Starlight: A Novel

by Richard Wagamese

The final novel from Richard Wagamese—the bestselling and beloved author of Indian Horse and Medicine Walk—centres on an abused woman on the run who finds refuge on a farm owned by an Indigenous man with wounds of his own. A profoundly moving novel about the redemptive power of love, mercy, and compassion—and the land's ability to heal us.

Frank Starlight has long settled into a quiet life working his remote farm, but his contemplative existence comes to an abrupt end with the arrival of Emmy, who has committed a desperate act so she and her child can escape a harrowing life of violence. Starlight takes in Emmy and her daughter to help them get back on their feet, and this accidental family eventually grows into a real one. But Emmy's abusive ex isn't content to just let her go. He wants revenge and is determined to hunt her down.

Starlight was unfinished at the time of Richard Wagamese's death, yet every page radiates with his masterful storytelling, intense humanism, and insights that are as hard-earned as they are beautiful. With astonishing scenes set in the rugged backcountry of the BC Interior, and characters whose scars cut deep even as their journey toward healing and forgiveness lifts us, Starlight is a last gift to readers from a writer who believed in the power of stories to save us.

Genres: Fiction, Indigenous, Canada, Audiobook, Contemporary, Book Club, Literary Fiction

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2018

About the author

Richard Wagamese was one of Canada's foremost Native authors and storytellers. He worked as a professional writer since 1979. He was a newspaper columnist and reporter, radio and television broadcaster and producer, documentary producer and the author of twelve titles from major Canadian publishers.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this novel with some trepidation, knowing this unfinished sequel to Medicine Walk was the last work of Richard Wagamese. Would it be as profound as his completed and polished Indian Horse, Medicine Walk and Ragged Company? I need not have worried. There he was, right on every page. He writes characters with empathy, depth and humour. He writes of nature, setting, and the landscape of central British Columbia, with reverence. “I felt right out there. Free of measuring up, free of what other people thought I might have to be. It was wild but it had order, flow, rhythm. You could learn that if you were out there enough. I was. It hooked me then. It hooks me now. All I ever have of Indian comes from that alone time there. That land and this land is all the ceremony I ever felt a need for. Watching the sun come up and set on it became all the prayer I ever felt a need to say. This here is my history. This here is my home. It’s alive in me.” Starlight is a final gift from a singular author and a special man.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I doubt I have ever found so many beautiful passages in one place before. This final work by Richard Wagamese—it was left unfinished when he passed in 2017—is quite likely the most beautiful book I've ever had the pleasure to read. His editors, it seems, had a real conundrum. They could leave the book unpublished, or they could have another author complete it. Instead, they very thoughtfully poured through piles of notes and manuscripts, spoke with friends and family, and read through everything Wagamese had ever written until they felt with complete certainty they had the ending the author had intended. And even while editing Starlight, they would change nothing except to correct spelling errors and add missing punctuation. And even more, they studied his earlier works to be certain even the cadence of the writing was recognizable as his. They went to great lengths to establish that Starlight was 100% Richard Wagamese, to honour him as the icon he is in Canadian literature.

There's no doubt the writing in this book is beautiful but it's also an incredibly engaging story. I spent hours anguishing over what I imagined would come of the two main characters. But I'll say no more because I want to encourage you to read it for yourself. I promise you... it will be time very well-spent.🙏

[Cathrine ☯️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠
Despite friends who highly praised this book, I put off reading this last, unfinished novel by a favorite author because I feared lack of closure disappointment.
That did not happen. I loved it, every page. I was sad that it seemed to mirror Wagamese’s life, cut far too short at age 61. The publisher gives insight in the last pages of how it was probably supposed to wrap up and some additional information including an essay which gave satisfaction in spite of the story being incomplete.
This was a sequel to his wonderful Medicine Walk, taking up Frank Starlight’s story down the line a bit.

I wanted to know more about Wagamese and did some checking. I knew he had troubles in his life but was very shy on the details.
This link to a bio is worth reading if you’re a fan. It also caused a desire to get to some of his earlier work.
Such a loss of a great writer and special human being.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.c...

[Tara Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story begins in a small valley in British Columbia where native Frank Starlight immerses himself in the natural world and all things wild. It is exceptionally well written with heavy emphasis on " the land." Mr. Wagamese passed away before finishing and, fortunately I believe, no one attempted to write his conclusion. However, from his notes we are told of his intention as to what would transpire. Please don't hesitate to read due to this factor as it truly is an exceptional piece of work.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"From the beloved, bestselling author of INDIAN HORSE and MEDICINE WALK, Richard Wagamese's final novel is a rapturous and profoundly moving story of love, compassion, mercy, and the consolations to be found in the natural world." - Quote from front book flap

I love Richard Wagamese's beautiful descriptive writing. The following quote from page 127 of STARLIGHT takes me back in memory to a breathtaking trail ride in the foothills and mountains of Western Canada in the 1990's.

"They all took some water and remounted, and he led them along a twisting path running roughly parallel to the edge of the cliff. The intermittent bursts of view were jaw-dropping. There seemed no separation between land and the oceanic sweep of blue and cloud. The trail dipped, revealing sudden mercury pots of lakes and the sleek turquoise sheen of creeks and rivers rimmed by an undulant carpet of trees. When the trail snaked back closer to the edge of the plummet they were hung suspended over a valley with beaver ponds humped up behind the snarl of trees and rocks and mud that formed their dams. The grass there seemed lush and full and rich. They walked the horses down and when they broke from the trees it was to step out into that long valley."

Richard Wagamese, an Ojibway from the Wabaseemoong First Nation in northwestern Ontario, was one of Canada's foremost writers. His acclaimed, bestselling novels included KEEPER'N ME; INDIAN HORSE, which was a Canada Reads finalist, winner of the inaugural Burt Award for First Nations, Metis and Inuit Literature, and made into a feature film; and MEDICINE WALK. He was also the author of acclaimed memoirs, including FOR JOSHUA; ONE NATIVE LIFE; and ONE STORY, ONE SONG; as well as a collection of personal reflections, EMBERS. He won numerous awards and recognition for his writing. Wagamese died on March 10, 2017 in Kamloops, B.C.

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Frank Starlight has long settled into a quiet life working his remote farm, occasionally venturing into the unbroken country around his property to photograph the wild animals who thrive there. His contemplative existence comes to an abrupt end with the arrival of Emmy, a woman on the run who has committed a desperate act so she and her child can escape a life of abuse. Frank takes in Emmy and her daughter to help them get back on their feet, and, gradually, this accidental family grows into a real one. But Emmy's violent ex-boyfriend isn't content to just let her go. He wants revenge and is determined to hunt her down.

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"STARLIGHT was unfinished at the time of Richard Wagamese's death in March 2017, yet every page radiates with his masterful storytelling, intense humanism. and insights that are as hard-earned as they are beautiful. With astonishing scenes set in the rugged backcountry of the B.C. Interior, and characters whose scars cut deep even as their journey toward healing and forgiveness lifts us, STARLIGHT is a magnificent last gift to readers from a writer who believed in the power of stories to save us." - Quote from front book flap

I agree with the following quote by Richard Van Camp, author of THE LESSER BLESSED.

"Richard Wagamese's writing is sweet medicine for the soul."

5 natural stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

May 31, 1130am ~~ Review asap.

June 1, 10am ~~ In Starlight we learn what happened to Franklin Starlight in the years following the story told in Medicine Walk. I think it is very important to read MW before this book, it will help you understand his character better.

This book was published posthumously, and I am not sure if that influenced my feeling about it. I gave it four stars, but I was not as caught up in the story as I had hoped to be. Like any RW book, it had some dark themes and scenes, and I could pretty much guess at a broad plot outline from the beginning. I still could not connect with the main character, except for his understanding of the power of silence. I had hoped to enjoy it more, but I gave that fourth star for the writing itself, there are some beautiful passages here.

I don't really care for the idea of publishing any author's unfinished work, though. It does not seem quite fair. The reader knows that the editors had more of an hand in the process than maybe they would have otherwise, and I personally always wonder if any author would want a piece put out into the world without being able to personally feel sure that it was ready.

This brings my Wagamese mini marathon to an end. I am very glad to have discovered this author, he was amazing.

[Lollita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, even unfinished

[Martha☀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this final book by Wagamese. This is the follow-up book on the life of Frank Starlight whom we met in Medicine Walk, although not a sequel per se.

Frank lives a deeply satisfying life on his cattle ranch after the Old Man passes away. He finds rhythm in hard work and satisfaction in his to-do list, always preparing for the coming season. His love of the natural world has haphazardly made him into a nationally acclaimed photographer whose photos show a connection to the wild.

When domestically-abused Emmy and her daughter flee the violence of Jeff Cabot, they enter this small town with nothing. Frank recognizes the wildness in Emmy and takes them both in, giving them a space to recover and eventually renew themselves. He teaches them all he knows about Home and shows them both how to find themselves through nature.

Just as the tension of Cabot's hunt for Emmy builds to a climax, the book ends, marking the spot where Wagamese set it aside. There is no ghost writer at play. It ends exactly where Wagamese stopped writing. A truly brilliant tribute to The Gifted Storyteller of our time.

In Frank, as in Wagamese, we find a man who has come to terms with the atrocities of his life. Despite being raised in a White family and having no indigenous elders to learn from, Frank has gleaned his knowledge through self-discovery. The Old Man was a huge factor in providing Frank with opportunities to become attuned with the land but really it is Frank who is remarkable here. He holds no hatred, no anger, no resentment. He has found peace and he has discovered his own way to fill his cup, live at peace and give back. This is a remarkable lesson that everyone can aspire to learn.

I listened to the audio version which was exquisite (when slowed down to 75% speed)

[Carmel Hanes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? This man had a gift with words, and even more so with his ability to look deeply into people and places and the natural world and all it contains. He pulls those hidden threads gently into a compelling story; a story that teaches you as it comforts you, characters who grab your compassion or your rage, and a world that beckons you to ease into it to cure what ails you.

This was his last book, and Wagamese died before it could be completed. Despite that, what is there is worth spending time with, and there are a few extras offered at the end that give the reader a sense of where the story was going to go and end. I can fill in those gaps easily, given what I know from other Wagamese stories and the addendums.

This was a sweet story of struggle, redemption, and new beginnings. It's a story of healing and learning to trust. But there's nothing saccharine about the writing, rather it is simple, honest, and sometimes tongue in cheek. The banter between Starlight and his buddy made me smile repeatedly and brought to mind the best of Gus McKrae and Captain Call. And the description of nature and the animals within it are some of the best I've seen, bringing me along on those horseback rides and campouts, leaving me with the residue of smoke on my clothes and the howl of wolves in my ears.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Starlight the farm was his heritage and culture, the plainspoken earnestness of his neighbours all the language he needed, and the feel of the land beneath his feet all the philosophy and worldview that fed his sense of purpose. A night sky brimmed with stars, the snap and crackle of a fire behind him in the darkness, and the howls of wolves on distant ridges were all the spirituality he'd ever needed. He was not displaced or dispossessed. He was home. In that, he felt keenly alive.

It's almost unfair to give a rating to an unfinished novel – Starlight does come off as a first draft, but with some very lovely passages that were probably exactly what Richard Wagamese would have sent out into the world had he not passed away while writing this – so while I'm pleased that this was polished up enough to release (and appreciate the material included at the end that points to how Wagamese wanted to tie everything up), as it is, this isn't really up to Wagamese's standard and I'm going to weasel out with a noncommittal three stars.

After a brief scene that reintroduces Frank Starlight from Medicine Walk, we meet a woman and her young daughter as they escape from the violent drunkard that they have been living with. Emmy and Winnie drive a stolen truck deep into the backcountry of British Columbia, hoping to become lost enough before they run out of gas, and end up in the small town near where Starlight and his handyman, Roth, are now working the old man's farm. There are many scenes of the two men doing hard and honest labour, and this sets up a steady rhythm in contrast with Emmy and her daughter's desperate flight:

They were weathered men. Their clothes were the tough and simple fabric of the farm, the field, the wilderness, and they stood together in that hushed silence, smoking and considering nothing but the gathered evidence of their industry. Above them the congress of stars pinwheeled slowly and a knife slice of moon hung over everything like a random thought. They could hear the sides of cattle shunted against the whitewashed planks of their pens and somewhere far off the skittering soliloquy of a night bird addressing all of it in plaintive, melancholic notes that rose and fell in counterpoint to their breaths, huffed with smoke. Then they nodded, each to himself, and turned in concert and began the slow, slumped walk to the porch and the house and the rustic simplicity of a bed, a quilt, and dreams wove from the experience of passing through a day, satisfied at the scuffed and worn feel at its edges.

In a turn that was expected, but not quite believed, Starlight takes Emmy and Winnie into his home, and at the urging of a childcare worker, he and Roth take the broken pair repeatedly into the wilderness to try and make them whole again. Again, there is very lovely and moving writing about nature and humanity's role in creation, and as Starlight has become a noted wildlife photographer, there is much on the artist's role in trying to capture the wild for those who can't see for themselves (and several asides about how Starlight – half-Native but raised in a white home – resists the label of “Indigenous” photographer; an artist is an artist, and it feels like Wagamese is talking about himself here). Meanwhile, the man that Emmy ran away from, Cadotte, along with his sidekick, Anderson, have sworn to find her and have spent these months travelling from workcamp to inner city flophouse to track her down. In contrast to Starlight's steady industry, Cadotte is a nasty piece of work:

He found that he could lose himself in savagery. That thick coil of vengeance he carried in his gut could unsnake itself and take on the quality of fists and kicks and hammer blows to heads and bellies and the cracking and breaking of teeth and ribs and other bones. So that he found a grim satisfaction in pushing men to fight. In those booze-filled nights in working men's towns, such contests of will and rage were easy to start and he let the vehemence of his shattered ego rain punishment on men in ones or twos or threes. He was thrilling to watch. For such a bulky man he was light on his feet and lizard fast. He punished men. He knew precisely how hard and often to attack and hit, and he toyed with them, bloodying faces and battering knees and hips and shoulders so that in the end his adversaries became limp, defenceless rags of men who dropped at his feet eventually, and he'd raise his fists and face to the ceiling of the sky and howl in a basso keening imbued with every ounce of hate he carried for the woman he hunted unceasingly. She would be his ultimate triumph.

Like I said, I didn't quite believe the happenstance of the reclusive Starlight bringing strangers into his home (even if he is well known for helping out neighbours), and I didn't quite like that everyone is always asking this man of few words to try to describe how he finds communion with nature. On the other hand, the setup creates an interesting plotline (and especially with the violent menace tracking ever closer) and Starlight's grasping attempts to describe his processes and experiences are filled with wisdom and insight; he is obviously relaying the lessons that Wagamese wants his readers to learn. I reckon that my complaints would have been dealt with had Wagamese been able to complete (and participate in the editing process for) this book and I am still happy to have been able to read his final project, in any form.

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a few thoughts on this unfinished novel by the late Richard Wagamese:
We revisit the wonderful, now adult character of Frank Starlight introduced to us as a teenager in his earlier novel 'Medicine Walk'.
In this novel, Frank and his live-in farmhand and good friend take in a woman, Emmy and her young daughter who dramatically escaped an abusive relationship and who are now on the run from the alcohol fueled crazed lunatic and his cohort.
Once again, the beautiful wild untamed land and geography of the B.C interior are at the forefront in its ability to heal. The land becomes larger than life through the indigenous authors rich, descriptive prose, and from how Frank teaches Emmy and her daughter to unburden themselves of the chains and shackles of their previous life by an act of communion with the land and nature. It is a spiritual foray into the hearts and mind of the author and his characters and it is a story beautifully told.
Unfortunately it was never finished.
In spite of that, the publisher, in the afterward, tells us, based on conversations the author had with friends, what they believe the ending would have entailed. These comments are somewhat satisfying, but are probably unnecessary. We, the reader, based on what we've read, know, or should know, how events will unfold. The novel is about healing and forgiveness, and the ending should be clear.
I'm reluctant to give the book a rating, unfinished as it is, it hardly seems fair to critique what it isn't, so I will praise it for what it is: a wonderful gift from the publisher to Richard Wagamese's readers, whose life and body of work was cut far too short.

[Wyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is Richard Wagamese’s final story, and sadly he died before he finished it. It begins with Franklin “Frank” Starlight from Wagamese’s beautiful novel Medicine Walk carefully and lovingly holding a brass urn with both of his large hands. Those who have read ‘Medicine Walk‘ know whose ashes are held within. Frank is now a farmer and renowned wildlife photographer living a simple bachelor life just outside the small community of Endako, British Columbia. His life is quiet and full working the farm with his best friend Eugene Roth, whose wry humor often lightens the weight of this story, and making his solo journeys deep into the wild for pictures and solitude. A woman and child unexpectedly enter this settled life, having fled a violent, unstable situation, and a loose family soon forms among these four and opens them each to new experiences and unfamiliar emotions.

Be prepared for an abrupt ending because the publisher does not attempt to write a finale for this novel, but instead provides closing materials to show what Wagamese himself intended for the ending. Some of the passages here needed editing in my opinion, but as with all of this talented author’s work, the landscapes and relationships are magnificently written. Richard Wagamese wrote from his personal experiences and from his heart and is missed by many.

“He loved this land. Loved it in a quiet way expressed in a slight crinkling at the corner of his eyes when he looked out across it, and a feeling of calm like silence deep in his gut . . . For Starlight the backcountry was like a prayer or a hymn, and a man approached it the same way: reverently, quietly, fully aware of the awe, wonder, and respect it caused to rise in him. He lived for it and craved it like a favourite meal.” Amen.

[Claire Reads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Richard Wagamese’s final, unfinished novel, and it’s clear that it must have been only lightly edited before its posthumous publication. As a result, it is often repetitive and heavy-handed, like clay roughly shaped and still in need of final honing. Had he had the chance to finish this book, I imagine it would have had the restraint, subtlety, and economy of storytelling that I associate with Richard Wagamese’s novels. That said, there are still scenes and passages here that are classic Wagamese and a gift to read – the opening scene of Frank running with the wolves and the closing essay included here as a kind of coda were particularly beautiful and moving.

[Mj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great last book written and published by one of, if not, my favourite author. Loved it. Wonderful story filled with interesting and fully formed characters and "a great deal of soul". So heartfelt. So touching. So moving. The book also had "meat and bones" and included important social issues including violence, rape, incest, homelessness, racism, the need to reach out and asked important questions about what constitutes a family, makes a man a man etcetera. It certainly makes one think. A well deserved 5 star read.

Better than any author I have read to date, I think Wagamese describes the silence, love and peace when someone is fully connected with the universe. In Starlight's aka Franklin's case (the main character), it's when he spends time in nature, soaking up the land, rivers, trees, birds, animals etc. is how he makes this connection. "Soaking up to him means using all five senses and experiencing "everything there is to see, hear, smell, touch and taste" on the land - where he feels at home. The overall result of knowing something this well is contentment, peace, love and connection with everything and everyone in the universe.

Wagamese's descriptions, as usual, are incredible. As a reader you will see, hear, smell, touch and taste along with Starlight.

The publishing of Starlight by McClelland and Stewart, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited is a tribute to the Wagamese, the man and the author, his writing and his person. I am hoping that the publisher has put forward Starlight as a nominated book for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Award.

I rarely give out 5 star ratings and openly admit my favourable bias towards Wagamese. Read and savour the book yourself. See if agree that it is a wonderful 5 star read.

[❀ Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated: Second read and still love this book which leaves me wanting more! Richard Wagamese leaves a beautiful legacy of stories. It is hard not to appreciate and visualize the characters (and feel anxious about the evil Cadotte) as he weaves nature, resilience, struggle, love and hope together with intricate prose to tell as story of redemption.

Original: A more fulsome review to come but I kept wanting to return to the characters after closing the book. So sad to lose this amazing storyteller.

I loved that the publisher did not try to form their own ending and added in the notes at the end of what Richard Wagamese had told his family and friends about how he was planning to end the book. RIP RW.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not in our imagined wholeness that we become art, it’s in the celebration of our cracks.-Richard Wagamese

Starlight may be the first incomplete, posthumous, story that I’ve read. Richard Wagamese passed away before completing his first draft of Starlight, but with his estate’s blessing, this story came to be published. It’s a follow up to Medicine Walk, a story that is on my bookshelf but I have yet to read.

Franklin Starlight is grieving the loss of the man who raised him, living a quiet life on his farm with his friend and farmhand, Roth. Starlight also happens to be a talented photographer, his respectful approach to wildlife giving him the unique ability to capture animals in intimate moments.

Meanwhile, a story of survival and escape is taking place: Emmy, a woman in an abusive relationship, manages to escape with her daughter and the pair set out on the run. With no money and no plan, the only goal is to create distance between themselves and Emmy’s abuser. When Emmy finds herself in trouble, a unique suggestion from a social worker brings Starlight and Emmy together. As Emmy enters life on the farm, a tender relationship with Starlight develops. Wile the threat of Emmy’s abuser tracking them down looms, the connection between Emmy and Starlight is a powerful force and one can only root for their happiness and safety.

This story reads like a first draft, but that’s exactly what it is: some grammatical cleanup was done, and some very light editing. I enjoyed reading something is such pure form, and can envision what Wagamese’s final vision may have been. I commend the way that the ending of this story was handled – it cuts off abruptly, ending where Wagamese had. I appreciate that no attempt to finish the story was made but found significant value in the insights regarding how the story may have ended, provided by those close to Wagamese. This is ultimately a story of recovery from trauma and the power of human connection.

[Friederike Knabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since finishing Medicine Walk and reading about Richard Wagamese's ideas for a follow up I have been waiting in anticipation for this novel. Sadly, Richard didn't live to see STARLIGHT completed. Like many of his fans and friends, I am grateful beyond measure that his editors, publisher and family decided to publish the unfinished draft version. It is such a beautifully written, sensitive story about living and finding one's home totally within nature. It does not lack drama either. The text is complemented by additional material that helps the reader complete the novel's narrative arc.

Throughout the novel, there are, gently conveyed, lessons to be learned about our need for the beauty and serenity of the "unbroken country". For example, following a pack of wolves through the bush, Frank Starlight is moving in parallel with the animals, matching their rhythm, finally standing close, locking eyes... and shooting ... a photo... in intimate close-up. Wow! There are many scenes like this that will stay in my mind. All together they reflect a deep humanity and a search for harmony that have been part of Richard's personal journey.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading a book written by Wagamese is like admiring a beautiful piece of art. The beauty of the story is in its soul, in the experience of witnessing it come to life. Wagamese’s prose is both captivating and inviting.
Starlight is a book about despair, hope and transformation. It is a character driven novel whose strength comes from its richly defined characters. What struck a chord for me personally was the setting as it takes place in BC. My hometown was even mentioned! Sadly, this was Wagamese’s last book before he died and was only partially completed. The publisher maintained the integrity of the story by only editing grammar and improving certain passages so they flowed better (based on previous stories written by Wagamese) but left the the book unfinished. I both appreciated this gesture and was a little disappointed by it because the story had so much potential but never got there. A beautiful read and a tearful reminder that we have lost a truly gifted Canadian author.

[Lotuslulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the saddest review I think I shall ever have to give because while Richard Wagamese is a gifted wordsmith and storyteller, this novel, which was published unfinished after his death, is more a first draft then a completed work. As a draft, it does not stand up to his other works in any way. It reads as a framework more than a story and in this framework there are too many problems and too little of the regular Wagamese beauty for me to believe he would have wished this to be seen by the public. It is only the final essay where he writes of finding his father that the reader can connect with the writers they know and love.

I am saddened that some will pick this book up and judge it as representative of the writer Richard Wagamese was. He was a treasure. You should read all his books. Don't let this draft shape your understanding of him. I don't recommend it. Stick to the works that Wagamese himself helped to shape into their final product.

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to rate a book that was never finished, an incomplete book, and that's what we have here. The author died in 2017 at 61 years old, before he could complete it. At the end they have notes on where they think he was going to go with it, based on conversations he had with those close to him. There's also an essay by him at the back of the book, and that's spectacular. Very moving. The story of the book itself though? It was fine, but it just didn't do anything for me. Some good reflections in it though, like about change and accepting change, finding yourself, connecting with nature and spiritualism, those sorts of things. Not a bad read, just not for me.

[Bon Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful love story with natural spirituality and mindfulness. It's unfinished, unfortunately, but afterword almost made me laugh and cry at the same time, which is never a bad sign.

[Brahm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wagamese is beautiful and engaging as always, telling captivating stories about broken people and their paths to self-discovery and internal redemption. I don't think it's accurate to call this a sequel to Medicine Walk as it can stand on its own, but it does follow Franklin Starlight through another tale a bit later in life. So I would recommend starting with Medicine Walk.

I'm conflicted about this book's impact on me. Sadly the author died with this tale unfinished, so the story ends abruptly on a cliffhanger with ~2 pages of notes from the publisher on the expected plot trajectory, based on Wagamese's notes and some conversations with close friends and family. I am grateful the partial story was published and loved it to the abrupt end - but that abruptness is jarring and unsatisfying, so that's why I'm landing on 3 stars.

[Heather(Gibby) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, I did not want it to end because I know there will be no more from this great author.

I really appreciated how the publisher added notes and essays to the end of the book to pay respect to this great author

[TraceyL · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed Wagamese's writing style, but I just found the story pretty boring. Woman and child run away from abusive ex. Man feels bad for them and lets them move in with him. He teaches her how to trust again. She teaches him how to love.

[Electra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prendre tout son temps et puis la fin - le choc. Richard Wagamese n’est plus. Lire ses mots, repenser à ses essais.

[Florence Renouard · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’est avec bonheur que nous retrouvons Frank, héros de Les étoiles s’éteignent à l’aube, devenu adulte. Le vieil homme vient de mourir et Frank Starlight a repris la ferme, assisté de Roth, son ouvrier devenu ami et colocataire. Starlight passe de longs moments dans les forêts (merveilleusement décrites) de Colombie-Britannique : il se ressource dans la nature, se fond en elle comme lui a appris le vieil homme, et parvient à prendre des photos extraordinaires de la faune sauvage.
La route des deux hommes va croiser celle d’Emmy et de sa fille Winnie, qui fuient toutes les deux les violences d’un sale type.
J’ai lu ce roman avec une grande émotion, sachant qu’il s’agit du dernier roman de Richard Wagamese, dont j’ai adoré Les étoiles s’éteignent à l’aube et Jeu blanc. Starlight étant un roman inachevé, il présente certes quelques maladresses ou facilités (personnages un poil manichéens) qui l’empêchent d’être aussi parfait que les précédents, et auraient certainement été gommées dans une version définitive. Mais le roman reste un très grand plaisir de lecture : le personnage de Frank Starlight est lumineux, on retrouve en lui la bonté, la générosité, la capacité à toujours le mot juste du vieil homme qui l’a élevé ; j’adore les très belles pages où il apprend à Emmy et Winnie à observer la nature et à communier avec elle. C’est une nature qui soigne. L’évolution de la psychologie de la mère et de la fille est intéressante et touchante.
Bref, ce fut un vrai bonheur de découvrir une dernière fois la magnifique plume de Richard Wagamese.

[Ian M. Pyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fantastic novel by Mr. Wagamese. I've now read 5 of his books and have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one!

I read this right after Medicine Walk to keep the flow of the Frank's story fresh in my mind. Loved the story, each of the three main characters (Frank, Emmy and Roth), and the interactions with Frank & Roth and how two "old-time" farmers lived their lives before Emmy & Winnie came along and then how all four came to live under one roof and accept each of their ways and then change, adapt & accept each of the ways the men & women had established.

I felt that I was right in the mountains, walking, riding, camping, along with the main characters because of the absolutely excellent descriptors written by Richard.

It is indeed sad that the book was not completed and hope that the friends of Mr. Wagamese did him and his fans proud by the ending.

[Victoria Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I knew the story was unfinished before starting it. And although it was somewhat frustrating to read to that point and not get the resolution I was craving, Richard Wagamese's editors, publishers, and his agent did an amazing job of providing closure in the author's own words.
Starlight had me drawn in from the first page. The characters are so relatable and the descriptions of nature and animals (which are integral to the plot) are simply magical. I was drawn into the character of Frank Starlight and his relationship with the wild. It gave me the biggest craving to get back outdoors myself. The just of the story for me is that the greatest healing power available to us can be found in nature. I know that to be true in my own life as nothing makes the problems I face on a daily basis seem smaller than when I'm by the ocean or deep in the forest. Nature has a way of reminding us that we too are animals and our existence is meant to be much simpler than we often make it out to be. Although the story is unfinished, I thought every page was beautiful and it is definitely worth the read. The fact that the story was set in Canada made it extra special for me. I could picture the rugged mountains, howling wolves and the rushing river and see myself there.
A note on the author: I knew Richard Wagamese was Ojibway and First Nations, but I had no idea until I read his bio at the end that he had been a victim of residential schools. As Canadians, we have only just recently started to come to terms with the devastation residential schools have caused in native communities. We were not taught about it in school when I was growing up. Thankfully it has been introduced into the curriculum in recent years. Children were actually ripped from villages and raised in white communities in order to assimilate to what was considered "proper Canadian society." The sad fact is that this went on for decades and the government only just recently apologized for it. I was heartbroken to read Wagamese's essay "Finding Father," which closed the novel, about how he was torn from his family at two years old and raised without truly knowing his identity. This added a personal touch to the novel as the character Frank Starlight was also raised away from his native community. The worst part of it all is that the Canadian government has done far too little to make up for the wrong that was done. They haven't even come close. It is authors like Wagamese who bring light to the stories of native peoples in Canada. Stories like these are helping drive towards more rights for Indigenous peoples in our country.

[Selina Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless. Breathless. So sad the book is over. So very sad the earth lost this great author. What a book! The way Wagamese describes the land! The language, the writing - you feel transported. He writes the characters with such softness and depth. It’s truly a beautiful book.

[MechthildM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live in BC and after finishing this book in just a week, I would now like to move out of my city to live on, in and with the land. Sharpen all senses to be out there and listen, hear, touch, see and feel. A wonderful story of healing and connecting with what’s within and around you. This book brought a more connected consciousness into my awareness. Absolutely enjoyed the kindness, warmth and humbleness with which it is written. I will look for his other books!