Book Review: Consumption
Author: Kevin Patterson
Genre: Literary Fiction
I picked up this novel because it appealed to both my passion for Canadian literature and my curiosity about life in the Arctic. Similar to one of the characters in the book, I have been guilty of romanticizing the life of the Inuit. If you have done the same, this book will slap you in the face with its honest and stark portrayal of life in the North.
On its surface, Consumption is an interesting tale depicting the life of an Inuit girl named Victoria. We meet her at the age of 10 in the late 1960’s only shortly before she is diagnosed with TB and whisked away to a Sanitarium in Manitoba for treatment. During the time she lives in the “south”, Victoria’s identity fundamentally changes from a child born on the tundra aware of nothing beyond the nomadic hunting life of her family, to a young woman very accustomed to modern conveniences. She returns to her family six years later, unable to speak their language and a stranger in her own community. She is surprised to find that her family has settled into government housing. We soon see that they are utterly and irrevocably changed by coming off the land. This is a haunting and tragic story that will leave you heartbroken.
True to the title, the concept of “consumption” echos in this book on many levels. Consumption is, in its most literal, an alternate term for Tuberculosis and the wasting effect it has on the human body. However, as we peel back the layers of the story we see modern life consuming an ancient culture and its traditions, a doctor consumed by addiction, daughters consumed by the future, and a son by the past. We also find the story of a mine that consumes the natural resources highlighting the ongoing tension between the government and the desire of the Inuit for autonomy. In the end, strong themes around parent-child relationships and isolation are the bones that support this story.
Although the characters are purely fictional, their stories resonate with an honesty that being based on true life events can afford. The author, Dr. Kevin Patterson, travels frequently to the Arctic to practice medicine and is all too familiar with an episode in the 1950’s and 60’s where up to 1/3 of Inuit children were evacuated south to be treated for TB. He uses uses stories told to him by his patients as a jumping off point and makes no effort to soften the edges. The characters that we meet in this novel are unflinchingly and unapologetically human.
Along with the narrative of the story, this novel contains translated Inuit poetry, and the unpublished manuscript of one of the characters. This “manuscript” is, in essence, a series of essays designed to bridge the gap between the changes to the Inuit culture and lifestyle portrayed in the novel, and their relevance to society as a whole. Although this structure adds interest to the novel, at certain points “the manuscript” begins to feel like a somewhat clumsy attempt by the author to include certain thoughts that he couldn’t quite fit into the narrative.
There is no question that there is an element of social commentary to this novel. However, he manages to fold this gently into a haunting tale that is a rich and satisfying read.
Note: for more information on author Kevin Patterson you can visit his author page on the Random House Canada website.
