Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese
When sixteen-year-old Franklin Starlight is called to visit his estranged father, Eldon, he finds him decimated after years of drinking. What ensues is a difficult journey through the rugged and starkly beautiful backcountry of the B.C. Interior and a vivid journey together into the past. Eldon relates to Frank the desolate moments in his life, and the times as well of happiness and hope, and he tells of sacrifices made in the name of love. In doing so, he offers his son a world the boy has never seen, a history he has never known. Richard Wagamese’s insight and compassion are matched by his remarkable gifts of storytelling and his ability to create characters that will live in our hearts long after the last page is turned.
Reviews
“Medicine Walk is a story of strength and weakness and of broken hearts and hopelessness and the human condition. Young Frank has the strength and character that was taught him by the old man who he had the great fortune to be raised by. During the journey his dying father asks him to take him on, he reveals the sad tale of his life and the answers to questions that Frank has had all of his life. A moving and thoughtful look into the relationships we are born into and the ones we find ourselves in through circumstance.” – Review by Janice
“Medicine Walk is a story about a dying father trying to make amends with his son, and with himself. I enjoyed the descriptions of the British Columbia interior. Richard Wagamese paints a vivid picture of the landscape. Unfortunately, for me the characters in the novel felt a little flat. I could not relate to any of the characters, and the dialogue was quite dull. There are moments where the imagery and language are stunning, but it makes the characterizations and dialogue all the more pale by comparison.” – Review by Melissa
Book of the Month
Every month we will be featuring a new book to be showcased in our Book of the Month. Staff members and friends will be reading the book and posting their reviews. We’d love to hear what you thought of these books as well. Post your comments and let us know.
Medicine Walk is available at London Drugs along with many other great titles and is on sale for the month of May.
