Bruno_30, blogger And contributor from the 20 Minutes Books reading group, recommends “The Last Feast of the Defeated” by Estelle Tharreau, published on November 2, 2023 by Éditions Taurnada.
His favorite quote:
“ […] Logan didn’t like zeal, heroes, vigilantes, stunts and loud mouths. He didn’t have an oversized ego, but enough self-esteem to refuse to be taken for a puppet. A quiet force and not a poor guy. A nice guy, but not a naive one. Discreet, but not tasteless. Above all, he hated those who betrayed their commitment to cover local notables or political figures. They hated small arrangements with the truth. »
Why this book?
- Because Estelle Tharreau chose to take us in the lands of the Innu Indians in North America to discuss a subject with a sinister reputation: the mistreatment (what a euphemism) inflicted on Indian children in Catholic boarding schools. Institutional violence in the service of ethno-cultural purification and white colonization. The apologies and compensation did not arrive until… 2021.
- Because the author takes her time to install the different characters of a small town lost in the north of Quebec not far from an Indian reserve. A little too stereotypical characters but it’s necessary for the demonstration. The adult Indians and parents of today are the children bullied, beaten and raped in Catholic boarding schools: an entire lost generation incapable of finding a “normal” family and social life, incapable of bringing love and education to next generation.
- Because the police believe they are doing the right thing by putting on the spot a naive and discreet young cop who should help put the matter to rest as quickly as possible. Everything will go up in flames when the sawmill’s backhoe loaders unearth terrible secrets… While the ghost of a caribou haunts the snowy plains.
The essentials in 2 minutes
The plot. In this snowy microcosm, the installation of a large industrial sawmill is announced which will upset the precarious balance of an already battered region. At the same time, Naomi, a young Indian girl, goes missing. Enough to exacerbate the latent tension smoldering under the snow.
Characters. The chief of the Indian police, the feminist host of a local radio, families ravaged by alcohol, a few white people too, the city cop, a rich notable owner of a hunting cabin… two young people also who come from the capital to awaken the silence of the town.
Places. Estelle Tharreau takes us to Canada, to the lands of the Innus Indians. More precisely in the Meshkanau Indian reserve in northern Quebec.
The time. Today, but today’s traumas have their roots in the last century when Indian children were “re-educated” in Catholic boarding schools.
The author. Estelle Tharreau is an author from Lyon who is accustomed to creating thrillers called to serve a just cause.
This book was read with a lot of interest in this novel and the context mentioned: an enjoyable read, a solid plot, a documented and well exploited context. But we will have to wait for the last words of an Indian prophecy to understand the meaning of this mysterious title.
To buy this book on Amazon
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