Surviving the war

As time goes on in Three Day Road Xavier learns to accept the fact that he is at war with the Germans and as time goes on he sees his friends and fellow soldiers fall everyday until the day comes when he fires back, he does not miss. Xavier's first kill is a German sniper who has been evading everyone and getting many Canadian kills up and down the lines. After this Xavier understands that they are the enemy and they are always there waiting for a chance to kill him. Further into the war Xavier starts causing more damage to the german machine gun nests and the german front line hitting everything he sets his sight on. Even though Xavier does the hardest shooting Elijah takes the credit making Xavier mad.
I wonder why Xavier himself does not tell Breech and Mccaan of the soldier he has shot and of the machine guns nests he has destroyed. Part of the reason I think is because he doesn't want to be known as a killer even though it would gain him more respect from Breech and Mccann. Elijah even though he tries to show of and brag about what he has done he knows Xavier has always been a better shot and sniper than Elijah.
I now know why and how Xavier loses his leg it is unexpected. I also know what happens to Elijah it is very unexpected. The question i have is what made Xavier lose his mind and do what he did. I would explain but i do not want to spoil the ending.All I have to say to wrap up is that the war took a huge toll on everybody some let it show and some kept it hid until they exploded in the end.

The Sniper

        Elijah and X become the main big snipers they are the two best shots in their platoon and they are both chosen to go and shoot. The two men are very good snipers at the start Elijah is the main sniper and X just spots the hun that they are able to hunt and kill. They are a very good team killing an average of 5 hun a month. X doesn't get very much credit for anything because he isn't the one killing the hun. The one day they both go out with snipers and go to spot hun to shoot. They sit out there for hours and they don't see anything. X is begining to thing that there is no great sniper from the Germans. Elijah and X's main objective is to be better and to be the best snipers around they want to kill this hun sniper so that they will be the best sniper in the while war. The two men are very good snipers because they think of the sniping to be just like hunting. They have to be still and calm and not move they are to kill the other hun which they think are just like animals it becomes a job. They are to kill the other hun and that a order and what the guys want is to be the best snipers. "My rifle is steady on a place just above the rifle poking out from under the corpse and without any more thinking i pull the trigger"(pg 129).  When sunset came one day Elijah wants to shoot his rifle and he finds a cow out in the middle of the field between the two trenches. X does not want him to shoot but Elijah wants to and reassure him they will not be spotted. Elijah shoots the cow and it explodes everywhere then something beside it moves and they hear a bang and Elijah yells in pain, X sees the sniper and shoots and kills him. X has killed the great sniper. They are both happy and they have killed the sniper, they can now be called he best.

Rule of Thirds

     The story includes a lot of information about the number three. Throughout the novel we read about objects being divided by three and even the title of the book is the THREE day road. Many examples from page 245 include the division of the army, the daily routine, and how things happen. Xavier realizes this and begins explaining: "It seems to me that everything these wemistikoshiw do is in threes. They are obsessed by that number. The front line, the support line and the reserve line is just the beginning of it." He goes on to explain further about every working group is split in three, there are three rituals/manitous, and how people die in threes. 
     The reason why everything is about three may be because the Native people believe that when you pass away, it takes three days for your spirit to separate from your body and continue to the spirit world. The European version is much more complicated but simply insists that there are three faces of god. Perhaps the reason why the war is centered around three is because it is symbolizing the journey to the spirit world. Xavier makes a small prayer to Niska, stating that there must be magic in the number and is wondering when he will have to walk the three day road. 

First Impressions

     My first impressions on Three Day Road are not what i expected them to be. I expected the book to be about, mostly at least, about the war not flashbacks to post and prier to the war. It also jumped from two characters in the book so far I have read which gives two view points to better understand what was going on through both of their experiences. I found the reading hard to follow with so many stories told at once to be challenging.

     The scene where the characters are at war, one of the characters' father killing someone that was deemed a windigo, the characters are following a lynx and ended up in a forest fire, memories of one of their aunties, and dealing with the struggles of the characters trying to fit in to Caucasian culture and speaking their language. It affected the pace of my reading to try to keep track of their experiences.


    

   

The "Wendigo's"

          The book "Three Day Road" by Joseph Boyden is a very interesting book, i am on page 46 and the one thing that has stood out to me, was when he brought up the super natural being the "Wendigo". The "Wendigo" is a Mythological being of Algonquian Native Legend in which a human has fed on another human. This has caused them to evolve into something that isnt human, has claws, taller, stronger. This part of the book is very interesting and should be to any who like Mythological beings. In the book the "Wendigo"  comes to be by a small family of Three. The Father who is going out to Hunt, brought his wife and child with him and promised to feed his child. For all the tracks they followed, they all lead no where. eventually it led to the Husbands demise. it left the wife no other choice but to eat the flesh of her husband to survive. The wife then fed the baby, and went back to the town with all the "Food". This eventually led to them to dying in the outcome. i thought this part was very well placed and well told.

The most important impression is the first Impression.

My reason why the first impression is really important is because it matters the most if it is either meeting another person or seeing something for the first time or maybe even the first impression of a book. My first impression of this book was that it was going to be another boring book. However as I read the first couple of pages it changed the way I thought about it and It slowly as I started getting more into the book it became more exciting. There are some parts of the book that i did not like and I wished were put together a bit better. It also gave me a different perspective of world war I.

Questions?

1. Why is there flashbacks used in this novels. 

The reason why I think flashbacks are used in novels is because it is an effective way to tell a story. 

Brothers or not?

While reading the three day road I have noted that there is a lot of differences in the characters Xavier and Elijah. The differences start all the way back when they were children, and their differences in how they were brought up I believe was the root of feeling towards the Wemistioshiw. Elijah went to the residential schools and quickly picked up the way and language of the other people. Which to me would make sense for him to resent and hate the Wemistioshiw, but quite honestly he seems to enjoy the way they do things. the only time I felt he really disagreed was in their medicine but recently found out he tried it despite the fear. Where as  Xavier does not want to accept or integrate into the Wemistikoshiw ways. I believe he resents Elijah for accepting and even participating in the ways of the Wemistikoshiw, Elijah is well liked and even respected by the other men, where as Xavier is more in the shadows. Xavier learns but refuses to learn the language of the Wemistioshiw. I believe we can all agree and say that Xavier cares a lot more for Elijah, you can see this throughout the chapters. For example when they were hunting and there was a forrest fire and Xavier when he woke up first concern was Elijah and he was searching for him swell. However Elijah got himself out without concern for his sleeping "brother". Most recently there has been tension between the two of them when it comes to their places in the group. When Elijah brought up the fact that they maybe separated Xavier seemed torn when Elijah gave off the whole I don't give a shit attitude to be completely honest.

War

Three Day Road


While I was reading a certain part of this novel(66-67), the trenches and how they are described stands out most for me. How deep they are, and moist as well as steepness of these deep trenches. They describe mostly describe them as shallow ditches because that's what they mostly look like. I would feel very upset for the fact of sitting down low against the "earth" like they say, and hoping to not be seen, but feel as safe and quiet as possible as you are able to do. Elijah and Xavier describe in their words as they felt discomfort while being in those trenches, they had no where dry to sit down and sleep nevermind lie down anywhere in there. Nothing was ever comfortable for Elijah and Xavier to wear on their feet because the water was as deep as their knees, and would make walking feel like there was bricks on their feet. These scenes described what War was actually like and how it wasn't a breeze, nor easy to survive through these tragic and rough times. I could not imagine hearing a flare go up in the air and having to hit the dirt so my nose is touching the earth. Very minimum people will step forward and go there and live such a horrifying life like these people have done for many many years. This is more or else reality and something you should take into consideration with thinking how these guys live, and how they go some days or many days lying in these trenches, starving, and sleeping with one eye open at all times. Life would not be fun.

First Impressions

     My first impression of this book can be summed up in three words, I hated it. Three Day Road was simply something that I wouldn't read on my own outside of school. It had one redeeming quality in my eyes which was the fact that it had sections talking about the war. These interested me but seemed to be few and far between off the start. The flashbacks didn't grab my interest at all and the characters did not seem to be people that were interesting in my opinion. To some it may have grabbed their interest because it was a unique story but even with this it did not grab my interest.
     As the story progressed it became much better. Mainly because the setting of most of the story line turned into the duo of Xavier and Elijah in World War 1 but also because the flashbacks began to make much more sense and it seemed that they were placed much better. The flashbacks were used very well to progress the story while not confusing the reader making them wonder if it is past or present. Perhaps the most important was that the characters became more likeable. Their development was great throughout the chapters, especially Xavier and Elijah.

Kane Charnstrom

First Impression

 After reading a few chapter of the novel Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden I could not wait to put it down. The flashbacks at the start of the novel were very confusing to me as I could not follow the novel. I believe the author did not use these flashbacks in an effective way, since it was early in the novel I could not connect to them yet. These confusing flashbacks left me never knowing if it was present or past which I did not like. The flashbacks were not the only thing I did not enjoy. I found the start of the book to be extremely boring, especially when the book was taking place in Moose Factory. There was nothing exciting happening which left me wondering why I was reading the novel. I do not like reading books especially when they are boring and do not grab my attention right away.

 Although the flashbacks were very annoying off the start, they began to make sense as I progressed through the book. Once the book began talking about war and the actions of the trenches it grabbed my attention as I love a good war story. My first impression of Three Day Road was not positive, however I have gotten used to the book and look forward to do the war action. 

Dependent

    The friendship between Xavier and Elijah has been made apparent from the very first chapters of the novel. The two have been best friends since they were just children and have continued to have a bond that has just become stronger over time up to the present when they are in World War 1. It is obvious that they are friends but does Xavier care about Elijah then perhaps Elijah cares for Xavier. I believe that Xavier has made Elijah a part of his identity throughout the years that they have been friends while Elijah still sees him as a good friend he is much more independent. This is ironic as Elijah would not be where he is without the help of Xavier. Xavier taught Elijah the majority of what he knows about hunting, tracking, and especially shooting. Elijah was the dependant one but now it seems that the tables have turned.
  
     A big reason that I really believe this is because when Elijah says that the army might split them up he shows no emotion while Xavier is clearly upset that they would think of doing that. " It will teach you a little about independence . It will give you a chance to make a name for yourself, to grow a little." (Pg. 102). This is when Elijah is telling Xavier that he should prepare himself if they get separated by the military and in the process says this which does not sit well with Xavier. Elijah is implying that Xavier is not his own person, that he depends on him in the military. The fact is not that Xavier is or is not dependent on Elijah but that Elijah is this harsh and rude in saying it to him, someone who is supposed to be his best friend. Another reason that I personally believe that Xavier cares more about Elijah is when Elijah is reckless and doers stupid things Xavier cares a great deal. A great example of this is when both Xavier and Elijah are sitting and they hear a moaning injured German soldier. Elijah jumped down into no mans land to kill him without telling Xavier. Xavier sat there very worried that Elijah wouldn't come back to him.

       I believe that with these reasons and the path that the novel is taking Xavier will soon realize that Elijah is not as great of a friend that he once was and they will begin to drift apart either because they get separated or because events between the two of them cause a fight between the two and will end their long lasting friendship.

Kane Charnstrom 

Mute

In one  part of the book Three Day Road, Xavier talks about how Elijah has become more popular within their battalion because of his marksmanship. Xavier explains how Elijah talks about his "latest exploits" and I believe that Xavier feels that Elijah is being almost egotistical. Xavier mentions how he taught Elijah everything he knows, but he doesn't tell anybody. I think a lot of people feel that they can't voice their thoughts and that could cause a lot of problems with confidence. I know when I don't speak my mind I really regret it, whether it be two minutes later or the next day. I know Xavier doesn't speak english very well but he could've said something to Elijah if he was feeling "invisible". I feel that, eventually, Xavier will have held back many emotions and do something drastic. Holding in these emotions and words can make anybody do stupid things.
On the other side of things, Elijah, I feel, will have let this "fame" get to his head and he will become someone he is not. What that is, I have no clue. At the beginning of the book, before the war, Xavier and Elijah went hunting together with Xavier acting as teacher to Elijah. Elijah may have felt that now that they were at the war it as his time for glory. At first it may have been harmless, but I believe that it will escalate into something much more.

A Brutal War

 Usually, I do not enjoy reading war novels as the history they are writing about is being dipicted incorrectly or a far stretch from the actual truth. We as Canadians are often forgot about in the histories of war, even when our country has sacrificed so much. Joseph Boyden has done a fantastic job describing the Canadians role in World War l, as well as the settings and just how brutal the trenches actually were. In the book the author leaves nothing out about the brutalities of the trenches from mustard gas to literally rotting alive waiting for the enemy. Trenches were flooded, muddy, and unsanitary which meant that if the Germans did not get you the trenches would. Joseph Boyden also does a great job telling the reader how war changes Xavier and Elijah in the book. Even early in the book the characters begin to change, Thompson asks Elijah if he likes to kill, he responds "It's in my blood". Just from this quote I began to realize how what Elijah has expirenced in the war has already changed him. Soldiers are normal people like you and me, so it is nice that an author changes his characters based on the atrocities of war.

 I enjoy how the author described the brutal tactics of World War l and how it changed the characters, as well as how he acuratly depicted Canada's history in the war. It a refreshing change from normal war books. 

The high life.

In the story we meet Xavier, he was in a war incident where his leg was blown off. Now Xavier has a problem, he is stoned on morphine. That's right, he's high on morphine. The morphine contributes as a painkiller. Morphine is a drug deprived of opium that was first marketed in the 1820s. The problem with morphine is that is highly addictive like heroin. Xavier is definitely a different person after the war, he seems to be suffering from some PTSD. The incident where his leg was blown off would have been super painful. Back during WWI there wouldn't have been much for medicine besides morphine. Xavier hated morphine, he thought the needle as being a demon. He watched another soldier use morphine and fall limp into a braindead trance. When Xavier comes home from war he continuously uses morphine. Xavier seems to feel remorse for what he is doing, he knows his aunt sees him doing it. Every time he uses the morphine he goes into a memory from the war. These flashbacks are very interesting and the go deep into his mind and what he is feeling. It is hard to tell what is going through the mind of someone who is on drugs. Are all these flashbacks hallucinations? His condition also brings around the question that will he kick this addiction? It is sad to see all that Xavier has gone through, will he return to sobriety?

The Horrors Of War

In the book "Three Day Road" by Joseph Boyden, he does a good job explaining about what happens in the war. Boyden tells the accounts of two aboriginal men, Elijah and Xavier. When they enter the war they are both scared and dont know what to expect, but once they enter they realise that the war is not a very nice place. "That was their phantom sniper" Elijah says with awe "The one that killed Sean Patrick, he was hunting us too" ( Pg. 129) In this passage Elijah wants to sight in his rifle so he aims at a dead horse on the field. When he pulls the trigger a sniper shoots between them and Elijah cant see. Xavier trains his rifle over the spot and pulls the trigger, killing the phantom sniper. I really enjoyed this pat in the book because it is talking about the war and it is the first time Xavier shows that he can hold his own. What i mean by this is that without Xavier providing cover fire and killing the sniper, Elijah would have probably been shot due to his inability to see and shoot. This part in the book also gives Xavier a better reputation from the fellow Canadians and it seems like they respect him more.

Are We a Team or Not

     In the first chapters of Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden, we are introduced to an inseparable pair, Xavier and Elijah. During the prologue Xavier acts like a teacher or big brother with Elijah, telling him to say quiet throughout the hunt; both of them agreeing that they were best friends. As the story progresses Xavier tells Niska about him and Elijah's journey to volunteer for the Canadian army. As they were sleeping a forest fire, that had been moving their way, caught up to them. Elijah jolts Xavier awake, and takes off for cover, throughout all the confusion Xavier loses Elijah. When Xavier gets to the river after being worried sick and yelling for him, Elijah comes out of the river as though nothing was wrong. This scene, to me, suggests that Elijah didn't care to be worried about Xavier he was just worried about his own safety.
     This event in the book leads me to believe this is foreshadowing the separation of the two. If Elijah just leaves Xavier behind like that doesn't it signify the beginning of their separation? In addition, throughout the book Xavier is left behind in Elijah's shadows because of his fluent English and how the other soldiers in his squadron seem to be drawn to him; leaving Xavier the outcast. As a result of Elijah's fame, Xavier becomes jealous. Xavier had taught Elijah his hunting skills and how to shoot, and there wasn't even a thanks to him for it. Another event causes Xavier to become envious when Elijah gets injured because he had rushed the placement of a machine gun; Xavier finishes placing the gun and pulls Elijah to the trenches safely. Even though Xavier had saved Elijah's life there was still talk of Elijah getting a reward and nothing for Xavier. These events are hurting their friendship and may cause the friendship to die.

First Impression

My first impression of Three Day Road by Joseph Borden is that it is well written. The author does not stay too long on one topic travelling from the past to present leaving you to wonder what is to come in the next chapter. Three Day Road started out by telling of Xavier's past as a child in which he teaches Elijia to hunt and shoot. The book moves on to the future where Xavier has returned from war; he has no leg and has a bullet hole through his upper arm. In this way, the author is good at creating suspense.


What I want to know is when Xavier loses his leg and gets shot in the arm and along with that what happened to Elijah as he has not been heard of except for in Xavier's memories. Sometimes it is funny to see Xavier's and Elijah's point of view to our world because they do not understand how cars work or why planes fly. What I like about the book is that Xavier and Elijah make something of themselves in the military. I think that becoming a sniper helped them gain respect and being a sniper I think they can help out the Canadians more than as just foot soldiers.


I believe that Xavier could become more as a sniper and as a man but there is something holding him back because of this he hides in Elijah's shadow. I predict that at some point in the book Xavier will come out of his friends shadow and be the hero for taking control and making the right decisions. I believe he will do this because all the troops already know he is a better shot than Elijah and the short blonde highlander; he is just not letting himself be the best sniper because he does not like to kill people even if they are the German enemy.

Phantom Sniper

     Elijah and Xavier were out scouting as usual, sniping off targets and making sure the Fritz keep their distance. There was no action that day and as the sun was setting Elijah wanted to determine the accuracy of his rifle. He shot a bloated horse corpse and its organs sprayed the ground. Before Elijah could comment on his skill, a mystery sniper shot back and blew shrapnel into his eyes. It was up to Xavier to deliver a shot of his own. He shot twice where he saw the wisp of smoke and was able to deal the final blow to the enemy.

     From what I read on page 128, it is relevant to the character development that Xavier was finally acknowledged for his expertise in sniping. Even though this is his first kill, he has shown considerable skill throughout competitions. Elijah was the one who absorbed most of the attention but without Xavier he wouldn’t have been where he is right now. Xavier is allowed to take the dead sniper’s rifle and join in the shooting which makes him a much more valuable asset. Everyone in the camp is recognizing Xavier’s talent and in turn Xavier is ready to put out more effort and helping clean up the Germans in a more violent manner. Rather than set up and dig tunnels, Elijah and him are scouting and sniping any possible targets.

     Elijah is also proud and is surprised that Xavier got the kill instead as he exclaims,”We will get you a souvenir of your first great kill.” Of course, Xavier is squeamish about murdering people and doesn’t want to approach someone who was shot through the head. Soon, he discovers tricks to keep his food from coming up and he slightly becomes stone cold in his thinking. He learns that it is either kill or be killed so he chooses the former option. I believe Xavier will continue to develop a stern look on life and even as he tells his story, there is an obvious way how he acts differently between the past and the present.

The Power of the Drug

     In the book Three Days Road we hear that Xavier has an addiction to morphine. This seems odd because he is so against it when Grey eyes is addicted to it, and when Elijah is in need of it. We know he loses his leg in the war but we do not hear how yet. We know that Elijah gets killed and has tried the morphine on his trip to the war. Xavier doesn't like what the drugs do to people and believes it fogs their mind. Xavier is battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and many times when this happens the people turn to drugs and or alcohol. "Many people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or operational stress injuries (OSI) also face the added challenge of an addiction. In fact, 36% to 52% of PTSD sufferers also abuse alcohol. Research also indicates that 34.4% of those with PTSD also had a substance use disorder." (Addictions and Mental Health Ontario) This tells me that Xavier isn't just addicted to morphine he is using it as a coping mechanism for his PTSD. Seeing the things he saw in the war will affect him the rest of the life how he copes with it is the question. He will have to ask himself to start getting back to a norm.I don't think Xavier is an addict just because he can be one, but an addict because it numbs his mental and physical pains.

Cannibalism

In the book Three Day Road Niska describes her father and his ways of being chief. As well she tells us about his job as a windigo. His job was described in depth. He is a medicine man and helps people find game to hunt as well he takes care of people who have become cannibals. Niska is very young when she learns of things from her father. She would have been no older than 12 when she witnesses for the first time her father disposing of cannibals in her very home. I personally couldn't imagine seeing someone be killed in the hands of another person, never mind that person being my father and see him do the same to a young child. On the other hand I also could not imagine someone eating another human. Everyone gathering around the  family table and the dad missing and you ask "mom wheres dad" as you take another bite of your meat from your plate and your mother replies " in your tummy".  What would you ask them to pass you if you wanted more? This reminds me of the movie city slickers. "Hey can you pass the Phil? Yum this sure is a good meal thanks to Phil" (City Slickers). Niska wasn't affected by what happened, she learned from it and wanted to do the same in the future. This part of the book was very disturbing to me.

The Resistent Canadians

       The book Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden is a different book then what i am used to reading the topics it covers from being into World War 1 and also natives having to go to residential schools and then fighting to stay alive in the woods on their own with very little food and game to hunt. I did not mind the book at all I’m very interested in the scenes where there is fighting and they go into depth about the war and the activities that took place and the different ways they used to fight each other. “When twenty or thirty minutes pass and i begin to think that Thompson is mad, I make out the sound of men sneaking about below. I can hear them whispering, can hear the step of boots all around where I’d slept this morning. Thompson gives the nod and we set and throw the bombs in at the same time. They explode in a series of concussions. Men Scream”(pg 75 Boyden). I Like this passage because it shows that Canadians in World War 1 and all wars did the unthinkable. We are known to do whatever it takes to get through anything and get the job done. Canadians stuck it through the worst and put their lives at risk so we are able to live ours. The book has really shown me what the war was like and what the canadians really had to go through and thats why im interested in the war scenes because the jobs and tasks they were made to do and put through just to fight and just to get through to the end so we can have our freedom.

A New War to Fight

     There is a strange culture with a strange language, fighting a strange war and you're in the middle of it. In the book Three Day Road, the First World War is portrayed in a new way and from the perspective of a First Nations soldier. Xavier Bird is of Cree blood, but is also a Canadian soldier fighting overseas in Belgium and that makes him different than other soldiers.

     I find that seeing the war in the perspective of a First Nations man is a great way to keep the novel interesting. The fact that Xavier is struggling with the fact that he has and will continue to have to kill men in the war brings the intensity of the book to a higher level. The reader can feel what he feels and can empathize with him as he becomes a sniper and continues to work through the things he must do (pg. 88). It seems that Xavier is somewhat unsure of what and for whom he is really fighting for but regardless of that he continues to fight in the war. I think this shows Xavier's bravery and selflessness, which is shown throughout the book. I feel like Xavier thinks that the war is senseless killing of human life but as he is in the war for a longer period of time he begins to become desensitized to the killing. The war had the same effect on Xavier as it does to many men, and it does not seem to matter the race or beliefs of the soldiers. The war so often desensitizes soldiers and has other long lasting effects such as PTSD and addiction. 
     Despite the differences of a First Nations soldier and any other soldier, they all are deeply affected by war. Xavier may have been different then the other soldiers but I think that by the end of the novel Xavier will be affected by the war and be not much different than any other soldier in the war.

Fight the Pull

Elijah has just told Xavier about the first time he tried morphine. He is embarrassed I feel for betraying himself and giving into the pull of drug abuse. He was so sick and desperate that he lost the respect for his body. As he tells Xavier this, X isn’t happy. X hated this addictive poison for what it did to people. Their spirt left and they were no longer whole. Elijah knew what he did was wrong, but when people are desperate they will do anything to help their situation. “Elijah fights the fear by himself, and then just decides to let his head float away.” (127) Elijah has a battle within, he may feel no pain but the fear is very real. Perhaps even in his state he remembers what his morals are and fights the pull of the drug, but it’s too strong and just lets his self go.