Joseph Boyden's first novel, Three Day Road, was a Today Show Book Club selection. Through Black Spruce is the exceptional follow-up to his acclaimed debut. Cree bush pilot Will Bird lies comatose in a hospital, while his wayward niece Annie arrives to sit in silent vigil by his side. Slowly their stories reveal two people previously separated by great distances, beaten and broken, and searching for some sense of where they belong in the world.
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"A world I knew nothing about -- modern-day Cree Indians in northern Manitoba. The narrative switches between the POVs of a older man looking back on his life (culminating in the incident that landed him in a coma), and his niece, who is looking for her missing sister in Toronto and New York and enters the world of fashion modeling, but the two worlds eventually intersect. Terrific characters and depiction of their culture and lives (booze, snowmobiles, trapping game, etc.) way up north."
— Yak (5 out of 5 stars)
“I don’t usually blurb friends, but Joseph’s book is so great I have to break my rules. Buy this book; read this book. You will love it.”
— Sherman Alexie, New York Times best selling author“Joseph Boyden’s novel is, simply, beautiful: you will lose yourself in the richness of its prose and the ever-deepening puzzles it inveigles you into. Through Black Spruce is fluent, involving fiction, and as good an advertisement as any for unforgiving wilderness living.”
— Times (London)“Alternating between life at its most elemental and most decadent, Boyden’s tale skilfully reflects the Indians’ struggle to embrace modern society.
— Mail (London)“It is a powerful novel of place and the ties that bind families…A fine achievement, Through Black Spruce is extraordinary.”
— Irish Examiner" A great book. Follows the voices of a First nations uncle who is in a coma and his niece. Mystery surrounds their stories. "
— Shawn, 2/17/2014" This was a great story. The characters and the setting were so touchable. Northern Canada was described with such love and appreciation. The family and its troubles seemed so real but was presented to the reader in a way that didn't hide their flaws but let the reader work with them as they grew. I was so invested in this family and their home. "
— Sheryl, 2/10/2014" loved this book. great introduction to aboriginal canada. very absorbing. "
— Laura, 1/28/2014" A compelling follow up to 3 day road. Love this writer.. Waiting for his next novel. "
— Jyne, 1/12/2014" I'd almost give this one a five star. It was really good! "
— Tracey, 1/11/2014" Loved this! The great news is friends have said this book isn't even the author's best. "
— Ahuck, 12/3/2013" Really enjoyed this book especially since it takes place in our area. "
— Diana, 11/23/2013" Nicely shaped characters. A pleasure to read, even when the story is sad and hard. "
— Alison, 11/22/2013" just a so so book "
— Sharon, 11/13/2013" Loved it and looking forward to reading his first book which comes highly recommended. Plus, it is great reading a Canadian author. :) "
— Kerri, 10/8/2013" Really liked the tone of this book. A lot of really different stories and voices in this one novel. One of the narrators is a man in a coma, which actually worked great. "
— Shelby, 8/10/2013" I wanted to like this book after reading Boyden's first novel Three Day Road and loving it. I found myself skipping pages and not really caring about the characters. "
— Leah, 3/25/2013" Moving, but not quite as intense as 3 Day Road "
— Donna, 2/26/2013" I adore this writer, he is true to the native experience, it's gritty and faithful... excellent writing technique! "
— Ramona, 2/26/2013" I loved Joseph Boyden's Three Day Road and liked this perhaps even more. The narrative voices drew me into the story which deals with the harsh contemporary issue of the drug trade on and off the reservation. "
— Fran, 2/16/2012" Another great xmas gift. This book won the 2008 Giller prize so it should be on Gil's list. I enjoyed the way two voices told the story - the older, alcoholic, bush pilot uncle and the young, city-model niece. A very enlightening story of modern aboriginal life. "
— Sandy, 2/8/2012" a long book that had a good ending. alternating chapters between Canadian North and big city life. I liked the Canadian chapters best. "
— Robert, 1/30/2012" Not my favorite but worth a read due to the award it received. "
— Cilla, 1/27/2012" A "staff-pick" at a wonderful locally-owned bookstore in Asheville, NC. "
— Alida, 7/30/2011" Mysterious story. Great writing by Joseph Boyden who also wrote Three day Road. "
— Ann, 7/28/2011" I couldn't finish this book. It is extremely well-written, but it is very dark and brooding, and I have to be in the mood for that kind of book. I usually prefer lighter reading for the summer! So I will revisit this one in the fall or winter! "
— Chelsea, 5/10/2011" Mr. Boyden with his first two books has jumped to the top five of must read authors for me. I loved 3 day road, but I think that this one topped that. "
— Brian, 4/17/2011" A sequel to Three Day Road. Boyden does a marvelous job of developing his characters and educating the reader at the same time. A must read for lovers of home grown Canadiana. "
— Greg, 4/13/2011" I really enjoyed this book. I wont recap the story for you but will say the characters are wonderful and it left me wanting to know more. I will read his other books! "
— Christy, 3/31/2011" Great book. I had read Three Day Road by the same author a few years back and enjoyed it as well. "
— James, 3/25/2011" Some beautiful writing and intriguing premise but this book had more promise than delivery. "
— Daryoung, 3/22/2011" Very stark plane crash of a life! Unfortunately its much the same for all those living <br/>on the shores of James and Hudson's Bay. <br/> It will make laugh and cry and entertain you for sure. <br/>Gifted book. "
— Jack, 3/14/2011" Complex and yet real at the same time. A Giller winner that just might be as close to deserving of that honor as I have read. "
— Karen, 3/12/2011" Did NOT get this book. Spent most of it wanting to smack characters upside the head. 300 pages in, I still didn't really know what was going on. I know that most of that was probably intentional, but it just didn't work for me. "
— Britt,, 2/23/2011" I did not expect to get as involved in this book as I did. I thought about it when I was away from it -- I read it in line at the movie theater. I am still thinking in the dialect Boyden ascribed to the characters, "ever tipsy, me." "
— Cindie, 2/21/2011" This book takes place in a native village in northern Canada and is very interesting in its depiction of the people and way of life--at least of the main characters, who still maintain the old ways. Other characters have brought in drugs and drug smuggling, which is where the conflict lies. "
— Sara, 2/15/2011Joseph Boyden grew up in Willowdale, Ontario. His first two novels, Three Day Road and Through Black Spruce won several awards, including the Roger’s Writers Trust Prize, the Canadian Authors Association Book of the Year, and the Libris Book of the Year. He teaches Canadian literature and creative writing at the University of New Orleans and splits his time between Louisiana and Canada.
James Jenner is an actor known for Very Good Girls, Enemy Territory, and Third Watch.
Ali Ahn is a film, television, and voice actor. Her acting credits include appearances on Law & Order, Ugly Betty, White Collar, and Zero Hour. She has also narrated numerous audio books, such as Honolulu by Alan Brennert, This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, and Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart.