Trucks play a big part in this story of a rural Acadian couple who have been together for almost 20 years. The only thing Réjean seems to love more than his wife, Agathe, is his black Chevy Silverado.
The Silverado was reported sitting next to the highway with the driver-side door open just eight hours after Agathe had kissed Réjean on the front step of their cottage and sent him off fishing in the rain with a Thermos full of coffee, four sandwiches au bologne, and a dozen date squares.
Agathe noticed that Réjean had been acting out of character lately, but she had just thought he was planning a surprise for their 20th anniversary. To Agathe, and to the reader, they appear to have a solid marriage. In fact, they feel so close to each other that they choose to hole up alone in their out-of-the-way cottage, holding onto their French language, despite the fact that they are now living in an English town.
Being separated by language from the world around them strengthened their bond of exclusivity. Gradually, they retreated from the world altogether, existing solely for each other in the confines of their home. “Il n’y a que nous.” (“It’s just us.”)
When you’re that close for that long, what do you do when one half of you disappears?
Then and Now
The story alternates between the past and the present. In the “now” we follow the story of Agathe after the sudden disappearance of her husband; her bewilderment, her hurt, her grief, and finally her need to carry on.
In the “then” we follow the story of Réjean and what happened to him on that fateful day, and the events that led up to it.
Chevy versus Ford
Réjean meets Martin at the Chevy dealership where Martin works. Martin sells Réjean’s new trucks to him every year when he goes in for the newest model. Réjean is loyal to Chevy trucks and assumes this is something the two of them have in common. He comes to enjoy going by the dealership from time to time to share a rum and chat with Martin; and, as a shy and awkward man with no friends, Martin looks forward to it. Being his only real friend, Réjean’s disappearance has a profound effect on poor Martin… who secretly drives a Ford.
French Folk Music versus Rock and Roll
When riding in the truck together, Agathe always let Réjean listen to his French folk music. It was fine, but she longed for “something loud to release the strap of tension in her jaw”. When Agathe meets Debbie, after the disappearance of Réjean, Debbie introduces her to rock and roll. And Agathe loves it. They play it loudly on their way to work, singing along on the radio. Debbie also teaches her to drive and takes her out to the pubs. Despite her grief, and her longing for Réjean to come back to her, Agathe’s life was opening up.
Rock and roll had a way of putting itself on you, so that you were wearing whatever was being sung. All the abandon and rage and torment and heartache. Everyone here was wearing it. Réjean’s music didn’t do this.
I Am a Truck explores identity, how we define ourselves in relation to others, and how that definition can change when the the ones around us change.
In an interview with Trevor Corkum at 49th Shelf, Michelle Winters says that writing I Am a Truck “sprang from the need to describe the feeling of loving a person who wasn’t there… But then I wanted to make that story exciting and funny, because that’s way more fun than brooding over a bad relationship.”
One of the things I love about the book is the way the characters go back and forth between French and English. (When I was growing up we called it “franglais”.) This way of writing makes the story feel distinctly Acadian or eastern-Canadian. “As a New Brunswicker, the idea of switching back and forth between English and French feels completely natural, and writing a story set in New Brunswick, Chiac felt like a gift I couldn’t pass up.”
When asked in the interview about something she would like asked about her book, Michelle Winters responds by saying “I’d love to be asked about the absurdity of it. I left myself a lot of room in this book to play with the magical or improbable or preposterous; Réjean can be a giant, Martin can be yellow, and Colonel Weed can do whatever he wants, because it’s all allowed in the loose fabric of reality I wanted to create. It’s my favorite way to write and my favorite way to read. I’m intensely grateful when an author I’m reading decides not to confine themselves to absolute tangibles. I love it when anything can happen.”
Further Reading:
I love that this is the other book that comes up when I search “I Am a Truck” at my library.
Review at Reading Matters: “… it’s highly original, laced with wit and love, and it might just be the strangest, yet most feel-good, story I’ve read all year.”
Review at Buried in Print: “Michelle Winters’ prose style suits the story perfectly. Lean and directed, I Am a Truck reads like a novella, urging completion in a single sitting and revolving around a single incident which sparks into action almost immediately.”
Review at Geist Magazine: “This fast-paced, quirky, heart warming and hilarious novel captures the fast and loose crossovers of language and culture that make southeast New Brunswick unique.”
Michelle Winters is also an artist.
Consumed by Ink 
Despite my lack of interest in vehicles, this one sounds interesting.
I loved it! And, of course, it’s not really about trucks. 🙂
Oh, this sounds great. I read French, just about, too, so would love to try this one if we can get it over here!
I’m glad it appeals! If you know even a little bit of French then you’ll be fine!
I really want to read this! I’m just totally drawn in by the name and cover and I always love a good Canadian book. 🙂
I felt the same way when I first saw it. Even though it turned out to be the last Giller book I read, it’s the first one I put on hold at the library. It just didn’t come in as fast as the others. In fact, I ended up just buying it… but I’m glad I did!
This sounds wonderful. Is the French problematic if you’re not fluent?
No, it’s very basic French, and only used when the characters speak. Even if you don’t know any French, you could probably get a good enough sense of what they’re saying just from the context of the story.
This was the book that appealed to me the most when I perused the covers and titles of the short list. And it still does – even more!
Colchester Library has it (in processing) only in eBook, with a waiting list. I’m on it!
Maybe it will come sooner to you now – I just took myself off the list – I decided to buy it instead! Enjoy! 🙂
I suspect I’d struggle with the French. I can read it some, but not fluently. Otherwise, though, it sounds intriguing, and as someone who’s always complaining about Scottish writers not writing in Scottish dialect, well done to the author for reflecting the language of the region! 🙂
I think so, too! And there really is so little French, that I suspect you wouldn’t have much trouble with it. 🙂
Oh boy, this review makes me really want to read this book now! To be honest I wasn’t that interested in it before (I’m sick of all the damn trucks in Alberta) but this sounds like a really unique read. Only three more days!
This is a great book – I think you’ll like it despite the trucks!
I wonder who it will be…
I enjoyed the quirkiness of I Am a Truck and found it tested my french skills as I read through the franglais!
There wasn’t a lot I didn’t like about it… even when I didn’t like what was happening!
French and the automobiles might be challenging for me. But I want to try something out of my comfort zone. Thank you for the post, Naomi. I like the other book that your library retrieved too. 🙂
It really is a great little book – and I think you’ll be okay with the French. It was captivating to watch how Agathe’s life began to open up.
This sounds so good – the part about how Agathe’s life changes without Rejean sound most intriguing.
And then something happens that you’re not expecting and everything changes again!
Have you read A Man Called Ove? The loyalty to a car brand is fierce in that book, but I have a hard time imaging this type of loyalty–almost like a marriage–to a company.
I really like the author’s description of why/how she wrote the book. Feels like something Fiction Fan would appreciate (not wallowing). 🙂
I agree! She seems very practical in a “chin-up” kind of way. Using the material to create something fun, rather than wallow in it.
I can imagine this type of loyalty to a brand if only because my husband’s mother excels at it. 🙂
Ooooh, what brands does she love?
The first one that pops into my head is Scotsburn ice-cream (a local brand). You wouldn’t want to be overheard praising any other kind! (With the exception of Cow’s ice-cream, which originates in Prince Edward Island.)
Wasn’t this just so completely satisfying? From start to stop. And I love the fact that you included the Golden book that comes up in all those online searches: that makes me smile! Isn’t it strange to think about her writing about other characters though? I seems like this was just perfect and I can’t imagine what she might do next.
Yes! Agathe and Rejean feels like the characters she was supposed to write about. And Martin and Debbie. I’m VERY curious to see what she will write about next!