A refreshing coming-of-age tale of life on and off a reservation for a twenty-something reporter. While starting off slow, eventually the books blooms into a beautiful story of humanity and humor. Charting Brian's life growing up through his current day job of reporting on the stereotypical stories that arise from the reservation. A key highlight of this book is Brian's friendship with Tim and how it evolves and changes. Overall, it was a good picture into a unique world of indigenous culture that overlaps and intersperses with mainstream American culture in obvious and surprising ways.

I was given a NetGalley widget for this one a year ago and I just got around to reading it and dangit it was so good. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have consumed this wildly relevant fictional tale, which felt not at all fictional, more like historical fiction, due to the times. The cover initially was what drew me in, but I'm so thankful to have stuck with it because the outcome was magical. I always love listening to audiobooks and when they sweep me off my feet, I'm just utterly captivated! I always really enjoy multi-cultural thrillers, for I embark on a journey through a land unknown to me, while still getting spooked.

I enjoyed this story of life on a reservation in upper-state NY. Brian tells of growing up in poverty, without running water or an indoor bathroom. He tells of discrimination by his newspaper editor boss, the strength of his mother, the male role models - good and bad - in his life, the pull to leave the reservation and do something more with you life than the expected, and the the pull to stay where you are known, comfortable, accepted as you are, and do what is expected, and trying to be true to yourself and to be a "good man".

The story was told through the decades of Brian's life and was full of authenticity for connection as well as the rejection from his own "family", classmates, bosses, and society. It is told as a first person narrative from Brian's perspective which lends some intentional confusion as he tries to figure out who is helping or sabotaging him in his life. The expectations to follow in the family "business" and the pull to be his own person who can determine his own goals.


Audio version
Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy in return for an unbiased review.

I can’t quite get a handle on this book. There are some brilliant lines of writing here. Lines I wished I wrote in fact. However, to get to them, felt like a long slog. Also, the narration was so slow that even listening on double speed on the app felt as though the book was dragging.

this is definitely a tome of a book and i really wanted to become invested into it but there was something that just didn't click with me, not so much the writing but maybe the pace and pov.

“Brian, a 20-something reporter on the Niagara Cascade‘s City Desk, is navigating life as the only Indigenous writer in the newsroom, being lumped into reporting on stereotypical stories that homogenize his community, the nearby Tuscarora reservation. But when a mysterious roadside assault lands Tim, the brother of Brian’s mother’s late boyfriend in the hospital, Brian must pick up the threads of a life that he’s abandoned.”

I can’t say I ‘enjoyed’ this book. Enjoyable books generally bring you comfort and feelings of contentment, and this book offered none at all.

It did, however, offer an amazing look at the intricacies of indigenous life, both on and off ‘rez’, with particular focus on living conditions, family dynamics, and everyday racism. It was detailed, but not boring. Pointing out differences between the indigenous and white communities was fascinating and necessary.

This could easily be two entire books – one of Brian’s childhood, one of his career as journalist and the mystery surrounding Tim’s attack.

I particularly appreciated that that the author narrated his own book, and the segments of Two Row (Wampum Treaty) at the beginning of each section. I’d seen picture of the belts, of course, but hearing the words associated with them was powerful.

Honestly, the books only drawback is its length. The audiobook was nearly TWENTY HOURS, so it’s a commitment. Like the best commitments, however, it’s worth the time and effort.

8/10

Thanks to NetGalley, Levine Querido, and RB Media for this marathon of an ARC.