Medicine Walk

About this book

"One of the finest novels of the year." (Vancouver Sun) By the celebrated author of Canada Reads finalist Indian Horse this is an unforgettable journey of a father and son set in dramatic landscape of the BC Interior. For male and female readers equally for readers of Joseph Boyden Cormac McCarthy Thomas King Russell Banks and general literary fiction. Franklin Starlight is called to visit his father Eldon. Hes sixteen years old and has had the most fleeting of relationships with the man. The rare moments theyve shared haunt and trouble Frank but he answers the call a sons duty to a father. What ensues is a journey through the rugged and beautiful backcountry and a journey into the past as the two men push forward to Eldons end. From a poverty-stricken childhood to the Korean War and later the derelict houses of mill towns Eldon relates both the desolate moments of his life and a time of redemption and love and in doing so offers Frank a history he has never known the father he has never had and a connection to himself he never expected. A novel about love friendship courage and the idea that the land has within it powers of healing Medicine Walk reveals the ultimate goodness of its characters and offers a deeply moving and redemptive conclusion. Wagameses writing soars and his insight and compassion are matched by his gift of communicating these to the reader.