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The Back of the Turtle
The Back of the Turtle | Thomas King
21 posts | 10 read | 25 to read
This is Thomas Kings first literary novel in 15 years and follows on the success of the award-winning and bestselling The Inconvenient Indian and his beloved Green Grass, Running Water and Truth and Bright Water, both of which continue to be taught in Canadian schools and universities. Green Grass, Running Water is widely considered a contemporary Canadian classic. In The Back of the Turtle, Gabriel returns to Smoke River, the reserve where his mother grew up and to which she returned with Gabriels sister. The reserve is deserted after an environmental disaster killed the population, including Gabriels family, and the wildlife. Gabriel, a brilliant scientist working for DowSanto, created GreenSweep, and indirectly led to the crisis. Now he has come to see the damage and to kill himself in the sea. But as he prepares to let the water take him, he sees a young girl in the waves. Plunging in, he saves her, and soon is saving others. Who are these people with their long black hair and almond eyes who have fallen from the sky? Filled with brilliant characters, trademark wit, wordplay and a thorough knowledge of native myth and story-telling, this novel is a masterpiece by one of our most important writers.
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Creadnorthey
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Pickpick

This is a fine novel and a quick read. King is a stalwart of a group of writers who are bringing the indigenous way of seeing the world into focus. He definitely knows how to tell a good story, yet he is old school when compared to the rawer styles of writers like Robinson, Dimaline, or Vermette.

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BookBr
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Pickpick

This story exists in the space between an ending and a beginning, full of emptiness and loss—but life and hope gradually grow through the weaving of the threads of story. The motley cast of characters is appealing, funny and heartbreaking in turn. The sharp caution about our callousness toward our environment really hit home. Both devastating and uplifting, the story ends in a rebirth—which is just another beginning.

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BookBr
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There‘s a deep undercurrent of sadness running through this book; of the sense of loss that comes with being utterly alone.

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BookBr
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It‘s also Indigenous History month here in Canada, so I‘m picking up this TBR selection next…
#TBRpile #indigenousreads #learning

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CuriousG
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I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 15

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TheKidUpstairs
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Today is also the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Why not honour the day with a book by an Indigenous author?

MsMelissa Have you read the tagged book? I own it, but haven‘t read it yet. 4y
TheKidUpstairs @Book_Fiend_Melissa I haven't 😔 One of many on my shelves that I haven't gotten to yet 4y
57 likes2 comments
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StaceyKondla
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 90 #bookstoread #tbrpile #bookstagram

MsMelissa On my TBR pile too! 4y
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TheKidUpstairs
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I couldn't resist one more. Here's a few by First Nations authors. I loved Son of a Trickster, the others are still TBR (Ragged Company is a total blame it on @CouronneDhiver purchase!)

#Canada #AugustisaTrip @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @vkois88

monalyisha OOooOoo... stacking “Son of a Trickster”! 6y
vkois88 Son of a Trickster looks awesome... 6y
CouronneDhiver Ha! Awesome 😎 I hope you love it too 6y
103 likes3 comments
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Auntynanny
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Pickpick

As always, Thomas King is wonderful. I loved the characters in this book, and the way the story unfolded.

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Bibliogeekery
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Pickpick

Another excellent novel by Thomas King. He weaves corporate greed and environmental destruction into a whimsical at times, apocalyptic almost-fairytale about grief, loss, and resurgence. I stayed up too late reading it two nights in a row. I just didn't want to put it down! #Nativebooks

Tanisha_A Reminds of this beautiful, heart wrenching movie Okja! 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled I‘ve never heard of this! Sounds good! 6y
Read66 Loved this novel 6y
CuriousG I've had this sitting on my shelf at least a year now - I really need to actually pick it up and read it! 6y
63 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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Bibliogeekery
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Reading by the light of the dragonfly lamp that used to being to my beloved aunt. #smallpleasures 📚😍

DivineDiana Lovely! 6y
britt_brooke It‘s beautiful! 6y
Zelma Very pretty! 6y
See All 11 Comments
BookaholicNatty It‘s beautiful!!!!!!!! 6y
Tamra Stained glass is so inviting. 6y
Eyelit Lovely! 6y
BookInMyHands So beautiful! I have a few stained glass lamps from my grandma that my mom had made. They are so comforting and beautiful. 6y
readordierachel Wow, gorgeous! 6y
LeahBergen Lovely! 6y
Eggs Love ❤️ 6y
Cathythoughts Beautiful ✨✨✨ 6y
84 likes11 comments
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Bibliogeekery
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Next up! One of my favourite authors!

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Auntynanny
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I got a gift card for Chapters this Christmas. I was very excited to get four books from my tbr 😄

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Read66
Pickpick

My first book by Thomas King and I loved it. I saw him do a reading from this book when it was first published but have only now had the time to read it. So worth it. Great characters and an important and topical story.

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KassKho
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It's another edition of lunch with a view! This is on the other side of the office that they are renovating.

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KassKho
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Today's #bookpairing is brought to you by lunch! Because you should always have company when you eat (esp. if they're in a book) #fallintobooks

Louise Looks like "Naked Lunch"! (Little W.S. Burroughs humor there ?). 7y
27 likes1 comment
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shawnmooney
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Because of @Lindy and because it was five bucks!

Suet624 What a funny picture! 7y
BookMusings @Suet624 it's a painting done by the author's wife :) 7y
Lindy You got a real bargain. It's a great book. 😊 7y
29 likes3 comments
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PatriciaTina
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Pickpick

This was an important and relevant novel, tackling issues like consumeristic culture, environmental pollution, and what should be done about the poison and loss of many animals' natural habitats. Definitely gives you a lot to think about!

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Lindy
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Warm and witty and a cracking good story about family ties, environmental disaster, greed, guilt and redemption. Elements of First Nations and Christian mythology, plus nods to the Western literary canon. Outstanding. #nativebooks #IndigenousVoices

Lindy @prowlix A recommendation just for you. I will post more reviews of Indigenous-authored books soon. 8y
prowlix @Lindy thank you! 8y
22 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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Lindy
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The morning traffic was heavy, and the limousine was reduced to drifting along with the schools of cars and lumbering pods of delivery vans and transport trucks, everyone jammed together fin to gill, in a sea of diesel fumes and exhaust.

shawnmooney I have never read him and that's a serious gap in my reading life. Which one do you recommend starting with? I haven't heard any news about him in quite some time - is he still active? 8y
Lindy @shawnmooney He is still writing great stuff. Back of the Turtle, published 2014, is as good a place to start as any. If you prefer to start with early work, go for 8y
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