Book Review: Crow Winter by Karen McBride

Recent university graduate Hazel Ellis is grieving the loss of her father. To cope, she moves from Ottawa back to Spirit Bear Point First Nation reserve and rediscovers Algonquin spirituality.

'The reserve exists outside the boundaries of regular time.' (p. 80)

Published by HarperAvenue

an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

Published in 2019

Buy this book

What attracted me to this book? 

A devoted listener of The Next Chapter on CBC radio, I heard Shelagh Rogers interview Karen McBride and I thought, I've got to learn more about that book. I typed Crow Winter into a search engine, read an excerpt and was hooked. I bought the book at an independent bookstore--Tanner's Books on Vancouver Island.

My Review

Reviewing Crow Winter is a heavy weight because it is so rich with many layers

-how to heal from grief

and

-the importance of culture--ethnic and familial

and

-an introduction to Algonquin culture--including a glossary of Algonquin words

and

-comments on settlers' exploitation of reserve land

and 

-an introduction to life on a reserve

and 

-the importance of nature and why we must do our part to protect and heal it

and...

All of these layers are piled up in an unputdownable read. I walked into the world Karen McBride created and didn't want to leave. The imaginary was just so beautiful. I felt this story.

And on top of all of that there's an intriguing mystery. In fact, there are two. One is solved. And the other... How involved is Hazel's mother Nora in Hazel's relationship with Nanabush? 

Oh and also...

Well, I could go on and on and still not feel like I did justice to this book. You'll just have to read Crow Winter. 

'Gifts of sunshine from my neighbour's garden' photo by ldyck

Sharing my author journey...

A few days ago--Wednesday, June 17--I re-wrote this short story (originally written in December 2005) and because it's about you I wanted to share it with you...