Medicine Walk

By: Richard Wagamese

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

By the celebrated author of Canada Reads Finalist Indian Horse, a stunning new novel that has all the timeless qualities of a classic, as it tells the universal story of a father/son struggle in a fresh, utterly memorable way, set in dramatic landscape of the BC Interior. For male and female listeners equally, for readers of Joseph Boyden, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas King, Russell Banks, and general literary.

Franklin Starlight is called to visit his father Eldon. He's 16 years old and has had the most fleeting of relationships with the man. The rare moments they've shared haunt and trouble Frank, but he answers the call, a son's duty to a father. He finds Eldon decimated after years of drinking, dying of liver failure in a small town flophouse. Eldon asks his son to take him into the mountains, so he may be buried in the traditional Ojibway manner.

What ensues is a journey through the rugged and beautiful backcountry, and a journey into the past, as the two men push forward to Eldon's 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. Wagamese's writing soars and his insight and compassion are matched by his gift of communicating these to the listener.

©2014 Richard Wagamese (P)2015 Recorded Books

The raw honesty of this young man.

The inflection, by the reader,
Of the father’s voice,
The young man’s voice
and old man’s voice.

Thoughts

Touching story, old man and boy bring a bitter sweetness that winds about your heart, the father is a disappointment and someone that saddens, ending holds the gentleness of needed love.

Masterful

Mr. Wagamese is more than a story teller. His words have healing power. This book is another example of his gift that he generously shares. I finish this book starting his next one, What Comes From Spirit. Powerful narration adds to this experience.

I loved it.

Everything about his book is so heart warming. I had to read this book of my English class and this helped me zoom right through it. I love the narration, it was absolutely perfect. I am not the best reader but, this audio book helped me understand more than I needed. Thank you!

wonderful story

I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this book and the presentation. it took me to another place and my emotional reactions were deep. it reminded me that we can never guess another's personal journey and we should have patience and kindness rather than judgement.

An exquisite and haunting sadness

This is a life-changing book, written with honesty and courage. A native boy, raised with love and wisdom by his white stepfather, shares the last days of his birth father. The story of the father's life unfolds with the loss of mother and friend, followed by unexpressed grief and confusion, addiction, and shame, all woven throughout by the pen of Wagamese with the natural beauty of the mountains, and a deep love and understanding of the land.

Thanks Richard Wagamese , your voice lives on

Beautiful descriptions of nature, the challenges of life and the power of story. A Canadian story. A universal story.

Mr. Wagamese is a wordsmith.

So well written. An amazing account of the struggles of a boy, his father and his dad. Loved it.

Awesome

I enjoyed this book immensely. Story was fantastic and narration spot on. I have recommended it to several people.

Among the finest books I've ever read.

Breath stopping writing. Characters so real that you can reach out and touch them. Characters you can really care about.