Noopiming The Cure for White Ladies by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

Noopiming The Cure for White Ladies

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

Noopiming is an unusual and thought-provoking novel that is beautifully written. Though it deals with some dark and difficult subjects, it carries with it an uplifting warmth that encourages the reader to slow down and enjoy the connections between the characters' representations that make up a single being. Anyone seeking a meditative, literary yet unconventional story with themes of nature and spirituality will love this book.

Extract

Whenever Ninaatig returns to the Mark S. Burnham, it is a joyous occasion. Ninaatig's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren feel Ninaatig's absence, although they have come to live with it as a necessary, if unpleasant, part of life. Ninaatig too feels a sort of unrestricted joy being back amongst their closest people. Ninaatigoog always saves Ninaatig's spot. Ninaatig can feel them moving their roots out of the ways as they stretch into the soil so that Ninaatig is grounded and hydrated. Ninaatig longs for the gentle sway of everyone's branches in unison when noodin shows up. They long for the nests and the visits from the birds, sometimes short, sometimes long. [...] They are in love with the harmony of the root nation. They are in love with Ninaatigoog.

Parallels
  • Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
  • More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon