Ghost Dancing [Hardcover]

Anna Linzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1998

A linked collection of Native American-themed stories, set in the Pacific Northwest and Oklahoma, by a gifted new author

Story by graceful story, Ghost Dancing reveals the evolving worlds of Jimmy One Rock, his wife Mary, and their family as they struggle together on a decaying reservation in the Pacific Northwest. Alternating between Washington state and Jimmy's childhood on an Oklahoma reservation, these stories link past and present through memory, myth, ceremony, and a sly humor that undercuts the reverence of outsiders. In spare yet rich language, Anna Linzer creates a memorable portrait of contemporary Native American life.

Here is a collection as open and honest and authentic as the characters that it documents, appealing and accessible, as bittersweet as it is lovely. Readers of Joy Harjo, Leslie Marmon Silko, and N. Scott Momaday will discover these stories with pleasure.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Linzer draws upon her experience living on the Suquamish Indian Reservation in Washington State for her heartfelt, informative but rather pallid first collection. These 11 interconnected stories concern Jimmy One Rock, a Lenape (or Delaware) Indian, and shift back and forth between Washington, where he now lives, and his childhood spent in Oklahoma?to which the Delaware were removed from the Northeast more than a century ago. The pieces reflect Jimmy's journey of self-discovery as he learns about his people, his identity and the harsh reality of being a Native American in the contemporary U.S. The impact of Christianity upon Native cultures also figures centrally. Although Linzer captures certain aspects of modern Native life and history, her account lacks nuance, relying instead on sentimental regret and hackneyed images of loss, alcoholism, suffering and death. Compared to her eye for the surface details of reservation life, Linzer's grasp of the heart is tentative and inexact. Author tour; U.K. translation and dramatic rights to Sobel Weber.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The setting for Linzer's powerful first book alternates between the Pacific Northwest and Oklahoma, seemingly dissimilar locales linked by the stories and experiences of the protagonist and his Native American kin. Jimmy One Rock spent his childhood on an Oklahoma reservation, and he visits Washington State because it is his wife Mary's home. The issue of "home" is also complicated by the omnipresent fact that as a Lenape, Jimmy belongs to a tribe driven out of the Northeast by whites long ago. The stories comprising this collection make a strong impact when taken individually, yet are closely enough linked to function together somewhat like a short novel. Spirits, kinship, legends, and ceremonies repeat as elements, unifying the works. Linzer's prowess arises from her ability to convey the authenticity of Jimmy's economic deprivation as well as his spiritual wealth with honesty and humor. Recommended for all libraries.?Faye A. Chadwell, Univ. of Oregon Libs., Eugene
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Picador; 1st edition (August 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312195486
• ISBN-13: 978-0312195489
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,335,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Linzer's knowledge shows in beautiful novel, May 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghost Dancing (Paperback)

Though Linzer could have written a scathing historical commentary on the ridiculous treatment of Native Americans, she has instead chosen to write a novel about the amazing strength of three young Indian men. Their lives split between Oklahoma and Washington state reservations, these men are still able to find laughter and the sacred beauty their great-great-grandmother taught them sternly about. Unbroken spirits in broken down Chevys....read it, you'll enjoy it.