Reviews

Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah

xocomilk's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-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

4.5

knitswhilereading's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

vtruelove's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Listened to this book during a long drive and it was superb! But it will 100% make you cry. 

This follows the story of a Cherokee family and how they fall from their culture and are lead back to it by their elders abd community. It spans several generations and addresses the impacts of various forms of addiction on native families. It also addresses how addition can turn into abuse and how people can heal from the effects of both on their lives. 

This book was beautifully written and I would 100% recommend it to anyone who's been impacted by addiction or abuse in their lives. 

jukebugging's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

shlymiller's review

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challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Compelling and deeply hopeful story. I think I would have benefited from reading a physical copy or maybe just having a family tree in front of me. I wasn’t always sure who in Ever’s family was the narrator at any given time.

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biblio_'s review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5


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atreegrowsinbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.5

Wow did this book wreck me. 

I really enjoyed how we got to learn about Ever through the eyes of his family members. I think that’s a very interesting way to allow a reader to get to know a character without directly hearing their perspective. 

The narrators were fantastic too, both the author and Rainy Fields had a great speaking presence. I was drawn in by their voices. 

I will say, that at times I was a little lost as to who the family member was we were hearing from and how they were related to Ever. I didn’t realize until after I finished the audio and borrowed the ebook version that there is a family tree in the front of the book. That would have been helpful to refer back to during my listen. 

While I did like how the conclusion of the book was in Ever’s perspective, I wish we had gotten more directly from him. All in all, a heart wrenching book that I’ll be sure to keep thinking about. Definitely will be looking out for more from this author. 

mabelrooney's review against another edition

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emotional medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

slicciardi's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved the way this travelled across different POVs from people in Ever’s life. The audio was great but i wish i read it. I think it would have been a richer experience

cat_book_lady's review against another edition

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5.0

I need to be VERY careful here because the last thing I want to do is dishonor such a spectacular book written by Oscar Hokeah, and my words will absolutely pale in comparison to the beauty of his debut novel. There is obviously an unfortunate paucity of Native American authors who have been able to get their stories published, yet we have much to learn by sitting at their feet and inhaling their wisdom. Hokeah brings to the forefront the fierce family ties of both Kiowa and Cherokee generations pulled together by a transcending love amidst grinding poverty and abuse, revealing that even through haunting traumas of ravaging addiction and anger, the comforting blanket of a family's love is strongly magical and healing.

I gleaned much about the power of the human spirit and the strength it takes to battle inner demons. I learned much about the destruction that people can do to each other with words and in deeds. Most importantly, I found a story that will stay with me forever, much like the loving quilt that now wraps around my soul.