Saskatchewan author-
Joan Soggie
Gabby Mackenzie knows little and cares less about prairie people or their history. She sees her assignment to interview a hundred-year-old settler as nothing more than a bump in her hazy career path.
But as she gets to know old Mr. Tollerud and the land that has been his home, she finds herself drawn into the interwoven stories of the settlers, the Metis, and the First Nations who came before them.
And her own life changes.
REVIEW by Paul Bennett on GOODREADS
I read a lot of historical fiction most of which I seek out from a favorite cadre of authors. Sometimes, however, I get requests out of the blue from authors who have somehow stumbled upon my humble review blog. Joan Soggie is one of those, and her book Prairie Grass was a stunning surprise. It's one of those books that not only entertained and educated me, it also touched my heart. I was intrigued by the subject matter - a look at the vast western prairies and how they have changed over the thousands of years they've been inhabited by a variety of flora, fauna, and men. It coincides to a good degree with my own writing about America's past in terms of the treatment of the native tribes affected by an expanding nation. I particularly enjoyed the development of the protagonist, Gabby, as she is introduced to subject matter that reaches far beyond the mandate of her research project. The going back and forth between the stories of Eric and of Jean-Jacques captures the readers imagination; draws them into the ever changing landscape, the ever changing values. This was indeed time well spent - I will end with a quote from Gabby (one that mirrors my own thoughts) "I was angry. Angry at an educational system that taught us while maintaining our comfortable ignorance. Angry at my country that touted itself as being fair, open-minded and welcoming while denying most of us its true history. " I highly recommend Prairie Grass. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐