Customer Reviews

Yellow Raft in Blue Water

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(44)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

"A Yellow Raft in Blue Water" is one story, a single epoch, but told three times, each telling by one of the three women who shared it: the grandmother, Ida, the mother, Christine, and the daughter, Rayona. But, this book is not just about a single story seen through three different pairs of eyes. It's really a story of the forces that compel each of us to do the things we do, frequently against our own intuition or better judgement ---- and, all of them ring true. Dorris, the author, had incredible insight into human behavior when he wrote this book. Tragically, I understand that he ended his own life by suicide. Although this is fiction, it's a poignant revelation into the consequences of embracing cultural belief systems that have little basis in reality. Ruined or miserable lives are often the result. The daughter, Rayona, like many teenagers, trashes the moors of her elders and shows promise of breaking out of the cruel cycle that held her mother and grandmother captive to an miserable life. This book is a plea: it asks how we know for sure, what we think we know for sure. Granted, that's a bit heavy, but certainly worthwhile for anyone who wonders where happiness lies.

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water is a powerful novel that examines the relationship between a daugher, a mother, and a grandmother. Dorris starts the novel through the perspective of the daughter, Rayona, then to the mother, Christine, and finally to the grandmother, Ida, where it all began.

As you read A Yellow Raft In Blue Water you learn and feel the struggles of each woman. Often I found myself thinking, 'that's why' as I progressed through each woman's story and connecting the three. Dorris describes this journey as "...bonding and braiding the three strands of their shared past - and future."

Michael Dorris created a novel far more powerful than the struggle of the three women. He illustrated the need for family and how the connection to kin, no matter the circumstance and time lapse, is of great importance. He displayed that in time of need you always go back to the familiar...home.

This was a very moving and thought provoking novel to read. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

Yello Raft in Blue Water takes place on a Native American reservation in Montana and explores the lives of three women:Rayona, Christine, and Ida. Ida is the mother of Rayona and the grandmother of Rayona. The book is divided into three sections, one for Rayona's life, one for Christine's life and one for Ida's life. This technique really make the book interesting and more exciting to read because you wonder why characters are acting the way they are or why a situation is the way it is and Michael Dorris journeys back in time and provides the reader with history from the character's prospective. This keeps the reader involved in the story whl the plot moves quickly. The book explores true family love eventhough it isn't always visible to an outsider. Most people would wonder why Christine and Elgin have stayed married for so many years when half of the time they don't life together, but once you see it from their perspective you realize that it's a relationship that they can't live without. Dorris realistically illustrates a love/hate relationship that the couple always has to fall back on. This is important to the story because it gives insight into why Christine has so many problems and why Rayona is exceptionally independant. This book epxresses th generation gap that occurs in today's society. One generation thinks that the other could never understand what they're going through whil the older generation has had a long hard life but sometime decides to keep their stories secret. Ida and Christine had a difficult time understanding each other, which contributed to a strained relationship between Chistine and Rayona. Michael Dorris has writtena wonderful book that really captures your imagination and pulls you into it. I would reccomend this book to anyone and everyone.

I read this book, "Yellow Raft on Blue Water" by Michael Dorris, for my High School US Literature class. At first I was skeptical, I thought it would just be another one of those 'cultural struggle' books, that I've read enough of. I was wrong, this book is about understanding. The characters each go through life's journey to understand where their mothers and daughters are coming from. The book is uniquely formatted, going backward in time, retelling the same story from each character's point of view. You learn each character's past, the way they lived their lives and the way others saw them live it. "I never grew up, but I got old. I'm a woman who's lived for fifty-seven years and worn resentment like a medicine charm for forty. It hung heavier on my neck after each brief rest I took." p. 207. The language used in this book is beautiful, the story is touching, and the characters are amazing. I highly reccomend this book.

When I first started reading this book and was reading about Rayona's life, I had some very definite thoughts about her Mother. Dorris is a skilled writer - he chose the order he told this story in very specifically. He wanted us to have some pre-conceived notions about each of the characters before he unfolded parts of their story.

As the book progressed, I found myself loving it more and more. I became involved with the characters and felt their pain. A Yellow Raft in Blue Water is a well-written book that tells the stories of three generations of women. It is the retelling of the same story from three completely different viewpoints - Rayona, her mother and her grandmother. As the story progresses it becomes much more layered and complex. Nothing is as it first appears to be.

I'm looking forward to reading Cloud Chamber!

Just finished this novel after having it given to me [dare I say it?] nearly five years ago! For some reason as other unread books were purged from the shelves, Dorris' novel remained waiting...And I am grateful! This book takes you places you never realized you could go as Dorris skillfully, poetically and [at times] bluntly places you square-center to the actions, thoughts, and feelings of these memorable characters that somehow merge into family members before the novel is through! And if you think you've got a handle on things once you get a hold of yourself near the beginning, welll..hmmm...I thought the same thing. :) One of the best reads I've ever had...a stand-alone achievement depicting the universality of human connection, beginning and ending at the heart, the center of it all. Enjoy the laughter and the healing with this one!

Bravo Mr. Dorris!

Sincerely,
Bead

This book is wonderful. I just finished reading it yesterday, and I hated it to end. The story focuses on Rayona, Rayona's mother Christine, and Christine's mother Ida. The same story is basically retold from all 3 women's POV. This book shows us how important communication is with in our lives; not just for our benifit, but for the benifit of others. This story shows 3 women changing as they retell whay has happened to them and realize their own mistakes along the way. It is a story full of suprises and you hate to see it end. This is a definate read for mothers who don't understand their daughters, and daughters who don't undersatnd their mothers. If both read this book, they might easliy find that their "misunderstandings" are mearly lacks in communication. But watch out guys, this is a definite "chick flick".

"A Yellow Raft in Blue Water" is one story, a single epoch, but told three times, each telling by one of the three women who shared it: the grandmother, Ida, the mother, Christine, and the daughter, Rayona. But, this book is not just about a single story seen through three different pairs of eyes.

It's really a story of the forces that compel each of us to do the things we do, frequently against our own intuition or better judgement ---- and, all of them ring true. Dorris, the author, had incredible insight into human behavior when he wrote this book. Tragically, I understand that he ended his own life by suicide.

Although this is fiction, it's a poignant revelation into the consequences of embracing cultural belief systems that have little basis in reality. Ruined or miserable lives are often the result. The daughter, Rayona, like many teenagers, trashes the moors of her elders and shows promise of breaking out of the cruel cycle that held her mother and grandmother captive to an miserable life.

This book is a plea: it asks how we know for sure, what we think we know for sure. Granted, that's a bit heavy, but certainly worthwhile for anyone who wonders where happiness lies.

A Yellow Raft In Blue Water by Michael Dorris was an exellent book. It explored many subjects such as teenage life and how hard it is to grow up without a support system, death and regret, it even talked about adultery, and having to deal with other people's mistakes. There were many themes in this book. The main ones were isolation, love, betrayal, and forgiveness. This book moves backwards through time telling the stories of three lives. Rayona narrates the first part of the book. In this section she talks about her loneliness mostly. Christine is Rayona's mother. She shares her regret and her feeling of lonliness in the second part of the book. The last part of the book is narrated by Ida who is Christine's mother. This part talks about betrayal and loneliness again. Throughout the book the reader can see the love that each character has for one another. Without the hardships, none of the characters would be as strong as they are now. They made each other strong. Each character kept on living because of the other ones. I thought this was an exellent book. It touched my emotions and made me put myself in other people's shoes. I would recommend to anyone who can read.

A yellow raft in blue water by Michael Doris is without a doubt one of the most unique books I have ever read. The novel was magnificently separated into three parts, Rayona an American Indian teen, Christina Rayona's mother, and Ida Christina's mother, with each of the three characters telling a little about their lives. I think this makes this book exciting because each character leaves readers with their nose in the books while the plot slowly unveils itself. A yellow raft in blue water realistically illustrates the love and hate between the broken down relationship of three women, and it captures your imagination and your heart. I strongly recommend this book to everyone and anyone who can read.