Book Notes | ‘Fox Creek’
Fox Creek is the 19th book in the Cork O’Connor mystery series by William Kent Krueger. Krueger makes his home in St. Paul. His Cork O’Connor books are set in the Northwoods of Minnesota. The main character, Cork O’Connor, is a man of mixed heritage—Irish and Ojibwe. When asked how he conceived of this character, Krueger said, “If I created a character of mixed heritage in this setting, a man who had a foot in two different cultures, white and Ojibwe, I would mirror the conflict of their cultures in all his thinking and his being.”
In Fox Creek, the conflict is between Native and white’s use of natural resources in both the U.S. and Canada. Henry Meloux, a consistent character in O’Connor books, is an ancient Ojibwe healer. When Dolores Morrison seeks out Meloux for his spiritual help, she brings dark forces with her. Henry takes her and his niece Rainy (Cork’s wife) deep into the Boundary Waters, a location he knows deeply, to keep them from the hunters searching for Delores. He uses his knowledge he gained over the last century to outmaneuver those tracking them through snowstorms, rocky terrain, bogs, and marshes. One of the hunters is a Native tracker who pits his wits against those of Henry.
Cork O’Connor begins his own quest to identify the hunters and their reasons for hunting Dolores. He goes into the Boundary Waters to track those after Henry, Dolores, and Rainy. He is supported by his family, Dolores’s family, and local police. The reasons behind the search for Dolores aren’t revealed until the end of the book. As with O’Connor’s other books, readers learn about Northern Minnesota, Ojibwe culture, and history from this story.
The book was well received by UMRA Book Club members. Everyone seemed to like the characters, particularly the wise Henry Meloux. Someone said it was the characters that held her interest.
Readers also liked the spiritual side of the story—the information on Native American culture that the author weaves into all his stories. One person commented on how the book brings you in touch with nature, and how that is missing in our lives. Most of the club members have read other books in the O’Connor series.
—Reviewed by Kathy Cramer and Rebecca Anderson, UMRA Book Club I
Book Club I in January
Fri, Jan 19 2024, 2pm
Becky Anderson will lead the discussion of Fox Creek by William Kent Krueger when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 19.
First published in 2022, this is the 19th book in Krueger’s bestselling Cork O’Connor mystery series. The story takes place almost exclusively in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota.
Fox Creek has been praised as “another gripping and richly told addition to a masterful series.”
Email Pat Tollefson for more information.
Go to Book Notes to read summaries of the book club’s discussions.
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.