Rhiannon
An exceptionally gorgeous historical novel of Metis culture in Saskatchewan in the early to mid 1900s – this is the story of Florence, a Metis woman who shuns her heritage and tight-knit community when she realizes she can pass and gain all the white privilege that accompanies it, is heartbreakingly beautiful and historical fiction at its finest. It is an outstanding example of small, rural (white) town living and its prejudices juxtaposed with the small, but emotionally and culturally rich, supportive communities of Metis.
Florence’s decision to hide her past in exchange for a ‘better’ life begins to unravel after decades of living a secret life and denying not just her ancestry, but her entire family. Florence’s gradual and quiet realization of what she has sacrificed and lost slowly emerges as she begins to rediscover her true self. This was beautifully illustrated in the gentle, subtle (and rocky) reconnection with her family as the crumbling of Florence’s carefully constructed and comfortable life begins.
I found myself so emotionally invested in this story… I was tense, outraged… furious as a town that once accepted her as ‘one of their own’ immediately begins to disenfranchise and callously shun her. Florence, despite her earlier choices, demonstrates a singularly graceful resilience.
Gereaux’s prose is gorgeously visual and heartbreaking. Her quietly soulful descriptions of Florence’s rediscovery of her culture and identity through her gradual reintroduction to her childhood past of beading was some of the most beautiful and emotionally descriptive of loss and rediscovery – a perfect metaphor for Florence’s life.
I think I’ve read my favourite book of the year already. I can’t express how much I loved this novel – I haven’t been so emotionally invested in a story and its characters like this in quite some time. An immediate classic of literature!
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily; all opinions are my own.
Originally posted at www.instagram.com.
An exceptionally gorgeous historical novel of Metis culture in Saskatchewan in the early to mid 1900s – this is the story of Florence, a Metis woman who shuns her heritage and tight-knit community when she realizes she can pass and gain all the white privilege that accompanies it, is heartbreakingly beautiful and historical fiction at its finest. It is an outstanding example of small, rural (white) town living and its prejudices juxtaposed with the small, but emotionally and culturally rich, supportive communities of Metis.
Florence’s decision to hide her past in exchange for a ‘better’ life begins to unravel after decades of living a secret life and denying not just her ancestry, but her entire family. Florence’s gradual and quiet realization of what she has sacrificed and lost slowly emerges as she begins to rediscover her true self. This was beautifully illustrated in the gentle, subtle (and rocky) reconnection with her family as the crumbling of Florence’s carefully constructed and comfortable life begins.
I found myself so emotionally invested in this story… I was tense, outraged… furious as a town that once accepted her as ‘one of their own’ immediately begins to disenfranchise and callously shun her. Florence, despite her earlier choices, demonstrates a singularly graceful resilience.
Gereaux’s prose is gorgeously visual and heartbreaking. Her quietly soulful descriptions of Florence’s rediscovery of her culture and identity through her gradual reintroduction to her childhood past of beading was some of the most beautiful and emotionally descriptive of loss and rediscovery – a perfect metaphor for Florence’s life.
I think I’ve read my favourite book of the year already. I can’t express how much I loved this novel – I haven’t been so emotionally invested in a story and its characters like this in quite some time. An immediate classic of literature!
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily; all opinions are my own.
Originally posted at www.instagram.com.