Josh Robert

This novel is a glorious story of a man that can not accept the change in the world, and can only truly love the place that he lives in. Sharon's deeply whimsical and moving descriptions of the endless prairie is one of the drawing points of this gratuitously long novel. But her beautiful writing style does not overpower the unnecessary abundance of characters that serve no point for Andrew Samson's story and character, nor the horrendously slow and shallow third act, which seems to drag on for eternity. I feel like Butala needs to focus more on a condensed, focused narrative, rather than a egotistical man that spends 350 pages to realize that the prairie belongs to nothing but the prairie itself. This book has its ups and downs. But Sharon needs to go back to the drawing board, and experiment with more likable characters, and a more focused / interesting narrative. Characters and Narrative make everything. Having your Characters and Narrative rely on a Barren Saskatchewan prairie is a big no-no.