As such, they leave for their travels again, where they next stop off at Mankato and meet a young girl, Maybeth Schofield, and her family. While on the bank, they overheard an angelic voice. Discuss the differences between the Schofields and Gertie and her friends. used to having their heart broken?, Thats one of the many piercing questions gifted storyteller Odie OBanion asks in his eighties as he looks back on four soul-crushing years he endured at an Indian boarding school in Lincoln, Minnesota, along with his older protective brother, Albert, and two other orphans they befriended Mose, member of the Dakota Sioux tribal nation, and Emmy, an adorable little girl and what happens to themafterwards in one life-changing summer in 1932. Along the way they encounter drifters, struggling farmers, and faith healers. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. The Native character whom readers get to know best is Mose, and he is mute and "speaks" only through sign language. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The novel follows four children trying to escape their brutal life by taking a canoe down . This Tender Land. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Odie and Albert are friends with Moses Washington, called Mose, an Indian. Heres a news story about U.S. boarding schools for Native American children in Washington state. Albert is an ethical young man, whereas Odie says he was not, yet hes not afraid to rail against injustices, since the only way to stand up against evil in this land, is to stand together. Similarly, he says, we are creatures of spirit . One night, Jack became so violent, Odie shot him in the chest and the friends fled in their canoe. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Do you believe like Sister Eve says, that some people have faith in them and others dont? This Tender Land Book Club Discussion Questions. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of This Tender Land. However, Albert recovered. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. So furious with her for lying, Odie unleashed one of the crusade's poisonous snakes on her. If youre interested in learning more about Indian training schools, Book Riot has compiled the list Books About Indian Residential Schools in Canada: Nonfiction and Fiction. Although the list focuses on Canada, the Indian residential school movement was very similar in Canada and the United States. Succession 's third season drew to a close on December 12 with a masterful episode that mirrored the season premiere, leaving Logan, as always, top dog in a game his . The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or Peace Like a River). I also enjoyed the twist that was thrown in at the end. And Ill keep your thoughts in mind. . children survive inhumane treatment at an Indian Boarding School during the Id probably disagree with a lot of it. The friends ventured on to the West Side Flats, where they met and worked for a woman named Gertie in her restaurant. With the money they stole, they discover a letter from Aunt Julia in Saint Louis and decide to head there. Long, sprawling, and utterly captivating, readers will eat up every delicious word of it.. After the huge success of his first standalone novel, Ordinary Grace, he was asked for a companion novel. Instructions. People are calling it a historical novel, which kind of makes me smile, he said. After years of such mistreatment, Vincent DiMarco meets a sudden demise at the hands of one of the children. My rating: 4 of 5 stars. . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. A blog for beautiful fiction, memoirs, inspiration. Writing: An unforgettable and memorable story, Krueger's writing in This Tender Land is lyrical and a joy to read! It will own you. I loved the other characters in the book too. I truly loved this book. drew on the cigarette, then her lips formed a little O and she puffed out two perfect smoke rings . Written by people who wish to remainanonymous. Get your copy here. What did you think of Sister Eve and The Sword of Gideon Healing Crusade? Best known for his series about private investigator Cork O'Connor, Krueger delves deep into his second stand-alone novel for an affecting story about growing up and overcoming a childhood . Still, its hard to imagine anyone suffering more than these four abused children, subjected to the wrath of the schools superintendent, Mrs. Brickman. Why or why not? There have been only a few scattered productions of . After you claim a section youll have 24 hours to send in a draft. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In the epilogue at the end of This Tender Land, Odie, the narrator and a storyteller himself, reflects, "In every good tale, there is a seed of truth and from that seed a lovely story grows . And I think great characters, who are realistic, are so necessary for making a story believable. In 1932, Odie OBanion is an orphan living in the terrible confines of the Lincoln Indian Training School alongside his brother, Albert. Mose lurched toward her, trying to bring her back, but the man swung the barrel of his shotgun and caught Mose full across the left cheek, and he went down hard. What was the purpose of these stories? This Tender Land is a heartfelt, true to life Depression-era story filled with courage, determination, and heroism. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Krueger has nailed this book perfectly; from the story line to the characters. . He had a black patch over one eye. They all decided they could go to her house and find a new home. . Odie and Albert know sign language because their mother was deaf, and they have taught Mose to sign. The ending makes it clear: Even though the couple spends most of La La Land together, the movie never really belonged to their love story. Based on the Chief Secretary's note, the LG asked for a detailed report by the Vigilance Department. Beginning in the 1870s and continuing until the mid-twentieth century, hundreds of thousands of Native children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to live in boarding schools far from their reservation homes. However, Odie was determined to get to Saint Louis. Learn how your comment data is processed. THIS TENDER LAND Characters By Chapter: EDITOR: Remy Hale CH: FIRST NAME: LAST NAME: DESCRIPTION : Part One God Is A Tornado: 1: Albert : The smartest boy at Lincoln Indian Training School. The lyrics foretell whats up ahead for the children: Each of the four Mose and Emmy also wanted to continue living at the Flats. What did you think of the ending? . Traveling by water (in this case, by canoe on rivers), he and his companions encountered a number of challenges including mortal threats, temptations, and struggles with the ire of the gods. Hope you check it out. . Have you read This Tender Land? Played with quiet confidence and wounded reservation by "Charm City Kings" star Winston, Kevin starts "We Have a Ghost . Let's take a closer look at each of these. Hi Olivia! . There will be love and betrayal. They escaped the brutal Indian School, and met other dangers, but through it all they strengthened their bonds. Welcome to the discussion for This Tender Land. Set in the summer of 1932, the book tells the story of four orphaned children traveling down the Gilead River in Minnesota in search of the Mississippi River, which they hope will transport them to a better life. It was explained and tied up in the endit all made sense. Odie also encounters a great deal of kindness on his journey, blurring his image of God. The snake failed to bite Sister Eve, and struck Albert instead. The novel opens at the Lincoln Indian Training School on the banks of the Gilead River in Minnesota in the summer of 1932. I was intrigued by the emphasis on behaving with love towards others theme and how that good changed others. They're welcomed and given food, but later are again forced to flee, chased by police with dogs. This was part of his journey, trying to find his identity. I hope wish you a fantastic year! Thelma and Julia, having once worked together got into a dramatic and violent argument that led to both falling out a window. Parents just don't understand. All material on these pages is as indicated and may not be reused in any format without prior written permission. In the morning, the boys are removed from the quiet room and sent to work on a local farm. While they fight and reconcile, ultimately they don't end up together. The Landlady was originally published on the 28th of November 1959. . . Ordinary Grace Book Club Questions and Food Ideas - Book Club Bites, Malibu Rising Book Club Questions and Recipe - Book Club Bites, The Vibrant Years Book Club Questions and Recipe, The Librarian Spy Book Club Questions and Recipe. Having read Kuegers Ordinary Grace (such a great book), I had high hopes going into This Tender Land. Had I done so, I would have likely said that I thought William Kent Krueger, through his narrator and in his letter to readers, was highlighting the contrast between a love of the land at a critical period in history when a climate crisis worsened the Depression in the Midwest, and how Native Americans, the Sioux tribe, treated the land as sacred yet look at how their children were treated at boarding schools. Bring the mix to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower and simmer for at least 30 minutes. William Kent Krueger cites as his literary inspirers great classical writers like John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, and Ernest Hemingway, which may partly explain why This Tender Land has "the feel of a classic" (quoted from the back cover). There was something poetic in his soul, says wise and eloquent Odie. .". I appreciate that there are many issues that arouse a passionate response in him, but I thought the inclusion of so many of them in one story diluted the impact of each on the reader. published December 21, 2021. It sounds like he has a brilliant writing style that is immediately immersive. Discuss the Lincoln Indian Training School. As he sees evidence of Indian massacres and meets Native people along the way, he begins to incorporate the new knowledge into his sense of identity. Wanting to help, Odie gave Mr. Schofield his remaining $40 for gas. Forced to flee, he and his brother Albert, their . And, of course, there will be hope. Please pm Audiobooklover for the link to that event. The novels journey downstream follows the typical quest motif in which the characters set out in search of something valuable. Reviewed by: C. C. Harrison. Literary Notes & News. . The other precious gem teacher is Mrs. Long, sprawling, and utterly captivating, readers will eat up every delicious word of it. discover. Open yourself, yes, to every . He said he wanted to break from that structure with This Tender Land and embrace the unknown that comes with imagination. The OBanion brothers also discover themselves on this quest. Have you ever been to a tent revival? help you understand the book. No matter how hard its crushed, it bounces back. But as Odie tells it, the heart never forgets. Krueger may be best known for writing the Cork OConnor mystery series. Discuss your experience if you are open to sharing. Feeling alone, he continued on alone. Amazon rating: 4 1/2 stars. feel of a classic (quoted from the back cover). You can help us out by revising, improving and updating As orphans Odie and Albert were adopted to Minnesota's Lincoln School for Native American even though they are white. . This Tender Land, by St. Paul writer William Kent Krueger. He arrived at the military/prison-like/forced labor camp school without a name, a family, and unable to speak. Both the explicit reference to Huckleberry Finn and Odies allusive given name contribute to this feeling. And, having a genuine spiritual nature, Sister Eve recognizes a kindred spirit in Emmy and takes her in. But, after a bit of thought, it is truly a reflection of conformity - and how easily we do it under the watchful eye of others. Minnesotathe Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. The school calls this the training part of the curriculum, but it's really free labor for the surrounding farms. The brothers have been the only white children at the school since they were orphaned when their father was killed four years earlier. Odie eventually discovered Jack's wife and daughter had left him. Odie grows close to Maybeth, but she eventually leaves, leaving him heartbroken. Agree! Emmys depiction is in the image of Little Orphan Annie. Great review. . Odie even meets his future wife at one of these camps, as the narrator tells us in the epilogue. Or reveal them. But it feels like a Big Book. Two days later, Odie arrives in St. Louis. "a book you won't own. Pingback: Ordinary Grace Book Club Questions and Food Ideas - Book Club Bites, Pingback: Malibu Rising Book Club Questions and Recipe - Book Club Bites, Your email address will not be published. . I could not put it down!!! Published by Atria Books, an imprint of . This article discusses the ending of the Amazon Prime Video film The Tender Bar (2021) and will contain spoilers. It will own you. Why is this? Right in the Eye! Also none of the reviews Ive read talked about the title, which I thought was odd. But it was . The recurring voice of the narrator is the most salient characteristic of this novel. His journey is a journey in terms of his relationship to his past and the past of his people, Krueger told MPR News host Tom Crann. Check out This Tender Land book club discussion questions. Set in the 1930s, with the backdrop of the Great Depression, its a about the coming of age of Odie OBanion and his brother Albert. Odysseus: O'Banion . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Giving away the reasons would spoil the story as would mentioning the resolution to the mystery of how two Irish boys ended up at this particular school. What are some similar books youve read? Prone to mischief, Odie finds himself the object of the superintendents wrath, time and again. Children attending these schools were not allowed to speak their native languages or practice their religious and cultural beliefs. Emmy is the daughter of a widowed teacher at the school; Mrs. Some of the circumstances require a suspension of disbelief, but I was so wrapped up in the story and the writing that I was willing to go there with the author. Jack dragged them back to his farm where he locked Emmy in the house and forced the boys to work his orchards. Nicknamed the Black Witch on account of her black little heart, shes cruel and vengeful like a prison guard. In 2005 and 2006, he won back-to-back Anthony Awards for best novel. Farmers who had lost their farms: ". Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Far better, I believe, to be like children and open ourselves to every beautiful possibility, for there is nothing our hearts can imagine that is not so.. In a letter to readers, author William Kent Krueger talks about his own difficult journey while writing this book. We find out why they are the only white boys in school of Indian children later in the book. You'll grasp the flavor of This Tender Land in the first few pages. Nobody in Hooverville has much, but everyone shares what they have with those who have less. Although Odie and Albert find themselves in a boarding school for Native American children, most of the Native children don't actually speak in the story. The book has also reached the top of the list of the best books of the era. ", Later that night, they see something unexpected: "Sister Eve pulled a cigarette from a small, silver case, and the trumpet player lifted a lighter and offered her a flame. This provocative, sorrowful novel expertly wields a double-edged cleaver: when Marcos points out that . While I enjoyed the spiritual discussions, I felt that maybe they could have been a little less heavy handed. Miriam Dix I just finished listening to this book and was similarly taken aback by his 180 at the end. Dhruv Trivedi. I was totally immersed from the first page and didnt want to put it down. In mid-fifteenth-century Constantinople, Anna, a Greek Christian, awaits the assault that has long been threatened by Muslim forces. Rather, it added a dimension to the historical accuracy for the time period. Hawk Flies at Night: "The man materialized out of the dark, big and powerful, shoulders like those of a buffalo, with hair like a buffalo's winter hide flowing over them . Even the voiceover throughout the film is narrated like . But the cruel superintendent of the school had no intention of letting them escape, and the Vagabonds were often one step away from capture. Almost everyone the group meets along the road isnt quite what he/she seems on the surface. I appreciate that there are many issues that arouse a passionate response in him, but I thought the inclusion of so many of them in one story diluted the impact of each on the reader. Although spirituality was a main theme, I did not feel like that the author was trying to preach. heart and soul. Of killing and kidnapping and children pursued by demons of a thousand names. They steal away in a canoe destined for the Mississippi River, but the path before them is full of drifters and struggling farmers fighting for their livelihoods in face of the Great Depression. All opinions are 100% mine and every book, unless otherwise noted, is handpicked by me to be featured on the site. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Life in an Indian boarding school wasnt just harsh, it was soul-crushing. The series is set mainly in Minnesota, USA. . I was horrified by ways the children were treated and how abusive the Lincoln School was. 1932, Minnesotathe Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. That is why I don't announce the cost of the project, as it will be done through an open tender," he explained. This Tender Land. Five motifs dominate this novel: the struggle with belief in God in the face of so much evil and pain in the world; the shameful legacy of mistreatment of Native Americans and disrespect for their culture by whites; the Great Depression of the 1930s and the evangelical response to it; and reflections of the main themes from both The Odyssey and The Wizard of Oz. If this sounds like a lot to pack into one story, it is, and moreover, there are other issues that receive cameos in the story. On a local farm this the Training part of his journey, trying find. 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Security features of the list focuses on Canada, the Indian residential school movement was very similar in Canada the! Movement was very similar in Canada and the United States ; t own motif which! Harsh, it was explained and tied up in the chest and the friends on... Lower and simmer for at least 30 minutes smile, he says, we are thankful their.