A tale you must work at, but it is worth the labor involved. Allegorical, cross-cultural, forensic historical skills needed, or a willingness to join free-floating ride on the lyrical beat of the stories intertwined. It has dark shadows, and terrorific happenings - this isn't a beach read. Unless, I would say, you are at or near those very beaches and could feel it all about you. . .basically this is a song that laments all the way through.

Hard truths, gather into a difficult read, and on top of it all, arrows of epiphanies heart-aimed - my favorite and the one I cannot stop thinking about:

<i><b>You are never free if you have only one choice.</i></b> That's what oppression is built on. That one single choice, no matter how persuasively the convincement is drawn, remember Celia says: It is a lie.

I listened to this book, and was leaning toward 5 stars afterward; until I pulled up a written copy, where I could more clearly see and properly assign the asides of Mink, of the Serpent, of the indigenous commentary on the [white] reality that was being unfolded. Until that was laid out for me in stark contrast, my mind was busy reinterpreting the author's work. (Alarming thought: how often is that happening???!?) I am now re-reading the book, slowly, and charting characters and events, and googling as questions arise.

All the stars. Go Lee Maracle! Keep dancing, keep singing, keep the spirits happy and show the hope there may come a day when all is back in balance (understood that difficult choices and happenings will require such a reconciliation of Turtle Island).

*A sincere thank you to Lee Maracle, ECW Press Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #CeliasSong #NetGalley

Celia’s Song by Lee Maracle and narrated by Columpa Bobb is a stunning work of literature and certainly one that can be revisited. The book is told from the perspective of Mink, a seer, a shapeshifter. She is drawn to the Village of Celia, in Nuu’Chahlnuth territory on the West coast of Vancouver

The narration by Columpa Bobb is as meditative as the narrative and I was utterly entranced. The deep empathy of the narrator to the subject matter was truly beautiful to experience

Lee Maracle has a lilting, lyrical prose with a powerful message, blending history, fantasy and speculation. I am keen to read the previous book and then re-read this as I am sure hat the experience can only be enhanced further.

Whether audiobook or copy, this novel is exactly that, an experience and one to be treasured

Thank you to Netgalley, ECW Press Audio, the author Lee Maracle and narrator Columpa Bobb for this stunning ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Nuu’Chahlnuth territory in Vancouver experiences many traumas over generations since the arrival of Europeans. Brutality, interference and neglect as the Europeans changed their lives and culture. Celia knows she must heal her village with the help of family.

Really enjoyed this moving novel. Well written and well narrated (I listened to the audiobook). Celia sees and experiences things that cause pain and trauma within her family. The old ways need to return and be honoured. Great characters, deep love for those in need, forgiveness for those who deserve it and justice served on the cruel and evil. Enjoy.

In the book Celia Song by Lee Maracle is a book told by a narrator who is a shifter and I’m going to be honest and say for the most part of the book 90% I was confused I thought the first chapter was really good and just thought that was going to be the intro to the book something poetic but no that’s all the rest of the book one as well with nonsensical ramblings and statements that I’m sure are supposed to be profound but just sounded ridiculous… I hate to give a mean review but I have to be honest this book made no sense to me. at one point she says emotions have no brains and that always is like a lie another part way further in the book a woman is writing a check to pay one of her bills and then in the very next sentence a boat capsizes and a serpent eats everyone on board these are not stories that are led into it’s more like a LSD dream. It seemed like this book was trying to be epic sci-fi and contemporary which in my opinion don’t go together plus it wasn’t a cohesive story when I say I was confused I’m being so serious. I’m sure their will be those who love it because after all it was published and put on audio by the way the narrator sounded like she herself was bored. I’m giving it two stars only because I don’t like giving books any less I mean it was written it was produced and I did get to listen to it so there’s that. Maybe you’ll like it so if you want to give it a try I myself did not and I cannot think of one positive thing to say except that the first chapter was pretty good. I want to thank dreamscape media and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

As someone who studied the harrowing effects of colonialism on communities around the world, I had to request this audiobook arc. And even though this book was published in 2014, I had never heard of it.

But I'm so glad I listened to the audiobook! The fact that the audiobook narrator, Columpa Bobb, is the author's daughter puts the icing on the cake. Her narration really set the story's mood.

Celia's Song is one of those novels written in a way that feels like it's a tale told throughout generations and with more information/stories added on with each subsequent generation. It's literary fiction told through the lens of magical realism. There's a dreamlike quality at times, but the nightmare of overt and covert colonial practices shatters that dream pretty quickly.

Some of it is metaphorical (especially with the two-headed snake), and it took a while to click in my head. But when I finally understood what it all meant, I realized this was less dreamlike and more nightmarish.

Overall, I'd recommend this if you're a fan of literary fiction mixed with magical realism, especially if you're looking for Indigenous voices.

Thank you to ECW Press Audio and NetGalley for this arc.