Three Day Road

• 4 people found this helpful

Unparalleled In Quality

3 years ago

Boyden has woven a tapestry of images and emotions that falls head and shoulders above any other war novel of the period, or perhaps ever written. Elijah and Xavier are two innocent native boys, raised the old way after escaping residential schooling in pre-WWI northern Canada. When the war sweeps across Europe, the two boys sign up for a chance at adventure. Through their eyes, and that of their aunt Niska, Boyden takes you on a journey beyond any other. Revealed is the truth of war and… + read more

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this

• 1 person found this helpful

Wonderfully written Novel

This review is from: Three Day Road (Trade Paperback)

16 months ago

A book people shouldn't miss, Boyden's novel put a touching twist on what could have been another standard WWI novel. His characters were appealing, his juxtaposition of hunting in the woods versus the hunting in war was interesting. His writing was beautiful, filled with emotion. I am recommending this book to everyone I know!

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this

• 3 people found this helpful

The voice of the unheard becomes heard

4 years ago

While the echoes of the canons of WWI fade into history, sadly the stories of the veterans disappear also. What Boyden accomplished in this work, is to bring to life the narrative of a much too often neglected aspect of our history, the role of Native veterans in Canada’s wars. This is an important topic to address, and Boyden does this with eloquence and grace. Perhaps, Boyden’s greatest accomplishment is by highlighting the role of Native women in society. This book should become a… + read more

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this

• 2 people found this helpful

A great story

This review is from: Three Day Road (Trade Paperback)

2 years ago

Three Day Road weaves a story of tradition and war viewed through the eyes of the aboriginal people of Northern Ontario. The first person narrative, which jumps between the young sniper Xavier during his anguish in the trenches of WW1 and his traditional aunt living deep in the wilderness of Ontario, makes clear the burden of war on the soul. A great read that not only lets you live the daily life of the soldier, but the intricacies of a luminous culture.

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this

• 2 people found this helpful

Brilliant and moving

4 years ago

This book has me completely riveted. Boyden has captured my interest with incredible story-telling and character descriptions. Knowing that it is partly based on a true story gives you even more food for thought. This man deserves to win the Governor General's Award!! + read more

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this

• 2 people found this helpful

A war story like never told before.

This review is from: Three Day Road (Trade Paperback)

2 years ago

Two Cree hunters enlist in WWI and become the best snipers around in the trenches in France. This is told in parallel with their lives and those of their Aunt who comes to fetch the lone survivor as she paddles him back home. The strong sense of the Cree old ways as well as the horrors of the trenches envelope the reader and make this a hard book to put down. The Three Day Road is the road the Cree believe your spirit walks after you die to get to it's final destination.

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this

• 2 people found this helpful

The best of Canadian writing

4 years ago

This is a must read for anyone who is interested in the experience of Canadian soldiers in World War One or the native experience at the beginning of the twentieth century. The two plot lines flow beautifully while Xavier is taken home along the northern rivers by his elderly aunt. In rich prose, she tells her story in an attempt to restore the life force of her dying nephew. Yet, like Sebastian Faulk's Birdsong, this story is also rich in detail of life in the trenches as Xavier relives… + read more

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this

Surprising...

This review is from: Three Day Road (Trade Paperback)

3 years ago

I hate war stories and I didn't want to read this book, but people so consistently kept recommending it, I thought I'd give it a try. Although I found it boring at first, the further into the story you go the more it pulls you in! It's written from a highly original and interesting perspective, and you don't realize how multi-faceted it is until you're quite a ways through it. By that point, you're completely hooked! A very pleasant surprise indeed, even though the subject matter of the book is… + read more

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this

• 3 people found this helpful

M D

4 years ago

I was overwhelmed by this story of young Xavier heading off to a war he didn't understand, and his old Auntie who helped him live after he returned broken in body and spirit. It's not often a Canadian historical novel comes along that is as captivating a story as this one, told from a different perspecive from your typical war story. I was deeply touched by this tale, and would recommend it to anyone interested in our history, and the role Native Canadians played in the wars. + read more

• add a comment
• Was this helpful? yes no yes no
• report this