- Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
- Publisher: New Canadian Library; Reissue edition (Nov 1 1991)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0771098790
- ISBN-13: 978-0771098796
- Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 0.9 x 17.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 100 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #551,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Product Description
Set against the austere landscape of northern Labrador, Windflower is the poignant story of Elsa Kumachuk, a young Inuit woman torn between two worlds by the birth of her blond-haired, blue-eyed son. Unacknowledged by his father, an American GI, the child is welcomed into the Inuit community with astonishment and delight. Elsa, however, must come to terms with the conflicting values implied by her son’s dual heritage.
Gabrielle Roy’s last novel, Windflower is both a moving account of one woman’s tragic dilemma and a sensitive portrait of a society in transition.
Gabrielle Roy’s last novel, Windflower is both a moving account of one woman’s tragic dilemma and a sensitive portrait of a society in transition.
About the Author
Gabrielle Roy was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, in 1909. Her parents were part of the large Quebec emigration to western Canada in the late nineteenth century. The youngest of eight children, she studied in a convent school for twelve years, then taught school herself, first in isolated Manitoba villages and later in St. Boniface.
In 1937 Roy travelled to Europe to study drama, and during two years spent in London and Paris she began her writing career. The approaching war forced her to return to Canada, and she settled in Montreal.
Roy’s first novel, The Tin Flute, ushered in a new era of realism in Quebec fiction with its compassionate depiction of a working-class family in Montreal’s Saint-Henri district. Her later fiction often turned for its inspiration to the Manitoba of her childhood and her teaching career.
In 1947 Roy married Dr. Marcel Carbotte, and after a few years in France, they settled in Quebec City, which was to remain their home. Roy complemented her fiction with essays, reflective recollections, and three children’s books. Her many honours include three Governor General’s Awards, France’s Prix Fémina, and Quebec’s Prix David.
Gabrielle Roy died in Quebec City, Quebec, in 1983.
In 1937 Roy travelled to Europe to study drama, and during two years spent in London and Paris she began her writing career. The approaching war forced her to return to Canada, and she settled in Montreal.
Roy’s first novel, The Tin Flute, ushered in a new era of realism in Quebec fiction with its compassionate depiction of a working-class family in Montreal’s Saint-Henri district. Her later fiction often turned for its inspiration to the Manitoba of her childhood and her teaching career.
In 1947 Roy married Dr. Marcel Carbotte, and after a few years in France, they settled in Quebec City, which was to remain their home. Roy complemented her fiction with essays, reflective recollections, and three children’s books. Her many honours include three Governor General’s Awards, France’s Prix Fémina, and Quebec’s Prix David.
Gabrielle Roy died in Quebec City, Quebec, in 1983.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Windflower,
By Catherine (Chisasibi, Quebec Can) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Windflower (Mass Market Paperback)
Gabrielle Roy the author of the book called "Windflower" is an astonishing but violently and horrifying book about the problems which copes with the Inuit culture and the White dominant race. The American GI's who stationed in the Inuit landscape in northern Labrador during the Vietnam war. It is a novel with thoughtful characterizations, and Inuits have rich culture and hospitable land.Elsa, the main character who was teenager at that time, likes one of the GI's. In an unexpected situation, rape occurs. A child is born but his appearances seem to be different from the Inuit culture. The child looks like his father, although the mother of the child does not seem to remember what the GI looks like. She does not care about her heritage as a Inuit but wants to live differently. She wants her child to learn more about his father's society and culture. In the end Jimmy fore sakes his mother, his home land and it turned out to be true what Elsa wanted for her child to grow up like, to live like the White society. I would say that it is an excellent novel but I think that people are warned to be more careful which ideas to take because we never know where we will end up.
4.0 out of 5 stars
WindFlower,
By Carmelo Tropiano (Unionville, Ontario) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Windflower (Mass Market Paperback)
Gabrielle Roy paints a portrait of a culture that has been interfered with by the materialist culture of America. The White dominant race has infiltrated the Innuit landscape, and the effects are portrayed at times as having devastating consequences. It is a novel with thoughtful characterizations, and the Innuit are depicted as having a rich culture, which is creative, insightful, and hospitable. However, there is a horrifying context as well. Rape, incest, and abandonment are regular instances in a novel that leans toward a tragic representation of a culture that has been violated in every way. American GI's stationed in this northern landscape during the Vietnam war take liberty with the women of the Innuit culture. Elsa, the main character, is raped by one such GI, a child is born from their violative union. Jimmy, appears as the Saviour of the people. In the end, he tragically forsakes his mother, his homeland, and opts instead for the White culture which ironically forsook him. It is a novel that celebrates purity, and the indictment of the violation of this purity; whether the purity be of a moral, natural, or spiritual order. The violation of such purity is met with a gentle rebuke, but the lasting consequences are tragic, and melancholy. Elsa's eventual abandonment by her son, and the abandonment of herself substantiates this theme. An excellent novel, but be forewarned, the tragic representations leave an indelible impression that is very difficult to release.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
WindFlower,
By Carmelo Tropiano - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Windflower (Mass Market Paperback)
Gabrielle Roy paints a portrait of a culture that has been interfered with by the materialist culture of America. The White dominant race has infiltrated the Innuit landscape, and the effects are portrayed at times as having devastating consequences. It is a novel with thoughtful characterizations, and the Innuit are depicted as having a rich culture, which is creative, insightful, and hospitable. However, there is a horrifying context as well. Rape, incest, and abandonment are regular instances in a novel that leans toward a tragic representation of a culture that has been violated in every way. American GI's stationed in this northern landscape during the Vietnam war take liberty with the women of the Innuit culture. Elsa, the main character, is raped by one such GI, a child is born from their violative union. Jimmy, appears as the Saviour of the people. In the end, he tragically forsakes his mother, his homeland, and opts instead for the White culture which ironically forsook him. It is a novel that celebrates purity, and the indictment of the violation of this purity; whether the purity be of a moral, natural, or spiritual order. The violation of such purity is met with a gentle rebuke, but the lasting consequences are tragic, and melancholy. Elsa's eventual abandonment by her son, and the abandonment of herself substantiates this theme. An excellent novel, but be forewarned, the tragic representations leave an indelible impression that is very difficult to release.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Windflower,
By Catherine - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Windflower (Mass Market Paperback)
Gabrielle Roy the author of the book called "Windflower" is an astonishing but violently and horrifying book about the problems which copes with the Inuit culture and the White dominant race. The American GI's who stationed in the Inuit landscape in northern Labrador during the Vietnam war. It is a novel with thoughtful characterizations, and Inuits have rich culture and hospitable land.Elsa, the main character who was teenager at that time, likes one of the GI's. In an unexpected situation, rape occurs. A child is born but his appearances seem to be different from the Inuit culture. The child looks like his father, although the mother of the child does not seem to remember what the GI looks like. She does not care about her heritage as a Inuit but wants to live differently. She wants her child to learn more about his father's society and culture. In the end Jimmy fore sakes his mother, his home land and it turned out to be true what Elsa wanted for her child to grow up like, to live like the White society. I would say that it is an excellent novel but I think that people are warned to be more careful which ideas to take because we never know where we will end up. |
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