50 - The Orenda, by Joseph Boyden
WHY I PICKED IT: I read everything by Joseph Boyden
ELAPSED TIME: 2 Weeks
RATING:REQUIRED READING
I believe history is best written by the people it represents. More so in fiction where these is a tendency to paint with a broad brush people who are not "your own." Joseph Boyden, whose background includes First Nations and an education at a Jesuit school writes both sides very well, with characters who are complex and nuanced.
The Orenda is the story of 3 people - Snow Fields is an Iroquois girl whose family is killed and who is adopted by Bird, the Huron leader who is responsible for their death. Bird is a great warrior who is trying to build his people up through trade with the French. Finally, Christophe is a Jesuit missionary who lives with the Huron people dedicated to learning their language and culture so that he may save their souls. I particularly enjoyed the recognition by Christophe that the treatment
of prisoners, although barbaric, was no more so than by the Inquisition
or than during the Crusades.
Through trading summers and hibernating winters, through weddings and births, skirmishes and wars, you live with these three, experiencing the massive changes that are impacting their world.
This blog is a simple review of every book that I read... For all books I’ll tell you why I picked it, how long it took me to read it, and give it a rating (burn it, not good, meh, good, very good, and required reading). I ask (encourage?) all readers of my blog to post their thoughts of any of the books in my comments :). Thanks!
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