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The Lesser Blessed

Written by: Richard Van Camp
Narrated by: Kris Koscheski
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Publisher's Summary

A fresh, funny look at growing up Native in the North, by award-winning author Richard Van Camp.

Larry is a Dogrib Indian growing up in the small northern town of Fort Simmer. His tongue, his hallucinations and his fantasies are hotter than the sun. At 16, he loves Iron Maiden, the North, and Juliet Hope, the high school "tramp". When Johnny Beck, a Metis from Hay River, moves to town, Larry is ready for almost anything.

In this powerful and often very funny first novel, Richard Van Camp gives us one of the most original teenage characters in fiction. Skinny as spaghetti, nervy, and self-deprecating, Larry is an appealing mixture of bravado and vulnerability. His past holds many terrors: an abusive father, blackouts from sniffing gasoline, an accident that killed several of his cousins. But through his friendship with Johnny, he’s ready now to face his memories - and his future.

Marking the debut of an exciting new writer, The Lesser Blessed is an eye-opening depiction of what it is to be a young Native man in the age of AIDS, disillusionment with Catholicism, and a growing world consciousness.

A coming-of-age story that any fan of The Catcher in the Rye will enjoy.

©1996 Richard Van Camp (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Lesser Blessed

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The narrator doesn’t know how to pronounce Métis

I got 30 seconds into what I’m sure is a good book. Too bad the narrator (Kris Koscheski) doesn’t know how to pronounce Métis (met-es) and it threw me off. If your going to narrate a book written by indigenous authors, take the time to learn how to pronounce the words. You do a disservice to the author.

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lesser blessed

loved it, narrator was great. I love the movie as well. Great novel, I recommend

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it was awesomely written and narrated!

I love audible! you get to preview before you buy! purchasing is so fast and easy!

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  • Paul
  • 2020-02-27

Stories Within Stories

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys storytelling. It has added layers of meaning rising, as it does, from the author's cultural landscape. The narrator does a wonderful job with this memorable book.

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  • Cody Blair
  • 2019-08-30

a beautiful story

The near raider was beautiful he captured the native a way of life so perfectly. The author really brought Larry to life for me I worried about the young man I cared for the young man and there were lots of twists to the story that kept me intrigued.

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 2018-11-25

Raw Coming of Age Story

This is a powerful coming of age story. It is very raw and carefully crafted.

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