Reviews

The Dying Grass: A Novel of the Nez Perce War by William T. Vollmann

savaging's review

5.0

I was very skeptical coming into this book. Do I want to learn about this genocide from white authors? Do I want to read clever literary novels about the horror of our past, rather than something more straight-forward? Who is this Vollmann anyway, that I should trust him?

1300 pages on, I've come around.

I was wary of the 'both sides' narrative, which shows everyone's perspective and emphasizes all the complications and extenuating circumstances (the general who hounded down / starved / massacred the Nez Perce was so committed to being a good person that he fought hard for the rights and well-being of formerly enslaved people. Howard University is named after him). But in the end, this only creates a book that more fully and forcefully condemns settler society.

Vollmann never romanticizes or propagandizes. But he illustrates an indigenous culture and characters and a relationship with place that are gorgeous and lush and full. In the end, I saw this book not as a clever literary exercise, but as a barely-restrained scream of rage.

colepsmith42's review

4.0

A solid outing from Vollmann. It's like with each additional book in the Seven Dreams series you can feel him become more enthralled with the research until it has all but consumed him alive with this cinder block of a book. Excited to move on and read the possibly last (barring some quick and/or post-humous publishing) of the remaining dreams, The Rifles, just to see how he dials it back after going all in on this one. Crows & Fathers of the Seven Dreams is still my favorite I've read so far.

heavenlyspit's review

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

freewaygods's review

adventurous challenging informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

vorpalblad's review

3.0

Technically brilliant and meticulously researched, this is a book I'm glad I'm done with. Not my cup of tea.

justin_zigenis's review

5.0

I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

scorpion_221's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Death

ngblanchard's review

My review to this book can be read here: http://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/the-dying-grass-a-novel-of-the-nez-perce-war

rainbow1218's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nick_tsreads's review

adventurous challenging informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0