Ceremony
Ratings15
Average rating3.4
15
Ratings15
Average rating3.4
"This story, set on an Indian reservation just after World War II, concerns the return home of a war-weary Navaho young man. Tayo, a young Native American, has been a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II, and the horrors of captivity have almost eroded his will to survive. His return to the Laguna Pueblo reservation only increases his feeling of estrangement and alienation. While other returning soldiers find easy refuge in alcohol and senseless violence, Tayo searches for another kind of comfort and resolution. Tayo's quest leads him back to the Indian past and its traditions, to beliefs about witchcraft and evil, and to the ancient stories of his people. The search itself becomes a ritual, a curative ceremny that defeats the most virulent of afflictions-despair. "Demanding but confident and beautifully written" (Boston Globe), this is the story of a young Native American returning to his reservation after surviving the horrors of captivity as a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II. Drawn to his Indian past and its traditions, his search for comfort and resolution becomes a ritual--a curative ceremony that defeats his despair."--From source other than the Library of Congress
Reviews with the most likes.
As a fan of contemporary Native American fiction (is it pretentious to say that??), reading this for the first time now was interesting, since it definitely paved the way for writers like Louise Erdrich. Standing on its own, now, it's maybe not as “fresh” as it was 30 years ago–I feel like I've read these kinds of “rediscovering native culture/reclamation/rebirth” themes before. (Not that that's Silko's fault; she came first, I'm reading out of order.) But still, I enjoyed her prose, and especially the way the different stories flowed together so seamlessly. Also, I loved her descriptions of the Southwest landscape–gorgeous.
It was beautiful. This was a copy I was borrowing from someone who read it for school. I am thankful it came into her path so it could come into mine.
Featured Prompt
37 booksBooks written by authors who identify as First Nations, Alaskan Native, Native American, Indígena, First Peoples, Aboriginal, and other Indigenous peoples of North and South America.
