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289th out of 548 books
—
382 voters
As Long as the Rivers Flow
From the accomplished memoirist and former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario comes a first novel of incredible heart and spirit for every Canadian.
The novel follows one girl, Martha, from the Cat Lake First Nation in Northern Ontario who is "stolen" from her family at the age of six and flown far away to residential school. She doesn't speak English but is punished for speaki...more
The novel follows one girl, Martha, from the Cat Lake First Nation in Northern Ontario who is "stolen" from her family at the age of six and flown far away to residential school. She doesn't speak English but is punished for speaki...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
November 1st 2011
by Vintage Canada
(first published February 15th 2011)
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As Long as the Rivers Flow by James Bartleman flows Martha, a girl from Cat Lake First Nation in Northern Ontario who is forcefully taken away to a residential school at the age of six. At the school, she is not allowed to speak her native language and is physically abused and punished. The worst part is the sexual abuse inflicted on her for six years by the school's priest, a man with an attraction to little girls. When Martha finally returns to her reserve, she finds herself an outcast, barely...more
I really liked what this book was trying to do, but it's style was really mediocre. The writing wasn't the best - though I am interested to read the same author's non-fiction. It was a good story, and a good read to learn a bit about First Nations culture but I thought most of the characters were underdeveloped and I just couldn't connect enough with them because of the writing. I also thought some of the topics were poorly addressed, like the way addiction was really glossed over (not so much t...more
I was asked to read this to start Teacher's College at Trent University over the summer. I stalled reading it until early August but once I got into it, I knew it was going to be an eye opener. This novel is set in Northern Ontario, a place that most Canadians know virtually nothing about. Having read a little bit about the disaster that was occurring a few months ago up North on the reserves, I knew that there were many Aboriginals living in poverty. However, having read this novel, I now feel...more
Written by the former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, this is a fictionalized version of what many First Nations children went through in the 60s, 70s, and 80s - forcibly sent to a residential school governed by loveless nuns and sexually abusive priests, being forced to learn English and ignore their own language and culture for 10 years, and then return to their homes in northern Ontario to try to live a 'normal' life. Bartleman includes the epidemic of teen suicides that occurred in the gener...more
I learned and felt a lot from reading this book. I selected this book to read because I wanted to learn more about the Aboriginal experience in residential schools here in Canada. Up to this point, my knowledge was basically superficial and based on newspaper and other media reports.
I felt a great deal of sadness and shame learning more details of this horrific part of our country’s history and the multi-generational negative impact the residential school system has had on our native community....more
I felt a great deal of sadness and shame learning more details of this horrific part of our country’s history and the multi-generational negative impact the residential school system has had on our native community....more
As Long as the Rivers Flow really shows in depth the suffering of Aboriginal people and what they have been put through. By using a fictional character, Martha, the pain and fear of being taken away from their families to be put in residential schools is clearly shown. Then we see the abuse in residential schools, the loss of culture and identity, and the life following residential schools. Every aspect has been touched on and for some who may not understand the extent of what the "white people"...more
Although Bartleman's book is a work of fiction, he does a marvelous work depicting the reality faced by the First nations' communities across Canada, during the time of forced cultural assimilation brought onto Residential Schools.
This is a must-read for those looking to get more acquainted with Indigenous issues faced in Canada including, but not limited to: alcoholism, drug addiction, high rates of suicide, lack of motivation and lost of cultural identity, among others.
What really captivated...more
This is a must-read for those looking to get more acquainted with Indigenous issues faced in Canada including, but not limited to: alcoholism, drug addiction, high rates of suicide, lack of motivation and lost of cultural identity, among others.
What really captivated...more
The subject matter of this book is the fallout of the residential school abuse on Native communities in northern Ontario. It is fictional, fallows the life of Martha from birth to middle age. Told by James Bartleman, a member of the Chippeawa of Rama First Nation, known for his love for and amazing worth bringing books to children in fly-in remote northern Ontario communities, it is a story from the heart.
A very good perspective read into the issues.
A very good perspective read into the issues.
This novel will stay with me for a very long time. The short and long-time damage caused by the residential schools was horrendous. But there was hope if one could learn to forgive and learn to love yourself again.
This book demonstrates how the pain of past injustice can continue long over one's life course and become inter-generational when left unacknowledged. It also demonstrates the turmoil associated with cultural displacement, as identity and belonging fall under attack. This past must be acknowledged by Canadians if ignorance about the plight of the Aboriginal community is to ever be diminished. This book is beautifully written and can be a wonderful tool for bringing understanding to so many Canad...more
Great introduction to the residential school system and the intergenerational impact it has had on residential school survivors and their families.
Still chugging through the pages, I am a transit-reader, I read mainly while in transit. So far the story is developing where Martha is headed to Toronto to get a bit of the city life it will be interesting to see/read how she manages.
This is a book that most people should read, if not everyone. The toll that the the residential schools have taken on the First Nations people in Canada is significant and the misunderstanding that I hope is starting to be eradicated between white people and First Nations people in our country is partially explained. I hope that we can all come to a mutual understanding as the years go by and that ALL Canadians can feel this country is theirs.
a chilling illustration of the residential school legacy and its destructive force on native reserves in this country....it should be required reading across the country
Good book....A book that Canadians should make a point to read....
A very powerful novel. Keep the box of tissues handy (seriously).
Had to read but very tragic - the residential schools.
Interesting story. Average writing.
This book definitely shows the long term effects of the residential schools. Very eye opening in a very readable book!
Finally finished!
This book tells a great story about the Natives and all the pain they went through. I already knew a little bit about reisdental schools and how awful they were but this novel painted an even more horrifying picture. The message was plain and simple but I felt as if the story line never really went anywhere. Most of the plot was depressing.... I loved the idea I just wish it was written better for a novel...
This book tells a great story about the Natives and all the pain they went through. I already knew a little bit about reisdental schools and how awful they were but this novel painted an even more horrifying picture. The message was plain and simple but I felt as if the story line never really went anywhere. Most of the plot was depressing.... I loved the idea I just wish it was written better for a novel...
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James Bartleman rose from humble circumstances in Port Carling, Ontario, to become Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister in 1994. He is the author of the prize-winning memoir Out of Muskoka. In 2002 he became the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. Mr. Bartleman is donating his 2004 royalties to the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto to support a lecture series e...more
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Jun 27, 2012 12:26pm