The novel, for me, was an interesting one in that it showed me a culture that I am not too familiar with. This short novel gives a snapshot of Cree traditions and their way of life. Mention is made of the alcoholism that is rampant on the reservations, as well as the teenage pregnancy issue. The story is not an easy read despite it being short as the topics referred to in the novel and its format means the reader has to take time with the words. Blue Bear Woman contains pockets of beautiful imagery – especially the second half of the novel which encouraged me to feel emotional.

This could easily be mistaken for a memoir if you don’t read the synopsis. This book broke my heart. I was completely drawn in to this families experiences and Victorias journey through the Novel. Both physically and spiritually and culturally.

BLUE BEAR WOMAN was a fantastic listening experience. It is important that more Indigenous books become available so that people can learn more about different cultures. Familiarity breeds recognition of views of other cultures. This in turn helps towards the goal of #TruthAndReconciliation

I rate BLUE BEAR WOMAN as 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

My phone broke and I wasn't able to listen to this audiobook. I couldn't download it again on my new phone, I'm so sorry for not being able to review this audiobook like I wanted to.

I am not usually a fan of audiobooks, but I found this book intriguing enough to finish in just a few days. The story is non-linear which added to the memoir-feel for me. The subject matter was hard at times (incest, rape, child abuse) but the healing and journey of the story were moving and authentic. This was my first book by a Cree author and I loved the peek into the culture and language.

I’m glad I got the chance to read this book - hard to believe that in 2007, it was the first published Québécois novel written by an indigenous woman. Hopefully, that publishing landscape will change soon (especially when so much of Anglophone Canada’s best contemporary fiction & memoir is by indigenous authors!) I read this in English because I received an audiobook arc from NetGalley. The translation flowed really well; unfortunately the audiobook narration grated on me quite a bit, hence the 4 stars. It felt like I had to do extra “work” piecing together the prose in my head because the narrator often placed emphasis on the wrong parts of the sentence. Other than that, I enjoyed the book quite a lot. I liked that the structure was both linear (road trip/quest/spiritual journey) and cyclical (a series of conversations with family members about family stories); this ends up being narratively satisfying but also reflects Victoria’s journey of reconciling her dual Catholic/European and Cree heritage and the impact of these two spiritual belief systems on her POV. Although Victoria’s story and her family’s includes tragedy, I like that this novel gives us a glimpse of the dark sense of humor that she shares with them and that is so central to community survival.

I definitely first approached this book thinking it was a memoir. It is, in fact, the first novel written in Quebec by a First Nations woman. The book was translated into English by Susan Ouriou and Christelle Morelli. As gorgeously written as the translation is, I find myself wondering how it sounds in the original French.

This novel is told in a non linear fashion, switching between the past and the future, as well as dreams of the protagonist. It tells the story of Victoria, a Cree woman, and her journey to discover her roots. She travels to the lands her ancestors once inhabited to become closer to her culture. And in discovering more about her family’s history, she also discovers herself and what she is capable of.

This story deals with some incredibly difficult topics, examining the adverse effects of colonialism on First Nations people, and the more intimate tragedies of sexual abuse, child abuse, and incest. But this story also shows how people can move past the tragedies, finding healing and hope.

The narration was wonderful, and very fitting for the work. The story has almost a lyrical quality to a lot of it, making it perfect for an audio recitation. It reaches back through generations, grabbing hold of oral traditions and history with both hands. Soothing and moderated, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for projects with Tai Amy Grauman’s name attached.

A tough, but necessary read about the author's Cree heritage. The book is made up of a number of stories that are told in non-linear order. Some people may struggle with this. The narrator's voice is pleasant and smooth. The stories are not always so. Lots of trigger warnings for this one, but so glad to see an indigenous author's story.

Trigger warnings: Violent deaths, car accidents, alcoholism, incest, sexual abuse, child abuse, rape, violence against first nations people, marital infidelity.

This is a very unique collection of essays from Bordeleau. Non-linear, these are stories about her quest to discover more of her Cree kin and culture, to discover her home, to discover herself. Through the course of the book, she meets people she's related to and learns something more about her history. She learns about loss and grief, anger and love.

The hardest part of this book is how non-linear it is. Months or years pass between chapters, sometimes we go back in time, sometimes it seems to move from day to day. None of the stories are really all that connected, just loosely scattered around the overarching theme of belonging. Many of the stories jump into abusive or otherwise challenging topics with little or no warning. This is how life goes. Yet at the same time, I'm used to seeing tragedies unfolding over pages, where you see the worst of it coming before it gets there. There's no foreshadowing in real life, though, and Bordeleau doesn't let her readers have that luxury either.

The narrators voice was soothing, but almost overly so. I often zoned in and out of this book, as her voice would sometimes take on a monotone quality, making it difficult to stay engaged. Neither was there usually something interesting happening when I zoned back in, so for most of the book I struggled to rejoin the book as it went along.

I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited to read this novel- the first novel in Quebec written by an Indigenous woman. I ended up listening to the audiobook and was drawn into the story, the characters, and the culture. I was moved by the spiritualism of Victoria and her history. A truly unique book I will recommend to others!

This was more like a memoir than a novel, going backward and forward in time as the protagonist comes into her legacy as a tribal shaman and discusses and deals with the legacies of her family's sad history. Reoccurring motifs of the church and of a dam that will flood ancestral lands (bringing power and progress) serve as signposts to the many ways (regardless of good intentions) that colonization has harmed the indigenous people of North America. Despite the heavy themes and often awful events and legacies, this was a really engaging and readable story.

Blue Bear Woman - audio

I don’t tend to read a lot via Audio. And that needs to change.
I do prefer to hold the words in my hands. The smell of a book. The weight of the story ahead.

But, my eyes are tired.
From screens. Zoom. All the things.
My body unable to read with a book as it works to heal my back.
And audio books are wonderful compliments to one’s reading TBR. I need to remember this.

Blue Bear Woman/Ourse Bleue audio narration is wonderful allowing the words to swim up and curate into visons and taking me on along this journey.

The audio narration compliments this complicated and haunting journey of a Cree woman by debut novelist in Quebec by indigenous storyteller Virginia Pesempaeo Bordeleau.

Blue Bear Woman/Ourse Bleue centres around Victoria and her journey to fulfil a family promise to honour an ancestor; a vision quest that provides healing after the tragic loss of her husband; and Victoria’s self discovery of identity and culture.

Blue Bear Woman is a beautiful piece of storytelling that is vulnerable, raw and laden with the truths of the impact of colonialism, systemic inequity and indigenous genocide alongside the impact of building on Cree traditional territory. It’s a proclamation of the indomitable culture, spirit and community of Indigenous people of turtle island.

My thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5

Blue Bear Woman by Virginia Pesempaeo Bordeleau and translated by Susan Ourio and Christelle Morelli tells the story of a woman on a journey to find the truth of her past so she can fully accept who she is meant to become.

Told intermittently of Victoria’s past, her family’s past and her present journey, readers are transported to the world of the Cree, an indigenous people in Canada. Early in her memoir, Victoria explains how her Uncle, disappears when she is a young girl. In present day, she starts having vivid dreams, where she becomes a Blue Bear. She believes in order to fulfill her destiny of possibly becoming a Cree shaman, she must find the remains of her uncle.

Certain events are quite shocking. Incest, substance abuse, neglect and rape mark her family’s turbulent past. However, at times they seem to be brushed over which take away from the effectiveness of the story. Understanding that the mistakes of those who come before us and love us do not define who we are, it is still a harsh juxtaposition of the central theme of the story of finding out family truths.

4.5 stars.
This was an absolutely beautiful book. Beautiful writing, beautiful characters, extremely vivid setting. I thought this was going to be an easy five stars. However, I hated the ending. It felt like it cut off very abruptly and a lot of plot lines were left hanging.

I was graced this book through netgalley from Inanna publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful story and beautifully read. Victoria goes searching for her ancestors with her husband Daniel. What she finds are dreams that start to come true and things that she doesn't know how to explain. Daniel seems uncomfortable with Victoria's native ceremonies and just goes along with her. They have a good relationship but her dreams are telling her that she is supposed to be more and she isn't sure Daniel will be okay with that. Her journey is complicated and filled with struggles.

I really loved this book. I loved how the author combined Cree sayings, teachings and language into this book. Even though this is a translation I feel that they stayed true to the original even including some French. You can't fight who you are meant to be and you will always be brought back to your path.

I loved this book! It was a unique insight into the Native American culture and language, namely Crete. I was also intrigued by the stories of addiction, as I can relate. What a terrific story line!