CanadianContent discussion

a place to discuss Bad Cree

although I enjoyed the story and characters, I struggled a bit with the slow, lingering pace. Perhaps it was just timing but I did start it 3x before I actually got into it!

I think I am going to give up on Bad Cree.

I used to be a die-hard CR fan and would read every page of every book before the debates. But maybe I'm just older, more pressed for time, or maybe the loss of the studio audience has poured some water on my fire...

I'm doing Bad Cree in audio. This means I listen in mornings on the way to work, on the way home after a long day, and/or when I finally find some time some evenings to walk for 20-30 min around the 'hood.

And so far, it's a gory horror show and I have just decided that I don't want to spend my precious time with this. Reading is a joy for me and something I don't get to do as much as I want to. I just don't think it's good or healthy for me to spending this precious time with such violence and horror. I'm not that far in, but it's feeling like a bad way to spend my time. Unfortunately.

❀ Susan wrote: "although I enjoyed the story and characters, I struggled a bit with the slow, lingering pace. Perhaps it was just timing but I did start it 3x before I actually got into it!"
I feel this, Susan! Just got it back from my library late last week. I only have it for a week (when a book has holds, that's how long they give you), but I just can't get into it. It's such slow going, and I want something to happen! I'm going to push myself through, but it's tough.

And, 12 hours later, I'm done. It really picked up in the second half. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would my first few days of reading it.

I've only read one other so far, but I think Bad Cree has all the makings of a book that will do very well on Canada Reads. Deeply Canadian, strong message about the importance of love and family, warnings about societal choices...

I also think it makes for a really interesting companion book to Ducks. As Michael Greyeyes pointed out during the debates last year, Ducks didn't offer much of a Native perspective. I feel like this book could fill in that gap.

I’m almost halfway through this one and have been enjoying it. The pace is leisurely but I was sucked into the story right away with the mystery of the dreams Mackenzie is having and the crows following her. I’m still not sure where the novel is headed but I’m curious to find out!

I finished this yesterday and I did enjoy it overall. The mystery of what was happening was enough to keep me turning the pages, and I liked the land rights/environmental message it brought in eventually.

I have one CR selection left to read: The Future.

I haven't truly enjoyed any of the Canada Reads books so far this year (with one left to go), but Bad Cree was probably the best of the worst in my opinion. Here is my review:

The plot of Bad Cree is entertaining and I enjoyed the theme of family running throughout, however the characters seemed very one-dimensional and I was confused about the men and boys in the family being of no significance whatsoever. I love a good story of female power, but the lack of attention paid to the men that must exist in the family felt like a gaping hole in the narrative.