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anxiousfrog's review
4.0
For my “realistic fiction” week I went for the well worn reality I live in - Native America.
Content warning: death, dismemberment, cannibalism (very brief), domestic violence
In 10 short stories and 1 play, The Beadworkers is a collection of stories out of Native Northwest. From a girl who’s family is caught in the Fish Wars of the 1960s to a re-imagined telling of Antigone dealing with the repatriation of Indigenous remains, this story collection looks at the gamut of Native experiences in the Northwest.
What I like most about this book, and many other similar books on the Indigenous experience, is that the author doesn’t explain everything. Much less even translate the Native language being used at times. This book is about particular experiences to particular tribes in the Northwest and if you know, you know. If you don’t, then well, strap in. The universality of some the Native experiences made me laugh but I also enjoyed reading and thinking about the ones that aren’t and the ones I know I need to get acquainted with.
Now, as for the stories themselves, Piatote gets the power of the short story format in this book. The stories pack a punch and gives readers just the briefest glimpse into these characters before pulling away to look at someone else. I think she does this best in “Falling Crows,” a story about a family’s son who’s come home from military service after losing two limbs. The story pivots from mother, to sister, to uncle, to son so fast you have to re-read sections to put it together. This isn’t a bad thing I think, kind of the reason why I like the physical books because I’m ready to re-read and take my time with a story. The story explores the lost and reconnection to a language in a way that could be my own family’s experience but also hope it will never be.
By far my favorite section of the book was “Antíkoni,” a re-imagining of Antigone through the lenses of a tribal museum getting set to display the regalia of a long dead Ataoklas who Antíkoni believes should be buried ceremonially instead of displayed. It’s a super clever retelling that I couldn’t believe worked so damn well. The issues of repatriation are rampant in non-Indigenous museums and archives but it’s hardly talked about when our own people do something similar. Kreon, the museum director and Antíkoni’s uncle, sees the display as way to tell Native stories by the Natives themselves and sees Antíkoni’s actions as dangerous to the integrity of the museum. Antíkoni and others sees Kreon’s actions as estranged from the community and subservient to colonist mentality. It’s as complicated as the actual issues are in real life and I would pay good money to see this play performed live.
Anyway, a fast read if you’re skilled at sitting through several emotional stories at once. I would suggest this for readers of Eden Robinson, Tommy Orange, and the ever suggested Louise Erdrich.
Content warning: death, dismemberment, cannibalism (very brief), domestic violence
In 10 short stories and 1 play, The Beadworkers is a collection of stories out of Native Northwest. From a girl who’s family is caught in the Fish Wars of the 1960s to a re-imagined telling of Antigone dealing with the repatriation of Indigenous remains, this story collection looks at the gamut of Native experiences in the Northwest.
What I like most about this book, and many other similar books on the Indigenous experience, is that the author doesn’t explain everything. Much less even translate the Native language being used at times. This book is about particular experiences to particular tribes in the Northwest and if you know, you know. If you don’t, then well, strap in. The universality of some the Native experiences made me laugh but I also enjoyed reading and thinking about the ones that aren’t and the ones I know I need to get acquainted with.
Now, as for the stories themselves, Piatote gets the power of the short story format in this book. The stories pack a punch and gives readers just the briefest glimpse into these characters before pulling away to look at someone else. I think she does this best in “Falling Crows,” a story about a family’s son who’s come home from military service after losing two limbs. The story pivots from mother, to sister, to uncle, to son so fast you have to re-read sections to put it together. This isn’t a bad thing I think, kind of the reason why I like the physical books because I’m ready to re-read and take my time with a story. The story explores the lost and reconnection to a language in a way that could be my own family’s experience but also hope it will never be.
By far my favorite section of the book was “Antíkoni,” a re-imagining of Antigone through the lenses of a tribal museum getting set to display the regalia of a long dead Ataoklas who Antíkoni believes should be buried ceremonially instead of displayed. It’s a super clever retelling that I couldn’t believe worked so damn well. The issues of repatriation are rampant in non-Indigenous museums and archives but it’s hardly talked about when our own people do something similar. Kreon, the museum director and Antíkoni’s uncle, sees the display as way to tell Native stories by the Natives themselves and sees Antíkoni’s actions as dangerous to the integrity of the museum. Antíkoni and others sees Kreon’s actions as estranged from the community and subservient to colonist mentality. It’s as complicated as the actual issues are in real life and I would pay good money to see this play performed live.
Anyway, a fast read if you’re skilled at sitting through several emotional stories at once. I would suggest this for readers of Eden Robinson, Tommy Orange, and the ever suggested Louise Erdrich.
abitters's review against another edition
4.0
Unique and intriguing. It has a little for every reader. Some shoe stories, a drama and some poetry, all within one volume. The story where Ada travels to OK to be with her Pawnee tribe is my favorite piece. The anticipation of being together with her family and the reality of what that moment becomes is heartbreaking let real. A fast and eye opening read.
bibliobethica's review
4.0
This collection of short stories, poetry, verse, and even a play shows the author's strength of connecting themes of Native Americans past and present. I particularly enjoyed Antikoni which is a reframed version of the Greek Drama, Antigone, but set in modern times. She crafted the plot in a creative and intelligent way showing how family and traditions are sometimes above the law. I didn't enjoy all of the stories as much as this one, but I will be excited to read more by Piatote.
rebelbelle13's review
4.0
"I think I would give up my fridge magnet of Planet Earth, every glimpse of snowy mountain folds from the window of a plane, the glittering view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower on New Year's Eve- I would give up all these things to see what our ancestors saw, to dream their vivid dreams, to come over a mountain with my mothers and sisters and suddenly see, in the wide open, an enormous blue meadow of blooming camas, an endless, unbroken field of periwinkle, lake, and lapis that today you could barely imagine, a land breathing and rolling with blue, a land so beautiful that you would wonder how to find your voice, find your offering, draw out a song on your breath and press the strength of your body to the earth, into the earth, into the deep wild blue." (Page 8)
The Beadworkers is a collection of tales based on the modern, urban, indigenous experience. They are all different and unconnected, but each have a mention or representation of beadwork within. One section is thoughts, another a story, another a play. They all have a hint of sadness, of loss, of searching for their past, their culture, of who they are and where they are going both as a people and as individuals. There's power in these pages, and you can feel that by reading it. My favorite in this collection was called Katydid. I really enjoyed reading about the connection between Ada and Roberta. I had some trouble following the play at the end, I'll admit, but I believe I got the gist of it. I'd recommend this collection to anyone who enjoyed There There by Tommy Orange. The stories feel similar, if unconnected to each other.
The Beadworkers is a collection of tales based on the modern, urban, indigenous experience. They are all different and unconnected, but each have a mention or representation of beadwork within. One section is thoughts, another a story, another a play. They all have a hint of sadness, of loss, of searching for their past, their culture, of who they are and where they are going both as a people and as individuals. There's power in these pages, and you can feel that by reading it. My favorite in this collection was called Katydid. I really enjoyed reading about the connection between Ada and Roberta. I had some trouble following the play at the end, I'll admit, but I believe I got the gist of it. I'd recommend this collection to anyone who enjoyed There There by Tommy Orange. The stories feel similar, if unconnected to each other.
lisanussd's review against another edition
4.0
This was a powerful book. It was a collection of short stories with the last one a play. The play was heartbreaking but so beautiful. Each story was very distinct and mostly were stories about urban Indians. One story "wIndin" was about the relationship between two friends while one of them was creating a game that had some commentary on Indian life including giveaways, I found it very funny. For every story, the writing was tight and full of insightful observations. In addition to covering Urban Indian life, the stories really dove into relationships. I was made aware of this book through the Indigenous Reading Circle. There is one suggested book a month.
"Sometimes I think love is a trap, sometimes a promise, sometimes a physics problem. Whether faith is gravity or the ability to fly is still an open question. It seems that it should be easier to chart, easier to calculate: how one loss blooms into another, how one moment of connection is a crash and another is deliverance. Desire is its own force, bringing people into our orbit and flinging our hearts far beyond our bodies, so that we have no choice but to follow."
"Sometimes I think love is a trap, sometimes a promise, sometimes a physics problem. Whether faith is gravity or the ability to fly is still an open question. It seems that it should be easier to chart, easier to calculate: how one loss blooms into another, how one moment of connection is a crash and another is deliverance. Desire is its own force, bringing people into our orbit and flinging our hearts far beyond our bodies, so that we have no choice but to follow."
tirzahyael's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
thatsoneforthebooks's review
5.0
This was an absolutely brilliant set of short stories about Indigineity in a variety of modern settings. Most of the book centers on locations in the PNW, and felt almost as a replacement in my heart for the short stories of Sherman Alexie. Mixing themes of language, family, culture, along with a persistent reference to beadwork, this book has a lot of beauty in it. It doesn't shy away from struggles faced by Native people though and discusses the perpetration of violence and systemic racism within Indigenous communities.
I loved the blend of formats within, and especially enjoyed the final piece which is written like a play. This play detailed the struggle over human remains and cultural artifacts in museums and would be a perfect piece to teach with in US History or Public History classrooms.
Kudos to Piatote for this amazing book with such gorgeous writing and thoughtful engagement with so many important themes.
I loved the blend of formats within, and especially enjoyed the final piece which is written like a play. This play detailed the struggle over human remains and cultural artifacts in museums and would be a perfect piece to teach with in US History or Public History classrooms.
Kudos to Piatote for this amazing book with such gorgeous writing and thoughtful engagement with so many important themes.
kappafrog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a really cool collection. The mix of beautiful poetry, prose stories, and a play makes for a unique book. Some of the stories were more interesting than others, with a few having abrupt endings I didn't fully understand.
Highlights were "Falling Crows", with moving parallels between a wounded body and a man's separation from his language; "Antíkoni" for the sharp commentary on museums; and "wIndin!" for the satirical board game.
I would definitely recommend this collection and look forward to reading more from this author.
Highlights were "Falling Crows", with moving parallels between a wounded body and a man's separation from his language; "Antíkoni" for the sharp commentary on museums; and "wIndin!" for the satirical board game.
I would definitely recommend this collection and look forward to reading more from this author.