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Medicine Walk

Richard Wagamese's novel is about a dying man trying to reconnect with his estranged son.

Richard Wagamese

CBC Books · CBC News ·

In Richard Wagamese's novel, Medicine Walk, a father and son attempt to reconnect as they travel through the backwoods of British Columbia. Eldon Starlight, a Korean War vet estranged from his 16-year-old son, Franklin, is dying. He seeks out Franklin to take him to the mountains, so the can be buried sitting up and facing east, in the Ojibway warrior way.

Medicine Walk is a touching story about relationships, reconciliation, hope and heartbreak.

Read an excerpt | Author interviews | More about this book

From the book

He walked the old mare out of the pen and led her to the gate that opened out into the field. There was a frost from the night before, and they left tracks behind them. He looped the rope around the middle rail of the fence and turned to walk back to the barn for the blanket and saddle. The tracks looked like inkblots in the seeping melt, and he stood for a moment and tried to imagine the scenes they held. He wasn't much of a dreamer though he liked to play at it now and then. But he could only see the limp grass and mud of the field and he shook his head at the folly and crossed the pen and strode through the open black maw of the barn door.

From Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese © 2014. Published by McClelland & Stewart, a division of Random House, LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.

Author interviews

Daybreak Kamloops6:24Richard Wagamese on Medicine Walk
Medicine Walk is the title of Richard Wagamese's latest novel. It's a tale about a journey and about abscent fathers.
The Candy Palmater Show13:07How a library helped Richard Wagamese become a writer
Richard Wagamese has had a successful career as a journalist and author. His books have earned him accolades across Canada. But he may never have become a writer, were it not for the kindness of a group of librarians in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Daybreak Kamloops3:01Richard Wagamese reading from Medicine Walk
Richard Wagamese reading from Medicine Walk

More about this book

Afternoon Drive13:57The Bridge Book Panel - Medicine Walk
The Bridge's Book Panel drops by this afternoon to review Richard Wagamese's Novel, Medicine Walk.

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