Format
Paperback
Dimensions
5.62 (w) x 8.50 (h) x 0.80 (d)
Pages
230
Publisher
Minnesota Historical Society Press
Publication Date
March 2002
ISBN
9780873514286
Book ISBN 10
0873514289
About Book
This lively and accessible anthology of fiction, prose, and poetry celebrates the rich diversity of writing by Native American women today. Editors Heid E. Erdrich and Laura Tohe have gathered stories from across the nation that celebrate, record, and explore Native American women's roles in community. The end result is a rich and heartfelt tapestry that contains work by established writers along with emerging and first-time authors.
Reviews
From Barnes & Noble
In the Dakota tongue Minnetonka means "big waters," and there's no doubt that Minnesota's largest lake lives up to its name. From its early days as an Native American outpost and local fishing hideaway, to its 1880s grand hotel heydays, to its recent, heartwarming renaissance, Minnetonka brims with history. For this wondrous pictorial tribute, Wayzata resident James W. Ogland has utilized daguerreotypes, cartes de visite, stereoviews, view cards, and postcards (including some hand-tinted beauties.) One early travel manual boasted that "The long luxurious porches with their easy chairs and entrancing views cast a Circes' spell over time." Now time returns the favor.
Library Journal
In this anthology, 49 women share their experiences as Native Americans through poetry, essays, and short fiction. Divided into four sections "Changing Women," "Strong Hearts," "New Age Pocahontas," and "In the Arms of the Skies" the selections focus on the centrality of the Native experience. Writers including Louise Erdrich, Joy Harjo, and Roberta Hill tell of harsh mothers, gentle mothers, drunken fathers, strong fathers, and children growing up in a white world. The range of the collection is represented by the titles "First Woman," "Shadow Sisters," "Piece Quilt: An Autobiography," "Red Hawk Woman," "Grandmother, Salish Mathematician," and "The Frybread Queen," among others. The end material includes brief biographies of each contributor and information about the tribes they represent. These are strong, well-written stories of very real experiences and emotions. Recommended for all types of libraries. Sue Samson, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Booknews
Although including some fiction and a few essays, the majority of this collection presents poetry. All of the contributions are written by Native American women and in some way reflect on the relations of women to their community. The writings reflect on transformation in the female experience, the theme of inner strength, reactions to stereotypes and simplified images, or love and sex. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
