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Ragged Company
Four chronically homeless people–Amelia One Sky, Timber, Double Dick and Digger–seek refuge in a warm movie theatre when a severe Arctic Front descends on the city. During what is supposed to be a one-time event, this temporary refuge transfixes them. They fall in love with this new world, and once the weather clears, continue their trips to the cinema. On one of these outings they meet Granite, a jaded and lonely journalist who has turned his back on writing “the same story over and over again” in favour of the escapist qualities of film, and an unlikely friendship is struck.
A found cigarette package (contents: some unsmoked cigarettes, three $20 bills, and a lottery ticket) changes the fortune of this struggling set. The ragged company discovers they have won $13.5 million, but none of them can claim the money for lack proper identification. Enlisting the help of Granite, their lives, and fortunes, become forever changed.
Ragged Company is a journey into both the future and the past. Richard Wagamese deftly explores the nature of the comforts these friends find in their ideas of “home,” as he reconnects them to their histories.
A found cigarette package (contents: some unsmoked cigarettes, three $20 bills, and a lottery ticket) changes the fortune of this struggling set. The ragged company discovers they have won $13.5 million, but none of them can claim the money for lack proper identification. Enlisting the help of Granite, their lives, and fortunes, become forever changed.
Ragged Company is a journey into both the future and the past. Richard Wagamese deftly explores the nature of the comforts these friends find in their ideas of “home,” as he reconnects them to their histories.
376 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2008
About the author
Richard Wagamese
23 books1,441 followersRichard Wagamese was one of Canada's foremost Native authors and storytellers. He worked as a professional writer since 1979. He was a newspaper columnist and reporter, radio and television broadcaster and producer, documentary producer and the author of twelve titles from major Canadian publishers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 823 reviews
May 18, 2017
This book Ragged Company is TRULY ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE FICTION BOOKS. I found every page delicious. As someone who has written short stories about homeless characters, who worked helping homeless and street people in Toronto for many years, and as a fiction writer in general, I just found this book so true, entertaining in a most respectful way and I wanted to shout it from the building (and tree) tops....READ THIS BOOK! Wonderfully written. Bravo Richard, for finding such an authentic voice in this book. Loved it! Mo
August 28, 2021
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After I read Richard Wagamese's Medicine Walk, I was looking forward to reading more of his work. And Ragged Company did not disappoint. Similarly to Medicine Walk, which felt like a long conversation between a dying man and his son, Ragged Company presents its readers with a dialogue-heavy narrative. Amelia One Sky, Timber, Double Dick and Digger are the makeshift family at the heart of this novel. After enduring personal tragedies and hardships they now live on the street, referring to themselves as rounders, where they spend their days drifting from street to street, on the lookout for warm spots, food, and drink. During a particularly cold winter they start seeking refuge in movie theatres, where they find themselves being swept away by the films they watch. They repeatedly come across the same man, a former journalist called Granite, who also views films as an escape. After the loss of his wife and child Granite views films as an escape from the pain of his lonely existence. While not everyone is keen on his presence, Digger for one is particularly against 'Square Johns' (that is 'respectable' members of society), our rounders form a sort of companionship with Granite.
When Digger picks up a winning lottery ticket, for the value of 13.5 million dollars, their lives are irrevocably changed. Because they don't have any proper identification they seek Granite's help. Although their newfound wealth drastically changes their lives and lifestyles, they have difficulty assimilating back into society. They carry their trauma with them, and are all similarly haunted by their past. As each character tries to confront their past actions and mistakes, the bond between our makeshift family deepens. Things don't go smoothly for all, and at times no matter how hard you try you won't be able to forgive yourself for the terrible things that you did.
As I said this is a very dialogue-oriented story. Whereas in Medicine Walk descriptions of the natural landscape offer breaks in the father/son talk, in Ragged Company the focus remains on the characters' conversations and arguments. Still, First Nation beliefs and teachings around spirituality illuminate its narrative.
Although this isn't an easy or fast read, I loved it. Wagamese has a gift for creating realistic characters, and an ear for dialogue. Although he doesn't loose himself in sentimentalities he demonstrates careful empathy when writing about his characters' suffering. Because the story is set in 1980s the films our characters watch and discuss could easily seem dated or obscure, but thanks to Wagamese skill for conveying his characters impressions of these films they don't (if anything he made me want to watch those films I didn't know about). Plus Cinema Paradiso gets a mention!
If you happen to have read other books by Wagamese or you watched and enjoyed Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers chances are Ragged Company is the book for you.
“We become eternal by being held in memory's loving arms.”
After I read Richard Wagamese's Medicine Walk, I was looking forward to reading more of his work. And Ragged Company did not disappoint. Similarly to Medicine Walk, which felt like a long conversation between a dying man and his son, Ragged Company presents its readers with a dialogue-heavy narrative. Amelia One Sky, Timber, Double Dick and Digger are the makeshift family at the heart of this novel. After enduring personal tragedies and hardships they now live on the street, referring to themselves as rounders, where they spend their days drifting from street to street, on the lookout for warm spots, food, and drink. During a particularly cold winter they start seeking refuge in movie theatres, where they find themselves being swept away by the films they watch. They repeatedly come across the same man, a former journalist called Granite, who also views films as an escape. After the loss of his wife and child Granite views films as an escape from the pain of his lonely existence. While not everyone is keen on his presence, Digger for one is particularly against 'Square Johns' (that is 'respectable' members of society), our rounders form a sort of companionship with Granite.
When Digger picks up a winning lottery ticket, for the value of 13.5 million dollars, their lives are irrevocably changed. Because they don't have any proper identification they seek Granite's help. Although their newfound wealth drastically changes their lives and lifestyles, they have difficulty assimilating back into society. They carry their trauma with them, and are all similarly haunted by their past. As each character tries to confront their past actions and mistakes, the bond between our makeshift family deepens. Things don't go smoothly for all, and at times no matter how hard you try you won't be able to forgive yourself for the terrible things that you did.
As I said this is a very dialogue-oriented story. Whereas in Medicine Walk descriptions of the natural landscape offer breaks in the father/son talk, in Ragged Company the focus remains on the characters' conversations and arguments. Still, First Nation beliefs and teachings around spirituality illuminate its narrative.
Although this isn't an easy or fast read, I loved it. Wagamese has a gift for creating realistic characters, and an ear for dialogue. Although he doesn't loose himself in sentimentalities he demonstrates careful empathy when writing about his characters' suffering. Because the story is set in 1980s the films our characters watch and discuss could easily seem dated or obscure, but thanks to Wagamese skill for conveying his characters impressions of these films they don't (if anything he made me want to watch those films I didn't know about). Plus Cinema Paradiso gets a mention!
If you happen to have read other books by Wagamese or you watched and enjoyed Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers chances are Ragged Company is the book for you.
February 8, 2018
Rocked my world... First introduced to Richard as keynote speaker at the Sechelt Readers and Writers fair. Through spirit, humour, storytelling, wisdom, and even drumming, Richard had 500 people in tears as they bonded with his message of community,spirit, life, history, and Canada. I then met him at a coffee shop in my hometown and we have since become friends. He is making a difference in this world. Ragged Company was jaw dropping for both the storyline and the literary genius. I wondered how anyone could draw me in so fully to connect with each character and, later, I came to understand that Richard knows each character to their depths. A brilliant book.
Update 2018: Rest in Peace, Richard. Thank you for your contributions to this earthly realm.
Update 2018: Rest in Peace, Richard. Thank you for your contributions to this earthly realm.
July 10, 2016
"Home is a place of history and love. It is a truth you carry with yourself. It's belonging, regardless. It's the place you never need to qualify or measure up, the place that you never have to fear losing. It's bred into the heart and germinated by sharing, spawned by community."
Richard Wagamese has created another breathtaking character-driven book about a search for home, and the peace that comes from learning that home really is a place you carry inside. By probing and organically unveiling the lives and losses of the four main characters - who begin the book as homeless street people who have relied on a street code to define their relationship and loyalty - Wagamese weaves another unforgettable tale that left me wanting more. The genius of Wagamese's writing, IMO, is it's timeless, human-based observations. He is a true storyteller. He draws out his characters. You love them, hate them, like them, are willing to abandon them because there just so ... large, more than occasionally uncomfortable and heartbreakingly realistic. But you can't. You can't let them go until Wagamese has used their story to fully transmit his message, and all of the truth, emotion and revelation that requires. In this book, he challenges traditional definitions of home and how the bricks and mortar that comprise most people's daily conception because they have no reason to question it, it just the beginning. What creates home his connectivity, reliance, loyalty and strength. But the strength begins with individuals. Strength and a willingness to connect; to lay yourself bare with all of your faults and vulnerabilities, and trust that someone is going to accept that and want to connect regardless. So you belong.
This book is beautiful, but it's not one to be rushed. Give this one time. If you can, reading a turn-the-pages copy to hold the physical weight of the words Wagamese has written, a precursor to the emotional journey you're about to take through his spellbinding mastery of his craft. I needed to slow my pace and settle into this book. The language is stunning, and the story unforgettable, and I found I both wanted and needed to savor it. It was a book that required a slowing of my breathing, a settling and ultimately, a box of tissues. I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. My plan was to immediately begin to read Indian Horse but I find I'm not ready because Amelia, Digger, Dick and Timber are still residing in my head and heart. So I'll treat them to another great Canadian author and story before I'm ready to move on from the magic spell Wagamese weaved with this book.
Richard Wagamese has created another breathtaking character-driven book about a search for home, and the peace that comes from learning that home really is a place you carry inside. By probing and organically unveiling the lives and losses of the four main characters - who begin the book as homeless street people who have relied on a street code to define their relationship and loyalty - Wagamese weaves another unforgettable tale that left me wanting more. The genius of Wagamese's writing, IMO, is it's timeless, human-based observations. He is a true storyteller. He draws out his characters. You love them, hate them, like them, are willing to abandon them because there just so ... large, more than occasionally uncomfortable and heartbreakingly realistic. But you can't. You can't let them go until Wagamese has used their story to fully transmit his message, and all of the truth, emotion and revelation that requires. In this book, he challenges traditional definitions of home and how the bricks and mortar that comprise most people's daily conception because they have no reason to question it, it just the beginning. What creates home his connectivity, reliance, loyalty and strength. But the strength begins with individuals. Strength and a willingness to connect; to lay yourself bare with all of your faults and vulnerabilities, and trust that someone is going to accept that and want to connect regardless. So you belong.
This book is beautiful, but it's not one to be rushed. Give this one time. If you can, reading a turn-the-pages copy to hold the physical weight of the words Wagamese has written, a precursor to the emotional journey you're about to take through his spellbinding mastery of his craft. I needed to slow my pace and settle into this book. The language is stunning, and the story unforgettable, and I found I both wanted and needed to savor it. It was a book that required a slowing of my breathing, a settling and ultimately, a box of tissues. I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. My plan was to immediately begin to read Indian Horse but I find I'm not ready because Amelia, Digger, Dick and Timber are still residing in my head and heart. So I'll treat them to another great Canadian author and story before I'm ready to move on from the magic spell Wagamese weaved with this book.
March 31, 2024
Mar 30, 915am ~~ Sometimes I can write a review immediately after finishing a book, and other times I need a few days to sort out my reactions and think of something to say that truly reflects them. That is when I say 'Review asap' and give myself that time.
But then there are books that are so stunning for me that I can almost never explain in words how they made me feel. This is one of those books. All I can say right now is 'WOW'.
And in case I do not ever make it back to expand on that, I will simply add 'Please Read This Book'.
But then there are books that are so stunning for me that I can almost never explain in words how they made me feel. This is one of those books. All I can say right now is 'WOW'.
And in case I do not ever make it back to expand on that, I will simply add 'Please Read This Book'.
January 23, 2024
If there's one thing Richard Wagamese knows how to do it's make you feel. He is able to tap into the emotional core of his characters, and in turn tap into the reader's very soul, better than many authors I've read from. And while his craft and storytelling isn't always technically perfect, it's that raw, undefined quality that shines through his stories that makes them so memorable and powerful.
In Ragged Company we follow five protagonists, four of whom are homeless: One for the Dead (Amelia One Sky), Timber, Digger and Double Dick. During a particularly bitter winter storm the group seeks shelter in a movie theater where they meet soon-to-become fifth member of their ragged company: Granite, a retired journalist. After Digger discovers an unclaimed lottery ticket that ends up winning them $13.5 million, we follow this crew as we see how life off the street brings old memories and troubles to the surface, and how they lean on one another to overcome their past traumas.
Within each of the four main parts of this novel are smaller sections that regularly switch between all five protagonists who all have distinct narrative voices. I enjoyed hearing from all of them, even if, compared to other Wagamese novels I've read, it was an adjustment following so many characters. We learn a lot about their presents and their pasts through each section, as Wagamese slowly doles out information.
My only minor quip with this story is its tendency to lean into melodrama. Perhaps because of the nostalgic quality and reflective tone of the story, it can tend to come across as cliche or platitudinal, with characters either speaking or narrating in quotes that you imagine printed on a poster about life, love, family and home. Don't get me wrong, I think it's beautifully written, but it does come across occasionally as a bit simplistic.
But I'm biased because I love Wagamese and trust that by the end he will weave it all together to make an unforgettable story. I also trust him to handle this material, especially about the homeless experience (and Granite's job as a journalist) because of his personal experience with these things; at least, more trusted than other author's who might try to tackle the same subject matter.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as someone's first Wagamese—it's a bit longer than his other works, more meandering/meditative and character-driven—but it's a fine addition to his oeuvre and one I'm glad to have read!
In Ragged Company we follow five protagonists, four of whom are homeless: One for the Dead (Amelia One Sky), Timber, Digger and Double Dick. During a particularly bitter winter storm the group seeks shelter in a movie theater where they meet soon-to-become fifth member of their ragged company: Granite, a retired journalist. After Digger discovers an unclaimed lottery ticket that ends up winning them $13.5 million, we follow this crew as we see how life off the street brings old memories and troubles to the surface, and how they lean on one another to overcome their past traumas.
Within each of the four main parts of this novel are smaller sections that regularly switch between all five protagonists who all have distinct narrative voices. I enjoyed hearing from all of them, even if, compared to other Wagamese novels I've read, it was an adjustment following so many characters. We learn a lot about their presents and their pasts through each section, as Wagamese slowly doles out information.
My only minor quip with this story is its tendency to lean into melodrama. Perhaps because of the nostalgic quality and reflective tone of the story, it can tend to come across as cliche or platitudinal, with characters either speaking or narrating in quotes that you imagine printed on a poster about life, love, family and home. Don't get me wrong, I think it's beautifully written, but it does come across occasionally as a bit simplistic.
But I'm biased because I love Wagamese and trust that by the end he will weave it all together to make an unforgettable story. I also trust him to handle this material, especially about the homeless experience (and Granite's job as a journalist) because of his personal experience with these things; at least, more trusted than other author's who might try to tackle the same subject matter.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as someone's first Wagamese—it's a bit longer than his other works, more meandering/meditative and character-driven—but it's a fine addition to his oeuvre and one I'm glad to have read!
October 15, 2013
What is the meaning of home? Is it a roof, shelter from the rain, four walls and a bed? Is it a feeling of belonging, knowing that there are people who support you? Is it as simple as a physical place, or does it need to evoke some sense of emotional or spiritual well-being as well?
Ragged Company follows the story of four chronically homeless people. Home-less. Stop right there. We're not quite sure what a home is yet, we just know that these four people don't have it. Even if they huddle in the same doorway every night, or stake their claim over the same blessed hot air vent for years, their spirits are wanderers, searching for a sense of home that eludes them both within walls and without them.
Richard Wagamese is no stranger to his subject matter. He begins his acknowledgements with the following: "I am sincerely grateful for the help of all the workers in all of the drop-in centres, missions, shelters, and hostels I ever stayed in through the years." He knows his characters inside out because he was one of them, and the authenticity comes through in his writing.
I know these guys too, but from the other side of the glass wall called privilege that we like to pretend doesn't exist. I spend my days at a drop-in centre listening to heartbreaking stories, trying to find a shred of hope in what sometimes seems like a desolate personal landscape. Fuck, I'm so lucky. I know the tales Wagamese tells are not far-fetched, even when you want to cry out, "God damn it, hasn't she suffered enough?"
It is easy to dismiss homeless people, to not even see them, to let them blend into the shadows. We've trained our eyes not to look at them, until they show up where they're not wanted. Not wanted. They're not wanted. People are scared of what they don't understand, and quite frankly, most of us don't understand how a person could survive on the streets - for years or even decades - without managing to lift themselves off the concrete and into an apartment. Or we blame them for the mess they've gotten themselves into, treat them like lit fuses, drunks, crazies. So when these four (homeless) people wander into a movie theatre on an icy cold day and ask to purchase four tickets, security is alerted in a flash. Imagine wearing an Unwanted sticker on your forehead every single day of your life.
Wagamese plays with different voices, telling the story in five alternating viewpoints. Digger's got the sort of talk that'll punch you in the gut: "The street's got an edge to it that'll slice you like a fucking razor if you're not tough enough." Meanwhile, Timber's erudition is enough to unsettle your preconceived notions of the intelligence of homeless people. (Hell, some of them even manage to climb out of that stigmatizing hole to publish books!) I applaud Wagamese's attempt to diversify the picture of homelessness, rounding it out with Dick, who is slower than most, and One for the Dead, a spiritual native woman who serves as a maternal figure for "the boys". The fifth voice belongs to a man about as acquainted with homelessness as your average person.
Ragged Company begins on the street and never really leaves it, because the main characters have concrete in their bones. The pivotal point in the plot is when they (gasp!) win the lottery. As the life stories of the characters are gradually drawn out of them, Wagamese gets to his point - that it was never really about money in the first place. Don't get me wrong, money is a huge factor is determining someone's living conditions, but there are generally deeper, more complex issues underlying homelessness that can't be waved away with a few generous cheques. Four walls don't make a home.
My frequent digressions betray my interest in the subject, and let's face it, I was made to like this book. So I can't pretend that I had the critical distance necessary to judge the novel for its literary merit. But who cares. Whether or not you ever lay hands on this book, I challenge you to make a greater effort to acknowledge the presence of homeless people whenever and wherever you see them. Because they fucking hate being invisible.
Ragged Company follows the story of four chronically homeless people. Home-less. Stop right there. We're not quite sure what a home is yet, we just know that these four people don't have it. Even if they huddle in the same doorway every night, or stake their claim over the same blessed hot air vent for years, their spirits are wanderers, searching for a sense of home that eludes them both within walls and without them.
Richard Wagamese is no stranger to his subject matter. He begins his acknowledgements with the following: "I am sincerely grateful for the help of all the workers in all of the drop-in centres, missions, shelters, and hostels I ever stayed in through the years." He knows his characters inside out because he was one of them, and the authenticity comes through in his writing.
I know these guys too, but from the other side of the glass wall called privilege that we like to pretend doesn't exist. I spend my days at a drop-in centre listening to heartbreaking stories, trying to find a shred of hope in what sometimes seems like a desolate personal landscape. Fuck, I'm so lucky. I know the tales Wagamese tells are not far-fetched, even when you want to cry out, "God damn it, hasn't she suffered enough?"
It is easy to dismiss homeless people, to not even see them, to let them blend into the shadows. We've trained our eyes not to look at them, until they show up where they're not wanted. Not wanted. They're not wanted. People are scared of what they don't understand, and quite frankly, most of us don't understand how a person could survive on the streets - for years or even decades - without managing to lift themselves off the concrete and into an apartment. Or we blame them for the mess they've gotten themselves into, treat them like lit fuses, drunks, crazies. So when these four (homeless) people wander into a movie theatre on an icy cold day and ask to purchase four tickets, security is alerted in a flash. Imagine wearing an Unwanted sticker on your forehead every single day of your life.
Wagamese plays with different voices, telling the story in five alternating viewpoints. Digger's got the sort of talk that'll punch you in the gut: "The street's got an edge to it that'll slice you like a fucking razor if you're not tough enough." Meanwhile, Timber's erudition is enough to unsettle your preconceived notions of the intelligence of homeless people. (Hell, some of them even manage to climb out of that stigmatizing hole to publish books!) I applaud Wagamese's attempt to diversify the picture of homelessness, rounding it out with Dick, who is slower than most, and One for the Dead, a spiritual native woman who serves as a maternal figure for "the boys". The fifth voice belongs to a man about as acquainted with homelessness as your average person.
Ragged Company begins on the street and never really leaves it, because the main characters have concrete in their bones. The pivotal point in the plot is when they (gasp!) win the lottery. As the life stories of the characters are gradually drawn out of them, Wagamese gets to his point - that it was never really about money in the first place. Don't get me wrong, money is a huge factor is determining someone's living conditions, but there are generally deeper, more complex issues underlying homelessness that can't be waved away with a few generous cheques. Four walls don't make a home.
My frequent digressions betray my interest in the subject, and let's face it, I was made to like this book. So I can't pretend that I had the critical distance necessary to judge the novel for its literary merit. But who cares. Whether or not you ever lay hands on this book, I challenge you to make a greater effort to acknowledge the presence of homeless people whenever and wherever you see them. Because they fucking hate being invisible.
August 20, 2013
Terrible book, one dimensional characters, and a saint of a middle class white man, how unoriginal! The homeless alcoholics speak and are spoken to like children throughout, but I'm pretty sure alcoholism and depression don't make a person child like. It's demeaning. If you want to feel "worldly" because you read a book from the point of view of a homeless person, go for it, but if you'd rather a realistic human perspective, don't read this, you'll be disappointed.
Read
July 12, 2018I’m having a hard time putting words to this book. Here’s the thing. Wagamese is the storyteller of all storytellers. That man found the inner narratives that shape people’s lives, so that you come to see how people are who they are as they came to life on his pages. That happened here, as it has in the other books. But, this story of four homeless folks who have a change in fortune, and reveal that money does not erase trauma, didn’t work for me. The characters were too archetypal, the grizzled angry man, the brilliant man with a heavy load, the nurturing spiritual oracle lady, and the gentle giant (think of mice and men) whose intellectual disability and suffering becomes a teaching point for others, plus no less than three white saviours! I appreciate the humanizing of the homeless in this book. I appreciate that there was still a story I was drawn to.But I think Wagamese was early in his storytelling years, and that this fell back on some comfortable tropes. Read it, but not as your first Wagamese I’d say. As an aside, I don’t think Wagamese writes women well, and it works better for me when the main characters are men, and he explores the relationships between men.
March 21, 2020
Second Reading
Just as magical and moving a read the second time around. Richard Wagamese is an amazing author and story teller. Ragged Company is an incredible story about what it means to be human (to be real and vulnerable connecting with other humans and the earth.) It is also a wonderful illustration of how to love others unconditionally for who they are and to "really" see them in all their perfection. I was moved to tears frequently. Wagamese also weaves a great deal of indigenous teachings into this fiction, which ramps it up to an even higher level. It's unfortunate that Wagamese has left this earth and will not be able to use his spiritual gifts, wisdom and talents to write even more wonderful literature to read. We are blessed however to have the legacy of literature that he has left us. Ragged Company is one of his finest works and my favourite of his fictional novels that I have read. RIP Richard. Your love remains with us and you will always be with me in my heart.
Just as magical and moving a read the second time around. Richard Wagamese is an amazing author and story teller. Ragged Company is an incredible story about what it means to be human (to be real and vulnerable connecting with other humans and the earth.) It is also a wonderful illustration of how to love others unconditionally for who they are and to "really" see them in all their perfection. I was moved to tears frequently. Wagamese also weaves a great deal of indigenous teachings into this fiction, which ramps it up to an even higher level. It's unfortunate that Wagamese has left this earth and will not be able to use his spiritual gifts, wisdom and talents to write even more wonderful literature to read. We are blessed however to have the legacy of literature that he has left us. Ragged Company is one of his finest works and my favourite of his fictional novels that I have read. RIP Richard. Your love remains with us and you will always be with me in my heart.
August 29, 2022
3 and a half stars.
January 3, 2022
This book will sit with me for a long time- after reading it, I would rank it as one of my top five favourite books. Where to begin? It tells the story of beautiful, complicated individuals who are often overlooked by the world around them. It is a book about the pain we carry, the friendships we share and how home and community become places of healing for our brokenness. The writing is evocative, allowing the reader a picture into the lives of each character, seeing what has shaped them and how they are changed moving forward as a result of facing and sitting with their pain and sharing it with others. This book was devastating, hopeful, sad and beautiful all at once. It is one I plan to read again and also makes me want to add all of Richard Wagamese's books to my want to read shelf.
August 6, 2018
My one big problem with this book is that they only give me five stars to rate it. I consider it a seven. Double Dick, Digger, Timber and especially One For The Dead are going to live inside me for a very long time. Even Granite found a way to touch me. Rarely a book comes along that is the right book for the right time. It engages the mind, it touches the heart. It wrenches the gut. Absolutely powerfull.
September 3, 2016
https://ayearofbooksblog.com/2016/07/...
“Some stories come your blood. They move beyond the telling or the showing and come to rest inside you. Invade you. Inhabit you. Like there was a secret crevice in your being that it took the tale to fill. That is what the movie was like”
Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese was written in 2009 preceding both Indian Horse and The Medicine Walk. The novel tells the stories of four homeless individuals, their street names – One For the Dead, Digger, Double Dick and Timber – who have all run away from their lives after tragedy and despair. They are rounders, homeless people that support each other and come together each day looking out for each other like family.
During a severe cold snap the foursome seeks the warmth of a movie theatre. To their surprise, they not only appreciate the warmth but fall in love with the stories within the films sharing discussion and evaluation of the movies afterwards. At the theatre they meet Granite, a retired journalist who is dealing with his own issues. Initially, he is hesitant to engage with the ‘ragged company’ who sit near hime and quietly drink from their bottles during he movies. Slowly they all become friends and develop respect for each other.
The foursome discovers a lottery ticket in a discarded cigarette package and much to their surprise win 13.5 million dollars. Without identification they turn to Granite to accept the prize on their behalf and to assist them to deal with the aftermath and impact of their win. He assists with the media questions, setting up accounts and helping them manage their winnings.
Each member of the ragged company struggle with their newfound wealth, the dramatic change to their lives and the demons of their pasts. As they each deal with their improved circumstances, they slowly reveal their past histories, sharing their tears, heartache and loss with each other. Money cannot fix the problems of the past or make them happy but they continue to share their love of movies as they live together, helping and supporting each other.
Ragged Company provides gritty insight into the lives of homeless people. It provides a different perspective on how individuals may end up living on the street. As I walk by homeless people, I will think of this novel and feel that the novelist’s own experience living on the street, dealing with his abusive foster family and own addiction challenges have provided a true reflection on the difficult lives of homeless individuals. I admire Wagamese who, despite his own difficult past, is able to share this understanding through his beautiful prose which he attributes to libraries. He helps readers reconsider their own judgement and knowledge of issues such as homelessness, alcoholism, residential schools and the meaning of family which are prevalent in his novels. I have said it in previous reviews but I truly believe he is an author that all Canadian’s should read and his books should be added to high school curriculum – if you just pick one of his novels, I cannot stop raving about The Medicine Walk!
“…maybe leaned more in favour of this types of stories that reach inside you, touched something that you hadn’t touched for a long time, and reminded you of the soft moments where you really came to be who you are.”
“Some stories come your blood. They move beyond the telling or the showing and come to rest inside you. Invade you. Inhabit you. Like there was a secret crevice in your being that it took the tale to fill. That is what the movie was like”
Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese was written in 2009 preceding both Indian Horse and The Medicine Walk. The novel tells the stories of four homeless individuals, their street names – One For the Dead, Digger, Double Dick and Timber – who have all run away from their lives after tragedy and despair. They are rounders, homeless people that support each other and come together each day looking out for each other like family.
During a severe cold snap the foursome seeks the warmth of a movie theatre. To their surprise, they not only appreciate the warmth but fall in love with the stories within the films sharing discussion and evaluation of the movies afterwards. At the theatre they meet Granite, a retired journalist who is dealing with his own issues. Initially, he is hesitant to engage with the ‘ragged company’ who sit near hime and quietly drink from their bottles during he movies. Slowly they all become friends and develop respect for each other.
The foursome discovers a lottery ticket in a discarded cigarette package and much to their surprise win 13.5 million dollars. Without identification they turn to Granite to accept the prize on their behalf and to assist them to deal with the aftermath and impact of their win. He assists with the media questions, setting up accounts and helping them manage their winnings.
Each member of the ragged company struggle with their newfound wealth, the dramatic change to their lives and the demons of their pasts. As they each deal with their improved circumstances, they slowly reveal their past histories, sharing their tears, heartache and loss with each other. Money cannot fix the problems of the past or make them happy but they continue to share their love of movies as they live together, helping and supporting each other.
Ragged Company provides gritty insight into the lives of homeless people. It provides a different perspective on how individuals may end up living on the street. As I walk by homeless people, I will think of this novel and feel that the novelist’s own experience living on the street, dealing with his abusive foster family and own addiction challenges have provided a true reflection on the difficult lives of homeless individuals. I admire Wagamese who, despite his own difficult past, is able to share this understanding through his beautiful prose which he attributes to libraries. He helps readers reconsider their own judgement and knowledge of issues such as homelessness, alcoholism, residential schools and the meaning of family which are prevalent in his novels. I have said it in previous reviews but I truly believe he is an author that all Canadian’s should read and his books should be added to high school curriculum – if you just pick one of his novels, I cannot stop raving about The Medicine Walk!
“…maybe leaned more in favour of this types of stories that reach inside you, touched something that you hadn’t touched for a long time, and reminded you of the soft moments where you really came to be who you are.”
June 27, 2017
This is my fourth Wagamese, and it has surpassed "Indian Medicine" as my favorite. It is also a book I probably would not have chosen to read had it not been written by one of my favorite authors and a selection of the CanadianContent bookclub here on Goodreads. Reading about a group of homeless people did not sound like something I was in the mood for during a Summer holiday weekend!
This book is about friendship, relationships, survival, overcoming one's past tragedies and mistakes, overcoming prejudices, healing, trusting and so much more. There is humor as well as sadness, triumph and loss, redemptions, a love story that almost broke me, and joy.
I cried several times while reading this book, and then I cried when I finished the novel - this time because I realized that this incredibly talented, poetic writer is no longer with us, and there will no more masterpieces from him for me to look forward to reading. Thankfully I can go back and read his back catalogue!
This book is about friendship, relationships, survival, overcoming one's past tragedies and mistakes, overcoming prejudices, healing, trusting and so much more. There is humor as well as sadness, triumph and loss, redemptions, a love story that almost broke me, and joy.
I cried several times while reading this book, and then I cried when I finished the novel - this time because I realized that this incredibly talented, poetic writer is no longer with us, and there will no more masterpieces from him for me to look forward to reading. Thankfully I can go back and read his back catalogue!
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
December 21, 2020Well, my mom gave me this book for Christmas years ago – it’s her favorite book in the world. I figured it was high time I gave it a try: got to page 36 and had to bail in disgust at the schlocky sentimentality and the characters that were little more than caricatures - the same brick wall I ran up against with the only other Wagamese novel I’ve tried, Medicine Walk. Oh well, hopefully my mom still loves me, and many many readers worship Richard Wagamese – alas, he is definitely not for me.
August 15, 2020
Everyone at book club liked this a lot! I was the only one that said it was just ok, so feel free to take this review with a grain of salt.
So, here's what everyone else liked about it: they all felt like it was storytelling (as opposed to a standard novel) and they all loved that, they liked the way it made them reconsider their thoughts towards homeless people, and we had a great discussion about privelege, social supports, the essential unfairness of poverty, and the way capitalism makes us all vulnerable.
What I liked: Wagamese has a definite way with words, and much of the imagery in the book is evocative and finely drawn. I also liked the Wagamese wanted to write about people that are often overlooked and misunderstood. I liked that he complicated the view that all people who are on the street are there because of drug or alcohol abuse, or because of untreated mental illness.
What I didn't like: Wagamese spelled out a lot of the emotional nuance of the book explicitly, and I wish he'd let me get there on my own. More than once, I felt like he was beating me over the head with an emotional snow shovel. Also, I felt like all four of the homeless characters were presented as rather childlike, both in the way he wrote them and in the way that the non-homeless characters treated them. I thought it undermined his message that homeless people are just as complex and human as anyone else. And this is probably more of a nitpick, but the sense of time passing in the novel was very hazy, and I couldn't tell if the story took place of 6 months or 3 years.
Even though this isn't my favourite Wagamese, I'd still recommend this to some folks. If you liked his other works, you might still want to read this one. Also, the book centres around the ways that movies can tell a story and allow catharsis and shared emotional experience. If you're a big movie buff, you might like this.
So, here's what everyone else liked about it: they all felt like it was storytelling (as opposed to a standard novel) and they all loved that, they liked the way it made them reconsider their thoughts towards homeless people, and we had a great discussion about privelege, social supports, the essential unfairness of poverty, and the way capitalism makes us all vulnerable.
What I liked: Wagamese has a definite way with words, and much of the imagery in the book is evocative and finely drawn. I also liked the Wagamese wanted to write about people that are often overlooked and misunderstood. I liked that he complicated the view that all people who are on the street are there because of drug or alcohol abuse, or because of untreated mental illness.
What I didn't like: Wagamese spelled out a lot of the emotional nuance of the book explicitly, and I wish he'd let me get there on my own. More than once, I felt like he was beating me over the head with an emotional snow shovel. Also, I felt like all four of the homeless characters were presented as rather childlike, both in the way he wrote them and in the way that the non-homeless characters treated them. I thought it undermined his message that homeless people are just as complex and human as anyone else. And this is probably more of a nitpick, but the sense of time passing in the novel was very hazy, and I couldn't tell if the story took place of 6 months or 3 years.
Even though this isn't my favourite Wagamese, I'd still recommend this to some folks. If you liked his other works, you might still want to read this one. Also, the book centres around the ways that movies can tell a story and allow catharsis and shared emotional experience. If you're a big movie buff, you might like this.
January 17, 2018
I've actually been putting off marking this as read, because then I'd feel like I had to review it, at least to say why this was a 5 star read for me, and this is a book that I have no idea how to talk about succinctly. I'm still sitting with it. I think I'll do a video review, because I do have thoughts about it, but they're not well-formed. This is not a before and after story about homeless people winning the lottery (although it is). It's a story about survivance. About reaching out. About circling back. Homegoing. (Funny that I only understood that title after reading this one.) Moving through tragedy. Not getting over it, but through it. And about how we can make connections--rich, prolific connections if we give them a chance. It's about the past becoming unburied, making itself known. What you do when you stop running. This was beautiful, a deep dive into these characters and the family they slowly built together.
June 27, 2013
This is a rare example of the power and magic of a true storyteller. It is the story of four homeless people, how they ended up on the street and what keeps them there. It is a heartbreaking account of the demons they each face intercepted by the power of community, family and home.
Along the way a disillusioned journalist, Granite, as well as two other individuals join the group. It wasn’t hard to see how and why Granite was accepted into the group but I was troubled with how effortlessly the other two were able to infiltrate. For me this was the most significant flaw, but perhaps immaterial in the end.
Ragged Company is a book with heart. It is splattered with vivid prose and profound teachings and truths are exhibited throughout. It is an important novel that everyone should read.
Along the way a disillusioned journalist, Granite, as well as two other individuals join the group. It wasn’t hard to see how and why Granite was accepted into the group but I was troubled with how effortlessly the other two were able to infiltrate. For me this was the most significant flaw, but perhaps immaterial in the end.
Ragged Company is a book with heart. It is splattered with vivid prose and profound teachings and truths are exhibited throughout. It is an important novel that everyone should read.
December 23, 2023
Another wonderful book. Made me feel and think deeply. The plot was so different from Keeper'N Me. A refreshing, heart-wrenching, and soul-warming book, on accounta Wagamese being an incredible storyteller. 😉
September 13, 2020
Absolutely brilliant. Interesting premise and story lines, sad; eye-opening; thought-provoking. Great characters. A must read (or re-read) for fans of Mr. Wagemese
May 26, 2023
Another marvelous Richard Wagamese book. Review to come.
healing." What is remarkable here is the sense of sheer spiritual luminosity Wagamese achieves in the very midst of gruesome tragedy - the capture, that is, of the eternal sky, or what he so beautifully calls an "impossible blue."
healing." What is remarkable here is the sense of sheer spiritual luminosity Wagamese achieves in the very midst of gruesome tragedy - the capture, that is, of the eternal sky, or what he so beautifully calls an "impossible blue."
April 14, 2017
The recent death of Richard Wagamese prompted me to read another of his books. Having previously read two of his most recent works, this time I chose one from earlier in his writing career. It is a true gem. It tells of four long time homeless people who have become like family to each other. During an extreme cold snap they seek warmth in a movie theatre and discover a love for film. They continue going to the movies daily, and befriend a former journalist who seeks escape in cinema. Then one of them finds a discarded lottery ticket, and their lives are dramatically changed when they win millions. Unable to claim the prize without identification, they must seek the help of their new friend. Their journey leads to the revelation of the pasts that haunt them and lead to their homelessness, and to a beautiful exploration of the nature of family and home. The author spent time on the streets at one time himself, and wrote of homelessness with much understanding and sensitivity. This book is a bit more wordy than his later novels. His writing definitely became more spare as his career progressed. A book about homelessness could easily become preachy, sappy or cliched, but this novel is none of those things. We definitely lost a very talented writer much too soon when we lost Richard Wagamese.
December 17, 2022
4+ stars. This is my 2nd Wagamese book and that guy could write! This one maybe wasn’t quite as good as Medicine Walk but it is still worthwhile for the messages of what constitutes “home”, our chosen “family”, and the importance of kindness and truly SEEING people. Another obvious message you can surmise when you read the plot summary is that money doesn’t solve the bigger problems of life, especially when trauma is a part of someone’s history. There’s some deep and dark stuff in this novel, unimaginable pain and shame experienced by some of the main characters in their early lives that led to their homelessness, and the author only gradually reveals their stories over the course of this book. Wagamese was an indigenous Canadian writer who had a traumatic early life himself (including periods of homelessness) so his writing comes across as authentic. There is a plethora of native spirituality sprinkled through the story as well, which I found compelling and atmospheric. This novel elicited feelings of compassion and shared humanity for society’s “invisible” street people. I am very glad to have read it.
July 28, 2017
I'm surprised at the high accolades this book has gotten. It's a fable without the bad guys. It's highly moralistic and repetitive. The importance of love, friends, belonging, and *home* is driven into us over and over again. The characters are caricatures. The lottery-winning homeless people are treated like children and the *Square Johns* act as the parents, and everyone loves everyone. The conflicts are nil except for one catalyst moment that was needed to drive the story forward, then everything became hunky dory again, with a nice and neat wrapped up with a bow ending. Wagamese's writing remains exquisite though; I just wish he had put it to better use.
April 5, 2015
I couldn't put this down, yet found it deeply flawed. Four homeless friends find a discarded lottery ticket and win millions. Their tortured pasts are revealed, they head toward redemption, and mostly discover that you can't go back home again. The book teeters on the edge of sentimentality and tumbles over fairly often, the dialogue is unnatural and wooden, and yet - I couldn't wait to see what happened next. At least 3.5 stars, maybe more, but not quite 4.
June 27, 2016
I truly enjoyed Ragged Company despite being a little skeptical on the subject - a crew of homeless people stumble upon a winning lottery ticket. Sounds a little hokey but rest assured it was not. Ragged Company is a stunning portrait of humanity with extremely thought provoking content. Written with grace and elegance, Wagamese does not disappoint. Quite frankly I am surprised that this book does not have more media buzz.
March 5, 2021
My first Wagamese, definitely will not be my last. What a beautiful writer. The Ragged Company was a great read, the stories of this ragged group so sad, yet their lives uplifting in ways brought about because of their friendship. A love letter to friendship and movies too.
January 11, 2022
I absolutely loved this book.
January 15, 2023
this had a good storyline but it dragged on and was super slow
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