Books I Read in 2021, Vol. III

 

ONCE THIS RIVER RAN CLEAR
Peter Martin

"In 1950, as "progress" becomes another name for "greed," a sixteen-year-old boy learns from the people surrounding him. He and Urs, a bear-like man, live in a shabby cabin on the Nawaakamig River, existing happily on other people's trash and on the carp which pollute the water. Urs' land is coveted by a developer, setting off a chain of painful, tragic events, which overtake unlucky people, including the hobos who spend summers with Urs. The boy bounces from the humble cabin to the local elite to an Ojibwa community, using what he learns from each situation to find his self and settle a score."

Having spent over 20 years putting Pete's storytelling to life on the stages of Giant Step (Children's) Theatre and the Dakota Chautauqua, I was excited to read his first novel. The biggest adjustment I had to make was reconciling myself to the decidedly "earthy" language the narrator of this tale uses. But the nature of the tale and the heart of the narrator won me over within two pages. 

This is a satisfying read, and I was glad to have taken the journey. I hope Pete writes a sequel to keep the tale a-spinnin'.

First line: If I knew the misery Laurence Larkin the Third was gonna cause I'da shot him dead the first time he showed up at our cabin.

Page 56/5th sentence: The water was down even more and there were places with carp stranded half outta water.

Last line: I let it take me south toward the train stop at Parker's Crossing, where I hoped to find a helpful man named Eustis, who would show me the train headed for a city with two shelters, three parks, a library, and, hopefully, a man with a long white beard and a hickory walking stick.