Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative (The CBC Massey Lectures)

Top positive review

Comparison of 'real' Native Indians versus 'fictional' Native Indians found in literature & movies.

Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2021

An intriguing book, comparing how we imagine the Native Indians of North America and Canada, based on romantic historic and contemporary TV and movies, media, and literature, versus the reality. Thomas King is an erudite and entertaining writer. Not too preachy, but laying out the facts in ways that keep you interested and wanting to know more. I've read one of his novels, 'Indians on Vacation', which is both funny and soul searching, about a trip he and his wife took to Prague.

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Christopher Willard

The Story about his story

Reviewed in Canada on September 21, 2008

While at the U of A recently I saw that at least three classes were using this text and it sparked me to read it. Now my question is WHY are they using it? Basically the book is a rambling, mediocre account of the author's upbringing. It feels unstructured, like some old guy forcing you to "visit" while he retells for the umpteenth time the way he did this or that. Each story begins with a Native Canadian creation story, which repeated begins to get really annoying. Oh wait, do we tell stories over and over because our retelling makes them more meaningful? I bet it does for the author. The main message here is probably, write what you know. In who you are lies whatever truth you want to find. Further, the "truth" of a story...well, how pretentious and perhaps downright incorrect in a post deconstructive era. Nobody believes in this sort of truth any more and even personal identity is up for grabs.

Trust me, it's not even this deep. Like I said it's rambling. Most disappointing was this truth: the book is not about writing or how to write. Students who look to it for that sort of theme will be mad. Try John Gardner's On Becoming a Novelist for a much better written book on the subject.

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From Canada

Wibbleguy

Comparison of 'real' Native Indians versus 'fictional' Native Indians found in literature & movies.

Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2021

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One person found this helpful

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mcG

Excellent Book

Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2018

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This was an eye opening book to the complex worldview of aboriginal people in Canada. Canadians are known for being relatively meek, but there is a dark side to Canadian history in residential schools and our systemic treatment of our First Nations as a "problem" to be solved. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to understand their own biases more, both as Non-First Nations and First Nations people.

2 people found this helpful

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elchallah

Absolutely love it!

Reviewed in Canada on January 31, 2022

Verified Purchase

VERY Little do we know about the indigenous groups around the world.
Great book to read, highly recommend! Gives you a whole new perspective on Natives in North America.
Listen to the CBC Massey Lectures after reading to hear the stories in the writers own voice, to compare what you thought on your own and what you think after hearing the stories from him.

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SSH

Stories can be wonderful or dangerous

Reviewed in Canada on November 21, 2020

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I hadn't read any of Thomas King's books before and did this as part of a school book club. I found it to be very interesting and accessible. I learned about some things that gave me a very strong emotional response. Some of his ideas felt very powerful to me like stories can be wonderful or dangerous, once they're told they can't be taken back, and now that you've heard it it's up to you what to do with it. It made me think a lot and rethink what I know. I'm recommending this book to family and friends. I hope you enjoy it too.

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Gwendolyn

and it was really good! King writes in a very personable way

Reviewed in Canada on March 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

Bought it for a class on Indigenous thought and knowledge, and it was really good! King writes in a very personable way, the stories he tells are both personal and cultural, based on a series of lectures he gave. This is definitely an eye-opener. It is definitely something that doesn't offer you a definitive answer, but leaves you thinking with questions moving forward. I believe it arrived fairly quickly, as I had it in time for my class. I think it arrived before the other book for the same class. In perfect condition. Thank you.

One person found this helpful

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Robert "Robbie" Walker

Essential reading.

Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2020

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Because of recent events regarding racism and policing, I have committed myself to antiracism. If, like me, you’re looking for a way in to learning about indigenous issues on Turtle Island, storyteller and scholar Thomas King is a good place to start.

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Amazon Customer

Excellent writing

Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2022

Verified Purchase

Very well written, ideas (stories) shine through with a good enlightenment. In my opinion his second best book.

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Tecekelly

All settlers on Turtle Island need Tom King's messages

Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2019

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Powerful and essential messages given through plain and lyrical language and humour. Supports those making efforts to decolonize education, workplaces, life in North America.

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Diane Taylor

Read this book and be awakened.

Reviewed in Canada on February 7, 2014

Verified Purchase

This book is amazing, beautiful, shocking, humorous, smart, tough, gentle. Anyone interested in Native North Americans would find much to learn here. With an unusual lyrical style, Thomas King makes us think. He shows us the stereotypes. He will leave a big hole when he retires from teaching Native Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Guelph. I have read this book three times and each time come away refreshed and awakened.

3 people found this helpful

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Nana Aba

The truth About Stories: A Native Narrative

Reviewed in Canada on October 5, 2013

Verified Purchase

Oral history is a real treasure in all aboriginal cultures and North American natives are no exception to this. Dr King just shed a bright light on the value of our stories, whether they are written of orally delivered.
JP

2 people found this helpful

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The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative (The CBC Massey Lectures)

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The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative (The CBC Massey Lectures)

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