Customer Reviews

Storyteller

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Librarians have a difficult time finding a place for this book. Should it go into the autobiographical section? There's a great deal of her past and her family's heritage in this book. Should it be placed next to the poetry books? She has included several of her poems. What about fiction? She has several of her famous short stories ("Storyteller," "Yellow Woman," "Lullaby,") collected here. It's even got photojournalism in it--26 photos taken by either herself or her father. Even the shape of the book is peculiar. Maybe this might disenchant a reader who would rather have boundaries and borders. But I found it amazing.

Of course, she puts the table of contents at the end of the book. And the beginning of the book is in the center, with her poem "Long Time Ago," and should be read outwards, like the circular, centrifugal pattern in a spider web.

She keeps the memories alive of her the old people by telling her stories. She relates in her poetry and fiction, narratives that are reflective, alarming, magical, and, well, fascinating. The voice is consistent, strong, and rhythmic. Thought Woman has been at work here.

I recommend this book for those that want to learn, who want to challenge themselves by being confronted, who long to find a book to counsel and lead them into reflections, and who respect all things, past, present, and possible.

Leslie Marmon Silko's Storyteller was the first of its kind--a combination of fiction, poetry, family history, oral tradition from her own and other Native American communities, photographs--woven together to create a sense of personal, cultural, feminist, and human identity. Others have adopted some of her techniques, but Storyteller ranks as a classic work of Native American and American literature--and a great read.

Leslie Marmon Silko's book STORYTELLER is definitely unique, both in its physical presentation and content. Physically, the book itself was printed lengthwise, or horizontally, as opposed to a regular book, which is printed vertically. The words within, when written in prose, are printed vertically in two columns. However, STORYTELLER is also unique in that it also contains poetry, though perhaps not in a form you are used to. Silko also included pictures, which she describes as being connected to the stories.

I was required to read sections of STORYTELLER as part of an English 200 course. It was unique in the sense that it contains many stories, which were orally passed down by the Laguna Pueblo people for generations before finally being written down. The stories were not used by the Laguna to reprimand tribe members, or teach them a lesson, but rather to give them inspiration and sometimes provide them with the origin of a particular tribe custom. The stories illustrate the concepts and beliefs of American Indians, specifically the Laguna people. I was also required to write a paper on this book tying the cultural ideas of the natives to the stories. When writing this paper, I included some concepts of the Native American people, which readers can see within the poems and stories. Here are some you can pick up in the stories contained in STORYTELLER:

1) The concept that the universe is unified, and no being or object is above another. There is no hierarchy of supernatural, natural, and humankind in Native American beliefs like there is in Western, Christian beliefs.
2) All beings have the power to create. Animate and inanimate objects are directly related to each other, and often appear one.
3) Symbolism in Native American theology is not the same as symbolism in Western culture. The symbols of the native people are literal metaphors; they are not similes, and do not stand for something. For example, you will read about the Buffalo People and Spider Woman. The buffalo ARE the people and the spider IS the woman. There is no "like" here. Native American symbolism articulates reality.
4) Cyclical time. The Laguna do not measure time in a linear way like we do. Every is continuous, including the seasons. Thus, their stories can not be pinpointed to one moment in time.
5) Lack of emotion. The Laguna people do not mention emotions in their story like we do. You will not see a story stating, "The woman felt happy," and if you do, it shows the Western influence of Silko's Aunt Susie, who articulates these stories. Native Americans feel as though emotions are personal, and to imitate the emotions of others trespasses on personal integrity.

Naturally, there are many other Native American beliefs expressed within the stories, and I found picking these elements out fascinating and surprisingly quite enjoyable despite my extreme dislike when it comes to writing a literary analysis. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Native American people, or someone who enjoys something different from "normal" literature.

If you are purchasing this book for school, and need to write an essay on it, or if you are reading this for personal enjoyment and don't understand the stories/poems, I suggest taking a look at the following essays, which will explain what goes on in Native American literature:

Paula Gunn Allen's essay "The Sacred Hoop: A Contemporary Perspective," contained within STUDIES IN AMERICAN LITERATURE: CRITICAL ESSAYS AND COURSE DESIGNS. I read pages 3-22, which was very helpful in understanding this book.

Leslie Marmon Silko's essay titled "Language and Literature frrom a Pueblo Indian Perspective," contained in YELLOW WOMAN AND A BEAUTY OF THE SPIRIT: ESSAYS ON NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE TODAY. I read pages 48-59.

I hope this was helpful!
5/5 Stars

STORYTELLER is a collection of short stories rooted in Native American culture written by Leslie Marmon Silko. The first thing that strikes me about STORYTELLER is the way the book is formatted. Normally, the reader shouldn't pay attention to it; it generally has ntohing to do with the book. However, in STORYTELLER, it is a signal to the audience that this collection of writings is going to be personal, and based on the importance of oral tradition. The text flows around the page as if it was spoken word. Intimate family pictures compliment various stories for a very personal feeling...

...unfortunately, many of the stories didn't live up to my expectations. While some stories, like the title story, were interesting, many were too vague to me, as a cultural outsider, to understand. I wasn't really connected with Tony and his friend in the story of the oppressive state trooper, after they start to believe he is an evil spirit. I start to look at it in an overly critical way because I wouldn't say the officer is possessed, I would reason that he's simply racist. This is definitely geared toward those interested in Native American cultural studies, but not necessarily appealing to the general public.

The format is unusual: poems, short stories, personal accounts, photographs, all intermingled through the pages. The book shape is unusual (landscape vs the conventional portrait). The poems and songs were not lined up, but the stanzas were scattered through the page. Very interesting, and i am happy that i've read it, but i think this book was trying too hard to be different, and that took away from the content.

Silko has no shortage of opinions to share, mostly on how her people have been put down through the ages. She's not wrong -- Native Americans have indeed been done a great deal of dirt through the years -- but her style is accusatory and confrontational, not likely to win many converts to her cause. Read and enjoy for a point of view outside the mainstream, but expect to be offended by it if you were born white.