Craig Lesley

This is one of those books that make my heart glad that I know how to read; and why I love reading. It reads like a song; a beautiful one about fathers and sons, the love of stories, traditions and history.

Winterkill makes it clear there are individuals blessed with good parents, teachers or mentors, and life experiences who understand the richness of life, its ebb and flow, human weakness, strength and potential. These people continue the examples they learned by caring about others, as show more well as the environment, recognizing and honoring the physical and spiritual aspects of our world, respecting animals they hunt for food or clothing, and through everyday choices they make.

Craig Lesley's Danny Kachiah, of the Nez Perce tribe, is one such individual. Imperfect, but always learning and improving. Danny remembers and misses his father, appreciating what Red Shirt taught him and how he raised Danny. Danny recalls many of the old tribal ceremonies, happy and sad narratives, and many adventures from his father, grandfather and other Nez Perce Indians who knew his father. Danny understood that life was dangerous and difficult for the Nez Perce as with most Native American tribes, but like other close knit communities they shared food from hunts and looked after each other.

Danny is now raising his teenage son, Jack, using his experience, wisdom and love to protect, teach and support the next generation.

Excellent book. show less

Overall this is a strong collection of stories that represent a wide swath of different work by Native American authors. The stories I enjoyed the most were ones that were bold with language like Debra Earling's "The Old Marriage" or Anita Endrezze's "The Humming of the Stars and Bees and Waves" that are truly arresting in the way they weave their own unique narrative spaces. I also loved the Joy Harjo selections in this book. If you're looking to broaden your literary knowledge I would show more definitely recommend checking this anthology out in the knowledge that there's some really great stories and also some by that are truly awful, as it is with any hodgepodge. show less

Winterkill is an impressive debut novel. What I enjoyed most about the book was Lesley's use of the Nez Perce history and the way in which the land plays such a prominent role in the narrative. Many times, especially with the son Jack, the dialogue read a bit cheesy and superficial. Overall this is a tightly constructed story and I will definitely be reading more of Lesley's work.

Lesley has created a stunner of a book about the Nez Perce Indian tribes of the Northwest US.

Danny Kachiah participates in rodeos, fishes, hunts and does other odd jobs to earn a meager wage. He lives a modern life but when his son, Jack, relates how a whistling sound helped save him from an of out of control fire, Danny, skeptical at first, soon sees visions and hears sounds he believes are true signs from the past.

Memories of his ancestors’ lives are the universal stories of tragedy, show more treachery, pain and loss suffered by Native Americans at the hands of the American government, white pioneers, other Indian tribes, and the brutal environment – and tales of love, loyalty, bravery and sacrifice within each tribe, and tribal nation.

Danny gains respect of Nez Perce history and customs: songs, dances, ceremonies, rituals along with the spells and wisdom of medicine doctors and others.

River Song is a beautiful book about reconciling our histories with our modern lives. show less