Imatge de l'autor

James Bartleman (1939–2023)

Autor/a de As Long as the Rivers Flow

12 obres 164 Membres 7 Ressenyes

Sobre l'autor

James Bartleman is the former lieutenant governor of Ontario and the bestselling author of the novels As Long as the Rivers Flow and The Redemption of Oscar Wolf. A member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, he is also a retired ambassador, an officer of the Order of Canada, and winner of the mostra'n més Aboriginal Achievement Award. He lives in Perth, Ontario. mostra'n menys

Inclou el nom: James Bartleman

Crèdit de la imatge: James K. Bartleman

Obres de James Bartleman

Etiquetat

Coneixement comú

Nom normalitzat
Bartleman, James
Nom oficial
Bartleman, James Karl
Data de naixement
1939-12-24
Data de defunció
2023-08-14
Gènere
male
Nacionalitat
Canada
Lloc de naixement
Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Llocs de residència
Orillia, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Port Carling, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Brussels, Belgium
Havana, Cuba (mostra-les totes 7)
Bangladesh
Educació
University of Western Ontario, Canada
Professions
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (2002-2007)
diplomat
Organitzacions
Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD)
James Bartleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing Awards
Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation.
Premis i honors
Order of St. John of Jerusalem
Order of Ontario
National Aboriginal Achievement Award
Officer of the Order of Canada (2011)
Biografia breu
James Karl Bartleman, OC O.Ont (born 24 December 1939 in Orillia, Ontario) is a Canadian diplomat, author, and was the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 2002 to 2007.

James Bartleman grew up in the Muskoka town of Port Carling, and is a member of the Chippewas of Mnjikaning First Nation. In 1963, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in History from the University of Western Ontario where he was initiated as a member of Phi Delta Theta.

Since 2007, Bartleman has been the Chancellor of the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in Toronto, Ontario.

Membres

Ressenyes

Exceptional Circumstances: A Novel by James Bartleman is a fictional account of a Canadian diplomat. Bartleman has an impressive career in the Canadian foreign service: High Commissioner to Cyprus, South Africa, Australia and Ambassador to Israel, NATO, and the EU. He also served as director of security and intelligence for the Department of External Affairs. Bartleman also served as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and initiated the Lieutenant Governor's Book Program in 2004 which collection over 1.2 million books to help fill school libraries in First Nation communities. He has authored six other books both fiction and nonfiction.

The story centers around Luc Cadotte a Métis boy who through a series of events and a caring, although culturally naive, teacher is persuaded to attend college and apply for the foreign service. Bartleman explains the history and plight of the Métis people. Cadotte graduates from college and applies at the Department of External Affairs in the late 1960s. He manages a perfect score on the written exam which earns him a spot at the oral exams. He is questioned intensely, particularly in the idea of when it is proper to break laws and social conventions such as, torture. How many lives are needed to balance that scale? Cadotte, a Catholic, is reluctant to commit but agrees at a certain point the balance tips. What is more important justice of family (country)? Theodore Longshaft asks bringing a Camus quote into the debate. Longshaft is chairman of the committee and the Director General of Security and Intelligence. He is well known as a Cold War Warrior and easily recognized as a realist. Balancing out the committee is Burump the Director General of the Bureau of the United Nations and Global Affairs. He is the softer figure and seems to play the role of the liberal theory, opposed to the realist.

Cadotte surprises the committee and the reader with his actions and then the reader is surprised with the actions of Longshaft and Burump. This places doubt in the mind of Cadotte as to if he is valuable because of who he is or if it is just because what he is, a minority. This theme will play several times in the book. Cadotte’s work overseas involves investigating foreign support for the Quebec Liberation Front (FLQ). The FLQ is seen as a threat to Canadian security. Although not violent yet, it is growing in popularity. An independent Marxist Quebec is not in the general interest of Canada or the United States. The United States involves itself in the matter in more ways than one. One involves Cadotte personally.

The novel can be divided into three sections. The first deals with Cadotte as a youth. The second deals with his role in the Canadian foreign service. The third, and the reason I chose this book, involves Cadotte in the October Crisis. The events of the October Crisis tie directly back to the interview a few years ago and what is considered exceptional circumstances. This is a dilemma for Cadotte who is a good and well meaning person. He faces hard choices and decisions that he will have to live with his whole life. When nations make deals the costs are high and their “official policies” do not always apply, sometimes they are completely abandoned.

Bartleman writes and excellent “spy novel” tempered in the realism of the time, situation, and politics. Class, minorities, justice, and cold war politics all shape this novel. There is not so much a battle between good and evil as it is a battle between varying shades of gray. Bartleman captures the essence of foreign affairs in foreign affairs balancing national interest with justice, law, and morals. An exciting action novel in places and a thought provoking novel throughout. The October Crisis and the FLQ make an interesting comparison to today’s terrorism problem. A timely lesson in historical fiction.
… (més)
 
Marcat
evil_cyclist | Mar 16, 2020 |
This is the story of Oscar Wolf, a young Aboriginal Canadian, from the time he is 13 until he is middle-aged. In this novel, Mr. Bartleman draws on his own experience as a Aboriginal person and a member of Canada's foreign service...but this is a work of fiction, not a memoir.

Oscar's mother and grandmother attended residential schools, where they were abused and damaged for life. We see the effects of this on Stella, who is rejected by her own damaged mother. She, in turn, rejects young Oscar. Luckily, Oscar has his maternal grandfather, Jacob, who loves and cares for him. Jacob's death, which Oscar is responsible for, coupled with his mother's abandonment of him, leaves Oscar in the care of the local Presbyterian minister and his wife, who ensure he finishes high school, then arrange for payment of his university tuition.

This is a story about the struggles of a young Aboriginal man to make his way in the world. He has terrible disadvantages, as well as good opportunities. He searches for the best path: should he try to assimilate in the white world? What does he owe to his people? How can he atone for the crime he committed as a teenager? Oscar struggles with these issues, sometimes consciously; sometimes he appears to be avoiding them, but they affect his behaviour nonetheless.

This is a good story, with Oscar being a well developed character that I could identify with.
… (més)
½
2 vota
Marcat
LynnB | Mar 17, 2014 |
This novel deals with important issues: the inter-generational impact of Indian rersidential schools; sexual and physical abuse; and the racism many aboriginal Canadians face even today. James Bartleman has written a novel that tracks the life of Martha Whiteduck. At age six, she is sent to residential school hundreds of miles from home, where she is sexually abused. She returns to her reserve only to become pregnant and alcholic at 16. Much later, she moves to Toronto and must learn to live in a culture that is foreign to her. Finally, she returns to her reserve and begins a process of healing and rebuilding her family. Through it all the characters are well developed and the plot moves along nicely. However, I found the dialogue didn't ring true. It seemed like the author was trying to tell the reader something rather than portraying interactions among the characters. The author also relied too much, in my opinion, on coincidences to carry the story. Still worth reading, though, for the insight it provides and the faults I've mentioned don't overwhelm the story.… (més)
1 vota
Marcat
LynnB | Hi ha 2 ressenyes més | Mar 12, 2012 |
"If you are going to read one book to glimpse what it's like to be an aboriginal in this country, this novel should be the one."

So says part of a review on the back of "As Long As The Rivers Flow" and I heartily concur. One of the greatest strengths of this of novel is it's great breadth and comprehensive look at what life is like for Canada's First Nations People, particularly the damage done to survivors of residential schools and subsequent generations.

In the the very early 1960's, protagonist Martha Whiteduck , aged six, is taken from her family on the the Cat Lake Reservation in Northern Ontario and flown to a Residential School.The goal of the residential school , run by Catholic nuns and a priest, is to rid children of their Aboriginal culture and "heathen beliefs", and create a "European- Canadian " children. This involved beatings from the nuns, and sadly in Martha's case, a Priest with an an attraction to pre- pubescent girls.

Many years later Martha returns to Cat Lake from the Residential School, full of anger, and no longer comfortable on the Reserve. Filled with anger at her mother, and bereft of parenting skills, Martha soon becomes a mother herself. Sadly, Martha's drinking, inability to care for herself and her child, result in baby Spider being removed by the Ontario Children's Society and the baby is put up for adoption.

From there the story covers much ground, from the racism encountered by aboriginals trying to live off the Reserve, to living on the streets of Toronto, to the hopelessness and self destructiveness felt by subsequent generations of who have lived in residential schools. Despite the sorrow, suicide pacts, and many bumps in the road encountered by Martha, this story is ultimately one of redemption and healing.

Another great strength of author James Bartleman is his ability to create characters who are neither all bad, nor all good, but just people struggling to fulfill human needs. Even the pedophilic priest is painted with a measure of sympathy.

Author James Bartleman , is Ojibwa, and a former Lieutenant Governer of Ontario , as well as a recipient of the Order of Canada. I've read quite a few books about Canada's First Nation's People, but this book stands out in it's ability to shed so much light on the plight and challenges that face Canada's Aboriginal /First Nations people.

Bravo to author James Bartleman for a comprehensive and insight-filled novel.

Highly recommended
4 stars.
… (més)
9 vota
Marcat
vancouverdeb | Hi ha 2 ressenyes més | Feb 5, 2012 |

Premis

Potser també t'agrada

Estadístiques

Obres
12
Membres
164
Popularitat
#129,117
Valoració
½ 3.7
Ressenyes
7
ISBN
33
Llengües
1

Gràfics i taules