While dealing with his boss' unusal take on ethics, as well as his smarmy competition, Mahatma must decide if it is more important for him to get ahead at his job or if he should remain true to himself instead.
Some Great Thing reflects on a time period in Canada that was rife with unrest. The subject matter certainly doesn't shy away from the controversial issues that were prominent in the 1980's. Hostile Anglo-French relations are covered, as well as the racial issues still prominent at the time. In spite of the fact that the subject matter is not always pleasant and is often deeply controversial, Hill writes with humour and an abundance of wit, making his debut novel a fast-paced, compulsive read.
Especially noteworthy is the fact that Hill created a large cast of characters that seemed to jump off the page. They are all flawed and human, yet incredibly endearing. I wanted to have most of them over for dinner. My favourite was Ben, Mahatma's elderly father, a gentle man with deep convictions and a love for his son. I loved the fact that he slept better when his son was home- that's fatherly love. I also loved YoYo, the journalist from Cameroon who was visiting Canada for a year and found everything about Canada fascinating. Chuck, one of Mahatma's most genuine friends at the newspaper, had a wisdom and raw honesty that I could almost feel.
I savoured the final pages of this clever novel with a smile on my face, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book that isn't afraid to tackle difficult issues with sensitivity, wit and charm.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of fiction, Canadian fiction fans, those interested in books concerning race relations
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, The Canadian Book Challenge 4
Thank-you to HarperCollins Canada for providing this review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Great review! I love Hill's work. Can't wait to read this one.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good one. I was aware of the Anglo-French tensions, but never realized Canada had trouble with racial tensions as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Kathy -- in school, the only racial tensions we ever learned about were those in our own country. How sad but fascinating! This probably isn't a book I would have picked up on my own, but sounds very moving and interesting.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading this one. I loved The Book of Negroes like everyone else, what an amazing work.
ReplyDeleteI'm also a fan of Hill's after reading Black Berry Sweet Juice. He writes so eloquently about race relations in Canada. I think a lot of people think of Canada as being free from racism and such, and many people don't want to speak on these issues. But Hill does it in such an incredible way that doesn't offend but rather enlightens. As the mother of a biracial family, I appreciate the voice he gives to us.