Godmother's Web [Paperback]

Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1999

The award-winning author of the acclaimed "Godmother" novels introduces a new Godmother--a Native American woman, known simply as "Grandma", who will weave a web of unforgettable magic and change the life of one young woman forever.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The latest in Scarborough's series of folkloric magic tales stemming from The Godmother (1994) takes Cindy Ellis, lover of rocker Raydir Quantrill (father of Snohomish Quantrill--see The Godmother's Apprentice [1995]), to the Southwest. Her ostensible job is to trail-train one of Raydir's horses; her actual need is to give herself a break from Raydir and his toxic entourage. Along the way, Cindy encounters an old Indian woman, who she thinks is a wandering mental case but is actually another Godmother, the Hopi spider woman. Before the woman is done weaving her web, Cindy has plunged into the middle of the Hopi-Navajo land-rights dispute, learned much more about the virtues and vices of those Indian peoples than she expected to, and survived a number of perilous predicaments, the results of corporate greed, evil magic, and just plain adolescent stupidity. Characterization, pacing, and folkloric expertise are all up to the series' high standards, so Godmother-followers and others should greet this book joyfully. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Scarborough's hand is assured, and she clearly knows Navajo-Hopi country and ways.... Scarborough fans should love it, and if you're looking for a gift for a middle-schooler, it's perfect. If you're a middle or high school librarian, don't miss it. -- Analog, Tom Easton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Ace (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441006000
• ISBN-13: 978-0441006007
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Altogether I've written and collaborated on 38 novels, 22 solo and 16 in collaboration with the fabulous Anne McCaffrey.
Among my solo novels is THE HEALER'S WAR, the 1989 Nebula Award winner for best novel, loosely based on my experiences as a nurse in Vietnam.
I have also written a traditional, though humorous, 4-book fantasy series, SONGS FROM THE SEASHELL ARCHIVES, a feminist Arabian Nights fantasy, two fantasies set in the Wild West and the Yukon Goldrush respectively, my obligatory science fiction writer's apocalypse book and the sequel, both set in Tibet, and three books about folk music and magic that made a big hit with the Library of Congress Folk Music Archives, which I blew up in the first book. Three of my books are about fairy godmothers, one is about Christmas and computers, one features Sir Walter Scott in a Victorian gothic mystery set in Edinburgh, and two are about Queen Cleopatra as the living "Past life" of two different women.
Just last week I released for the first time anywhere, a new e-book (available soon as Print on Demand as well), SPAM VS THE VAMPIRE. Spam is a cat whose mistress disappears suddenly, leaving him and his 14 feline housemates alone and soon to starve. When someone breaks into the house, Spam takes the opportunity to escape into the outside world, where he's actually never been before, to hunt for his human, or at least some other human to feed and care for him and his friends until their friend Darcy comes back. The more he hunts, the more he becomes sure that she is not going to be coming back on her own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Peace Let It Be Finished, May 23, 2001

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Godmother's Web (Paperback)

"The Godmother's Web" is the third in a series of godmother novels penned by Elizabeth Scarborough. Cindy Ellis, who appeared in the original "Godmother", has become a bit disenchanted with her relationship to Raydir Quantrill, the king of Alloy Rock. When Raydir leaves for a road trip Cindy decides she needs some time to think things out and tacks a job training a trail horse by riding it through the wilder parts of Arizona.

Cindy's first indication that the trip was not going to go according to plan was when she picked up an older American Indian woman whom everyone called Grandmother. Shortly thereafter, Cindy discovers that her hitchhiker had a slightly different voyage in mind and had no intention of letting Cindy get rid of her easily. Grandmother seems to be concerned about the pain and anger caused among the Hopi and Navaho by a recent land partition. By no means a political activist, Grandmother is intent on providing wisdom to her many grandchildren.

Among her extended family we will find Carl Loloma, a drug counselor, his daughter Sela, and her boyfriend Wiley Smiley. Also playing major parts are Michael Blackgoat, on a quest for a horse, Dr. Maria Chee, who has come back to the reservation to help her people, and Alice and Martha Tsosie, two sisters who are split over how to deal with land partition.

I shouldn't leave out an ill-intentioned Navaho witch, several representatives of a power company who intend to take advantage of the political situation to advance their own cause, and some other unpleasant `bad guys.' Confronted with inter-tribal anger and misunderstanding, horse theft, witchcraft and assassination, Grandmother has her work cut out for her.

Not only does Scarborough write one of her best tales ever; she shows a grasp of Hopi and Navaho culture that is truly astounding. She weaves legend, myth, culture and politics into the story without missing a step and never lets the story get bogged down by all the details. I learnt as much about these to American Indian cultures in a book intended for entertainment as I have reading books on the same subject. Because of this excellent mix of story and cross-cultural information I would recommend "The Godmother's Web" for everyone, young and old, short and tall.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars certainly a joy to read, February 2, 2000

By 

Geertiena Kroeze (mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Godmother's Web (Paperback)

this book was a wonderful way to escape into the world of the native americans and they problems they have faced in the past and are facing now in the present and future. The langauge mrs. scarborough uses is very humouristic and keeps your hooked. I can certainly recommmend this book. For the absolute experience you should really read the other 2 books about the fairy godmothers.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story with great writing, characters and location!, April 17, 1999

By 

J. Might (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Godmother's web (Hardcover)

Ms.Scarborough again shows her talent for weaving so many apparently unrelated lives into one wonderful united tale. This third book in The Godmother trilogy takes place in modern day Southwest American Indian reservations and is full of their history, fables, and way of life past and present. I came away from this book more knowledgeable and that made this book an even better read. As in her previous books, the writing is clean, smooth and the characters are well written. I'm sad this trilogy has ended!