6/1/2023 0 Comments Tanya split toothI have a copy on my shelf, and - in an effort to curate my personal library - am not certain whether it should stay there. I’m glad I read this book, but I have no desire to re-read it. It’s brutal, unapologetic, visceral, and deeply disturbing. Split Tooth is not a fun read – nor is it meant to be. … that said, I don’t think you could have pulled off this auidobook with any other narrator. You reallllly have to stop, listen, and give it your all. However, she has a very soft, whispy, and monotonous voice that is hard to follow. Tagaq herself narrates, which brings an extra layer of depth and emotion - with the added unexpected bonus of some throat singing intervals. I listened to Split Tooth as an audiobook, which had its ups and downs. Nature and the spirit become part of the girl … and she becomes part of them. Split Tooth is Tagaq’s first novel … a coming-of-age story of an Inuit girl, blending together themes of life in the far north - including alcoholism, violence, and sexual abuse - alongside a shamanic awakening. In recent years, she’s become known as a social commentator and First Nations advocate, and delivered the 2018 Massey Lectures. I’ve followed Tanya Tagaq as an musician - an Inuit throat singer - for a little while, and have seen her live twice. Unlike Ru, Split Tooth was entirely of my own doing. Two experimental novels in one month? Give me an award.
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