a non-linear and highly crafted text

A beautifully structured narrative that spans generations, all woven into the experiences of the main character, young Tayo. Although Silko's style can be a little difficult at first, its an enjoyable read even if one doesn't quite grasp at first how the sequences fit together...each segment is individually valid in itself. Don't worry if nothing makes sense at first...I read it once through, made a mental note of WHO everyone was, and then reread it more slowly piecing it together.

It's not one of those books that you need to come to with a prior knowledge of Native Americans, although it does a great job of interrogating stereotypes of Native American culture. Probably someone with a deeper understanding of Tayo's culture than I have would come away with a richer appreciation, but I loved the book and was able to empathize deeply with Tayo's feelings and dilemmas, if not his specific background.

The imagery alone, as willdobbie noted, makes this book a fascinating read.

The imbalances of time and space are particularly interesting. The narrative is constantly being "interrupted" by scenes from long ago, or from Native American traditional stories. It all fits together, but not in any easy or simple way. It's a hard book to read not only because of its confusing, non-linear structure, but also because the stark emotion of Silko's language does such a great job of showing Tayo's initial despair, the result of institutionalized violence visited on his people.

You'll definitely want to own a copy if this sounds like your type of book. Most of my friends who have read it either love it or hate it - it evokes a strong response.