This was a very heavy-hitting book. The characters may be fictional, but Wilson does a fantastic job of making it feel like they are real.
This story branches over multiple generations of women from the Dakhota tribe. Seed keeping is the running theme through the book as it ties the ancestry together through the generations, from hiding the seeds as they were being murdered for land, or when their children were being stolen from them, or even using the seeds to help call their families home. I feel this is one that everyone should read. I will be keeping a copy of this for myself to revisit in the future.
A Dakhota woman connects with her heritage and finds belonging & purpose in the seeds she inherits from her female ancestors. Gentle despite colonial trauma.
A difficult start: be prepared to feel lost for the first thirty-forty pages, to flip back and reread a few times. Stick with it: it grows ever more moving and graceful. (Also a little clumsy at times, a tad heavyhanded and preachy. Again, persevere, you’ll be rewarded.)
The story nominally centers around Rosalie Iron Wing, an adult Dakhóta woman in present-day Minnesota, but I can’t say for sure that she was the main character. Do you remember that 1982 film, [b:Koyaanisqatsi|58439784|Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance|Philip Glass|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624812296l/58439784.SX50.jpg|91710952], the one with the haunting Philip Glass soundtrack? I think Koyaanisqatsi—Hopi for "life out of balance"—is the main character; everyone else, Rosalie included, is a minor (but not powerless!) player trapped in its orbit. Some aware of it and fighting for balance; others helping to tip the scales. Like in the film, the pace is slow and unrelenting. Unlike the film, …
A difficult start: be prepared to feel lost for the first thirty-forty pages, to flip back and reread a few times. Stick with it: it grows ever more moving and graceful. (Also a little clumsy at times, a tad heavyhanded and preachy. Again, persevere, you’ll be rewarded.)
The story nominally centers around Rosalie Iron Wing, an adult Dakhóta woman in present-day Minnesota, but I can’t say for sure that she was the main character. Do you remember that 1982 film, [b:Koyaanisqatsi|58439784|Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance|Philip Glass|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624812296l/58439784.SX50.jpg|91710952], the one with the haunting Philip Glass soundtrack? I think Koyaanisqatsi—Hopi for "life out of balance"—is the main character; everyone else, Rosalie included, is a minor (but not powerless!) player trapped in its orbit. Some aware of it and fighting for balance; others helping to tip the scales. Like in the film, the pace is slow and unrelenting. Unlike the film, the book is filled with determination, resilience, and growth.
Most of you won’t know the film. It’s not important. What matters is that Wilson has crafted a powerful tale blending grief, strength, wisdom, and hope. Exquisitely written, filled with breathtaking sentences. I can’t quite justify five stars, and I’m deeply sorry for that, but please consider adding this to your must-read list.
