Reviews

Ogimawkwe Mitigwaki (Queen of the Woods) by Margaret Noori, Kiara M. Vigil, John N. Low, Simon Pokagon, Philip J. Deloria

jenmkin's review against another edition

3.0

I just think that the idea of Simon Pokagon granting his wife a legacy through his writing is beautiful

jake's review

3.0

I am from Southwest Michigan, which was once the land of the Potawatomi. I came to this novel to learn more about what life was like for the Potawatomi around the turn of the 20th century. I think that this novel comes close to being very good. Pokagon's writing is artful and direct, and his use of Algonquin adds a level of immersion for the reader. The main character's journey appears rich with symbolism that explores how one should live when caught between changing worlds. However, the energy Pokagon devotes to arguments in favor of the prohibition of alcohol make the whole story feel like a long set-up, leading to the punchline, "ban alcohol." From a historical perspective, there is certainly something to be learned there. From a literary perspective, it detracts from what is otherwise a rich, natural, and often dreamlike story.