Do you love Canadian Literature as I do, but sometimes harbour
secret critical thoughts? Do you ever inwardly ask yourself
questions like: Does CanLit have to be so depressing? Is everyone
in Canada impoverished and filled with self pity? Could Can Lit
ever allow its reader's to indulge in a little escapism? Character
development is wonderful - but could we cut out about 100 pages of
navel gazing? Is any sub group in Canada not filled with laments?
It was with this trepidation that I picked up [Motorcycles
&Sweet Grass] by Drew Taylor Hayden. Yes, I 'd read excellent
reviews that promised me that this book would read "like a romp."
But, I reasoned, this is a book about life on a First Nations
Reserve and that is not generally indicative of a book that will be
humour filled. I was most wonderfully surprised in so many
ways.
[Motorcycles and Sweetgrass] is indeed filled with humour and great
lines, but it also gently touches on many serious issues.
Residential schools, abuse by Catholic Priests, alcoholism, drug
abuse, the clashing intergenerational First Nation Culture and many
other difficult topics are skilfully brought to our attention.
Native mythology is prominent in the book, but presented in such a
way that it very understandable to virtually any reader. I also got
a real feel for the prejudice that First Nations people are
subjected to, as well a look into what life might be like for both
adults and children living on a reserve in today's Canada. I was
also able to get a very good idea as to what forces - both from
within and outside a Reserve - are dealt with by an aboriginal
Chief.
This is a most fun and enjoyable read ,but it would be a mistake to
say it is simply that. There is so much more to this book, and it
well earned its place as a finalist in the 2010 Governor
Generalist's Award. The author, Drew Hayden Taylor , born and
raised on Curve Lake First Nation Reserve in Ontario well deserves
his award from Knopf Canada as a New Face in Fiction in
Canada.
There are many humourous lines but that one that grabbed me
concerned the Chief of the reserve :
"She hated appearing on television, felt that she looked too
haggard and worn, like a character from a Margaret Lawrence novel."
This is a wonderful read and deserves to be much more popular than
it is. I look very forward to Drew Hayden Taylor's next book