Talking to the Ground: One Family's Journey on Horseback Across the Sacred Land of the Navajo (Paperback)

by Douglas Preston (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Previously, Preston (Cities of Gold) had traveled on horseback along the ancient roads of the Anasazi, retracing Coronado's search for the Seven Cities of Gold. Three years ago, he took his fiancee, Christine, and her nine-year-old daughter, Selene, on a 400-mile horseback ride across Navajo land on the sacred path of the Navajo deity Monster Slayer. Starting at Navajo Mountain in Utah, they set out eastward for Monument Valley in Arizona. The route led them through sparsely settled country where water and shelter were scarce. They learned to depend on each other and on the hospitality of the Navajo for their lives. Preston deftly blends adventure with local history and Navajo culture for an engrossing story. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"As fresh and charming as it is originally conceived and smartly executed." (Outside )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826317405
• ISBN-13: 978-0826317407
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #651,682 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A narrative of a journey of journeys, June 26, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Talking to the Ground (Hardcover)

Preston's TALKING TO THE GROUND is one of the most gripping narratives I have read. Why? He takes us along with him (and family) to the dusty trails of Navajo Mountain on horseback down into Navajo Lands including Monument Valley and eventually Shiprock. As we ride the pilgrimage trail with the author, we too become faint and dizzy as we pick our way down incredibly steep, almost trailless cliffs. We hope, as we follow the route of the mythological monster slayer, that there will be some little spring or seep for our horses to take a drink. We hope we will get to the next Navajo dwelling where we might purchase some hay for our tired and hungry animals. We are elated when Preston and family make it to safe terrain after weeks of hardship. No novice to this marvelous country of the American Southwest, Preston had studied Navajo mythology and mysticism deligently during his days as a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History. He had also studied maps and made inquiries about the possibility of riding across the entire Navajo Nation to gain spiritual strength and wisdom. It is as shocking to the reader as it was to Preston when he was told by sunglassed young Navajo turks at Monument Valley that he couldn't possibly know a damn thing about Navajo lands and culture on such a superficial trip as this--riding horseback for several hundred miles and reading other honkies' books. Yet this moment of humility strengthens the narrative by allowing for soul searching and further journeying into wonder to trail's end at Shiprock

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars scholastic reality, February 23, 2006

By	Thomas Dering "listening to the air" (in California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's a pleasure to enjoy the author's background studies (dry) and then his reality (with large hail stones) on a search that leads to more respect... for everything.
Reading this book caused me to yearn for some concrete search of my own, and that is the dream this book passes along. It was given to me as someone else's favorite book. I can see why. Thanks.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting adventure in the Navajo Nation, March 9, 2006

By	Liza "picky reader" (CA United States) - See all my reviews

It helps immensely to have travelled to the Navajo Nation when reading this story. I found that I had minor interest in the developing family story, compared to the lore and myth of the SW Native Americans. If you've travelled to the SW and are familiar with horses, you'll love this book.