The Barnes & Noble Review from Discover Great New Writers
"Find a map of British Columbia.... Beneath Alaska, find the Queen Charlott... read full description
"Find a map of British Columbia.... Beneath Alaska, find the Queen Charlott... read full description
reviews
Feb 03, 2012
Stephen
rated it: 
This is the first Canadian novel that I actually enjoyed. Rather, the first one I really enjoyed that I'm studying in my class.
The first thing I loved about this novel were all the Gothic elements. There are ruins and graveyards and death. One part is even called "The Land of the Dead." There's also monsters - Lisamarie and Uncle Mick are referred to as monsters, in jest of course. Speaking of monsters one of them mentioned many times in the novel (or one of the motifs) is th More...
The first thing I loved about this novel were all the Gothic elements. There are ruins and graveyards and death. One part is even called "The Land of the Dead." There's also monsters - Lisamarie and Uncle Mick are referred to as monsters, in jest of course. Speaking of monsters one of them mentioned many times in the novel (or one of the motifs) is th More...
Jul 20, 2011
Carrie
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This was a beautiful book to read, and one that I will read again. Eden Robinson does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of Northern British Columbia's indigenous people, the Haisla. The story, which is narrated by 19-year-old Lisamarie Hill, opens with the news that Lisa's 18-year-old brother has gone missing. Her brother's disappearance triggers Lisa's memories of the deaths of her uncle and grandmother. As the present story develops, Lisa relives those moments in her childhood and revea
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Jan 27, 2012
Roberta
rated it: 
Reading for a neighbourhood bookclub. Probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own.
I'm so glad I read this book. It's one of the best I have read for a long time. Even though it was sad in places and death was always present, the book had a strong sense of life. It was vivid. I loved so many things about it:
The story was powerful and engaging from the first page. I wanted to know what happened next and hated putting it down. All the different elements that were introdu More...
I'm so glad I read this book. It's one of the best I have read for a long time. Even though it was sad in places and death was always present, the book had a strong sense of life. It was vivid. I loved so many things about it:
The story was powerful and engaging from the first page. I wanted to know what happened next and hated putting it down. All the different elements that were introdu More...
Jun 08, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
This is a wonderful coming-of-age novel about a feisty, smart, rebellious girl (my favorite kind!) Alternates between age 20 when her brother is lost at sea and her childhood/teen years growing up. Gives some insight into Haisla culture, which was interesting, and I didn't mind the "spirits" stuff nearly as much as I thought I would; I chose to think of it as her over-active imagination. One of the best things about the book was the imagery she used to describe the gorgeous northern BC
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Feb 21, 2010
Christina
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I've read this book maybe three times. The first time was for for a college literature class and I was highly skeptical about it; "Modern, Gothic, Canadian Fiction" was something I had had a hard time of understanding. Once this book gets going its eerily beautiful description and blend of fiction, Haisla culture and modern life draws you in. This is a book which just gets better and better. I would love to read more stuff from the author and it definetly awoke my interest and appreci
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Jan 04, 2011
Geoff
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This is a good example of what I've been looking for: First class contemporary Canadian literature first published sometime since the 80s. It's a refreshing break from all of the usual suspects, and a great literary debut. Very clean, beautiful prose and rich with style. My only complaint has more to do with Canadian fiction as a whole - it seems like northern life has become ground all too frequently tread, and the cliches can get a bit thick at times. Wilderness, reserve life, Vancouver itsel
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Dec 11, 2011
Elissa
rated it:
While the opening was slow to grab my attention because of the sometimes-confusing movement through time, I'm glad I stuck with this book. Haisla author Eden Robinson depicts life for a First Nations community in the mid- to late-eighties in British Columbia, without sentimentality. Protagonist Lisa Hill experiences her coming of age in an interrupted indigenous community and learns how to use her own gifts while also working to navigate adolescence. This is a dark and mysterious novel, a funny
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Aug 26, 2010
Angela
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Although the end of this book was disappointing to me, I thoroughly enjoyed Eden Robinson's mysterious Canadian West Coast world of spirits, drugs, and death. It is written in very simple prose that sings like a Haisla strorytelling. My main complaint is that I had trouble discerning the disconnected sections juxtaposed together in the novel, and I wonder if it is meant to be figured out at all. I am also not entirely sure what happened at the end, but I suppose that is supposed to be up for
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Feb 17, 2010
Linnea
rated it:
Just read this book again and confirmed my admiration for it. Robinson's prose is as chilling as the creatures who lurk just beyond the tree-line at Monkey Beach. Offers an honest yet understated inquiry into the viral effects of abuse, whether via residential school, between relatives, or self-inflicted through substances. When a book can make me cry, I revere it; but Robinson's greatest strength lies in this - she somehow captures the most arresting moments between broken individuals without l
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Jul 25, 2007
Crystal
rated it:
I read this book for a book club that I used to lead when I worked at Chapters. We were struggling to get the book club off of the ground and basically had new people dropping in every month. The month that we chose this book everyone was really excited and swore up and down that they would read it and be back for the meeting. I ended up not getting around to reading it until it was a few days before the book club meeting. I remember it was Father's Day weekend and I laid on the floor in my pare
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Jan 20, 2012
Colly
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I first ran across Eden Robinson in her story "Queen of the North" in the Broadview Anthology of Short Fiction. I was surprised to find out that _Monkey Beach_ lives in the same place and characters and while I enjoyed the book and it was cool to get more out of the place and time that she builds on the Canadian West Coast, I hope to read more of her stuff and see if she ranges further afield.
Feb 14, 2009
Lori
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Beautifully told story set in British Columbia's Pacific Inland Coast of a young Haisla girl's struggles and joys growing up with both traditional and modern values. The story begins with her younger brother disappearing on a fishing trip. Througout the book the author smoothly tells her heroine's story through flashbacks of past and present. Her descriptions of the area, the native culture and beliefs and the angst of growing up are so beautiful and real, it was hard to put it down.
Jan 25, 2012
Nick
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"Monkey Beach" is named (supposedly) because of frequent viewings of sasquatch. For Lisamarie, the protagonist of Eden Robinson's novel about the Haisla area of British Columbia, Monkey Beach is the site of a great personal tragedy. As she remembers her childhood in this beautiful but haunted area, she is visited by the ghosts from her past. Indeed, she has a great deal of loss in her family, and she copes with it by retreating into Indian floklore and magic. All in all it is a good
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Nov 20, 2008
Lydia
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Described as "American Gothic" by some, takes place in contemporary lives of Haisla Indians living in on reservation cold, watery Canada. Narrator's brother goes missing over a bay...and the question is, how? Elements of the mystical, very smooth prose; spellbinding. I've never wanted to go to up north before this book...
Oct 20, 2011
Tracy
rated it: 
Saying I read this book is a lie, as I did not finish it. It didn't grab me. Life is too short to read books that don't grab me. I think this was the author's first book and it was an award winner. I am going to take the time to research her subsequent books.
Aug 09, 2011
Jocelyn
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I liked this book a lot. It puts Indigenous peoples experience in Canada in modern times. And it is kind of morbid at times with the rotting and the death. Lots of cool stuff about BC. It is a sad book but a wonderful read. I don't like the name though.
Jul 07, 2011
Marjorie
rated it:
Amazing story that takes me back to the Pacific Northwest and a tribal community similar to my own. The humor, the imagery, and the story is so familiar and comforting, I will most definitely read this one again. Eden Robinson is a wonderful author.
Feb 17, 2010
sarah
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Wow. Really quite amazing, with so many layers....I love the things she notices, the things I would edit out, and not share in my story telling, like bottle caps sparkling in the bottom of the bay, or lending a spiritual quality to the rotting of wood.
Oct 16, 2011
Janet
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The story of a young Native girl from Kitamaat, B.C., one suspects that this novel is based on Eden Robinson's own life. I liked its portrayal of the young heroine's childhood and adolescence, conveyed with warmth and a sense of humour.
Sep 17, 2009
Nancy
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If you like books that utilize stream of conciousness techniques in stories you'll like this book. Eden Robison is a Canadian "First Nations" writer and this is her first novel set in the Southeast Passage in Canada. The ending is surprising & I'm not quite sure what happened...I need to read it over.
Aug 03, 2009
Peter
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Eden Robinson is one of the potentially very good young Canadian Writers. This novel, a coming of age story of a young Aboriginal woman is smart, witty, poignant and worth reading.
Apr 19, 2009
John
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An interesting story of a young first nations girl who sees ghosts and spirits and is a bit of a rebel at times. A very West Coast book.
I highly recommend this book!!!
I highly recommend this book!!!
Dec 06, 2010
Emily
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i would not classify eden as a native writer. i would say that she is simply a great writer whose characters happen to have a native background. relatable on all levels.
May 01, 2011
Ida
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Beautifully written. This book is near and dear to my heart. I am from the same village the author is, and I feel like I am home when I read this book.
Jun 29, 2010
Kate
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I enjoyed this. This is a prequel, a sequel, and another view of, the short story "Queen of the North." The narrator of Monkey Beach - Lisamarie Hill - is a similar narrator to Adelaine 'Kareoke' Jones in "Queen of the North." She's a tough as nails 'delicate Haisla flower' and this is the story of her family and her strange gift. It's very stream of consciousness and tells the story of Lisa's growing up. It's a coming of age story at the same time that it's not one. It
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Sep 02, 2011
Mariana
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I liked this coming of age novel. I would have given it 5 stars, but parts of it were not crystal clear. The heroine was great though.
Mar 01, 2011
Misha
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Only giving 3 stars as I read so long ago that I have forgotten what I really felt. A student paper just reminded me of it!
Jan 05, 2011
Mona
rated it:
It took a bit to get into. Once i got to know the characters they were
interesting and the Kittimat area sounds fabulous.
interesting and the Kittimat area sounds fabulous.
Jun 27, 2011
Kilgallen
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A wonderfull coming of age story. A great look at First Nations culture without pulling any punches.
Dec 31, 2009
Liz
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I read this book after having lived in Prince Rupert for a while, making it especially poignant.
