Gardens in the Dunes: A Novel [B2331]

2000 PB in nice clean condition. A sweeping, multifaceted tale of a young Native American pulled between the cherished traditions of a heritage on the brink of extinction and an encroaching white culture, Gardens in the Dunes is the powerful story of one woman's quest to reconcile two worlds that are diametrically opposed.

At the center of this struggle is Indigo, who is ripped from her tribe, the Sand Lizard people, by white soldiers who destroy her home and family. Placed in a government school to learn the ways of a white child, Indigo is rescued by the kind-hearted Hattie and her worldly husband, Edward, who undertake to transform this complex, spirited girl into a 'proper' young lady. Bit by bit, and through a wondrous journey that spans the European continent, traipses through the jungles of Brazil, and returns to the rich desert of Southwest America, Indigo bridges the gap between the two forces in her life and teaches her adoptive parents as much as, if not more than, she learns from them.

From recent-ish Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Leslie Marmon Silko's Gardens in the Dunes is a testament to the author's storytelling prowess after coming onto the literary scene with Ceremony then surpassing that debut with the epic Almanac of the Dead. She is masterful at presenting a duality of lives and traditions, united by the bonds these women and their children share amidst the chaos and the criminality of a world driven by currency over nature and integrity.";

"I loved so much about this book!! Great discussion opportunities about Native American self sufficiency and spiritualism, gender roles, class/race/ gender barriers, and the human ability to adapt."; "One her most beautiful novels. There is so much history in this book.";

"This book is a masterful exploration of colonization, Indigenous tradition, the clash between nature and capitalism, womanhood, sisterhood, motherhood, and SO much more. It inspired me to dive deeper into environmental issues - especially as a result of colonization and capitalism. The book had a profound impact on me; It is beautiful in so many ways."