Reviews

The Right To Be Cold: One Woman's Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic and the Whole Planet by Sheila Watt-Cloutier

gray_birch's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

amiascah's review against another edition

slow-paced

1.0

I love this subject matter, I loved the back story and where the message was coming from, I just did not connect with the delivery. I felt like a lot of name dropping, a lot of repetition of names, places, acronyms. I was very tedious, dry, nothing really compelling to draw me and engage me. I shouldn't say nothing, every couple pages there would a paragraph that would draw me in, not always in a positive way though. I wanted to like and enjoy this book, unfortunately I just didn't.

lsparrow's review

4.0

I always feel a good book is one that makes you want to read another one- this definitely fits the bill. I love her couragous and non shaming yet clear voice. it made me realize again how little I know about the inuit people of canada and want to learn more. it was also great to get an insider look into international human rights and environmental politics.

trid1977's review

I really wanted to finish this book. The topic of how climate change is affecting the Arctic (and the entire planet) is important one.
This book details meeting after meeting of multiple groups. I lost track of each group's acronyms and who they were.
The irony of my frustration with these details mirroring the frustration of these groups to get the Southern peoples to listen, is not lost on me.

One section that I'm certain will stick with me explained how the snow and ice are different now.

This book also directed me to a couple of documentaries. "Qimmit: a clash of two truths" in particular, which I highly recommend. I found it at my local Library.

smalltownbookmom's review

4.0

Really enjoyed this book - especially after having recently read Silent Spring. The author emphasizes just how much climate change and the highly dangerous effect persistent organic pollutants have on the Arctic communities/ecosystem. It's very impressive how much she's devoted her life to fight for the rights of the people and environment in the Arctic. This is definitely a book all Canadians (really everyone) should be reading. So inspiring. Maybe you new pick for Canada reads 2017.

christajls's review

4.0

This is a must read - I think this should have won Canada Reads this year (even though Fifteen Dogs is amazing too)

snickies's review

3.0

This is a very important book to read if you can get past the large amount of agency acronyms.

amn028's review

3.0

The book is an interesting mix of climate change, Inuit culture and Canadian history. I did struggle to keep focused at times as some sections seem to be more about who she met and worked with. Her life growing up and how those moments shaped her into becoming an activist for her community was the part I found most engaging.

osteoknits's review

4.0

This book is so important right now. I have been aware of the impact of climate change but this really brought it home. I also loved the glimpse into the lives and traditions of the Inuit people.
Unfortunately some parts of the book are bogged down with excessive names and acronyms and organizations and talk about this meeting and that convention. The overall picture is worth it though.

vickie101101's review

2.0

I did not enjoy this book. It felt like after every chapter was finished it could have easily been the end of the book. This book lacked a seamless flow that the best books have between chapters. Watt-Cloutier, makes a great argument about the lack of resources for the Inuit, yet drones on in certain parts of the book. The droning really took away from the powerful message that she was trying to get across. I would not recommend reading this book, but I do recommend getting educated on the issues that the Inuit have and are facing.