A review by katherineharnisch
Winter in the Blood by James Welch

emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

 

This book was so hard to put down! It follows the life of a Native American man living in Montana, and explores his ties to different characters, places, and objects. The time moves between his teenage years and his adult years, portraying how things change as they stay the same. At times it was difficult to keep the two storylines separate, emphasizing how the past stays with the main character. 

 

James Welch’s descriptions are done so well I found myself stopping to admire his writing while taking in the narrative. This was especially clear in the memory sections, when his descriptions created this somewhat hazy ambiance. There was such distance in these scenes—as they were memories—but Welch somehow created such suspense that I felt compelled to continue reading. 

 

The emotions throughout this book were so strong, I felt as if I were feeling exactly the way the main character felt. In the last scene with Yellow Calf, I felt the relief and understanding when he laughed through tears, realizing this was a reclaimed piece of himself. Oh, and when we found out about what happened to his knee? His knee was irreparably wounded, but so was his family. So was his life. 

 

This story will haunt me for some time. 10/10.