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The Western Alienation Merit Badge
The Western Alienation Merit Badge | Nancy Jo Cullen
12 posts | 7 read | 21 to read
Set in Calgary in 1982, in the wake of the recession that arrived on the heels of Canada's 1980 National Energy Program, The Western Alienation Merit Badge tells the story of the Murray family who are struggling with grief and the very real possibility of financial ruin. After the death of her stepmother Frances Murray is called back to Calgary to help her father, Jimmy, and sister, Bernadette, make the mortgage on the family home. When Robyn, a long lost friend, becomes their house guest tensions are ignited and Jimmy, Bernadette and Frances find themselves increasingly estranged from one another. For the Murrays, history has a way of repeating itself and as each of them wrestles with their own secrets they find themselves unable to forget and unwilling to forgive one another. Part family drama, part queer coming-of-age story, The Western Alienation Merit Badge explores the dynamics of a small family falling apart.
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review
FantasyChick
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Pickpick

Patricia! Your stupid book made me feel feelings....like real ones. I don't fucking like it one bit. If it wasn't such a good book I'd be really angry right now. I'm sending it back. Along with Andrea's that took me the better part of freaking forever to get to. I'm going to bed both sad and lighthearted now. Stupid book.

@BookishTrish @Andrea4 #readersgonerogue

BookmarkTavern Well, mark me down as definitely intrigued! Stacked! 2y
Andrea4 This is THE BEST review!!!!!! I'm dying 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 2y
Andrea4 Also, I'm now slightly sad that my book choice didn't make you rage out from feelings. Ha! Challenge accepted, next book round it will be a competition to see whose book can make you crack! What do you think @BookishTrish ? 2y
See All 28 Comments
Soubhiville Ok I have to read this now. 🤣 great review! 2y
FantasyChick @ozma.of.oz @Soubhiville Do it!!! It's surprisingly infuriating 🤣 2y
FantasyChick @Andrea4 OH! We're playing dirty now? Bring it ladies!! 🤣 Also, your book did make me rage...but mostly because I kept losing my pen. Spoiler for a lot of my notes in it 🤣🤣🤣 2y
Andrea4 @FantasyChick oh, oh it's being brought 📗⬇️ *boom* 🤣 2y
BookishTrish It‘s on @Andrea4 Researching possible choices now. Together we can crack @FantasyChick and drive her to all the feels. She‘ll be like a freaking Celion Dion song when we are done with her. 2y
Andrea4 @BookishTrish I'm trying so hard not to laugh out loud and wake up the beau!!!! "Like a freaking Celkon Dion song" ??? 2y
FantasyChick @BookishTrish @Andrea4 You ladies have your work cut out for you. I can turn any Celine song into a "Rose was totally a gold digging murderer" vibe. Let the games begin! #ThereWasRoomOnTheDoor 2y
BookishTrish @FantasyChick There so was room 2y
Andrea4 @FantasyChick @BookishTrish well, I'm not arguing, there definitely was room. But did she really want the scrawny 12yo? 🤣 NO. ice queen! 2y
BookishTrish @Andrea4 I am the Ice Queen. And I am done with you, man child. 2y
Andrea4 @BookishTrish thanks for the steamy distraction? Hahaha 2y
BookishTrish @andrea4 We might need to pick a different Celine song… 2y
Andrea4 @BookishTrish "there were nights when the wind was so cold/that my body froze in bed/if I just listened to it right outside the window" 2y
BookishTrish @andrea4 Inspired. On it. 2y
Andrea4 @BookishTrish ok, but no decaying whale carcasses this time 😜 2y
BookishTrish @andrea4 The song does not explicitly state that it is not a whale freezing in the bed sooooo…. 2y
Andrea4 @BookishTrish 🐳 ❄️ 🐋 💀 2y
FantasyChick Say what you want but that song freaking smashes!! @Andrea4 @BookishTrish 2y
FantasyChick And 100% has fantasy or horror/Thriller written all over it 🤣 2y
Andrea4 @FantasyChick I love Celine Dion and that song (ok minus my heart Will Go on cuz actually I hate that), so of course it smashes, goes without saying! And hmmmm interesting, turning that song into a thriller. So is it him? Is he the killer? Does she know and can't resist??? Lol 2y
FantasyChick @Andrea4 In JR High we did projects for a fair of sorts on famous ships. Titanic just came out around that time and a girl in class was OBSESSED with Leo. Her project was Titanic (obviously) and she played that song full blast in the auditorium. On repeat. All day. For 3 days straight. I haven't seen the movie or listened to that song since 🤣 2y
Andrea4 @FantasyChick I would have killed her. I hated the movie and the song. Hated. Yep, murder at Sweet Valley high! Lol 2y
FantasyChick Oh and she is definitely the killer. This is a volatile, toxic relationship. Full of violent passion. And then he dies. Muahahaha 2y
FantasyChick @Andrea4 I actually almost liked the movie until then lol. Every couple years or so I think about watching it but then I get flashbacks. Traumatized 2y
Andrea4 @FantasyChick def toxic and haha don't bother with it 2y
35 likes4 stack adds28 comments
review
Andrea4
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Pickpick

Realised I totally forgot to post my review of this. I finished it Wed on commute home from work (don't worry, beau was driving).
I LOVED this book. It was so quick, easy to pick up, an engrossing story even though it was written in small "snippets." I always say I love a story that breaks my heart and mends it again and again ? perfect choice @BookishTrish
#ReadersGoneRogue @FantasyChick

Andrea4 Gonna send this out tomorrow @BookishTrish @FantasyChick ☺️I'm a wee late on it, haha, but I haven't gotten the next one so I cant be too far behind! 3y
BookishTrish Oooh I think I have the next one buried in a stack somewhere. 3y
FantasyChick Oh I think you're fine. Mine is somewhere on the random crap shelf we shove everything to get it out of demon toddler reach 🤣 3y
FantasyChick I have a couple chapters left to go before sending it out to @BookishTrish 3y
25 likes4 comments
blurb
Andrea4
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BookishTrish Well that took its time! Glad it finally made it! 3y
Andrea4 @BookishTrish me too! I kind of forgot! 3y
25 likes2 comments
review
BookishTrish
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Pickpick

Flawed family members perpetually alienated from each other in a way that felt heartbreaking and real. It‘s on its way to you @Andrea4 #readersgonerogue

Andrea4 So up my alley!!! Can't wait! 3y
kspenmoll Gorgeous needlepoint or is it cross stitch? (edited) 3y
BookishTrish @kspenmoll Thank you! It‘s my 10-year project (week one) 3y
BookishTrish @kspenmoll Cross stitch it‘s my first sizeable project (50 000+ stitches) 3y
49 likes4 comments
blurb
BookishTrish
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Have too many books on to go? Pour a drink and start another! Follow me for more life tips. 🤣🤣🤣

BookishTrish @ManyWordsLater I‘m enjoying it so far but I‘m not sure how it will stand out from all the other WWII works out there. 3y
71 likes3 comments
blurb
BookishTrish
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This is our book #readersgonerogue

Andrea4 Lovin it! 3y
FantasyChick Sweet!! Can't wait to start it 3y
BookishTrish Who wants to mail to who? 3y
56 likes3 comments
review
CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian
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Pickpick

An incredible book! A family saga, snapshot of growing up in Calgary in the 70s, coming back home in the 80s & 2010s, and a queer coming of age story. The characters--two sisters Bernadette and Frances, their dad (who lost two wives 😥), and Frankie's childhood friend--are achingly real, flawed, and sympathetic even when you'd least expect. So Canadiana, so working class, so prairies. The chapters are loosely structured around Girl Guide badges.

38 likes5 stack adds1 comment
review
Lindy
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Pickpick

Western alienation is a concept that‘s been discussed for decades in Canada. This pitch perfect novel, set in 1982 & 1974, captures the sentiment on an individual level, the feeling of estrangement within one‘s family. A story of a young lesbian and her uptight older sister, told in short, humorous chapters named for girl guide achievements. My favourite aspect is the flash forward glimpses of issues resolved. #LGBT #CanadianAuthor

Lindy Illustration is from the September 2019 issue of Alberta Views magazine. 5y
tournevis Sounds like a funny book! 5y
Lindy @tournevis Yes, both funny and melancholy. 5y
55 likes3 comments
quote
Lindy
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Well of course he knew it looked odd, an old fart like him taking up sewing, but much to his surprise, sewing made sense to Jimmy. He liked the words of the sewing machine: tension & timing, thread & bobbin, presser foot. It felt as natural to him as driving. It was a powerful, good feeling to have a foot control under his shoe like a gas pedal, the surge of the needle & fabric as he took off on a seam that was its own particular highway.

twohectobooks I don‘t care what this is about, I‘m in for the title alone. 5y
Lindy @twohectobooks It‘s a great title and entirely suited to the story. 👍 5y
46 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Lindy
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And it sounds like your family is pleased to have you back, really. Don‘t you know all older sisters are bossy? It is the nature of families, I think, that we older siblings “guide” our younger counterparts. You call it bossy, we call it affection!

Lindy @readordierachel ☺️I was not quite 3 in this photo. 5y
rabbitprincess I am a bossy older sister and can confirm this is correct 😂 5y
50 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Bibliogeekery
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This was such a readable book. I could not put it down. Nancy Jo Cullen takes us into the past, the present and the future for the Murray family - through boom and bust in Calgary, family tragedies and reconnections. Each character is so complex and layered. Well worth a read! #queerbooks

Lindy Oooh! Thanks for posting this. I didn‘t know she had something new out and I loved 5y
Bibliogeekery @Lindy you are most welcome! I also loved Canary! The "waxing" story really stays with you! ? This one is really great, I think you'll love it! 5y
56 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Bibliogeekery
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So excited for this one! #queerbooks

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Sounds good! 5y
57 likes3 stack adds1 comment