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sarings's review against another edition
5.0
I will never stop thinking about this book. I am in awe of Mary Crow Dog's persistence. Her story is both personal and broad as she talks about her own story as well as the broader American Indian Movement. If you are even a little bit curious about this book, pick it up. You won't regret it.
dreamgalaxies's review
5.0
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This was a great read. On a stylistic/writing level, it's more like 4 stars--but that's not what this book is about. This is a story that really lives in the oral tradition realm, cut from the same cloth as other great indigenous storytellers. This one has a special place in my heart, though, because it was written by a woman. By Mary specifically, whose tenacity of spirit shines through the text. Her perspective lights up even the ugliest corners of American colonization, and she never even loses her sense of humor.
This book will fill a hole most of us here in the US have in our education, because we were specifically and purposely taught a history that erases the original occupants of this continent. I appreciated Mary's deeply nuanced perspective of modern and ancient Sioux tradition. My only reservation about this book at all is its portrayal of the relationship between Mary and Leonard. (spoilers) There are some aspects of the relationship that seem troubling, unsurprisingly for the era--particularly how it began, and her experiences when she first came to live on Crow Dog land. My heart aches for the protagonist and I can't help but wonder what she thought about these experiences, later in life, when she divorced Leonard. I don't mean to discount the voice of the narrator, and it's certainly no fault of hers that I found this distracting. She discusses the events without defensiveness, but also with a certain flatness that makes me wonder how she really felt about this man whose history and exploits defined so much of her life during the course of the events narrated.
This was a great read. On a stylistic/writing level, it's more like 4 stars--but that's not what this book is about. This is a story that really lives in the oral tradition realm, cut from the same cloth as other great indigenous storytellers. This one has a special place in my heart, though, because it was written by a woman. By Mary specifically, whose tenacity of spirit shines through the text. Her perspective lights up even the ugliest corners of American colonization, and she never even loses her sense of humor.
This book will fill a hole most of us here in the US have in our education, because we were specifically and purposely taught a history that erases the original occupants of this continent. I appreciated Mary's deeply nuanced perspective of modern and ancient Sioux tradition. My only reservation about this book at all is its portrayal of the relationship between Mary and Leonard. (spoilers) There are some aspects of the relationship that seem troubling, unsurprisingly for the era--particularly how it began, and her experiences when she first came to live on Crow Dog land. My heart aches for the protagonist and I can't help but wonder what she thought about these experiences, later in life, when she divorced Leonard. I don't mean to discount the voice of the narrator, and it's certainly no fault of hers that I found this distracting. She discusses the events without defensiveness, but also with a certain flatness that makes me wonder how she really felt about this man whose history and exploits defined so much of her life during the course of the events narrated.
misfitmoxie's review
5.0
I don't know if my words can convey the depth of suffering and of heart in this book. It broke me and fed me. I rage for the horrific, hateful atrocities that took place not in history, but in my lifetime - that continue to take place. Yet, Mary Crow Dog somehow ignites hope when sharing her experience, as well as the traditions and practices of her people. This book is a gift.
pipoot's review
2.0
Don’t really get how this is a national bestseller, I love learning about Native American history and personal experiences but this wasn’t it.
I never really understood what was happening and why. It felt broken and disorganized. Not a fan of the ritual where they kill dogs. Just my personal opinion but it was alright. Overly repetitive.
I have a ton of empathy for the poor experiences they had at American hospitals where they didn’t have a choice and were sterilized :(
in the 1960s and 1970s, the Indian Health Service (IHS) and collaborating physicians sustained a practice of performing sterilizations on Native American women, in many cases without the informed consent of their patients. In some cases, women were misled into believing that the sterilization procedure was reversible.
I never really understood what was happening and why. It felt broken and disorganized. Not a fan of the ritual where they kill dogs. Just my personal opinion but it was alright. Overly repetitive.
I have a ton of empathy for the poor experiences they had at American hospitals where they didn’t have a choice and were sterilized :(
in the 1960s and 1970s, the Indian Health Service (IHS) and collaborating physicians sustained a practice of performing sterilizations on Native American women, in many cases without the informed consent of their patients. In some cases, women were misled into believing that the sterilization procedure was reversible.
smurfolis's review
DNF @ 33%
This wasn’t well written at all.
I could have gotten past that but the author is so angry, understandably so, but she is so angry and after a while I have to say there needs to be a time where you move on and make some better choices for yourself. Maybe it happens and I didn’t stick with it long enough.
Terribly depressing, very aggressive, and sad. It may have been the point of the book but I was hoping for something more historical that could give me a better idea of life on a Lakota Tribe Reservation.
This wasn’t well written at all.
I could have gotten past that but the author is so angry, understandably so, but she is so angry and after a while I have to say there needs to be a time where you move on and make some better choices for yourself. Maybe it happens and I didn’t stick with it long enough.
Terribly depressing, very aggressive, and sad. It may have been the point of the book but I was hoping for something more historical that could give me a better idea of life on a Lakota Tribe Reservation.
droar's review
4.0
Biographies & autobios are impossible to review without being cruel or over congratulatory. How can you look at someone's life told in their own words & say "meh" it's impossible & I hate it.
I struggled with this book, I think for the style of telling (sort of chronological but also sort of topical), but I am very glad to have read it. Mary Crow Dog led both a remarkable life with her experiences in AIM and her marriage to Leonard Crow Dog & a heartbreakingly unremarkable life growing up and living in poverty on a reservation. She is very real & present in her writing with an extremely down to earth manner that I enjoyed. I think my true sticking issue with this book is that it's constantly referencing things or mentioning bits of the story that we haven't gotten to yet, like you need to know her story before you read her book to truly get some sections. It's certainly not a book ruining flaw, but it was frustrating at times. Regardless of that & despite it not being the most engaging or engrossing book I've read this year Lakota Woman is very worth my time and yours.
I struggled with this book, I think for the style of telling (sort of chronological but also sort of topical), but I am very glad to have read it. Mary Crow Dog led both a remarkable life with her experiences in AIM and her marriage to Leonard Crow Dog & a heartbreakingly unremarkable life growing up and living in poverty on a reservation. She is very real & present in her writing with an extremely down to earth manner that I enjoyed. I think my true sticking issue with this book is that it's constantly referencing things or mentioning bits of the story that we haven't gotten to yet, like you need to know her story before you read her book to truly get some sections. It's certainly not a book ruining flaw, but it was frustrating at times. Regardless of that & despite it not being the most engaging or engrossing book I've read this year Lakota Woman is very worth my time and yours.
crystal_reading's review
4.0
Mary Crow Dog tells of her life and what it was like being part of AIM in the 70s. I found it very interesting.