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A review by roenfoe
The Chukchi Bible by Yuri Rytkheu
adventurous
informative
mysterious
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
3.75
*Read for university*
The Chukchi Bible is a blend of personal memoir, oral myth, and historical documentation. The author, Yuri Rytkheu, follows his indigenous Chukchi ancestry back to the very roots of their civilization, and begins the book with a story of creation. The story then weaves throughout each of his ancestors lives, all the way up to the life of his grandfather. I learned so much from this book; I didn't know who the Chukchi people were when I began reading, but that was not a barrier to learning from and enjoying the novel. Since it covers such a wide span of time, the reader is provided with a full view of the rise and unfortunate fall of the Chukchi. It was extremely sobering to watch as Westerners arrived and subsequently disrupted (and eventually destroyed) much of the Chukchi's cultural practices.
The Chukchi Bible was educational, emotional, and important; we need books like these to document subaltern cultures so that we can learn from them and preserve their heritage.
The Chukchi Bible is a blend of personal memoir, oral myth, and historical documentation. The author, Yuri Rytkheu, follows his indigenous Chukchi ancestry back to the very roots of their civilization, and begins the book with a story of creation. The story then weaves throughout each of his ancestors lives, all the way up to the life of his grandfather. I learned so much from this book; I didn't know who the Chukchi people were when I began reading, but that was not a barrier to learning from and enjoying the novel. Since it covers such a wide span of time, the reader is provided with a full view of the rise and unfortunate fall of the Chukchi. It was extremely sobering to watch as Westerners arrived and subsequently disrupted (and eventually destroyed) much of the Chukchi's cultural practices.
The Chukchi Bible was educational, emotional, and important; we need books like these to document subaltern cultures so that we can learn from them and preserve their heritage.