Un villaggio di piccole case

by Ian Ferguson, Seba Pezzani (Translator)

Nel 1959, in fuga da certe spiacevoli complicazioni con la legge, i genitori di Ian Ferguson lasciano Edmonton, nella provincia canadese dell'Alberta, per dirigersi più a Nord. Dopo un viaggio di 526 miglia, finiscono per stabilirsi a Fort Vermilion, sperduta cittadina di frontiera, una delle più povere comunità del paese. Tra ricordi veri e romanzati, in un alternarsi di personaggi memorabili, Ferguson racconta con ironia la sua infanzia nel Grande Nord, dove il Circolo Polare Artico sembra più vicino del resto del mondo.

Genres: Memoir, Canada, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Biography, Autobiography

206 pages, Paperback

First published November 27, 2003

About the author

IAN FERGUSON won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for Village of the Small Houses and is the co-author, with his brother, Will, of How to Be a Canadian. A writer and creative director in the film and television industry, he lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Ian Ferguson recalls his time as a child living in a remote community in Northern Alberta.

This one is a bit hard to review. Ian has a disclaimer at the beginning of the book noting that this is a “memoir of sorts” in that most of it is true other than the parts that are not. I suppose knowing ahead of time may make it easier when you discover what was real and what was changed, but I was disappointed to find one of the more emotional moments had been completely fabricated. As someone who champions James Frey’s Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard, maybe I don’t have a right to critique these elements of Ferguson’s book, but I would be lying if I didn’t feel a bit manipulated at the end.

That isn’t to say that you should skip this one; not at all. I enjoyed it for the most part. It is a fairly quick and often entertaining read. Although Ferguson won the Stephen Leacock (best in Canadian Literary Humor) in 2004 for this book, there are some particularly heartbreaking moments involving Ferguson’s father and friends Bud Peyen and Lloyd Loonskin.

Having lived in Northern Alberta for a time (although, I would not consider Fort McMurray “remote” even if there is only one road out of town; we did have a Walmart after all) I enjoy reading about life in isolated parts of the country. Village of the Small Houses is less tragic and more humourous, but it feels like an important read nonetheless if only to understand the complex relationship between indigenous and white Canadians.

[Lbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Village of the Small Houses is a memoir of sorts, or sort of a memoir. Take your pick. I was born and raised in Fort Vermilion, which is famous for two things. It set a record in 1911 for the lowest recorded temperature in Canada at sixty-one below, a record that wasn't beaten until 1947 by Snag, Yukon. And it was, at the time, the third-poorest community in Canada. Things have improved. Fort Vermillion is now the fifth-poorest community in the country.
This book is as honest as I could make it, but I haven't let the facts get in the way of the story I was trying to tell. Nothing that follows is true, except for the parts that really happened."

This hooked my interest, and it never lessened through the entire book. It was sad, funny, odd, and fascinating - I truly enjoyed it.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is about a kid growing up in a small town in northern Alberta, and about how his family doesn't really belong there, especially the author. He outgrows the town and sees it for what it really is, and boy he can't wait to get out of there! The book shows us the many splendors of the small aboriginal community such as the Tea Dance and the Town Meeting. Make no mistake, this book is fiction: Bud Peyen was not a stupid, confused, old drunken Indian as he is portrayed in this book. He was a wise man, and he was also a Medicine Man. The last one in his family, in fact. He was a sober man for many, many years before he died. Also? He died warm in a hospital bed after getting pneumonia. He did NOT get CONFUSED AND SIT IN A SNOWBANK AND DIE. My recommendation for this book, which is purely a work of fiction, is to take it with a grain of salt. Maybe a salt lick, instead.

[Paola Simonetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ambientato nel profondo nord canadese, tra neve, strade inesistenti e quelle esistenti come lastre di ghiaccio, villaggi sperduti e scollegati dal resto del mondo, un luogo inospitale. Gli indiani (Creek) con le loro tradizioni, i riti quasi magici. L'amicizia, la solidarietà, la tolleranza e il loro esatto contrario sono il filo conduttore di questa autobiografia raccontata, nonostante tutte le difficoltà del luogo e la povertà patita,con un sottile umorismo.

[Valerie (Pate) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book to me and if they hadn't, I doubt I would have ever known of its existence. It is truly a hidden gem with a rare sort of "storyteller" style; reminiscent of tales told round the campfire.
Ferguson's life experiences have been quite extraordinary, and they definitely needed to be shared with a wider audience. Growing up in such a unique location as Fort Vermilion; an extremely rural and isolated artic region of Canada, Ferguson's memories of growing up in the 60's are more than a little atypical. There are plenty of humorous reveries to keep the audience riveted, but this book also hits upon a more plaintive and moving snapshot of humanity. In a community where native Canadians and white settlers have come together, and yet often remain separated by invisible barriers, Ferguson and his family cross those boundaries almost immediately after their arrival in Fort Vermilion. Ferguson's style and perspective are quite obviously influenced by the cross-cultural experiences of his youth. The memoir's summation is anything but humorous, and yet I was glad of its bare honesty.
I wish that Ferguson had written more books that I could subsequently devour, but he has left his audience wanting. His brother, Will Ferguson, however, has been very prolific and is best known for his book, "How to be a Canadian: Even if You Already Are One". I will one day give that one a read for sure.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, Ian Ferguson compressed a lot of life into 200 pages. He took us from before he was born until he was 30, and what a gruelling trip it was. Dragged up to northern Alberta by his ne'er-do-well father and helpless mother, he survived years of rough living in a bush town before getting away for good at age 15. He made a close friendship with a sad, doomed young aboriginal boy and watched his town go through the struggles of development after oil and gas were discovered.

At times the book was funny and seemed slight but then there would be passages that would break your heart. I cried through most of the last chapter.
This isn't a masterpiece but it is definitely worth reading if you're at all interested in the time and place he was writing about. I definitely recommend the book.

[Alan Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favourite quote: “Just because something is easier doesn’t mean it’s better.” — Augustus Noskiye, page 181.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad. And cute. But mostly sad. A tragi-comedy, where even the funny parts make you a little unhappy. And whenever I read these slightly fictionalized/embellished accounts of people's childhoods, I always find myself wondering what they tweaked, and why, and what was true. What actually happened? Why did they feel the need to make their life story more intriguing or dramatic? It seems to me that fictionalizing your history has become much more common (or maybe it's because I'm reading more biographies now). I used to think that biographies were supposed to be all true. At least to the best of the author's ability. But maybe they were always embellished, and we're just open about it now?

Also, I noticed lately I love everything I read. Hopefully that won't invalidate my opinion; it's much more enjoyable to read books you love than to force yourself to finish one you hate. Which is what I used to do, and finally was able to stop. But, in the interests of fairness I'll try to review something I hate. Or at least was only moderately fond of. I don't want people assuming I automatically and thoughtlessly love everything I read.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir is like Glass Castle except it's from a male perspective, the parents are not quite as whacked, the dad leaves sooner, it takes place in Northern Alberta (primarily), many of the characters are Native, it has more humour in it, and it ends when the narrator is in high school. If Glass Castle was too heavy for you, try this one. I think I'm partial to Village of the Small Houses because it's more enjoyable reading -- lighter, funnier, shorter. And maybe it's because I'm Canadian, but I enjoy reading books with Native characters more than Southern Americans: better humour and outlook.

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Leacock Award for Humour winner. A funny, charming memoir that reminded me of Angela's Ashes. Ferguson brings a humorous slant to what really was a tough, often grim childhood. There is no self-pity here. I loved the connections his family had with the Native people in his community. Every person mentioned in this book is a rich, interesting, unique individual. The author wastes no words, he has a knack for letting the reader know all that they need in very few words. Ferguson was honest about the strengths and failings of everyone in his past, and especially his own failings as an adult. A loving look back at a memorable childhood.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when it first came out b/c my parents had bought it... they had lived/worked in Ft. Vermilion for a few years fresh out of University (moved there right after Ferguson moved away). I enjoyed it as a good story at that time.

I re-read it a couple years ago while I myself was living up north, and loved it. A lot of the issues/events that Ferguson writes about are still issues today. I suppose having an "insider's view" gave me a better understanding or appreciation for the book. (Or as "insider" as a non-local could ever be in FV :)

[Cathryn Wellner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short memoir of a childhood in one of Canada's northern communities, Fort Vermilion, grabbed me from the first words. The quirky characters who peopled his family and ramshackle community were achingly familiar to me from my own childhood on a scruffy, dead-end street. Ferguson writes of them with loving acceptance. I laughed, shuddered and even shed a few tears. His memoir touched me in a place most don't, and I'm grateful for my library's making the digital version available.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some parts, hated others. I loved some characters, hated others. I liked Ian for some parts, hated him for others. I have a sort of love/hate feeling about this memoir. The plot started well, but started falling short near the end. I was quite disappointed in the ending. However, this was one of the few books I had to read for school that I fully and completely finished.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story has been written by a man who lived in a small town in northern Alberta, Fort Vermillion during the 1950's. His father was employed as a teacher with the Native population a position he held until it was discovered that he did not actually have a teaching degree. His humorous perspective adds to the enjoyment of the book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if I hadn't been to Fort Vermillion I would have still enjoyed this book. I love small-town memoirs and appreciate the glimpses into the local psyche they offer. I greatly look forward to my next trip to Fort Vermillion.

The end of the book left me with a haunting question on my own character: What would I have done?

[Scott Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Ferguson's accounts of growing up in Fort Vermillion were tragically funny and interesting. This small, almost unknown, northern Alberta town clearly shaped Ferguson's identity and his ability to draw from those experiences to illuminate not only his life but the lives of those he grew up around are quite evocative.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how it didn't try to be over-anything. Not overdramatic. Or overly funny. Or tragic or whatever. It just seemed very true and didn't seem to hide any facts ( even though a chunk of it, I suppose, are altered facts ). The writing along with the tone just gave it a very good authenticity and the truth about Canadians ( dun dun dunnn ) is really prevalent.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much I bought copies for friends.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it! was like a Canadian version of the Glass Castle. could not put it down!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering that I never really like Ian Ferguson, I enjoyed this book more than I expected. Interesting characters.

[Yves Brunet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple read, funny book about a young man who is raise in the Canadian North. It sounds true and funny.

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never been able to fully see the grim humour in growing up with a father who agenda is himself and not the interests of his family

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest, humourous and caring memoir. An excellent read.

[Tom Axworthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Ferguson, a well known Canadian playwright, calls this a " memoir of sorts" because while he describes his growing up in poverty in Fort Vermillion in the far north in Alberta( almost a thousand miles from Edmonton) in the 1950s and 1960s with wit and insight he also acknowledges that he changed the names of some characters to protect privacy and invented another as a composite of how some whites abused his native friends.Village of the Small Houses won the 2004 Leacock medal for humour and the stories of his childhood in Fort Vermillion are very funny indeed.I especially
enjoyed the chapter on Fort Vermillion's distinctive"movie theatre" -a large hut with a movie projector- that showed endless Elvis movies.
But there is sadness too as his parents marriage broke up with his Dad dropping out of the memoir half way through( his mother, a nurse, must have been a remarkable woman to raise a large family on her own in the North a generation ago) and two of his indigenous best friends Bud and Lloyd die far too early.I grew up in Edmonton at exactly the same time as this memoir and the book brought back many memories of Alberta.This is a funny, insightful book well deserving of the praise and awards it has recieved.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in cities and small towns in southern Canada in the 50s and 60s I was aware that life was likely different further north but Ian Ferguson's memoir starkly describes how vastly different it was. Born in tiny Vermillion, Alberta to a grifter father and a resourceful mother, Ferguson inhabited a world of housing without electricity or plumbing, schools without accredited teachers, slightly feral children who routinely beat each other up and an uneasy blending of White and Aboriginal cultures. Ferguson's unfettered writing style is both blunt and beautifully descriptive. When food was scarce successful hunters shared their moose meat. An enterprising resident orders up movies and converts a hall into a cinema, but only shows films she likes. Ferguson leaves Vermillion but many do not, or cannot leave. His memoir is a tribute to his and their resiliency.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Ferguson makes the early disclaimer that “ Nothing that follows is true, except for the parts that really happened”, so many of the stories he tells ring true. The characters fit the ones I met in northern Alberta when I worked north of Slave Lake for two summers.
The book includes stories about his childhood and adolescent years in Fort Vermilion, much about his family, and about the people in and around Fort Vermilion. There are many light-hearted narratives but beyond those are the dark themes of alcoholism, abuse, family breakdowns, and accidents causing catastrophic injury. Ferguson writes an absorbing account of northern Alberta in the 70s. Likely not much has changed in the past 50 years.

[Anna Noga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago and loved it. I read it again because my sister sent it as a gift for the pandemic. It’s a great book. Although I never lived in Ft Vermillion, I lived in the north. The north attracts its share of interesting characters who just really don’t fit anywhere else. From that you get a lot of interesting and frankly funny stories.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short memoir of a childhood in one of Canada's northern communities, Fort Vermilion, grabbed me from the first words. Having lived, and worked in Northern Alberta, in Fort Vermilion, and Tall Cree, this book has got to be one of my favourites of all time. Great writing, and imagery. I find so many parallels in this story, to my experiences in the far north, many years later.

[Deborah Sowery-Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see this book won the Leacock for Humour in 2004. I actually don't think it is a laugh a minute as it's also pretty serious with some serious dysfunction going on but I really enjoyed it & it held my interest from beginning to end. It is about the author's childhood in a remote Canadian town, his family, friends, poverty.

[Michelle Onyango · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a memoir of sorts.

I didn’t take it literally and knew much of it was created or altered for entertainment purposes.

I laughed in quite a few spots and cried in others. It’s a quick read too.

I loved Bud and Lloyd. I wish there was a book solely written from Bud Peyen’s perspective. He was the star of this book.