I will admit that this is not the first time that I've picked up this book (actually I think it's about my fifth attempt to read it). I've had enormous trouble getting it to stay with me, probably because I ended up having to read the blurb to figure out what was going on. The book has 2 main viewpoints, chapter about an older man and his niece. They talk about themselves, their lives, and their families - in particular there's another niece - the younger sister who is missing. Took me ages to get who was who straight - and that, and the incredibly slow pace had me completely bamboozled for a while. This time I'm finding I can stay with it - so we'll see.
From the Blurb:
Fifteen years after the death of their patriarch, the Bird Clan finds itself struggling to survive on the hardscrabble reservation it calls home.
On Christmas Day, the youngest of the clan, beautiful Suzanne Bird, leaves by snowmobile with her boyfriend Gus Netmaker, against both families wishes, hoping to find purpose and a better life in Toronto. When word from Suzanne and Gus suddenly ceases, the Netmakers and Birds fear the worst and tensions between the two families escalate to violent levels.
Opening Lines:
When there was no Pepsi left for my rye whiskey, nieces, there was always ginger ale.