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officialashleyo 's review for:
Green Grass, Running Water
by Thomas King
Great book, and easily a new favorite!
King uses a different format of the novel to challenge the way we've come to expect a novel to flow. Initially there were plenty of moments when you could find yourself wondering why the storylines are so fragmented. However, they are really woven together in a way that by the end of the novel everything really feels like it fell into its proper place -- at least, for now. The characters' lives mingle with one another in such bizarre and interesting ways it's hard to find yourself bored. In addition, there isn't really one "main" set of characters. We have a "normal" set of characters living their lives; Alberta, Lionel, and Eli are just a few. Then, on what I'd call the "supernatural" level are mythic characters from Indian oral traditions, such as Old Woman and First Woman, who encounter various Biblical figures as the novel progresses. And then there is the "narrative" level, which includes the infamous Coyote and an unnamed Narrator, who both struggle with one another to keep the overall story intact and understandable. It all sounds like a lot to take in, but Thomas King does such a great job of keeping the narrative levels in order that it hardly takes any time at all before you've gotten used to all the different characters and plotlines. (This is no Game of Thrones-like number of confusing characters -- the Narrator here acknowledges the reader and cares about making sure we follow the story!)
The book has a little of everything; irony, humor, supernatural elements, diverse characters, and even some criticism/comparisons of Indian and Christian religions and ways of life. King merges the techniques of oral and written storytelling traditions. This is partially done simply by the format of the story; it jumps around between characters and stories at times, almost as if the Narrator is remembering random details as they tell it (much like I do when telling any kind of story). King also merges the oral and written by the mingling of traditional Indian characters with characters from western literature. These characters then interact with one another, not only on the supernatural level, but also on the everyday, normal level of those characters such as Alberta.
If I had to sum up the book in one sentence, I'd say this: Green Grass, Running Water is a never-ending adventure. Seriously, go check it out.
King uses a different format of the novel to challenge the way we've come to expect a novel to flow. Initially there were plenty of moments when you could find yourself wondering why the storylines are so fragmented. However, they are really woven together in a way that by the end of the novel everything really feels like it fell into its proper place -- at least, for now. The characters' lives mingle with one another in such bizarre and interesting ways it's hard to find yourself bored. In addition, there isn't really one "main" set of characters. We have a "normal" set of characters living their lives; Alberta, Lionel, and Eli are just a few. Then, on what I'd call the "supernatural" level are mythic characters from Indian oral traditions, such as Old Woman and First Woman, who encounter various Biblical figures as the novel progresses. And then there is the "narrative" level, which includes the infamous Coyote and an unnamed Narrator, who both struggle with one another to keep the overall story intact and understandable. It all sounds like a lot to take in, but Thomas King does such a great job of keeping the narrative levels in order that it hardly takes any time at all before you've gotten used to all the different characters and plotlines. (This is no Game of Thrones-like number of confusing characters -- the Narrator here acknowledges the reader and cares about making sure we follow the story!)
The book has a little of everything; irony, humor, supernatural elements, diverse characters, and even some criticism/comparisons of Indian and Christian religions and ways of life. King merges the techniques of oral and written storytelling traditions. This is partially done simply by the format of the story; it jumps around between characters and stories at times, almost as if the Narrator is remembering random details as they tell it (much like I do when telling any kind of story). King also merges the oral and written by the mingling of traditional Indian characters with characters from western literature. These characters then interact with one another, not only on the supernatural level, but also on the everyday, normal level of those characters such as Alberta.
If I had to sum up the book in one sentence, I'd say this: Green Grass, Running Water is a never-ending adventure. Seriously, go check it out.