Talking Indian: Reflections on Survival and Writing [Paperback]

Anna Lee Walters (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Walters, the daughter of Pawnee and Otoe Indians and a teacher and author ( The Spirit of Native America: Beauty and Mysticism in American Indian Art , Chronicle, 1989, and The Sun Is Not Merciful: Short Stories , Firebrand, 1985), describes how she found her literary voice and what self-expression meant to her. On this journey, she met with alienation, moments of self-doubt, and, ultimately, a sense of joy and affirmation. Because Native American leaders, events, and rituals have long been distorted, the author devotes part of the book to correcting inaccuracies and plugging up holes. Even more moving are Walters's own experiences, told in simple, direct language. Into these experiences, she weaves vibrant stories based upon the lessons and legends passed down from her ancestors. Recommended for public libraries emphasizing early American history, genealogy, and biography.
- Lisa Nussbaum, Euclid P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Anna Lee Walters says: "I am an American Indian, but this simply does not say enough to satisfy the past, the present, or future. I am a Pawnee. I am an Otoe. My husband is a Navajo. And my children are all three." Talking Indian is about words and memory: their cultural context, their power and meaning when spoken and written, their presence and absence. It is also a book about time, "Indian Time." These are essay/stories - "Oral Tradition," "Talking Indian," and "World View" - that weave childhood memories through oral tribal history. "Buffalo Wallow Woman" is a beautiful and haunting story about a woman in a mental hospital who knows her name is not Mrs. Smith. "The Web" is an allegorical tale about listening to all life forms. In the middle of the book is a series of handsome black and white "Family Photographs." The last section is prefaced by an essay on time that teaches: "Eight o'clock promptly on the dot is an artificial time measurement, for time is not measured. Rather, its dimensions are noted. Life experience and the duration of a people are recorded in generations of offspring who carry on the perceptions." A blend of fable, fiction, and fact, Talking Indian is a powerful, spiritually enriching, and rewarding work. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Jesse Larsen

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Firebrand Books (November 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563410214
• ISBN-13: 978-1563410215
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,979,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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