A Minor Chorus

4.5 



Literary fiction following an anonymous queer indigenous college student. Lonely and unhappy, he struggles to finish his dissertation, and tries to rekindle his intellectual passion with a project to write his first book by collecting thoughts of people back in the Canadian province of his youth. 

This very short novel read very much like a memoir or an autobiography as in sometimes the words on the page could have very well be that of the narrator or the main character, each phrase felt like an echo or a mirror of what the other felt. That was particularly amplified by the gorgeously dense, often philosophical prose. 
The author discusses the queer and indigenous identities throughout little vignettes showing a diversity of experiences : the self reflection and memories of the main character is enriched by the interviews he does of acquaintances who voice their feelings as individuals within the indigenous and queer communities. This central theme is accompanied by a questioning on the medium of writing as a difficult undertaking but also as liberating tool, bringing to light communal voices whether they are indigenous, queer or both. Forgiveness, (founded and blood) family, motherhood, intergenerational trauma, systemic racism, returning to our roots are other themes touched upon in this novel. 

A truly enriching and eye opening read.