When Heather had first suggested we start reading 3 day road a week or so before our first lecture on it, I hadn’t really prioritized it. I am a typically fast reader and when we were told it’s a novel based on a 3 day journey, I figured it wasn’t long and could easily finish it in a day or two. Little did I know how long of a story it was until I had purchased it. When I began reading I wondered how a story written in the span of 3 days could be so insanely long. 3 Day Road – more like 30 day road.

Only after reading about 2 or 3 chapters of reading did I recognize and understand the use of flashbacks in the novel. I had assumed the entirety of the novel would be based on Xavier’s journey with Niska back to their homeland of James Bay.  I had no clue that such a way of writing would be included – flashbacks emerging both Xavier’s story of war and how it transformed him as well as Niska’ s powerful and untold stories.  This style of writing is my favorite style, to me it makes a novel 10x better.

As with the Handmaids Tale both novels allow for an introspection of the protagonists, a great examination of their mental and emotional states. It is greatly intriguing. It is also effective in portraying both Niska and Xavier’s stories in vivid detail. When reading about Xavier’s war experiences especially, the detail used in the flashbacks allow for a reader to feel as if they are present in the world being written about.   It allows us to see how and why Xavier came to be, as such with Niska. Boyden makes great use of flashbacks to show how something that has happened before the story has a great deal to do with what characters are facing presently. Allowing the story to make much mores sense and allow the audience to see the great effects of war and living life as an Indian.  Ultimately the flashbacks present in Three Day Road  allow for a better illustration of the story as a whole.

For such a story I feel the use of flashbacks are vital as they enhance our connection with both the characters and the story line. We know what Xavier is thinking and feeling while at the fore front of the trenches,  we are able to thoroughly understand and empathize with Niska’s suffering through the residential school system. Which brings us back to Nussbaum’s argument of empathy and compassion through the use of literature.  We are able to gain and further our compassion for what life was like for Indians in 1919, which can be utilized today to redress such issues.

Additionally, the use of flashbacks allow for no constraint or limit on time in a novel. It’s primary purpose being to bridge time, in this case revealing an emotional past for both main characters. Flashback’s are insightful and insight is crucial for such a novel.

PS – heather: my roommate & I have been living off of our neighbours wifi for the past few months and just now did she find out and take it away 🙁 Hence why this post is mildly late as i’ve been installing a new router which is a lot more difficult than it may seem.  God bless.