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Moon of the Crusted Snow

A Novel

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Moon of the Crusted Snow

Written by: Waubgeshig Rice
Narrated by: Billy Merasty
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About this listen

A daring post-apocalyptic novel from a powerful rising literary voice

With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.

The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision.

Blending action and allegory, Moon of the Crusted Snow upends our expectations. Out of catastrophe comes resilience. And as one society collapses, another is reborn.

©2018 Waubgeshig Rice (P)2018 ECW Press
Dystopian Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction United States World Literature Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Scary
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What the critics say

“Perfect for those who read Iain Reid’s Foe this summer and are looking for something in the same vein.” (The Globe and Mail)

“The creeping tension and vividly drawn landscapes make Waubgeshig Rice’s characters’ choices all the more real.” (Toronto Star)

Moon of the Crusted Snow asks how do we live in a good way during the collapse of the infrastructure that supports modern life? For Evan Whitesky, the answer lies in rekindling Ojibwe, the old ways, language and culture. For other characters, when the food runs out, all options are on the table, no matter how gruesome. As the tensions between those surviving the end of modern civilization build to a harrowing conclusion, Rice deftly weaves tender family moments with his brutal survival scenes in the unforgiving northern Ontario winter. Chilling in the best way possible." (Eden Robinson, award-winning author of Monkey Beach and Son of a Trickster)

Go Behind the Scenes of Moon of the Crusted Snow

''What I hope people take away from Moon of the Crusted Snow is that there is hope,'' author Waubgeshig Rice shared with Audible in a conversation held at the 2019 Festival of Literary Diversity in Brampton, Ontario. ''Despite all the darkness that we endure even in modern society, there are things to be hopeful for.''
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What listeners say about Moon of the Crusted Snow

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Enjoyed the story

I struggled with the narration at the beginning but once I adjusted to the rhythm I ended really enjoying the performance. The story moves fast and I very much enjoy learning and listening to traditions and perspectives through the lens of our first nations. A great first novel from one of my favorite CBC journalists.

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Incredible

This book was enchanting. From the small events of daily life to large community concerns the Indigenous way of being was demonstrated. Concepts of community are made clear and values reinforced. It reflects the strength of First Nations communities and the humanity in their traditions of living on and with the land.
The narrator's voice was perfect.
Highly recommended.

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beautifully eerie

Wow, what a story! No wonder this was on the Canada Reads long list. A story about resilience, survival, and family. Great narration as well.

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Fantastic story

The story is captivating!! So good I couldn’t put it down!! The characters and narrative voice was such good storytelling

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We all need to read this. We all need to learn.

This couldn't come at a better time; when we are globally challenged, pushed to the edge, then pushed again.
It is not easy to read it all in one fell swoop. At least not for me. Give time to pause, to reflect and empathize, to assume, hypothesise and then learn. One could walk away with so much inspiration.....or denial and closemindedness because it challenges us to look at the past and not look away but create new possibilities. Possibilities come with unknowns. Unknowns come with fear. But they don't have to.

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Chilling

Worth listening both reading this book. Beauty mixed with a slow build of horror.

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More Please!

Such a well spoken story. Endings are difficult yet this story finished with elegance. Billy Merasty’s narration was a perfect fit. More please.

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A tale of a return to living with the seasons

This tale is a reminder that we should be living with the seasons now by choice. Sooner or later, we will be living with the seasons any way we choose.

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Gripping

Very well written, draws you in and along, and stays with you after you're put it down.

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Genuinely enjoyed this, inspiring

I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Having worked in and around First Nations for decades I can admit to holding a hopeful curiosity for how these communities would react under a scenario like this.
This book brought me so close to this community that I am now seriously considering booking a week or two on a First Nations Territory up in Northerm Ontario to learn and use my trade skills to help my friend build something on his land there.

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1 person found this helpful