖 I host a Canadian penpal group #PoutinePenPals . If you're interested in connecting with more Canadian Littens send me an email with your name, Litsy handle, mailing address & birthday. 5y
pigeonsandcrows @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego That sounds great. How do I send a private message via Litsy? (Sorry, I am still pretty new here!) 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego There isn't a way, but here's my email danielle_gangur@hotmail.com 5y
See All 9 Comments
Readswithcoffee Welcome to Litsy 👍🏻📚📚📚👍🏻 5y
pigeonsandcrows @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego OK, just sent you an email! 5y
Reagan 👋 I'm in Alberta! 5y
pigeonsandcrows @Reagan-reads Me too!! 5y
mcctrish I‘m in Southern Ontario and I‘m in #poutinepenpals ⬆️ 5y
LA_Mead #poutinepenpals is lots of fun! 5y
36 likes9 comments
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Blaire
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Happy Canada Day!! 🇨🇦 Hoping to get to this novel by a First Nations author later this month. It is also my pick for #booked2019 #indigenousauthor #canada #letstraveljuly @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

OriginalCyn620 👌🏻🇨🇦😊 5y
52 likes1 comment
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throwmeabook
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Mehso-so

The forcible removal of First Nation children and placement in residential schools is a sad and dark part of our history and difficult to read about. Saul, an Ojibway boy placed in a residential school endures beatings and abuse. The only bright light in his life is playing hockey. I wanted to like this more than I did. Too heavy on the hockey and light on the emotional and historical issues. ⭐️⭐️ #booked2019 #booked2019spring #indigenousauthor

CouronneDhiver 😕 oh no! 5y
Cinfhen Too bad it wasnt a pick 😣still sounds like a heavy read 5y
33 likes2 comments
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TheLibrarian
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Pickpick

Indian Horse takes you on a journey of Saul‘s life, the Ojibway tribe and how the government took the kids, hockey, and other moments leading up to him being in the treatment center. Filled with so many emotions – love, hope, fear, sorrow, despair, anger, etc. – Indian Horse is a novel that you won‘t forget anytime soon.

Overall an excellent read. I loved the parts about the Ojibway tribe but could have done with fewer hockey sections.

Tamra Anxious to read! 6y
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Lauren.Archer
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
Pickpick

Wow, this might have been one of the best books I have ever read. At first thought this was a typical coming of age story with some heartbreak but then it took a turn I never expected which changed the essence of the book for me. This is a very relevant and such a poignant book. This should be required reading.

BookNAround It was fantastic, wasn‘t it? 6y
CouronneDhiver He‘s my absolute favourite author ever ❤️ 6y
73 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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Lauren.Archer
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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New set of picks from Book Riot‘s TBR service. I have never heard of this, but apparently this is the most read book in Canada. Looks interesting.

shaynarae I‘m so curious about Book Riot‘s TBR. What do you think of it so far? 6y
Lauren.Archer @shaynarae I am a little mixed on this. My first picks left a lot to be desired but on that note I totally understood why they picked the books they did. They gave me someone new to pick my recommendations so I am super hopeful. Just the blurbs sound way better to me this time around. 6y
TelevisionNeighbor I‘m always blown away at the number of books and other things I‘ve never heard of but are so popular it‘s like how did I miss this. Definitely adding this to my TBR. 6y
See All 7 Comments
Jolynne This, is one of my #alltimefave books. I‘m glad to see Indigenous authors being recommended, they are often not visible in mainstream media. 6y
Jolynne I also do the TBR, my first round was okay and this second round seems iffy. We shall see. 6y
Reviewsbylola This one is new to me too! 6y
CouronneDhiver This is my all time favourite author... he was an outstanding storyteller 🖤 6y
99 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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TheLibrarian
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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These are my 3 recommendations from my first Tailored Book Recommendation sub!

Starting off with Indian Horse first.

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ReadingEnvy
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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Mehso-so

I wanted to love this more than I did. I was totally absorbed by the story of an Ojibway family trying to keep their children safe from the Canadian government and the journey of Saul into his new life. I was surprised when half the novel was suddenly a sportsing hockey novel, almost like the author got bored. Slow reveal of sexual abuse felt added in for the wrong reasons. I still want to read more by this author; any recommendations?

CouronneDhiver My favourite book! 6y
ReadingEnvy @CouronneDhiver thanks, I'll try it! 6y
67 likes4 comments
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Kerrbearlib
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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“If we want to live at peace with ourselves, we need to tell our stories.”

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BookNAround
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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This is a hard but beautifully written book so far. The arrowheads were all collected by my grandfather at the family home farm when he was small.

Tanisha_A Oh wow! 6y
SinkLikeTheMoon I've read a few things from this author now (and will continue to do so). With every book he has moved further and further up my favourite list. I hope you enjoy it, despite how intense it can be. 6y
BookNAround @SinkLikeTheMoon It‘s hurting my heart right now but it‘s pretty amazing even if I have to set it down every now and again and grapple with all the abuse and sadness. 6y
51 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Dpotter
Indian Horse | Richard Wagamese
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I highly recommend this book. ❤
#potterspicks #canadianauthor

42 likes1 stack add