Feldman's Faves: May 3, 2021

Happy Monday everyone. I hope you had a nice weekend and were able to get outside in a safe and socially distant way (such a strange term, that has become so normal, I know). Thanks again to Christina and Duncan for your stellar hosting skills on Friday – you were great.

This week’s recommendations are once again completely unconnected theme-wise.

INDIAN HORSE By: Richard Wagamese – My daughter Noa is in Grade 9 and her studies include a section called ICE (the Integrated Canadian Experience). As part of the ICE Program students in her grade are taking a deep dive into the history of residential schools in Canada. One of the ways to learn about this very important aspect of our history is through literature and Indian Horse is the quintessential novel depicting this story. The story’s protagonist is Saul Indian Horse who survives his experience in a residential school to become a star hockey player. The story starts with Saul and his family living deep in the woods to ensure they are out of sight of the authorities whose objective it is to “rescue” these children (i.e., forcibly move them to residential schools), which happens eventually. At school, Saul witnesses a number of abuses. He becomes close with a priest who recognizes Saul’s talent as a hockey player and who helps him leave the school to play on an all-indigenous team (and living with a loving foster family) where he becomes a star and eventfully gets an opportunity to play for the Toronto Monarchs, a feeder team to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Throughout this process he experiences different attacks both physical and verbal. It is only later in the novel that we learn that his “relationship” at the residential school with his mentor was one of abuse. He struggles with poverty and alcoholism following the end of his hockey career, which seems to be a tragic fate for many of those who went through the residential school experience. The end is hopeful where he goes back to the town his foster home and starts a program of rehabilitation – how it ends the reader doesn’t know- it is not clear that he will get through it. The suffering and indignities suffered and the lasting consequences of this experience come out very strongly in this subtle but emotionally challenging novel. I certainly learned a lot but realize I have a lot more to learn about this part of our history. Here is a good plot summary for those of you who are interested - https://www.litcharts.com/lit/indian-horse/summary

Conan O’Brien Needs A Fan - The Student Has Become The Master – As many of you know I LOVE the PODCAST Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. I really do laugh out loud when listening to the embarrassment of my family. This “spin-off” has Conan interviewing his fans, who are themselves very funny. At the top of my bucket list is to one day be guest of Conan on this show, so if any of you have any connections please tap into them ASAP, I will be forever grateful….. Here is the summary from the PODCAST itself: Conan talks with Merin from Mexico City about the best places to go sightseeing. Then he gives advice on a pastor’s sock puppet problem while speaking with Ricky from El Paso. Wanna get a chance to talk to Conan? Submit here: TeamCoco.com/CallCona: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/conan-obrien-needs-a-friend/id1438054347?i=1000518144999

Thank you for your ongoing participation.

And remember to stay safe, stay healthy and to docket daily.

Jon