Chasing Painted Horses

by Drew Hayden Taylor

Chasing Painted Horses has a magical, fable-like quality. It is the story of four unlikely friends who live in Otter Lake, a reserve north of Toronto. Ralph and his sister, Shelley, live with their parents. One day, their mother brings home a chalkboard and installs it prominently in the kitchen. She wants her children and their friends to draw something every week, at the end of which there’ll be a vote as to which is the best artwork. Danielle, a small and quiet girl from school, draws a horse – a breathtakingly beautiful horse. And while she wins the competition, the reactions to her work set in motion a series of actions and reactions that will shape the lives of the brother and sister and William, Shelley’s would-be-boyfriend, that rarity, a bully who bullies other bullies.

This story has haunted Drew for decades, first as a play and then as a short story.

Genres: Indigenous, Fiction, Canada, Book Club, Adult, Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2019

About the author

During the last thirty years of his life, Drew Hayden Taylor has done many things, most of which he is proud of. An Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario, he has worn many hats in his literary career, from performing stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to being Artistic Director of Canada's premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. He has been an award-winning playwright (with over 70 productions of his work), a journalist/columnist (appearing regularly in several Canadian newspapers and magazines), short-story writer, novelist, television scriptwriter, and has worked on over 17 documentaries exploring the Native experience. Most notably, he wrote and directed REDSKINS, TRICKSTERS AND PUPPY STEW, a documentary on Native humour for the National Film Board of Canada.

He has traveled to sixteen countries around the world, spreading the gospel of Native literature to the world. Through many of his books, most notably the four volume set of the FUNNY, YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE ONE series, he has tried to educate and inform the world about issues that reflect, celebrate, and interfere in the lives of Canada's First Nations.

Self described as a contemporary story teller in what ever form, last summer saw the production of the third season of MIXED BLESSINGS, a television comedy series he co-created and is the head writer for. This fall, a made-for-tv movie he wrote, based on his Governor General's nominated play was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Movie. Originally it aired on APTN and opened the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Dreamspeakers Film Festival in Edmonton.

The last few years has seen him proudly serve as the Writer-In-Residence at the University of Michigan and the University of Western Ontario. In 2007, Annick Press published his first Novel, THE NIGHT WANDERER: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen novel about an Ojibway vampire. Two years ago, his non-fiction book exploring the world of Native sexuality, called ME SEXY, was published by Douglas & McIntyre. It is a follow up to his highly successful book on Native humour, ME FUNNY.

The author of 20 books in total, he is eagerly awaiting the publication of his new novel in February by Random House as "One of the new faces of fiction for 2010", titled MOTORCYCLES AND SWEETGRASS. In January, his new play, DEAD WHITE WRITER ON THE FLOOR, opens at Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay. Currently, he is working on a new play titled CREES IN THE CARRIBEAN, and a collection of essays called POSTCARDS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. More importantly, he is desperately trying to find the time to do his laundry.

Oddly enough, the thing his mother is most proud of is his ability to make spaghetti from scratch.

Reviews

[Anne Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Drew Hayden Taylor‘s writing. His words are funny, empathetic, and entertaining all at the same time. Every book of his I read, I’m more hopeful that Canada’s indigenous population, colonizers and immigrants will one day live in harmony, a mutually beneficial arrangement where everyone is legitimately taken care of (getting clean water for every single Canadian would be a great start). But I digress. Chasing Painted Horses is decidedly not political, and because of that, it has more impact. It’s a story of bare neglect and the rippling effects of its damage.

Ralph is an indigenous man and police officer in Toronto. One day he comes across a work of graffiti in an alleyway: a picture of a horse that looks identical to one a girl from his past used to draw. Harry, a homeless man across the street claims to know who drew it, so Ralph treats him to a coffee at Tim Horton’s to discuss it (so Canadian!). From here we flashback to Ralph’s childhood as he meets this young girl, Danielle, who is clearly coming from a broken home, abused in all sorts of cruel ways. But she gains strength from ‘unleashing’ the horse inside of her, painting it onto different surfaces that won’t get her in trouble. Every time Ralph and his friends see a version of this horse that Danielle draws, they are mesmerized; it seems to have otherworldly qualities, and while some are inexplicably drawn to it, others are afraid of it. Harry also has some special powers, he’s tapped into a sixth sense that most can’t access, and he understands that the horse itself is not necessarily a good omen, but a sign of something darker.

There aren’t enough un-explainable events or people in this story to slot it into the magical realism genre, instead I saw these elements as a form of relief for the reader, as it gave us the possibility of hope in what was a somewhat painful story to read about. Again, the humour that infuses Taylor’s writing is also a welcome break from what is a threatening undercurrent running throughout the book. Ralph’s parents are also a beacon of light in the story; Liz is a free-spirit, always trying to better her kids’ life in the most supportive and nurturing way possible while Tye’s devotion to his wife and kids aids in the creation of that comforting home environment they enjoy. Ralph’s home is an obvious antithesis to the other two familial environments we are exposed to; one struggling but generally safe, the other an upsetting amalgam of a terrible accident and further bad choices.

Not all questions are answered in this story, and some readers may be left disappointed by the lack of resolution. Personally I don’t count that as a fault against a story, in my mind this is simply the way things are, a more accurate representation of what our life ends up being. We are rarely offered the chance to tie up our conflicts in a neat little package, and although this is pleasing to read in a book, it’s highly unrealistic. Taylor doesn’t shy away from challenging the reader, but he offers us beacons of light in the most unexpected places, we just have to work for it.

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[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ended up reading this book for a work project and honestly I am very torn with how I feel about it. On one hand, the story behind Danielle and her painted horses is beautiful and haunting, and I loved that element. On the other side of the story, I was not a huge fan of Taylor's writing style at times, especially because I found it very shaky in the beginning until the story hit its stride. There's also a lot of jabbing in the story but it doesn't go far enough? If you are trying to show a distain towards a place or peoples, my attitude is always go with gusto because subtleness doesn't always translate either. I also don't know if this book wanted to be YA or adult for its audience given how it reads (not that I mind, but I noticed it was a bit... all over the place in tone).

However, I think the story has a lot of wonderful elements. I think learning about Anishinaabe culture, and the challenges that Canada's indigenous people face is valuable to understanding their frustrations and constant displacement. I think the importance of acknowledge past harms are very important, and I often found myself feeling sad and frustrated for the characters in the story. I really do think Drew Hayden Taylor is a great storyteller who definitely writes some captivating characters.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story!!!

[R. Jetleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, bittersweet Canadian novel. The storyline about a young girl in a troubling situation and three of her peers who try in their small ways to help her, is haunting and thought- provoking.

[Ron S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Five stars for the heart breaking character of Danielle Gadaaw, the quiet, troubled young girl that draws horses in this story of family and friendship.

[Karina Ziba · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is probably more of a 4.5 stars, and for a book i had to read for english, pretty good. i can see why they chose this book, as it was very much essay material. the story captivated me, and the slightly open ending was a little frustrating because i really do want to see the story resolved. oh well. let's just hope my essay turns out good

[Jennifer Daniells · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the back of this novel, a review says “this novel will haunt you in the years to come” and I totally see why after reading it. I feel like I read something so personal, and I feel like I don’t know if I can’t fully appreciate it yet. I definitely want to read this book again in the future. It’s one of those books that is going to change meaning every single time I read it. I have to say, this novel sparked something within me that I forgot about. That creative energy that the character Danielle possesses is written expertly in this novel. I also loved the interactions with Harry. He’s such a beautiful, likeable soul within the novel that brings more depth and meaning to the story. I wish I would have learned more about him throughout the story. It’s one of the reasons why I didn’t give it 5/5. Overall, this is a very well written book that talks about trauma with ease, humour, and personality. It really captures the complexities of trauma and how it affects each generation (creating intergenerational trauma).

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storytelling; don't read the acknowledgements to not break the illusion. Definitely a book to go in reading without prior knowledge akin to a surprisingly good movie without watching the trailer. Ominous, humorous, and heartwarming tones throughout and Canadian!

[Rowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 95% of this book was fantastic but for me, personally, the ending doesn't really work.

[litost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps meant for a YA audience. Overwritten; I had trouble sticking with it.

[David]

Altogether satisfying, I think. Well-balanced. Hopeful, yet not naive.

[Susan Marrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be my favourite book of fiction this year except.....I didn't want it to end, but then it ended abruptly, feeling unfinished. I wanted to know what happened to Danielle, the unusual little girl the three other children had befriended. And I wanted to know what happened to Harry, and how he knew about Danielle. It was a great story, up to that point.

[Tilly Wark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written, but also haunting. If there's such thing as a book-version of a Requiem, this would certainly qualify. This may come off as a peculiar prospect, but it's the only descriptor I could think of the entire time I was reading. Nothing else is floating to the top of my personal vernacular.

A Requiem, if you don't know, is a funeral mass. In many ways this book pertains to death, and could be thought of as a eulogy (though for me it still felt like more of a Requiem). How the aftermath of a parent's death impacts those who survive, death of childhood ideals, death of the prospect that those who are supposed to be the most helpful and just in the world and make everything better are filled with just as much hopelessness and helplessness in the end. And the horse. Its power and aura and beauty will overtake you, and so will its ability to bore through your soul. And then it's gone.

Perhaps this novel was a Requiem for the horse. If this still seems like a peculiar prospect or description, listen to Mozart's Requiem after you read this book. Or maybe before. Maybe then it'll make some sense, and why it felt more fitting than a eulogy.

And yet in amonst all the thoughts of Requiems and metaphors for death, there's a joy you'll get if you're familiar with Toronto, either as a resident or frequent visitor. The author may not explicitly write Graffiti Alley, but you know that's exactly what he's talking about, or if you've ever plunked yourself down on a particular bench in High Park. A treat for the locals, and a curiosity for those who have never been to the area.

I don't even like horses, but I'm curious to see if any are there.

[Karen Lowe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. It could be a 3-star rating.

The story told was powerful. The characters were fully realized yet the writing of the story wasn't up to the author's usual high quality. I think, after reading his notes at the end of the novel, that his is because the characters were so close to him; they had lived in his imaginative world for so long.

The story structure was good. The tale the book told was relevant, meaningful and touching. I believed in each character as a living person. The setting was vivid. But the writing alternated between being aimed at an adult and then at a younger audience. The author over-wrote some scenes, even repeated the point more times than I thought was necessary in the text. The points of view jumped around too often, going from one character's head to another. I felt like he didn't trust the reader to get the point, which is why I thought perhaps he was writing for a younger YA audience.

All that being said, I would still recommend this book. I think the story and its characters will stay with me for a long time.

[Sylviae Edgerton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book for several reasons: it's simplicity, the spiritual in the mundane, the native-Canadian experience integrated into the story without BEING the story, the portrayal of the complex relationships between young people as they experience it, the beauty. I only gave this book a three stars but wanted to give it three and a half. I found the rhythm too slow, especially in the middle. The story was a little too little. I appreciate the simplicity but there were some scenes that could have been cut as the purpose and message was redundant. I felt like saying " we got it, move along" a couple of times. Also, the end was somewhat missing in material. I wanted a bit more story of what happened between the two time periods for the three main characters. A little more meat on the bones.

[Geoffrey Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a creative tour de force, a rich contemplation on the struggles of a young girl and their long term consequences on her friends and her community. From life on an indigenous reserve to walking the beat as a police officer in Toronto many years later, the novel traces the magical and mysterious impact of painted horses. I will say no more, but this is a beautiful novel, with a serious intent. But on occasion, Drew Hayden Taylor gives his wicked sense of humour some room in the story.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me awhile to engage with this book and embrace the characters. Once I did I think I liked this book however I did not like the ending and I think all the characters have a lot more to be developed. I felt like the book was not finished :(

[Marlies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It was handled so lovingly and that came through.

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curious and very well written story, but there feels like something is missing. I'm not sure how the character Harry really added anything to this story. He seems to me to be an unnecessary accessory. Apart from prodding Ralph to move the narrative along he doesn't do anything much and I'm not even sure if Ralph really told Harry about Danielle or they just stared at each other in Tim Horton's. The reader felt more drawn to the men/boys in this story than the women, in fact the women were oddly muted. There was no sympathy garnered toward Hazel for her grief as that seemed more like an after thought for bad choices. If anything she comes across as entirely to blame, as a mother, to how she behaved toward her child. Although Danielle said her need and her want for Horse came from the book she received as a prize for the Everything Wall the horse was created before she read that book. Where did Horse come from originally? Why a horse? There still seemed to be more questions than answers as to why things were the way they were. Why were Danielle's family on the outskirts of the community? Didn't they have family near them. Everything seems to me to be unfinished in terms of who these characters were and why they did what they did. Why was Ralph friendly to William? If he had other friends why was there no interactions between them? Why did Shelley's friends express surprise but not vocalise their surprise? While I know for brevity sake other characters in the book had to be a minimum, however, without fully understanding the community's dynamics it's not immediately understood that others can't have a part to play in this story. I can see that this story can be considered a coming of age story, but somehow it doesn't leave this reader feeling satisfied at a story told as well as it could be.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ralph is a police officer in Toronto. One day around the Bathurst Street/Queen Street W area, he sees a painting of a horse on a wall. He recognizes it and realizes it was painted by his childhood friend, Danielle, who had moved away suddenly when he was ten. Harry, a homeless man who lives on the grate across the street, calls to Ralph and seems to have the answers as to who painted the horse.

Ralph, his sister, Shelley, and their friend, William, grew up on a reserve in Otto Lake, north of Toronto. Liz, Ralph and Shelley's mother, is a bit of a free spirit and thinks it would be a great idea to have a chalkboard in their kitchen and invite the local children to draw and express themselves on the chalkboard. Danielle, a shy and quiet girl, surprises everyone by drawing a beautiful horse that seems to draw everyone in. As Ralph, Shelley and William get to know Danielle, they discover that her home life is very different than their happy and warm one and they try to help her.

This is the first book that I've read by this author and I thought it was okay. It is written in third person perspective, focusing on wherever the action is. As a head's up, there are some F-bombs. I liked that it was set in Toronto ... the Bathurst Street/Queen Street W area is not far from where I live and I could picture Ralph and Harry chatting in the Tim Hortons that is on that corner.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2020/06...

[Diane B]

Chasing Painted Horses first appeared as a short story, The Girl Who Loved Her Horses; then evolved into a children's play. After the success of Motorcycle and Sweetgrass, he pursued fleshing it out as a literary novel and says it is one of his favourites.

The Globe and Mail describes the novel as, "a graffiti horse in a downtown alleyway jolts a Toronto cop’s memories of one childhood winter on the Otter Lake Reserve and the horse’s artist, now missing. It’s a haunting novel, with flashes of wry humour."

After listening to the lecture, I've got 'Me Funny' on order.

In his Heliconian lecture, Taylor focused on the path of his writing journey.

He refers to himself as an 'occasion,' being of Ojibway and Caucasian heritage. Although he started writing professionally for television, he crossed over to the world of theatre and was mentored by Thompson Highway. When Taylor was debuting his craft, much of indigenous story telling was focused on the dark realities, with characters who were oppressed, depressed, or suppressed. Highway has commented, 'before the healing can take place, the poison must be exposed."
Yet when he visited indigenous communities, Taylor was greeted with smiles or jokes. An elder in one of the communities Taylor visited said, "Humour is the WD40 of healing," and that notion has inspired Drew ever since.

[Susan Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I just finished it when I woke up in the middle of last night.

As I thought about describing the storyline, my description falls pretty flat. The story is mainly set in a First Nation reserve in Ontario. An emotionally abused little girl can draw absolutely magical, mystical images of horses that transport anyone who views the pictures into another space (see, I'm already not doing it justice since this most definitely is NOT sci-fi or about space travel). She befriends 3 other kids on the reserve who end up trying to "save" her from her home situation. And no, this story is not about emotional abuse. I give up trying to describe it.

What does the horse mean? What does it represent and how does it do it? Why and how does it have a different effect on different people? What spiritual power is at work? How can one interaction in one's life have an effect on the rest of their lives?

The book is magical, lyrical, haunting, thought-provoking. The author does not wrap everything up at the end and put a bow on it - and I loved that about it. He leaves us wondering and speculating.

It will stay with me for a long time.

[Crystal Sissons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The elements of mystery and supernatural aspects were wonderful and kept me turning pages to see what would happen. I love the characters especially Harry, Danielle and The Horse! It really felt like I was sitting with Harry when he was talking to Ralph and listening at the Tim Horton's. His special powers were such a neat touch and really opened up the idea of the possibility of other worlds all around us.

I felt so sorry for Danielle - the description made the characters very real. The situation with William was also interesting and opened up the possibility of really seeing a character change.

The ending was surprising and yet perfect and led me to start thinking of new stories! A book really worth reading!

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the book started with the same funny factor that Drew Hayden Taylor always put in his books or essays, this one was certainly his most moving to date.

Walking in the streets of Toronto before starting his shift as a cop, Ralph Thomas sees the spray-painted image of a horse that only one person could have done. Someone from his past. Questionning the Indigenous homeless man nearby about it is the occasion for Ralph to revisit childhood memories from the time he was living on the Otter Lake Reserve and his family met this odd little girl.

This is the kind of story that stay with you even after you're finished reading it. Sad, but there's beauty in it too.

I hope this novel get translate so more people can enjoy it's uniqueness.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows 3 children, two boys age 10 and a girl age 12, and their sudden budding friendship with a mousy, quiet girl named Danielle who draws a breathtaking, magical horse.
I found the writing pedestrian, and felt the plot should move along a bit faster. The ending was rushed and unsatisfactory.
I enjoyed parts of the story, such as the change in William and the others as they learned to develop empathy. William in particular learned that his family, though rough and tumble, really did care about him. Sheila learned to enjoy William's company, while Ralph learned that he wanted to "help people" when he grew up. The issue of bullying is explored.
This would be suitable Young Adult reading, and perhaps that was the intention.
Read for Book Club.

[Cas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading his stories, and having met him in person, makes them all the more poignant. Simply put...this story broke my heart. Having grown up around reservations, and many of the children on them attended my school, I am all too familiar with the tone and setting. This novel began as a short story and was originally aimed at young adults, but over time, he developed it into this fine but haunting read. The adult reviewers who say it appears to written for a younger audience, are initially correct, but the nuances and gut wrenching honesty are meant for adults. Period.

I appreciated the ethereal ending, but I longed for solid confirmation that Danielle was ok.

[Sabrina A · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing, heartfelt novel, capturing the mindset of children and their innate desire to do the right thing. It hurts seeing Danielle’s situation and how they can’t help her, but the author does an incredible job of giving dignity to people who are too often forgotten or swept aside because of bureaucracy. The ending left me wanting more but I understand why it ended that way, the book was just so well written that, even if there were more pages, I would still be yelling, “One more chapter!”

A great book, a beautiful and heartbreaking rendering of Canada, and a story that I would recommend to everyone.

[Ann Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful novel with a heart wrenching premise. novel is hard to describe in words but draws you in with eager anticipation to find a positive outcome in a broken world. Wonderfully written story of friendship, the unfairness of life , yet the desire to do better, be better and help more. Your heart is touched as you read about these characters and the sometimes grim, sometimes maddening and sometimes touching moments in the novel. I didn't want to put it down and was amazed at how time flew while reading it. I loved how the story unfolds and yet leaves with questions yet to be answered. Thanks to my nephew for the gift.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by my love for this book! Honestly, it's a simple yet heartbreaking story of a young girl named Danielle who draws these incredible horses and deals with her troubled family life.
I was engaged and captivated the entire time I was reading. This story teaches you about compassion and love for friends and your community. It also tugs on your heart strings, but in a way that left me still wanting more!
I was also chuckling at all of the Tim Horton's references. Drew hit the nail on the head with those!

[Tara H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow simmering story about a girl who through her drawing of a horse, changes the lives of the people who befriend her.
This was a slow read for me as I wasn’t as captivated by it as others. It was a great story and I enjoyed the characters. I found it almost melodic and that may have lulled me into a slower pace in reading it.
I liked how the book goes back and forth from past to present. I enjoyed the character development and the way we learn about each one and what motivates them without villainizing them.
All in all a good read.