The Lesser Blessed
The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp, published by Douglas & McIntyre in 2004, is a literary work that offers a fresh and humorous perspective on growing up as a Native individual in the North. This edition spans 119 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Larry, a Dogrib Indian in the small town of Fort Simmer, as he navigates the complexities of adolescence, including his love for music, his relationships, and the challenges posed by his past.
Readers will encounter a unique coming-of-age story that blends humor with poignant moments. Larry’s experiences are marked by both bravado and vulnerability as he confronts his memories and looks toward the future, particularly through his friendship with Johnny, a newcomer from Hay River. The book explores themes relevant to young Native men, including cultural identity and personal growth, set against the backdrop of contemporary issues such as disillusionment and societal challenges.
Official synopsis Publisher
A fresh, funny look at growing up Native in the North, by award-winning author Richard Van Camp.
Larry is a Dogrib Indian growing up in the small northern town of Fort Simmer. His tongue, his hallucinations and his fantasies are hotter than the sun. At sixteen, he loves Iron Maiden, the North and Juliet Hope, the high school “tramp.” When Johnny Beck, a Metis from Hay River, moves to town, Larry is ready for almost anything.
In this powerful and often very funny first novel, Richard Van Camp gives us one of the most original teenage characters in fiction. Skinny as spaghetti, nervy and self-deprecating, Larry is an appealing mixture of bravado and vulnerability. His past holds many terrors: an abusive father, blackouts from sniffing gasoline, an accident that killed several of his cousins. But through his friendship with Johnny, he’s ready now to face his memories–and his future.
Marking the debut of an exciting new writer, The Lesser Blessed is an eye-opening depiction of what it is to be a young Native man in the age of AIDS, disillusionment with Catholicism and a growing world consciousness.
A coming-of-age story that any fan of The Catcher in the Rye will enjoy.
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