Wrist

by Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler

Church watched the blood drip down the wall like droplets of rain sliding down a window pane. He didn't have time to watch the new paint dry though, he needed to go. No time to sample the flavour, like strawberry syrup on an ice-cream sundae. He had the crazy urge to lick the wall, sliding the bristles of his tongue along the dimples in the plaster. But he restrained himself. He was always restraining himself, restraining himself from temptation. This battle was nothing new. Just another day in the life ...

Who thought these kinds of things? Why was he always plagued with these thoughts? Church knew why, but he could never bring himself to believe, to truly accept.

Set in the fictional town of Sterling and Ghost Lake Reserve, Wrist is Nathan Adler’s debut novel that fuses a traditional horror writing style with Indigenous monsters.

Genres: Indigenous, Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Canada

435 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Nathan Adler is the author of Wrist and Ghost Lake (Kegedonce Press), and co-editor of Bawaajigan ~ Stories of Power (Exile Editions), he has an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC, is a first-place winner of the Aboriginal Writing Challenge, and a recipient of a Hnatyshyn Reveal award for Literature. He is Jewish and Anishinaabe, and a member of Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation.

Reviews

[Barbara McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I liked a lot about this book, where to start? You have a storyline from the present(ish) and one from the 1800s in alternating chapters. They are both full of intrigue and quite a lot of action.

The wiindigo and family related to them (it's as wild as it sounds!) are mysterious and intimidating if not outright scary. I love the potrayal of family and their connections to their roots, language, and nature. I liked how the author simply but impactfully incorporated intergenerational trauma from colonialism and the residential school system.

I liked the LGBTQ representation in the book. Keep in mind I am not an expert as a cis het woman but I thought it was pretty well done.

Did I mention there are also vampires? Yeah, it sucks you in. So why only 3.5 stars? I feel bad because I like this author and would like to see more of his work but there are lots of editing problems in the book. Not just typos either, it was messy at times and needed reining in? It just added up. Still, if you love the premise I say pick it up.

[Cassy · Rating 4 out of 5]

How delightful! I love horror, I’m fascinated by Indigenous stories, and I like I smattering of romance sprinkled in.

It was a slow build, but the last third really is enthralling. A sense of unease is pervasive throughout the entire novel. So many fascinating descriptions. The juxtaposition of Church’s narrative and the account of the white explorer in the eighteen-hundreds contributes to the mystery and the convergence of the horror.

A bit rough around the edges, but I really like this novel.

[Brenna]

Review forthcoming in EVENT Magazine.

[Books4Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook version of this book is done excellently! The different narrative helps to breakup the past and present telling of each aspect of the story. Very interesting, and disturbing, concept of the descendants of the Windigo! I really got caught up in the emotional struggles going on with the characters. This is definitely a horror story for Modern times.

This is an independent, honest review based on an audiobook ARC provided by Netgalley

[DocGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part of the sub-genre of cannibalistic horror, but told through indigenous stories and mixed with real life.
TBH, I found the first part tedious to read, as it didn't make a lot of sense, but keep going and it definitely becomes much more interesting.
Basically, a disease like vampirism comes around again in a community, and the book is about its consequences and how the community deals with them
Not too much gore, and a lot of family angst.

[Chris Kuriata · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of WRIST goes back-and-forth between two different time periods. It is filled with incidents both upsetting and unfair. So many details are forever stuck in my memory; the idea of starvation as a sort of self-cannibalism is compelling and unsettling. Wrist is one of the more memorable horror novels I've read in awhile, so I'm keeping my copy on the shelf, awaiting its eventual re-read.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took a bit to get into, but I loved it!

[Ellamenohpee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this book had great potential but needed an editor to help keep the writer on track. I was increasingly disappointed after such a chilling opening.

[Danielle Sheahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, eerie, profound. I have never read anything like this. Yes, it would benefit from some editing, but the overall premise of this book really moved me.

[Niki Block · Rating 4 out of 5]

So dark.

[Erin Bookishness · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been so good if it only had an editor. The characters were great, but over all it’s very slow paced and there are literally paragraphs repeated word for word chapters apart.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A queer wiindigo coming-of-age novel is something I would have always wanted if I ever thought to want it. And "Wrist" offers more than this, as the story weaves historical fiction, narratives of intergenerational trauma, and even scientific and linguistic factoids to comprise its whole. A metaphor in structure, perhaps, for the all-consuming nature of the mythos at its centre?

The lack of a solid editor is glaring, with an unfortunate degree of grammatic and typographic errors throughout. It's sad to think what more could have been wrung from the narrative had Adler had the benefit of a more critical eye to challenge him in developing his prose, but the enjoyment I found in spite of a better editor - giddily reading it over five nights of insomnia, when the mind is more easily bored than engaged - means I maintain giving the book a 4-star rating.

The characters are complex and even enchanting, the world is marinated in cultural history - from Anishinaabe customs and mythology to contemporary pop culture - and the story flows along a strong narrative current. Despite its technical faults, "Wrist" is an exciting debut novel which can only promise more unexpected, thrilling fiction to come.

[Adam Cormier · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting anthology of Indigenous dreams/stories. Light in some spots, very heavy in others. I would suggest being in a good mental space when reading this book as some of the recounts can be upsetting (topics include substance abuse, sexual abuse and other trauma from residential school stays). It was an informing read, but not the lightest so be prepared to feel the emotions of the writers. Particularly, 'Melinda Irene and Madame Bouve' and 'Ghost Walk' struck a chord with me

[Brian Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sobering anthology from First Nations writers playing on the theme of dreams. Many of the stories blur the lines on what's a nightmare or what is fantasy, but the element surreal is refreshing and memorable. There are not enough paeans for First Nations writers, or for those who delicately place their protagonists on the threshold of human horrors.

[Yani G · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I want to support Native/First Nations authors, it's hard for me to read depressing stories. Most of these stories were extremely depressing for me. I don't know if it's because I'm a Native person or not, but it was not really for me.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the stories were good. One or two were a bit weird. Overall a good read.