Customer Reviews

One is the Sun

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

"One Is the Sun" by Patricia Nell Warren is not a beach book, nor is it something for a winter evening after the slopes by the fireplace with a tankard of mulled wine at your favorite Vale resort. And, it's not for the waiting room at your doctor's office. "One Is the Sun" is a serious read, chuck full of history, legend, and the magic of Native American medicine in mid-nineteenth century America. The story is that of an extraordinary journey peopled by a large cast of travelers, indigenous peoples; western Europeans; and resident traders of livestock and hardware; as well as eastern European immigrants. Each of these historic and ethnic groups bring distinct language, culture, and social custom to the journey. Noted author, Patricia Nell Warren juggles all those many facets masterfully and throws into the mix linguistic turns of phrase to add the "feel" of authenticity. In addition, author Warren's knowledge of the period and place is awesome.

The basic story is a journey (a grandiose tale in the mode of the classic Odyssey, the Search for the Golden Fleece, or the Holy Grail) of a medicine woman, Earth Thunder, and her servant-acolyte, River Singing, and the people they meet along the way. There are, of course, subplots connected with the individuals in each of the itinerant groups. In "One Is the Sun" you'll meet a great variety of cultures, everything from a band of women warriors to men whose greatest pleasure comes from murder. Only an author as deft as Warren could deal with the great range of personal differences and retain the "ability to suspend incredulity" in this manuscript.

It is also not possible to talk about Patricia Nell Warren's book without calling attention to the "writerly" qualities she brings to her craft. As but one example of many: "The dark shape of the steamboat Nellie Belle cut along the dazzling glitter of the Missouri's wake as the boat thrashed her way steadily upstream."

Historical fiction buffs are sure to love this book, but those not so addicted may find the devotion to historical explanation and a tendency toward didactic reasons violates the "don't tell -- show" rule of fiction. This may well be true in the long Introduction as well as in the comumunication between Earth Thunder and River Singing. We look for that in non-fiction, of course, but may find it distances us from the characters and slows the plotline in fiction. Finally those faults may well be overlooked, however, in a book that serves your collection as a non-fiction reference as well as fictionalized true story.

I read this book years ago, and am glad to see it is being reissued. I loaned my copy out to one too many friends, and am pleased to know I can order a new copy . A MUST read for anyone interested in the history of what (may have) really happened in the West.

This book is an amazing and powerful story about women and the Native American Culture. Anyone wanting to read a positive up-lifting story about women should read this incredible book! I have shared this book with many of my friends who have in turn shared it with their friends. A definite must read!

This book is very different from Patricia Nell Warren's other books but that doesn't make it any less appealing. The detail of the main character's life is well researched. This book is a must for anyone who has read Warren's other books and for anyone interested in early North American history.

This book is both engrossing and poignant, as it tells the story of a Medicine Woman and her tribe of outcasts and misfits, and their struggles to live a simple, but spiritual, life in the "Old West". It's been a long time since I've read a book that connected me so strongly with its characters; who became life-like as the story unfolded. In addition, my eyes were opened to the possibility of what life in the "Old West" might have been like for anyone other than a white man. Its message of courage, strength, hope and endurance is a timeless one that serves as a reminder of the enduring quality of the human spirit.

this is a very beautiful, moving book about the wild west right before the last natives were pushed off their land and massacred. it was one of the few books ive read that touched me deeply, not only for the interesting historical perspective, but for the insight it gives into the native american culture and inner-relationships that occurred during that period. i highly recommend to anyone interested in native culture or mother earth.

When I saw Patricia Nell Warren at a reading in 1979 she said she was going to Montana to write this book. When I finally picked it up I was amazed. I would have thought that a story of a Mayan holy woman and European American Pagans sharing their traditions with each other would have been completely fictional, but the author tells us that this novel is based on stories in her family about her ancestors. This is hidden history about people that might have been forgotten if Patricia Nell Warren hadn't told us about them. I also appreciated her drawings at the head of every chapter. It just shows how much love and care went into this book.

A has-been hack desperately trying to pretend to be an author. Well worth skipping!