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Loading... Lonesome Roadby Mary Louise Clifford
No tags None No current Talk conversations about this book.  GeniusJen | Oct 12, 2009 |  no reviews | add a review
Tom Benedict, a freshman at William and Mary, intends to write about Indian folk medicine for an anthropology class. He drives to Charles City County, home of the Chickahominy Indians. There he tracks down an elderly medicine woman, Granny Blow, and her fifteen-year-old apprentice, Luney. Luney barely tolerates Tom's questions until he brings books about her ancestors from the college library. When Luney introduces Tom to a stylish black woman and her followers from Richmond who meet in a camper in the neighboring forest, Tom is sure the group is a cult. Luney, however, sees parallels between their ritual dancing and the customs of the Virginia Indians. When Luney goes out in a snowstorm to retrieve a scarf she has left hanging on a tree limb and doesn't return, the reactions of Granny Blow, Luney's friend Charlie Littlebean, and Tom have unexpected consequences. No library descriptions found. |
LibraryThing AuthorMary Louise Clifford is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing. Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
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Wikipedia in English
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Tom Benedict, freshman at William and Mary college, has decided to write his anthropology paper about Native American folk medicine. His research leads him to Charles City County, Virginia, and the Chickahominy tribe. He is further directed to Granny Blow, the tribe's wisewoman. Standing between him and the information he seeks is Luney, Granny's likely successor and protector. Luney is sure that Tom is going to exploit their ways and make a public laughingstock out of them. It wouldn't be the first time. Tom's offer of books and information on other early Americans, and Granny's willingness to cooperate, are the only things that slightly relax Luney's animosity towards the outsider.
Slowly, a shaky trust and an almost-friendship develop between Tom and Luney. Though both can fall apart unexpectedly at any given moment. Nonetheless, they begin to lean on each other in ways neither of them ever expected.
Just when things seem to be settling a little, another newcomer appears. A woman, who begins holding rituals and gathering followers. Tom doesn't trust her; he thinks she's part of a cult. Luney doesn't necessarily trust her either, but is fascinated by her. It soon becomes very clear that much more than Tom and Luney's newly formed friendship may be threatened.
LONESOME ROAD was a good story. I liked the story line a lot, and the relationship between Tom and Luney was very well done. With a bit more depth and involvement, I think this would have been one of the better books I've ever read. If you have an interest in Native Americans, this is a book that's worth taking a look at. (