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15th out of 405 books
—
247 voters
I Heard the Owl Call My Name
In a world that knows too well the anguish inherent in the clash of old ways and new lifestyles, Margaret Cravenas classic and timeless story of a young man's journey into the Pacific Northwest is as relevant today as ever. Here amid the grandeur of British Columbia stands the village of Kingcome, a place of salmon runs and ancient totems - a village so steeped in time tha...more
Paperback, 146 pages
Published
January 10th 2005
by Fitzhenry & Whiteside
(first published 1967)
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I needed something short and quick to read and picked this up when I saw it at the library. I think I read it in junior high, although I may be confusing it with Hal Borland's When the Legends Die (both are books about Indians in the woods). It's a sweet, sad story about a young vicar with a terminal disease (which he is unaware of) who is sent to a parish in remote coastal British Columbia. No matter how much he does for the Indians, he is told, they will never say "thank you," because they hav...more
The setting is a young priest sent to work on a native american reservation in the pacific northwest.
Once you get past the implausible set-up (i.e., young priest is terminally ill, but will be healthy and symptom-free for two years; doctor tells the priest's SUPERVISOR/bishop this diagnosis but hides it from the priest), it is a pleasant story about friendships that develop across cultures.
There isn't a lot of action - it's more just a slice of life - but the characters are strong enough to hol...more
Once you get past the implausible set-up (i.e., young priest is terminally ill, but will be healthy and symptom-free for two years; doctor tells the priest's SUPERVISOR/bishop this diagnosis but hides it from the priest), it is a pleasant story about friendships that develop across cultures.
There isn't a lot of action - it's more just a slice of life - but the characters are strong enough to hol...more
An Anglican bishop sends a young priest to a remote First Nation village in northwest Canada. The priest is terminally ill but he doesn't know it yet. (He has trageditis, the same mysterious disease that killed Beth March along with numerous Dickens characters.) I think his story turns out to be our own. God sends us into a strange world. We have a choice. Will we be like the Mountie, the teacher, the tourists, and the anthropologist who care only for their own interests and lack any empathy wit...more
In his tiny house the teacher heard the running footfalls on the path to the river bank, and he went quickly to the door and could not open it. To join the others was to care, and to care was to live and to suffer.
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The cliched (though, I believe, still apt) advice to "show, don't tell" is usually given to writers. Sometimes, though, it or something similar is given as life advice (for instance; and, "actions speak louder than words"). And then, in rare instances, the advice itself isn't told...more
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The cliched (though, I believe, still apt) advice to "show, don't tell" is usually given to writers. Sometimes, though, it or something similar is given as life advice (for instance; and, "actions speak louder than words"). And then, in rare instances, the advice itself isn't told...more
Disclaimer: I read this many years ago as a frustrated adolescent in the required AR program at my school and due to Pavlovian response have not since cracked a copy open. Woe be to my junior high self, I discovered only the most boring books were available for "silver" readers (also boring, as a 7th grader: The Prince and the Pauper, on top of which I fell asleep several times). The only reason I chose this book is because the title sounded unique and maybe there were, like, freakshow owls in i...more
I would rate this book a three because I did like the book, but it was really confusing at times. Sometime it could get boring when it was describing something in depth. If you ignore that part the story itself was actually really good. It’s a book where you sit down in a quiet room maybe drinking some hot chocolate, and sit back and pay really good attention to the real meaning of the story and you actually get into the book and get the moral of the story. This book really gets into your head a...more
As far as I know this is the first book by a Canadian that I have registered on Goodreads.
I was going to sneak it in on my Americana Shelf.
NOT correct and definitely NOT FAIR!!!
So it sits alone,
a sign of how little we get to know about the national literature of so many countries
except the wealthy ones or ones in the same lingo.
(Although I heard that China is the largest English-speaking country in the world now!!)
Someone mentioned this book just the other day.
I recalled it with fond memories....more
I was going to sneak it in on my Americana Shelf.
NOT correct and definitely NOT FAIR!!!
So it sits alone,
a sign of how little we get to know about the national literature of so many countries
except the wealthy ones or ones in the same lingo.
(Although I heard that China is the largest English-speaking country in the world now!!)
Someone mentioned this book just the other day.
I recalled it with fond memories....more
This book is on our Book Club list. I may not have chosen to read it otherwise. However, I did enjoy it and felt the author painted a very vivid picture of life in the native village of Kingcome in the BC rainforest. The main character is an Anglican vicar who comes to the village to act as its spiritual leader. He is accepted readily by the residents because he quietly accepts and respects their traditions and lifestyle. He lives with them for a little over 2 years and becomes a part of the ext...more
This was the fifth book in my Summer of Guilty Pleasure reads. I knew that I’d read Margaret Craven’s 1973 book at some point in my life (I’m guessing it was high school), and I remembered it as one of those sentimental, corny, ABC movies-of-the-week type of stories, minus a starring role by Meredith Baxter-Birney. But I was glad I picked this book up again because I was wrong about it.
I Heard the Owl Call My Name is a beautiful book about a parishioner with a fatal illness who goes to live in a...more
I Heard the Owl Call My Name is a beautiful book about a parishioner with a fatal illness who goes to live in a...more
Dec 03, 2009
Charlotte Goddard
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
book-club-books,
on-my-actual-bookshelf
I thought this was a gentle, evocative book which I enjoyed for its descriptions of the Canadian Indian (there may be a better word but I don't know it) culture.
At first I thought the book lacking in dramatic conflict - the main character the young vicar is so nice, and seems to be accepted pretty readily by the village even though the book suggests tension over whether he will be or not. But the drama actually comes from the conflict betwen young and old in the village and the village culture...more
At first I thought the book lacking in dramatic conflict - the main character the young vicar is so nice, and seems to be accepted pretty readily by the village even though the book suggests tension over whether he will be or not. But the drama actually comes from the conflict betwen young and old in the village and the village culture...more
A wonderful book - it creates a world for the reader...
...and at the end, you are sad to leave it.
For me, when I read an absolutely excellent novel, I have a hard time getting into another one - you end up rejecting the new one because it's not as good as the last one. This is one of those novels for me. So, I guess I'll be cleansing the reading palate with a few magazines.
I first read this novel when I was 14 or 15 years old. I haven't thought about it for years until I came across it at a b...more
...and at the end, you are sad to leave it.
For me, when I read an absolutely excellent novel, I have a hard time getting into another one - you end up rejecting the new one because it's not as good as the last one. This is one of those novels for me. So, I guess I'll be cleansing the reading palate with a few magazines.
I first read this novel when I was 14 or 15 years old. I haven't thought about it for years until I came across it at a b...more
I rated my book a four out of five stars. I chose because the overall idea of the book I thought was pretty interesting, and I really enjoyed how the book made you think a little. Another reason I enjoyed this book was that I was constantly popping pictures in my head, and visualizing what was going on. The book had enough detail to do that without me even knowing, it just kind of happened. But the reason I didn’t give it a five was that the beginning of this book, I thought, was very slow to g...more
The reason I rated this book four stars out of five is because I really liked the story. It was very slow at times, but the overall story was very good. It did a great job of explaining life morals and lessons. Some of the books strengths are explaining how to live life to the fullest. Mark Brian, the main character, has been sent to an Indian village to do church work. He has a deadly, unknown disease and not very much time to live. He meets new friends and is introduced to many new customs.
...more
I Heard the Owl Call My Name is a wonderful book for everybody to read. Mostly for teenaged kids learning about responsibility and how to be a good, helpful person. In the book, Mark is sent to a native American village to teach them the ways of Christianity. While he is there, he helps them by building things, by doing other labor work and by talking to the natives. The childeren are getting ready to leave the village to go to school and become citezens of the United States of America so Mark h...more
Craven's simple spiritual style is vaguely reminiscent of Hermann Hesse's writing. She captures the spirit of the Kwakiutl, both people and landscape, with a similarly quiet intensity.
The story itself is one of a young Anglican priest named Mark who is sent to a remote native village on the British Columbian coast after he is diagnosed with only a couple of years to live. He is not aware of it at the time and sets about trying to win the respect of the people whom he must tend to.
I was drawn in...more
The story itself is one of a young Anglican priest named Mark who is sent to a remote native village on the British Columbian coast after he is diagnosed with only a couple of years to live. He is not aware of it at the time and sets about trying to win the respect of the people whom he must tend to.
I was drawn in...more
I first read this book back in 9th grade almost 30 years ago in English class. At the time, I found it a sad book and was not ready emotionally for the themes. I had opportunity to pick it up second hand figuring that I would be ready to think through the issues of facing death as a young man.
In some way this book fails. It is not well-written and I would never have chosen it as a novel for high school. I think it is because instead of describing what happens and letting the reader come to a co...more
In some way this book fails. It is not well-written and I would never have chosen it as a novel for high school. I think it is because instead of describing what happens and letting the reader come to a co...more
I heard thoe owl call my name is about a young vicar who learns not to fear death.I rated this book this low because I did not like the book. I say this because it was hard to understand for the first 40 pages. The books strengths are it is about Indians, so it makes it slightly motre interesting. But, the book's weaknesses are that it is hard to relate to, it is boring for a while and it is really confusing for a while. I would not read another book by Margaret Craven because the rest of her bo...more
This is the first time in a while that I picked up a book without knowing anything about it -- I didn't even read the back cover, because it was missing! (Public library, I'm surprised at you). I'm not sure if this is why I was completely lost during the first chapter. I liked the prose -- charming, easy-to-read yet poignant. I liked the historical details about the tribe, and the elegant way the author portrayed how the tribe struggled with the outside forces that were shaping the future of the...more
Mar 01, 2011
Rosemary Titievsky
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
123-book-club
Reading this novel is like floating lazily down the inlets that Mark and Jim patrol with cotton-plugged ears, mourner's veil, and sinus infection that has rendered you incapable of smell or taste. It's a quick read wrapped up with a few mawkish winks. I pray to all the divine beings everywhere that any middle-schooler assigned to read this book gives Native American literature by Native Americans a chance. The themes skimmed over in "I Heard the Owl Call My Name" - specially the notions of what...more
Here amid the grandeur of British Columbia stands the village of Kingcome, a place of salmon runs and ancient totems - a village so steeped in time that, according to Kwakiutl legend, it was founded by two brothers left on earth after the great flood. Yet in this Eden of such natural beauty and richness, the old culture of totems and potlaches is under attack - slowly being replaced by a new culture of prefab houses and alcoholism. Into this world, where an entire generation of young people has...more
I picked this book up at a recent library book sale. It is the story of a young priest, Mark Brian, whose first assignment is to a tribe of Northwest indians. The bishop assigns him to this parish when he learns that Mark probably has less than three years to live, and feels this assignment will teach him more than any other the meaning of life and death. The author describes so picturesquely Mark struggles to know the people and find his place with them, as well as the tribe's struggles to main...more
I've waited quite a while since this book was first recommended to me to read it, and I am glad I got there in the end.
I have a great love of slim volumes and this book lived up to all that I love about them. As one reviewer said, you do perhaps have to put aside the rather odd premise of the book - the young priest who is dying, his doctor knows, his bishop knows, but he doesn't, or at least not in the same way, and the response is to send him to a remote village. However, that seems remarkably...more
I have a great love of slim volumes and this book lived up to all that I love about them. As one reviewer said, you do perhaps have to put aside the rather odd premise of the book - the young priest who is dying, his doctor knows, his bishop knows, but he doesn't, or at least not in the same way, and the response is to send him to a remote village. However, that seems remarkably...more
YOYA Code 5Q 3P
A. Pre-Reading: I had never heard of this book before this class, so I really didn't know what to think. From reading the back cover and studying the cover page, I did not think I would enjoy reading this novel. The totem poles on the front made me think of a story that would be dated and have no relevance to me or my students. The back cover inspired me to get started because it said something about older and younger generations.
B. During Reading: I am reading more than fiv...more
A. Pre-Reading: I had never heard of this book before this class, so I really didn't know what to think. From reading the back cover and studying the cover page, I did not think I would enjoy reading this novel. The totem poles on the front made me think of a story that would be dated and have no relevance to me or my students. The back cover inspired me to get started because it said something about older and younger generations.
B. During Reading: I am reading more than fiv...more
Dec 22, 2008
Sandie
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommended to Sandie by:
UVM book group
Shelves:
uvm-group
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I started reading this on holiday by the ocean, and let me tell you - there's nothing like reading about sea waves while hearing ocean waves right outside your window :)
It was a really nice book. A sad, but very life-asserting and optimistic nonetheless. It's that belief in humanity which I value so high in any creation, be it a book, a movie, or an art piece. The protagonist, a young vicar, is portrayed as a true Christian who doesn't judge and takes everything as it comes without resent or hat...more
It was a really nice book. A sad, but very life-asserting and optimistic nonetheless. It's that belief in humanity which I value so high in any creation, be it a book, a movie, or an art piece. The protagonist, a young vicar, is portrayed as a true Christian who doesn't judge and takes everything as it comes without resent or hat...more
This book touched me in its calm and unspectular language and pace that matches life in this Indian village where a young vicar finds a whole new world - and a home.
In my opinion the author himself gives the best review on the final pages of his own book:
"And what had he learned? Surely not the truth of the Indian. There was no one truth. He had learned a little of the truth of one tribe in one village. He had seen the sadness, the richness, the tragic poignancy of a way of life that each year,...more
In my opinion the author himself gives the best review on the final pages of his own book:
"And what had he learned? Surely not the truth of the Indian. There was no one truth. He had learned a little of the truth of one tribe in one village. He had seen the sadness, the richness, the tragic poignancy of a way of life that each year,...more
This is one of the most powerful novels of the First Nations people I have ever read. The natives of Kingcome, where the novel is set, agree with this assessment. Surprisingly, it was written by a female American journalist who spent only 5 weeks living in Kingcome. Her imagination was captured by a report about Eric Powell, and Anglican priest who was sent to teach the natives in Kingcome but, by his own report, instead learned much from them about the peace that their culture brings to them—an...more
I rated this book a three because I liked it, bbut i didn't think it was anything special. It was an okay book but I would not recommened it to anybody. I would not read it again either. A strength of this book is that it makes you think deeper than most books would. Its very intriguing, although it was very slow. Another weakness this book had was if you got lost once, you might not understand until you read it over again about 5 times. It was very hard to follow, and that's why I would not rea...more
Pre-Reading:
I admit I was less than enthused about reading a nature book. I’m a child of the “burbs” — I didn’t camp, hike, or otherwise rough it much growing up — I nearly failed biology when I last took it, in 9th grade, and I hardly ever turn to the Discovery Channel. The result is I don’t know a whole lot about plants, trees, fish, landforms, or other elements of the natural world. So I strain to appreciate the natural imagery that pervades books such as I Heard the Owl Call my Name. Try as...more
I admit I was less than enthused about reading a nature book. I’m a child of the “burbs” — I didn’t camp, hike, or otherwise rough it much growing up — I nearly failed biology when I last took it, in 9th grade, and I hardly ever turn to the Discovery Channel. The result is I don’t know a whole lot about plants, trees, fish, landforms, or other elements of the natural world. So I strain to appreciate the natural imagery that pervades books such as I Heard the Owl Call my Name. Try as...more
I really wanted to love this book but somehow it didn't quite move me. I enjoyed the exploration of the relationship between an indigenous people and a white, Christian society, as it was understated and subtle and didn't portray one side as victims and the other as perpetrators. However, I thought that the simplistic narrative, which was at times very beautiful, could also be rather laboured and I was wishing for more poetry in the descriptions; more depth, rather than more words.
I also felt th...more
I also felt th...more
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| read it with an open mind people | 2 | 16 | Jul 21, 2012 03:51am |
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“Here every bird and fish knew its course. Every tree had its own place upon this earth. Only man had lost his way.”
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14 people liked it
“He watched their faces, and he knew each meant desperately what she said because they loved each other, and deep inside surely each knew the words were false, that the true words were those unspoken.”
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