Medicine Walk

By: Richard Wagamese

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

By the celebrated author of Canada Reads Finalist Indian Horse, a stunning new novel that has all the timeless qualities of a classic, as it tells the universal story of a father/son struggle in a fresh, utterly memorable way, set in dramatic landscape of the BC Interior. For male and female listeners equally, for readers of Joseph Boyden, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas King, Russell Banks, and general literary.

Franklin Starlight is called to visit his father Eldon. He's 16 years old and has had the most fleeting of relationships with the man. The rare moments they've shared haunt and trouble Frank, but he answers the call, a son's duty to a father. He finds Eldon decimated after years of drinking, dying of liver failure in a small town flophouse. Eldon asks his son to take him into the mountains, so he may be buried in the traditional Ojibway manner.

What ensues is a journey through the rugged and beautiful backcountry, and a journey into the past, as the two men push forward to Eldon's end. From a poverty-stricken childhood, to the Korean War, and later the derelict houses of mill towns, Eldon relates both the desolate moments of his life and a time of redemption and love and in doing so offers Frank a history he has never known, the father he has never had, and a connection to himself he never expected.

A novel about love, friendship, courage, and the idea that the land has within it powers of healing, Medicine Walk reveals the ultimate goodness of its characters and offers a deeply moving and redemptive conclusion. Wagamese's writing soars and his insight and compassion are matched by his gift of communicating these to the listener.

©2014 Richard Wagamese (P)2015 Recorded Books

The raw honesty of this young man.

The inflection, by the reader,
Of the father’s voice,
The young man’s voice
and old man’s voice.

Thoughts

Touching story, old man and boy bring a bitter sweetness that winds about your heart, the father is a disappointment and someone that saddens, ending holds the gentleness of needed love.

Masterful

Mr. Wagamese is more than a story teller. His words have healing power. This book is another example of his gift that he generously shares. I finish this book starting his next one, What Comes From Spirit. Powerful narration adds to this experience.

I loved it.

Everything about his book is so heart warming. I had to read this book of my English class and this helped me zoom right through it. I love the narration, it was absolutely perfect. I am not the best reader but, this audio book helped me understand more than I needed. Thank you!

wonderful story

I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this book and the presentation. it took me to another place and my emotional reactions were deep. it reminded me that we can never guess another's personal journey and we should have patience and kindness rather than judgement.

An exquisite and haunting sadness

This is a life-changing book, written with honesty and courage. A native boy, raised with love and wisdom by his white stepfather, shares the last days of his birth father. The story of the father's life unfolds with the loss of mother and friend, followed by unexpressed grief and confusion, addiction, and shame, all woven throughout by the pen of Wagamese with the natural beauty of the mountains, and a deep love and understanding of the land.

One of the Best I Have Listened to in a Long Time

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a terrific book and the reader is outstanding. I was held spellbound for the entire journey.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Medicine Walk?

Franklin is a beautifully developed character, as are the rest of the interesting and compelling characters.

Have you listened to any of Tom Stechschulte’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is one of Tom's best performances. Having said that, however, he is ALWAYS a great reader.

Mesmerizing Narrative & Narration

This story is truly special and simply profound. Wagamese weaves a powerful story without any frills or verbosity, but full of easy grace and simple power. This story will leave you feeling healed, even if you weren’t aware you needed healing.

This was amazing!

This is one of the best stories I’ve heard in a long time. Powerful story about accepting people’s warts and all. You can’t go wrong with this one.

Sobering and sad.

Indian, Native American, Indigenous Peoples- whatever title is most appropriate- their stories are finally being told. The nagging question of “who am I” is especially poignant and troublesome in communities whose ancestors were driven from their homes, leaving the setting of the past and settling down in a dismal future. Alcohol is the drug of choice to mitigate the sense of loss that cannot be understood by anyone outside the reservations.

This story takes a teenager with a strong work ethic and an interest in his maternal heritage. Raised as a “half breed” (awful word) by a man not his father, Frank must accompany his deadbeat dad on a final journey. Frank’s father was dying young, the result of hard living and hard drinking. His last wish is to be buried like the warrior he wanted to be, but never was. Along the way, Frank finally learns the truth about his own life and history.

All the characters are sympathetic and the reader is left with a real sense of just how damaging the resettlement of the Native Americans was, not just for those who walked the Trails of tears, but for whole generations that followed.