The Moon of Letting Go: and Other Stories

by Richard Van Camp

Extending the tradition of Aboriginal storytelling, Richard Van Camp's new collection is eloquently and humorously optimistic. The stories in The Moon of Letting Go celebrate healing through modern day rituals that honour his Dogrib ancestry. Van Camp speaks in a range of powerful voices: a violent First Nations gangster has an astonishing spiritual experience, a single mother is protected from her ex by a dangerous medicine man, and a group of young men pay tribute to a friend by streaking through their northern town. The stories are set in First Nations communities in the Northwest Territories, Vancouver and rural British Columbia. They have been broadcast on the CBC, and appeared in anthologies, the Walrus, Prairie Fire, and other journals.

Genres: Short Stories, Indigenous, Fiction, Canada

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

A Dogrib (Tlicho) Dene from Fort Smith, NWT, Richard Van Camp is an internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author. He is the author of the novel, The Lesser Blessed, a collection of short stories, Angel Wing Splash Pattern, and two children’s books with Cree artist, George Littlechild. His new baby book: Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns is the official selection of the Books for BC Babies program and is being given to every newborn baby in British Columbia in 2008. His new novel, Blessing Wendy, will be released in the fall of 2009 through Orca Book Publishers. Richard was awarded Storyteller of the Year for both Canada and the US by the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. You can visit Richard at his website: www.richardvancamp.org.

Reviews

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are stories of healing and beauty. I pick up this book every winter when I start to feel the darkness creeping into my consciousness, and I always feel it connects me to a deeper and bigger North than the one I experience every day. Richard Van Camp's writing is honest, personal, and speaks to the real depth and magic of the people and landscape of Canada's North. I have bought this book as a gift more times than I can count, for anyone with whom I want to share my love of this place.

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my life I felt like I was living backwards, when all I wanted to do was belong to something. p128

RVC has gathered a score of unlikely heroes in this documentary fiction of postmodern NDN life.
The title story is particularly haunting.

It's a real pleasure to acknowledge how far he has come in mastering his craft and I will be eager to read more.

[George Ilsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Van Camp is a gifted storyteller, and this smooth collection reads like it was nurtured in an oral tradition.

Inspiring collection on themes of resilience, not shy of being gritty, honest and too real in all the best ways.

Van Camp is a seriously talented writer.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some gorgeous stories about life in the north. I learned a lot about the Dogrib and Dene nations. I loved the characters and the magical realism in these stories. Beautiful work.

[ianridewood is on Storygraph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely collection. I teach "Dogrib Midnight Runners" in classes whenever possible to incite discussion about positive masculinity and its effects on community.

[Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this one down. The stories were insightful, inspiring, and humbling. Definitely going to buy for future rereads!

[Meg Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master writer.

[Mills College Library]

Fiction V2221m 2009

[Jrayanna Voyageur · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny!

[Laura Sagués · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van camp's style of teling stories and their teachings just ❤️❤️

[Joly · Rating 4 out of 5]

community,,,,,the depictions of intimacy,,,,,,,,,don't touch me i'm sobbing

[Janet Mercer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This so far is my favourite collection of Van Camps stories. A wonderful diverse collection of stories about sharing, love, medicine and healing. Worth picking up to read.

[Numberbox]

Read the title story (p.93-123). Beautiful.

[rabble.ca]

http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2010/0...

Review by Jorge Antonio Vallejos

A drug dealer with a conscience, straight boys who jog naked at night in a group, and a hit-man who finds himself in a life changing ceremony; yes, there's everything under the sun (and moon) in Richard Van Camp's new collection of short fiction The Moon of Letting Go.

A member of the Dogrib Nation of North West Territories, Van Camp is one of Turtle Island's (Canada's) premier writers. Published in The Walrus, Descant and Up Here Magazine, Van Camp brings stories from the North to the rest of Turtle Island.

Just as raw, funny and intelligent as the characters in his other works, Angel Wing Splash Pattern and The Lesser Blessed, it's hard to put down The Moon of Letting Go. Twelve stories in all, some connected via characters, places and events, readers feel like they are hearing town gossip straight from Van Camp's mouth and want to get involved. At times, I wanted to kill the father who molested his daughter; attend the hockey games the town looks forward to; be one half of the couple who has great makeup sex; and meet the mysterious medicine man who has a town in constant fear.

Read more here: http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2010/0...

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of stories from one of Canada's finest storytellers, organized in four sections—Healing / Medicine / Teachings / Love. Richard Van Camp writes with humour and insight into universal human feelings while setting everything in the North. In fact, the North feels like an individual inhabiting the world of his stories and not just a backdrop.

What I liked: So much to like in this book I find it hard to pick a favourite story, but I think I've narrowed down to two: "Show Me Yours..." where the two main characters start a trend of everyone in town wearing their baby pictures around their necks and "I Count myself Among Them" where the protagonist has a personal & spiritual awakening. The characters are fantastic and it's impossible to pick just one favourite. Gerald in "Love Walked In" is a typical teenage boy, all hormones yet trying to do the right thing. Grant in "Dogrib Midnight Runner" the streaking jogger dealing with his feelings of sadness and grief. Kevin Garner, the drug dealer trying to change his life in "Love Walked In" & "The Last Snow of the Virgin Mary". Honestly, the people in this book are so alive. Celestine in "The Moon of Letting Go", love her strength.

What I didn't like: That it ended. I wanted more stories.

[Jocelyn H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this book right now and absolutely love it. Powerful storytelling about members of First Nations communities in the Northwest Territories. The stories are moving, suspenseful, funny, sexy, spiritual. There is a mix of realism and magical realism/myth. The book is set up in four sections: Healing, Medicine, Teachings, Love. So far, it's fabulous from start to finish. I highly recommend this collection and Richard Van Camp as a storyteller.

[Kerry Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pick and choose for me concerning Van Camp's short stories-some were great, some were amusing, and others were just plain boring and I am glad that those were short. Overall a decent book, but I would rather read a novel by him if I got to choose instead of a novel of short stories.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book of stories by van Camp gets better and better!