Could see the mythology involved especially when “John” was conversing with raccoons; it was a good book, better than some of the others, but again...too much swearing.

The perfect combination of real-life issues on today's Native Reservations and mythology.

This was the first White Pine nominee book I read and it made me want to read the rest of the White Pine books. I thought the beginning was a bit slow and confusing and there were some slow parts, but once it got going it was really interesting especially the Aboriginal culture, and to see more into the life of a Native reserve. It also made me laugh out loud a few times and I liked how at different times it was from different points of view such as Maggie, and John, not just Virgil. I would definately recomend this book.

This book was interesting. It was ok.

Motorcycles and Sweetgrass was a novel like I've never read before. Different from anything else in both plot and characterization. Though it was very slow at times, and sometimes I had to make myself get through it, it was a very rewarding read. The characters were unique, every one of them different from the generic and clichéd characters, and the plot was as well. I thought that the ending could've been wrapped up a bit better, but, in all, this book was entertaining, with more than a few hilarious laugh-out-loud moments. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read something diverse from the normal piece of literature.

I love this book.  It is smart, sassy, irreverent, and takes no prisoners.  It puts me in mind of some of the best time I’ve spent listening to my radio….  back when The Dead Dog Cafe (inspired by Thomas King’s novel Green Grass Running Water), used to run on the CBC on Saturday mornings.  It was must listen to radio in our household. This book refreshes my love of the native creation story and especially the trickster characters…  be they in the form of Nanabush, Glooscap, the raven, the coyote, or any other.  The trickster stories truly are magical, and they live up to expectations in this novel.  Motorcycles and Sweetgrass is literary humour both at its best, and at its darkest.  Together the residents of the fictional community of Otter Lake, have their world turned upside down.  Through “a series of unfortunate events” Taylor exposes the dark underbelly of contemporary native life, especially the politics of aboriginal land claims, and residential schools. I love the final conversation between John and Virgil.  The last thing John says to Virgil is that “(T)here are no such things as dead ends.  Only people who find dead ends.”  Consider that one for a while!