I’ve never read any of Eden Robinson‘s work before, but people discuss her books like she is always writing something worth reading, so I had high hopes when I picked up Son of a Trickster. Unfortunately, I typically approach indigenous writing with a bit of apprehension, just because I usually find most of the characters and the situations they find themselves in depressing. Poverty, drug addition and violence seem to surface in most books about First Nations people, which is why I have to mentally steel myself before diving in. However this book was funny, it wasn’t a comedy, but I connected with the main character Jared, even though he is someone I have nothing in common with: he’s a sixteen-year-old alcoholic who gets abused by his mother, deals drugs, skips class and carries a gun. The story is essentially a coming of age one, where Jared learns more about himself and his family as he deals with the shit show that is his life. 
This book involved a bunch of terrible people in terrible situations, but the supernatural aspects of it (a talking raven, a woman with a creature inside of her, cannibalistic river otters) gave me a story line to laugh at, wonder at, and thoroughly enjoy. The difficult lives of Jared and his mother are hard to read about, but they were presented without blame or pity, thus allowing myself to move past the ‘us and them’ mentality that I can sometime feel like as a Caucasian reading a book about indigenous issues. I should mention that even though I do feel isolated from aboriginal characters in other books, this never deters from reading about them. Not only do I believe it is important to read these books, I enjoy reading them because they offer such a valuable perspective on our Canadian history and culture. Ok I’ll step off my soapbox now.
One review of this book found the transition into the supernatural world a difficult one because it overshadowed the first two thirds of the novel that described Jared’s family and social life. I will admit that the book takes a pretty sharp turn towards the end, and a lot of it seems not only unbelievable but out of place. I disagree with this assessment for the reasons I mentioned above, but also because I’ve read other books like this, and believe it to be a certain kind of storytelling style.
As for the writing itself, even though Robinson includes lots of profanity in the dialogue, she also includes beautiful descriptions of nature too, for instance: “Leaves fell on the windshield, curled, gold paper boats sailing to the ground” (p. 25). And another important thing to note that the dialogue between Jared and his friends rang extremely true to me; I have never read an adult writer who so accurately captured the teenage life before: the way they talk, think and act is so brutally honest, I wish all YA writers took a page out of the Eden Robinson lesson book.
I loved this book, and was happy to see that it will be the first in a trilogy. I’m certainly expecting magic to feature a little more heavily in the next books, but I don’t agree with the reviewer who found the transition into the supernatural difficult. This is magical realism at its finest – magic is hinted at throughout the book, but Jared simply doesn’t see it. The reader gets small glimpses of it before the larger scenes where Jared finally clues in.
I agree! This was magic realism at it’s best, Robinson knows what she’s doing 🙂
Wow it sounds like this was done really well!!
indeed it was! Highly recommended for magical realism fans
Awesome- that’s good to know!
I’m glad I read this review – it gives me a good idea of the book, which I’ve been hesitant to pick up, not because of the poverty and violence but because I’m not a big fan of magical realism. However, I have read many books that include it that I’ve liked, and it sounds like she handles it well in this book.!
oh yes, I’ve never read magic realism done so well!
I enjoy magical realism. I’ve read a few books (not too many) by Native Americans and NONE( shamefully) by First Nations authors. She will be going on my list!
ok this is just as shameful-what is the difference between First Nations and Native Americans?
Ha ha – I wondered the same thing – I thought it was just a different term due to geography. Clearly I need to do some research.
clearly I need to do some research as well haha
“I connected with the main character Jared, even though he is someone I have nothing in common with…”
I love this line. I was just writing on Goodreads in response to someone who filleted a book I l really enjoy because she couldn’t relate to the characters at all. In fact, she felt the characters were all unlikable. Now, I have to wonder: since when did human beings have to be “likable,” and since when did we create the standard that fictional characters must be likable? Sometimes, unlikable people are the ones from whom we can learn the most. THAT creates a connection. I love your choice of the word “connection.”
Yes, finding the connection with characters, regardless of their likability, is what fiction is all about for me. I love reading books because it forces me into someone else’s shoes, which makes me a more empathetic person. They say that avid readers tend to be the most sensitive and empathetic, just because we get to experience life as someone else. Books for the win, yet again!!!