The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Title: Theory of Crows
Author: David Alexander Robertson
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: September 13, 2022
Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
T H R E E • W O R D S
Multilayered • Atmospheric • Fierce
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Matthew, has dealt with anxiety his entire life. Recently, his wife Claire, and daughter Hallelujah (Holly), have noticed he had been drifting farther away. In fact, Holly has completely stopped talking to him. Matthew, aware of the fractured relationship wants to bridge the gap, but has no idea where to even begin.
In the wake of a family tragedy, Matthew and Holly journey together onto the land in search of a long-lost cabin on the family trapline. Yet they are both searching for something so much bigger. When things go array, they must learn to depend on each other, something that will ultimately bring them together.
A powerful story of love and loss, of healing and belonging, and of self-discovery and coming-of-age.
💠T H O U G H T S
The gorgeous cover caught my eye and, of course, I immediately added it to my TBR. When I read the premise Theory of Crows became one of my most-anticipated releases of 2022. And it did not disappoint!
What a beautiful exploration of the power of story, reflection and reconnection with the land, and familial bonds (even in death)! This novel blends Indigenous culture with an emotional journey between a father and a daughter. Matthew's letters between chapters added another layer to the story. These gave a greater insight into his thoughts, his struggles and his regrets.
The author takes a reflective approach with the writing, using beautiful imagery, and transporting me directly into the story. I could feel their pain, their struggles, their heartbreaks. I thought it was a beautiful portrait of healing, and the mental health representation came across as being very genuine, which I appreciated.
My one wish... I wanted more of Matthew and Holly's time on the land. Their journey was my favourite portion, so I was a tad disappointed that it took so long to get there. I was expecting their journey to be the main focus, but there was way more build up than anything.
Theory of Crows is one of those stories I felt inside my bones. It made me reflect on not taking life for granted, and making time for the ones we love. I hope David Alexander Robertson writes more adult fiction, because I'll be keeping my eyes out. I don't say this often, but I can see myself picking this one up for a re-read. Do yourself a favourite and pick this one up!
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like father/daughter stories
• anyone looking to expand their knowledge of Indigenous culture
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"People talk so much but say so little."Â
Author: David Alexander Robertson
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: September 13, 2022
Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
T H R E E • W O R D S
Multilayered • Atmospheric • Fierce
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Matthew, has dealt with anxiety his entire life. Recently, his wife Claire, and daughter Hallelujah (Holly), have noticed he had been drifting farther away. In fact, Holly has completely stopped talking to him. Matthew, aware of the fractured relationship wants to bridge the gap, but has no idea where to even begin.
In the wake of a family tragedy, Matthew and Holly journey together onto the land in search of a long-lost cabin on the family trapline. Yet they are both searching for something so much bigger. When things go array, they must learn to depend on each other, something that will ultimately bring them together.
A powerful story of love and loss, of healing and belonging, and of self-discovery and coming-of-age.
💠T H O U G H T S
The gorgeous cover caught my eye and, of course, I immediately added it to my TBR. When I read the premise Theory of Crows became one of my most-anticipated releases of 2022. And it did not disappoint!
What a beautiful exploration of the power of story, reflection and reconnection with the land, and familial bonds (even in death)! This novel blends Indigenous culture with an emotional journey between a father and a daughter. Matthew's letters between chapters added another layer to the story. These gave a greater insight into his thoughts, his struggles and his regrets.
The author takes a reflective approach with the writing, using beautiful imagery, and transporting me directly into the story. I could feel their pain, their struggles, their heartbreaks. I thought it was a beautiful portrait of healing, and the mental health representation came across as being very genuine, which I appreciated.
My one wish... I wanted more of Matthew and Holly's time on the land. Their journey was my favourite portion, so I was a tad disappointed that it took so long to get there. I was expecting their journey to be the main focus, but there was way more build up than anything.
Theory of Crows is one of those stories I felt inside my bones. It made me reflect on not taking life for granted, and making time for the ones we love. I hope David Alexander Robertson writes more adult fiction, because I'll be keeping my eyes out. I don't say this often, but I can see myself picking this one up for a re-read. Do yourself a favourite and pick this one up!
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like father/daughter stories
• anyone looking to expand their knowledge of Indigenous culture
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"People talk so much but say so little."Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death, Drug use, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Infidelity
depression, anxietyfromjuliereads's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
**Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
I cannot speak to the Indigenous representation in this novel, and highly recommend reading reviews from Indigenous reviewers.
This book covers many difficult topics and important themes in a way that is reflective, inspiring, and beautifully integrates Indigenous culture. The story centers on a parent-child relationship - more than one in fact - with both grief and mental health being large themes throughout the book. The story is real and raw, and even though it is sad and frustrating to see these characters going through these things, there is ultimately something inspiring from the arc of the story and the characters relationships.
I really liked the letters that are included between chapters as an extra insight into the character of Matthew, his struggles, and his internal thoughts and feelings. It helped you connect more to his character. While Holly is a frustrating teenager, the growth that she has throughout the novel in her relationship with the people and world around her makes the reader reflect as well.
While I truly did like the character and stories, there were a few things that made it harder for me personally to rate this book higher. One of these has to do with a trigger, so please read below carefully.
I cannot speak to the Indigenous representation in this novel, and highly recommend reading reviews from Indigenous reviewers.
This book covers many difficult topics and important themes in a way that is reflective, inspiring, and beautifully integrates Indigenous culture. The story centers on a parent-child relationship - more than one in fact - with both grief and mental health being large themes throughout the book. The story is real and raw, and even though it is sad and frustrating to see these characters going through these things, there is ultimately something inspiring from the arc of the story and the characters relationships.
I really liked the letters that are included between chapters as an extra insight into the character of Matthew, his struggles, and his internal thoughts and feelings. It helped you connect more to his character. While Holly is a frustrating teenager, the growth that she has throughout the novel in her relationship with the people and world around her makes the reader reflect as well.
While I truly did like the character and stories, there were a few things that made it harder for me personally to rate this book higher. One of these has to do with a trigger, so please read below carefully.
- TW: DRUG ABUSE - I had a really hard time with the drug abuse that Holly's character did. There are a couple scenes where she steals pills from her father and takes them, even taking more than she probably should, and multiple scenes where she wishes for more pills or that she could take them. I can understand why this was included to an extent. However, I think the story could have been just as compelling and well-done without this addition. It almost felt unnecessary to the story, and I honestly felt uncomfortable reading the scenes about a teenager abusing prescription drugs multiple times...
- The book is pitched as a father and daughter coming together over the land to work on their strained relationship. This was only for about the last third of the book. I was surprised how small of a section of the book this was based on the pitch I had read for it. Because I had gone in thinking this was the larger bulk of the book, the plot really bogged down in the middle for me when we still hadn't gotten to the characters going to find the trapline. I don't think this is anything against the book - I think this is more for the pitch/synopsis that I had encountered giving me some false expectations that I held onto.
I did really like all of the discussions of grief and mental health. I think they are done really well in a way that highlights how real and devastating both can be to people's lives, and how people cope, medicate, hide, get through, etc. Both grief and mental health were incredibly integral to the story and the characters' growth.
Tread lightly with the trigger warnings going into this read, but it is a very important and poignant read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, and Self harm
Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Alcohol, Blood, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
Mentions of residential schools
More...