A lot of my reading around this time of year is a result of attending the Santa Fe Literary Festival in mid-May. This one is festival-adjacent as I sa A lot of my reading around this time of year is a result of attending the Santa Fe Literary Festival in mid-May. This one is festival-adjacent as I saw Taffa at last year's (2023) Festival when she was in discussion with David Treuer and his book "The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee" (which I have yet to read, oy!) and she spoke of this upcoming memoir. I was intrigued by her and picked up the book this year (2024) during a lunch break and trip to the great local indie bookstore (Collected Works). So that's everything you need to know about the "why" of this book.
As you can see, I ended up being a bit disappointed by this one. Don't get me wrong, there is some really great insights of growing up Native (technically, half-Native which further complicates things) in Yuma, AZ and Farmington, NM (btw, two of three states I've called home). Where this memoir excels is when Taffa reflects on her childhood as an adult, the generational trauma, and Native history. This was the case in the opening chapters which were so good, I actually had to read paragraphs aloud to my hubby. But then it just turned into a less engaging and a bit too blow-by-blow of the school bullying (by fellow students and mean-spirited teachers) and finding your place in a big, lower-middle-class (??) family. A lot of time, it just felt fairly ordinary with many stories that did not add much to overall arc/intention of the memoir, which is honestly way harsher than I intend it to be --but to bastardize Tolstoy, it just seems like a lot of (most?) childhoods are unhappy (traumatic), but unhappy in their own way. Yes, Taffa's "own way" is a valuable voice to hear/read, I just wish that that there was more reflection and I would have loved to hear how Taffa eventually went on to earn her MFA and her adult life rather than the story stopping at high school graduation and a quick fast-forward (perhaps, saving it for a second book)?
As I usually caution with my more critical reviews, don't necessarily trust me. As I type the book currently has 4.19 average rating as you can see in the Goodreads blurb lauded by critics as a "best" and "highly anticipated" read. Ultimately, it's just quibbles about structure and approach and certainly nothing against Taffa and again the value of hearing minority voices and the often not so "great" history of this nation. ...more
I had the good fortune of seeing Tommy Orange at the 2024 Santa Fe Literary Festival (get ready for this opening line a lot more in upcoming reviews), I had the good fortune of seeing Tommy Orange at the 2024 Santa Fe Literary Festival (get ready for this opening line a lot more in upcoming reviews), so in preparation for that I re-read Orange's debut "There, There" -- a book I admired and liked, but did not love -- but one that did improve on a second reading, tho granted still with some of my same nit-picks. But whenever I see an author in-person, they tend to get a goodwill bump when I do read them again -- but alas, I still had some trepidation going into this one as it being a prequel and sequel to "There, There."
And while I think that goodwill is part of what was going on while reading "Wandering Stars," I still think I would have liked this one more overall regardless as this work somehow manages to be a smaller novel, focusing on a subset of "There, There" characters -- but still a grand/expansive story of not only this particular family, but hundreds of years of Native experience and trauma.
I still don't feel like me and Orange are a perfect reader-author match, as I still felt I lost my way in the middle of it (tho nowhere near the extent of the overwhelming and, at times frenetic, cast of characters in "There, There") -- but again, there is so much good stuff here story and history-wise that kept me much more engaged and impressed with Orange. I was also reading Hampton Sides' "Blood and Thunder" (another Santa Fe Lit Festival book/author) a history of "the conquest of the American West" simultaneously -- and while I initially questioned my subconscious decision of picking up both of these books, the synergy of reading a non-fiction and fictional account of Native history was really quite amazing. I am continually amazed at how much "we" don't know about the history of this country and again contemplating when exactly America was "great" (and what part of history some folks want to return to to make it great again).
On a quick side-note, Orange was very shy/introverted on stage, seemingly wanting to disappear under a wide baseball cap, but still very dryly funny and engaging.
While "There,There" on a second reading was still a 3.5 stars round-up to 4 stars read, "Wandering Stars" was definitely a solid 4-stars and, if Goodreads allowed it, even a smidgen beyond that -- again, the middle got a bit muddy for me here, but the beginning and end were gangbusters. ...more
There's no way any review of mine can do justice for this book. If you have any interest in "how the West was won" ... or even if you don't think you There's no way any review of mine can do justice for this book. If you have any interest in "how the West was won" ... or even if you don't think you do (I'll admit that I may have leaned in that direction), this is the book for you. Using the legendary Kit Carson as a thread, historian Hampton Sides gives readers and epic and thrilling tale of the Western expansion of the United States. If this is how history was taught in school, I'm guessing there would be a lot more history majors out there!
I lost track of the amount of things I learned in this book. Some of the names are familiar, but they come to life here. And this is also the story of, as the subtitle state, the "conquest" of the West and along with that the Native population. The bloody battles between the growing United States and the Native populations, particularly the Navajos, was truly eye-opening... and as is the case of learning American history as an adult, incredibly shocking and disturbing. Remind me again, when America was great? Again, the amount of information Sides dishes out here is terribly impressive and while it might slack off at times over its ~500 pages, it is engaging and page-turning.
It meant even more to me since a lot of the book takes place in my home state of New Mexico. So it definitely helped to be able to know many of the places in the book or at least be able to look it up on a map and now distances and the geography of the area. Our beloved Santa Fe - already a magical destination for us - is prominently featured and I am sure the next time we return, I will have a new-found awe literally walking through history.
I read this one as we had a chance to see Hampton Sides at the 2024 Santa Fe Literary Festival. A resident of Santa Fe himself, Sides is a regular at the festival -- tho this year he was a featured author, promoting his new book "The Wide Wide Sea" about Captain James Cook. I should also note, my hubby read this book last year (thinking we were going to see Sides at last year's festival, tho we never ran into him) and raved about it -- so this book had been lingering on my to-read list for over a year, but I'm glad I had the extra push to final dig in this year thanks to seeing Sides.
Again, highly recommended and a no-brainer 5 stars.
More last minute cramming for the 2023 Santa Fe International Literary Festival with tickets to see David Treuer this weekend. There is a lot more non More last minute cramming for the 2023 Santa Fe International Literary Festival with tickets to see David Treuer this weekend. There is a lot more non-fiction authors at this year's festival - especially related to Native American history - so I am thankful for that as much like African American history, I sorely need to learn some Native American history and this book is filled with things I (shamefully) never knew.
So while this is an extremely worthwhile read, Treuer himself in the afterward accurately describes it as a hybrid book of journalism, history, and memoir and that is primarily the reason for the 3 stars rating you have likely already seen. One man's "hybrid" is this man's "lacking focus." Again, while I was thankful for education and enlightenment I was getting, those moments felt perhaps too few and far between in what felt like some rambling that would lead me to do a not insignificant amount of skimming -- and thus feel like I can't give a book a 4 star (or more) rating even with the value of the material and Treuer's unique personal experiences and perspectives. Unofficially, a 3.5 star read with a Goodreads round-down to those 3 stars.
As well as having a ticket to attend his event, I also have pre-purchased a (autographed) copy of Treuer's (more) acclaimed and (more) well-reviewed/rated latest book "The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee" -- so even tho I had my technical issues with this book, I am pretty certain that I will read this as well in my continuing education of American history. ...more
More prep for the 2023 Santa Fe Literary Festival as we have tickets to see David Grann and get a copy of his forthcoming new book, "The Wager." But gMore prep for the 2023 Santa Fe Literary Festival as we have tickets to see David Grann and get a copy of his forthcoming new book, "The Wager." But given the popularity and success of "Killers of the Flower Moon" -- it seemed like a good intro to Mr. Grann ... and also helps that a Martin Scorsese / Leonardo DiCaprio film version is due to hit theaters and Apple TV+ later this year -- so good prep overall.
[SCRATCH THAT: Grann just dropped out of the Santa Fe Lit Festival due to the movie version of "Flower Moon" premiering at the Cannes Film Festival the same weekend. He's allegedly re-scheduling to be at the 2024/next year's Lit Festival - oh well!].
This book is definitely 5-star material and yet again filling in a gap of American history that I was unaware of after a half-century+ of education, both formal and self-guided -- tho this absence is no longer as shocking as it used to be as I have come to learn as an adult that it is hardly an accident when the proverbial blind eye is turned re: White folks pillaging, killing, abusing, robbing, etc., etc. for greed, money, land, power, etc. etc. It was definitely eye-opening learning about the oil boom of the early 20th century on the Native lands (or should I say *relocated* - another euphemism! - Native lands) of Oklahoma and about the wealth of the tribe, and how the abuses of government-supported and enforced guardianship of that wealth (by White folks!) lead to the multiple decades long Osage Reign of Terror. Again, incredibly shocking. And not, if you know anything about the darker side of American history - and this is yet another chapter.
I am landing on 4 stars here. Again, the material and research is super-impressive -- but I had expected (and hoped) that there would be a bit higher literary quality and propulsive narrative here (tho 'ole "non-fiction that reads like fiction" thing) -- but it's very matter-of-fact, reporter-y (not a huge criticism) and, for me, a bit confusing sometimes keeping all the cast of characters straight and not having a clear line/idea of how everything came down. High marks for technical skill, a few dings on the artistic merit side for me -- but definitely a recommended read for those interested in learning more about the dark side of Native American "American" history....more
The reason behind reading this collection was one of the unexpected surprised and blessings from the 2022 Santa Fe Literary Festival. We got tickets t The reason behind reading this collection was one of the unexpected surprised and blessings from the 2022 Santa Fe Literary Festival. We got tickets to this event as it was a celebration of New Mexico authors and, ironically enough, mostly to see Kirsten Valdez Quade as we had both read and enjoyed her debut novel "The Five Wounds." But alas, the other featured author was N. Scott Momaday who I am now embarrassed to say I had never heard of before but quickly learned in was the first Native American to win the Pulitzer Prize for his novel "House Made of Dawn" in 1969. To say the 88-year old Momaday was impressive is an understatement. His quiet and gentle voice and wise words had us leaning in, sitting at the edge of our seats and moved us to tears (well, okay more accurately... eye mistiness). Definitely one of the highlights of our literary weekend, which was not lacking for highlights time and time again.
So we got this book as part of the event (you could attend/pay for events without buying a book, but why do that??!) and while I have not been a big fan of poetry figured this slim volume would not be too much of a burden. And while there is some, what most folks would consider, "traditional" (verse) poetry here, most our random one-page stories or reflections. There is a lot to ponder here, but I have to admit most of the time this was operating on another cerebral plane that I was incapable of digesting and fully enjoying. Just a lot of "Well, hmmmm" and turning the page. Again, this was totally outside my comfort level/box, so it's definitely a case where it's "me" not Momaday.
I was grateful that one of the moving moments Momaday spoke about was one that was included in this collection. I'll share a part of it here so you can get a sense of this incredible man. This is from a piece called "Ownership":
I live in a house in a canyon. Great cliffs rose up on either side, and one of them, sheer, white, and dun and rose-colored was especially beautiful ... There was a young man, a drifter, who worked for me one summer. We spoke of the cliff, and he said, "It belongs to me, I don't own it, but it's mine." I thought about this, and I came to see the wisdom in it. True ownership does not consist in titles and deeds. It is assumed by a claim made in the heart, and it is purchased with love and respect. The cliff is his, as it is mine.
Again, not a collection I often "got" and I'll gladly give all the stars to Momaday, but a Goodreads round-up to 4 stars for my overall reading experience here. ...more
This is at least my third Louise Erdrich read (think one or two more, but that was pre-Goodreads ... so who knows!), but for sure this is my favorite This is at least my third Louise Erdrich read (think one or two more, but that was pre-Goodreads ... so who knows!), but for sure this is my favorite so far. Erdrich always provides an excellent read, but again in my limited sample size I am not sure I've read one with such heart and humor. Yes, humor -- I didn't know she could do that! Erdrich also gets a bit messy here. I lost count the number of times I found myself thinking pretty much right from the get-go "This isn't the novel that I was expecting" or "I didn't expect it to take this turn/go there." But alas, this is also very much a novel about 2020 and we know what a messy year that was!
I have to admit I have some PTSD in wanting to read about this particular time in our history, especially since as of this reading in January 2022 we still find ourselves well in the middle of it. I read another novel recently where the blurb was "the pandemic novel you didn't know you needed" and while that particular one didn't fit the bill for me, this one certainly was. While still "too soon" in parts, it was just the right amount of reflective for me. And to top it off, the book is very much a love letter to books, reading, and bookstores -- which has certainly been my go-to comfort spot for the last several years. And in a meta moment, one of the primary settings of the novel is Erdrich's own bookstore in Minnesota with Erdrich herself as peripheral character. But a friendly warning to my fellow Goodreaders - you will very likely add to your TBR pile with the book suggestions along the way and a pretty comprehensive list/summary of them in the appendix.
An unofficial 4.5 stars with a Goodreads round-down to 4 stars. I was teetering between 4 and 5 stars along the way, but again there were some diversions/detours that didn't quite work for me, but the closing chapter was simply divine locked in that 1/2 star bump -- definitely felt a swell of emotion and, after I read the closing lines, I let out a sigh which is typically the sign of a really fine novel.
(Also my 8th read for the 2022 Tournament of Books -- hopefully this survives the play-in round. I still plan to try to read a couple more of this year's ToB book, but right now I'd put it at the top of the list.) ...more
Unpopular opinion/review and likely due to operator/reader error, so if you are planning to read this book, I would certainly encourage you to still d Unpopular opinion/review and likely due to operator/reader error, so if you are planning to read this book, I would certainly encourage you to still do so -- just felt either a right book/wrong time or maybe right book/not ideal reader scenario. (That said, this contrary reviews often seem to be my most popular ones here on Goodreads.)
While I have read and loved many non-poetry books, both fiction and non-fiction, written by poets I admit poetry is not in my comfort zone/wheelhouse. Likewise, I will be the the first to admit how utterly ridiculous it is to say that I did not generally connect with or the enjoy the poetry aspects of a book called "Poet Warrior" and written by the Poet Laureate of the United States. But I do like stretching/testing myself every now and then and see how it goes.
Beyond the poetry interludes (both from the author herself and other poets who have influenced her), Harjo takes a random and non-linear approach to telling her story. I do not mind this approach, but again it made it hard for me to grasp hold of her story. I understand this is her second memoir (with some aspects being repetitive), so perhaps this more experimental (?) format in telling her story was not the place to start. Tho I suspect, this is just who she is. And maybe I was just expecting a bit of a different book and look at Native life and history -- but again, I lay any expectation or disappointment gap at my own feet as Harjo's vision for this work is pretty clear.
Going with an unofficial 3.5 stars, but a Goodreads round-down to 3 stars -- still very much liked it and glad I read it, but based on my overall reading experience as I worked my way through. ...more
In my attempt to read more "Own Voices" books, I knew even going into this one that I have a serious deficit when it comes to Native American fiction In my attempt to read more "Own Voices" books, I knew even going into this one that I have a serious deficit when it comes to Native American fiction and history. Sure, like nearly every literary fiction nerd out there I've read a Louise Erdrich or two and Tommy Orange's "There There, " but clearly there is a lot more to explore and Toni Jensen's "memoir" is a good place to start. Jensen felt like a new voice to me and again, saying that, I place the blame squarely on me as a Native American voice should not be "new" to me as a middle-aged (white) male -- tho perhaps the publishing industry can share partial responsibility this kind of diversity didn't feel as readily available or on-the-radar as it is in more recent times.
A lot of ground is covered here from growing up and being Native American, specifically Metis, in "America" and the genetic trauma that reveals itself in what are often seen as stereotypical issues of poverty, health issues, alcoholism, and domestic violence. Growing up back East, I did not come from an environment of gun ownership (even for merely hunting) so Jensen's discussions of gun culture and violence was particularly enlightening as were the ones racism (and passing and not passing as white) and sexism -- and there's even some quick takes on Trump and the current pandemic (I have been surprised how much of my non-fiction this year (2020) has so quickly addressed the pandemic while we're still in the middle of it).
My main quibble with the book are primarily on execution. As you may have noticed I put "memoir" in quotes above. This is more like a mish-mash of memoir and essays. The memoir part is very non-linear, jumping back-and-forth through time and the seemingly dozens of places Jensen called home at one point or another. Typically, this does not bother me but I had a more difficult time with it here. At times, I wished it was either straight-out, linear memoir -- or an essay collection vs. using the memoir part to get to the essay-ish parts. And I join many others (I had to read some Goodread reviews while reading this -- something I very rarely do -- just to make sure I wasn't the only one feeling this way), but Jensen's hook of using "Webster dictionary defines... " grated on my after about the 17th time.
But overall a very worthy read despite the technical merit deductions -- it truly highlights the human experience, both the things that unite and divide and separate us.
Usually I save my star-rating reveal to the end (I know, I know... it's not like that's not the *first* thing you see when you look a Goodreads review Usually I save my star-rating reveal to the end (I know, I know... it's not like that's not the *first* thing you see when you look a Goodreads review), but this one is a bit different. As has been the thread in a lot of my reviews this year (it's 2020 - again take your pick of reasons!), this ended up being yet another book that I didn't have the focus or attention span that it required or deserved from me. So an unofficial 3.5 stars overall... really more 3-star ("liked it") reading experience for me but the material and the legend of Erdrich will give it a Goodreads round-up to 4 stars.
Basically, I felt there was two much going on here. I would have preferred Thomas or Pixie's (excuse me, Patrice's) family to almost have their own novel ... and then, there were a vast cast of characters that I had trouble keeping track of. Again, I willing to put the blame on me -- as those feelings were only exacerbated reading Erdrich's afterward where we learned that much of the book was inspired by her grandfather and his fight against the termination of rights for Native Americans in the 1950 as well as other tragic plotlines (i.e. Vera) that again were a wake-up call for the stories that don't make it into our history books and classes (definitely one of the better lessons that 2020 is providing us). This book is definitely worth your time, although it proved too meandering for my loving (but still, to my liking).
Re-read this one in anticipation of seeing Tommy Orange at the 2024 Santa Fe Literary Festival in just a couple week as well as preRE-READ: APRIL 2024
Re-read this one in anticipation of seeing Tommy Orange at the 2024 Santa Fe Literary Festival in just a couple week as well as preparation of reading this book's prequel/sequel 'Wandering Stars.' Good news here, is that I liked this one more the second time around than the first, tho re-reading my review I think my part of my issue in my initial was hype and heightened expectations. I also suspected I would warm up to it more this time for goodwill purposes and wanting to like it more ahead of seeing Orange. So while I appreciated the kaleidoscope of stories more this time, I still have to admit I lost my footing (again) on who was related to who (and even who was who) in this big cast of characters converging on a powwow in Oakland. But Orange is clearly a great writer and even if I lost the thread from time to time, on the sentence and page level this was still a great (re)-read. With that, I'll officially up this to a full 4-stars vs. the initial and unofficial 3.5 stars I gave it almost 6 years ago (hard to believe I read it that long ago).
ORIGINAL REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 2018
Had to do a quick read of some of the reviews (of friends and others) on this one as I often tend to do when I have some conflicts and issues with well-reviewed/hyped/buzz books. This is a well-done, engaging read with the young, urban Native American being an important one to hear/read. But while I knew beforehand Orange had an MFA, I likely would have figured it out on my own as it did seem like and over-stylized (overly crafted? workshopp'd) when it came to its structure, themes, symbolism, etc.
As many other have noted, I also found there were too many characters and it seemed like I lost my grasp on them more as the novel proceeded when one would hope/think the opposite should be the case. I also would have liked more detail and character development when it often seemed like it was a stereotypical (*ducks for cover*) laundry list of challenges, ails, and illnesses that the community faces. Again, I do not feel that these issues should not be explored -- and it would seem odd, if they weren't addressed - but maybe it's saying more about me, but that I kept the characters straight in my mind more by what they were vs. who they were. But maybe that was the point?!
I feel like I am being more harsh in my assessment vs. my actual read experience. The frenetic closing section was excellent and an incredible page turner. And there is no denying Orange's talent, particularly in the more essay-ish philosophical passages about past and and the present, particularly, and appropriately enough, in the title of "there not being any there there." So an unofficial 3.5 stars, with a Goodreads round-down to 3 -- which I suspect may have tilted in the other direction had I read it before the hype set in....more
Louise Erdrich is one of those authors I just seemed to have dodged for decades. I have very faint memories of reading one of her novels back in a ConLouise Erdrich is one of those authors I just seemed to have dodged for decades. I have very faint memories of reading one of her novels back in a Contemporary Lit college class (eons ago - as I said "decades"!) and just had it in my head that she was one of those authors I just didn't "get." But after seeing The Round House nominated (then win) the National Book Award and also picked as Amazon's Book of the Year and anticipating many more honors, appearances on best-of lists, and a likely spot on The Morning News' Tournament of Books, I figured I was long overdue to give her another shot.
For the most part, I am glad I did. The Round House has an awful lot going for it: a rich cultural and still sad/disturbing tale of Native Americans and life on the reservation, a mystery, a family drama, and a coming-of-age story of 13-year old Joe dealing with the emotional fall-out of his mother being brutally raped. Often it had the feel of a true "classics" novel.
My criticism is that I wish it had stayed more tight/streamlined. The novel (or maybe just I) lost focus on various sub-plots and detours that had me treading into "not getting" territory. Given Erdrich's obvious skill and reputation, I am fairly confident *everything* has a meaning and purpose to the overall story, and while some do come to fruition, it still felt there was bloat. On the other hand, some plot points and character seemed to transform a bit too quickly.
Always having the Goodreads ratings scale sliding back-and-forth in my head while reading a book, things started off as 4 stars with a bullet, but with those chunks of the novel where I lost focus -- and even quite close to the end -- it was very much in danger of getting derailed to 3 stars (or knowing me, 3.5 stars rounded down to 3). However, the ending worked for me and made me "forgive" (or perhaps, more accurately, forget?) many of the aforementioned issues. But given all the acclaim the book has received (and, of this writing, a quite lofty 4.20 Goodreads average), it almost feels like 4 stars is being a bit critical. ...more
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