Winter in the Blood by James Welch
I recently learned about James Welch and found this
book at my library. This was the first book by James Welch that I read, and I
absolutely loved this book. It’s a novel about identity, belonging (or its
inverse, alienation), and trying to find a purpose and place in society. For
the main character in this story (who is unnamed), those themes are complicated
by his Indian identity, belonging to different tribes and also being torn
between the countryside where his family lives and the city, where his friends
and ex-girlfriend, who has taken some of his possessions, returns to. Winter
in the Blood doesn’t have too much action in related to the main quest—the
narrator’s desire to retrieve his stolen items. He goes to the city, trying to
retrieve his stuff, only to encounter obstacles, strange people, and drinking.
While it doesn’t seem like much happens, I loved the kind of aimless wandering
and strangers he encounters on his quest. I also love the dichotomy between the
city and countryside, especially when he meets with the old man towards the end
of the book. There’s a kind of quiet desperation in his quest that’s never
really resolved, but also contrasted with some of the other characters that he
encounters in the novel (like the Airplane man). This was such a great book,
and I’m excited that there is a film about this. I’m not sure how good it is or
how much it captures the kind of quiet uncertainty of early adulthood and
trying to find one’s identity, but I am looking forward to seeing it.
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