Customer Reviews

Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World

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Linda Hogan, a Chickasaw novelist, essayist, and poet, writes some of the most beautiful prose of any living Americxan writer. When she writes nature essays, as in this collection, her style is not that of the journalist (like, say, John McPhee) or even the activist (Rick Bass). Instead, her words are imbued with beauty and wisdom and spirituality. While I hesitate to use the term "Native American writer" to describe Hogan because I believe any such terminology to be limiting, in her case it is necessary because her Chickasaw background informs so much of her work. The plains of Oklahoma, snakes, dreams, a suspicion of technology, and bats all feature prominently in her writing. Hogan doesn't always deal well with the specifics of ecology--she suggests, for example, that wolves never predate on livestock, which of course is an oversimplification of lupine behavior--but she writes extremely well about the importance of human beings seeking a spiritual connection with the natural world. I highly recommend this book, particularly to anyone wishing to teach high school students about the spirituality of nature.

This book is amazing in its multitude of ideas about life! Practically every sentence makes an amazing statement that causes you to stop and think. Plus, Hogan is obviously an avid reader for her book is stuffed with other readers, scholars, and scientist's words and thoughts. If you're interested in the mysteries of life, this is a book you can't afford to pass up!

Linda Hogan melds wonderful descriptions of the environment with poignant reflections on humans' place in the world and our relation with other beings in nature. Amazing, humbling, inspiring. I highly recommend it!

In "Dwellings," Linda Hogan, whose last name is a type of home, showcases her uniquely feminist, naturalist, Native American perspective in a series of first-person narratives. Each addresses some aspect of our innate connection to the natural kingdom, either as an exploiter of it or a victim, like in fire and decay.

Hogan says caves are feminine, womb-like, and have the power to give visions and inspiration to those who dwell in them.

"We are welcome here. I love this inner earth, its murmuring heartbeat, the language of what will consume us. Above is the beautiful earth that we have come from. Below is heat, stone, fire. I am within the healing of nature, held in earth's hand."

Hogan's incisive, yet lilting prose yields nuggets of loamy golden-ness. The copy I read was dog-eared and underlined by its owner.

Linda Hogan melds wonderful descriptions of the environment with poignant reflections on humans' place in the world and our relation with other beings in nature. Amazing, humbling, inspiring. Chapters on Caves, Wolves, "What holds the water, what holds the light," Bats, Creations, Walking. I highly recommend this book.

Give your soul enrichment and serenity in this busy world. Read Hogan and rejoice in her unique, American Indian perspective. This is a treasure

Linda Hogan is a fantastic writer.
(She also has co-edited some wonderful anthologies)
This is probably the best of her books with which to begin.

Lyrical
Moving

The prose sparkles; the spirit shines.
Women who are teaching us the meaning of real spirituality
She is leading the pack.
A must read.

I was introduced to this book in college. The intricate details about "place" and what truly makes a "dwelling" really changed my life. I started being able to articulate why exactly I feel connected with certain places, even if they weren't my home countries. There were much bigger, spiritual connections going on. Although I don't share the same Native American spiritual background/ritual as the author, Linda Hogan, this book helped me throughout many years to consistently find God in every place I "dwelled."

received book in timely manner and in great condition as expected.