Ceremony

I loved this book. It was beautiful. There were paragraphs I went back and reread multiple times because they were so well done. I loved how the structure of the book reflected the story itself. It shifts between poetry and poetry, memory and myth, all as the story blends Indigenous traditions with the realities of modern colonization.

The book did such a good job showing how painful and confusing it can be to try to hold on to cultural heritage while also adapting to the modern world. I also thought it captured this complicated idea of hating a certain kind of person or environment, while also trying to emulate it, because you know it’s going to be the best way to progress in life. The setting was perfect for exploring all the book’s concepts, especially through the perspective of a war veteran, which adds even more complexity to it all.

The story was tragic but hopeful. Having lots of family in Gallup made me feel a more personal connection to the story.

Book author: Leslie Marmon Silko