THREE DAY ROAD by Joseph Boyden

Note: I am not a paid reviewer, and I have purchased this title to read for my personal enjoyment.

Xavier returns to Canada from WW1 morphine-addicted and having lost a leg in battle, seemingly on his ‘three day road’ to death. In this unique tale, auntie Niska paddles him home deep into the bush, while trying to heal him. She recounts for the ailing Xavier the ways of the Crees who resisted the wemistikoshiw (white man) world, bringing to mind The Last of the Mohicans, and the mystic power their family has. A dual narrative of Xavier’s account of his battle exploits with his best friend Elijah Whiskeyjack unfolds into the grittiest account of WW1 trench action I’ve read, other than in autobiographical diaries. We are with Xavier and Elijah as they leave the familiar bush to join up, initially forming a tight unit against the unknowns and racism of the wemistikoshiw army, and finding their place as a successful and respected scout and sniper team. But they diverge as Elijah relishes the hunts and kills, and Xavier finds himself a reluctant participant. Honor, natural beauty and dignity of the bush contrasts sharply with raw battle scenes, and the sometimes soul-less behavior that war begets, until the mysticism Niska speaks of enters the fray.