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Canada Reads·Highlight

Humble The Poet on forgiving ourselves

Humble The Poet, who had been defending Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis all week, shared some fresh insights as to what the meditative novel could show us about the human condition.
CBC Books · CBC ·

Humble The Poet on how Fifteen Dogs teaches us to forgive ourselves

8 years ago
Duration 1:32
On the final day of Canada Reads, Humble The Poet explains how human traits like jealousy and resentment are explored and forgiven in Fifteen Dogs.

On the Canada Reads 2017 finale, the spotlight was fixed firmly on the two remaining books, Fifteen Dogs and Company Town. Humble The Poet, who had been defending Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis eloquently and passionately all week, used the opportunity to offer some powerful, fresh insights as to what the meditative novel could show us about the human condition.

"I feel like a theme throughout [Fifteen Dogs] is showing us qualities of human beings that we have — jealousy, resentment, violence, frustration — and letting us forgive ourselves for having these [characteristics]. Because these are a part of our nature, and the second that we can stop shaming and guilting ourselves for these, we can start having an honest discussion with ourselves about them and use that energy in a productive manner."

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