Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

Prelude and Postlude, 17 Oct 2003
'Cloud Chamber' is the follow-up novel to his earlier 'A Yellow Raft on Blue Water'. To say follow-up, however, is somewhat misleading. It is actually both a prequel and a sequel to that novel. Whereas in YRBW we are presented with the history of three generations of women in a backwards progression, in 'Cloud Chamber' we begin several generations prior, leading one to speculate (even unto the last quarter of the book) why exactly is one reading this, and what relationship it truly has to YRBW?

The patient will be rewarded in her or his reading. We begin in Ireland, with a tale of passion and betrayal (as only the Irish under English-domination could seem to muster). This account, almost unrelated to the rest of the story save as the seed of the action, actually provides an undertow of passion and betrayal felt by the family's succeeding generations.

When the young, best-prized son becomes a priest, and then dies tragically in a rather stupid accident, both the mother and the woman-in-love (who marries his brother, ironically, to stay close to him) get angry with the entire world, to no good end.

Men, when they figure in the story at all, are usually distant characters, not fully developed, and the full implication is that the literary character is not very developed because the human character is likewise undeveloped. That being said, this is not feminist-philosophy here; as happened so often, women often had a very different psychological and personality development, given cultural mores, and perhaps the view of the men could never be complete given this societal-enforced distance.

We come up on Rayona's lineage from the other side this time, through her father, but in this, it is very much the matriarchal line. We learn that, even given strong women of intelligence and passion, the wisps of reality still can make for a struggle for survival. Chronic disease runs through the family; great need (most often unacknowledged) contrasts and conflicts with great strength.

The story ends in hope, and renews the hope at the end of YRBW. Rayona has a history and prehistory of tension and passion and difficulty, but also one of love and hopefulness, and this is the conclusion.

This is a truly intriguing way of introducing an entire new cultural element into the storyline, and an innovative way of following up a great novel.

Another generational story of betrayal..., 19 Apr 1999
I absolutely loved "Yellow Raft in Blue Water". But there were so many questions I had, about Rayona's past, and her future. I liked how "cloud Chamber" looked at Elgin's side of the family. THis book was altogether captivating, though I'm not sure I like the idea of everything going wrong. It upset me a little, actually. Rose Mannion made an interesting character, that I loved, and yet hated at the same time. This story lacked the plot of "Yellow Raft in Blue Water", but it still was an excellent novel.

Delicately written and intricately detailed, 19 Jan 1998
I came to this book without connecting it to the story I had read some time ago of the author's suicide. Neither had I read 'Yellow Raft'. As such, my view was relatively free from preconceptions. I liked Cloud Chamber a lot. No doubt, the plot is compelling and nicely paced - if read without demands the book makes a fine, literary plane or train read. Stylistically, I felt the book's structure of rotating tale-telling between the major characters from chapter to chapter provided a neat framework on which to hang a multigenerational novel without it becoming too Michener-like. Dorris covers a lot of ground while being able to give us some fine psychological detail. An intriguing feature of his prose style is that though each separate voice preserves its individuality and distinctiveness, a skilled, unified lyrical tone is preserved throughout. We do not feel that the delicate surface texture becomes awkward or inappropriate in the mouth of even the harsher characters such as Rose. Some of the historical detailing is beautiful, such as the way the women use the Bible as a "fortune-telling" tool, or the treatment of the sisters consumption. I liked Cloud Chamber best for its quiet, unassuming illumination of the sisters interior lives. Dorris does a wonderful job of giving these anxious, devout women real voices without resorting to melodrama or stereotyping. Where its weaknesses are manifest are in the intended unity provided by the "curse" of Rose Mannion, and in the overreaching of including quite so many races to represent the American melting pot. For me, these themes ultimately proved a little clumsy. Overall, though, I can recommend this book as an enjoyable yarn with some lovely portraiture. Read it in a couple of sittings and be entertained - don't expect a profound life lesson.

Dorris' final novel is flawed, but ultimately succeeds., 02 Dec 1997
Finishing the final words of this novel broke my heart. Michael Dorris, at the end of this book, had 'pulled it off' and ended a sometimes-substandard book with beautiful prose and images. Rayona, the young girl from the haunting Yellow Raft on Blue Water, is here again and will be okay. I closed the book and looked at the author's picture for a long time, shedding a few tears for a great writer. It would seem that he, too, was deeply flawed, like us all, yet full of humanity and wisdom. I will miss his literary presence.

Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

Prelude and Postlude, 17 Oct 2003
'Cloud Chamber' is the follow-up novel to his earlier 'A Yellow Raft on Blue Water'. To say follow-up, however, is somewhat misleading. It is actually both a prequel and a sequel to that novel. Whereas in YRBW we are presented with the history of three generations of women in a backwards progression, in 'Cloud Chamber' we begin several generations prior, leading one to speculate (even unto the last quarter of the book) why exactly is one reading this, and what relationship it truly has to YRBW?

The patient will be rewarded in her or his reading. We begin in Ireland, with a tale of passion and betrayal (as only the Irish under English-domination could seem to muster). This account, almost unrelated to the rest of the story save as the seed of the action, actually provides an undertow of passion and betrayal felt by the family's succeeding generations.

When the young, best-prized son becomes a priest, and then dies tragically in a rather stupid accident, both the mother and the woman-in-love (who marries his brother, ironically, to stay close to him) get angry with the entire world, to no good end.

Men, when they figure in the story at all, are usually distant characters, not fully developed, and the full implication is that the literary character is not very developed because the human character is likewise undeveloped. That being said, this is not feminist-philosophy here; as happened so often, women often had a very different psychological and personality development, given cultural mores, and perhaps the view of the men could never be complete given this societal-enforced distance.

We come up on Rayona's lineage from the other side this time, through her father, but in this, it is very much the matriarchal line. We learn that, even given strong women of intelligence and passion, the wisps of reality still can make for a struggle for survival. Chronic disease runs through the family; great need (most often unacknowledged) contrasts and conflicts with great strength.

The story ends in hope, and renews the hope at the end of YRBW. Rayona has a history and prehistory of tension and passion and difficulty, but also one of love and hopefulness, and this is the conclusion.

This is a truly intriguing way of introducing an entire new cultural element into the storyline, and an innovative way of following up a great novel.

Another generational story of betrayal..., 19 Apr 1999
I absolutely loved "Yellow Raft in Blue Water". But there were so many questions I had, about Rayona's past, and her future. I liked how "cloud Chamber" looked at Elgin's side of the family. THis book was altogether captivating, though I'm not sure I like the idea of everything going wrong. It upset me a little, actually. Rose Mannion made an interesting character, that I loved, and yet hated at the same time. This story lacked the plot of "Yellow Raft in Blue Water", but it still was an excellent novel.

Delicately written and intricately detailed, 19 Jan 1998
I came to this book without connecting it to the story I had read some time ago of the author's suicide. Neither had I read 'Yellow Raft'. As such, my view was relatively free from preconceptions. I liked Cloud Chamber a lot. No doubt, the plot is compelling and nicely paced - if read without demands the book makes a fine, literary plane or train read. Stylistically, I felt the book's structure of rotating tale-telling between the major characters from chapter to chapter provided a neat framework on which to hang a multigenerational novel without it becoming too Michener-like. Dorris covers a lot of ground while being able to give us some fine psychological detail. An intriguing feature of his prose style is that though each separate voice preserves its individuality and distinctiveness, a skilled, unified lyrical tone is preserved throughout. We do not feel that the delicate surface texture becomes awkward or inappropriate in the mouth of even the harsher characters such as Rose. Some of the historical detailing is beautiful, such as the way the women use the Bible as a "fortune-telling" tool, or the treatment of the sisters consumption. I liked Cloud Chamber best for its quiet, unassuming illumination of the sisters interior lives. Dorris does a wonderful job of giving these anxious, devout women real voices without resorting to melodrama or stereotyping. Where its weaknesses are manifest are in the intended unity provided by the "curse" of Rose Mannion, and in the overreaching of including quite so many races to represent the American melting pot. For me, these themes ultimately proved a little clumsy. Overall, though, I can recommend this book as an enjoyable yarn with some lovely portraiture. Read it in a couple of sittings and be entertained - don't expect a profound life lesson.

Dorris' final novel is flawed, but ultimately succeeds., 02 Dec 1997
Finishing the final words of this novel broke my heart. Michael Dorris, at the end of this book, had 'pulled it off' and ended a sometimes-substandard book with beautiful prose and images. Rayona, the young girl from the haunting Yellow Raft on Blue Water, is here again and will be okay. I closed the book and looked at the author's picture for a long time, shedding a few tears for a great writer. It would seem that he, too, was deeply flawed, like us all, yet full of humanity and wisdom. I will miss his literary presence.

Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

Prelude and Postlude, 17 Oct 2003
'Cloud Chamber' is the follow-up novel to his earlier 'A Yellow Raft on Blue Water'. To say follow-up, however, is somewhat misleading. It is actually both a prequel and a sequel to that novel. Whereas in YRBW we are presented with the history of three generations of women in a backwards progression, in 'Cloud Chamber' we begin several generations prior, leading one to speculate (even unto the last quarter of the book) why exactly is one reading this, and what relationship it truly has to YRBW?

The patient will be rewarded in her or his reading. We begin in Ireland, with a tale of passion and betrayal (as only the Irish under English-domination could seem to muster). This account, almost unrelated to the rest of the story save as the seed of the action, actually provides an undertow of passion and betrayal felt by the family's succeeding generations.

When the young, best-prized son becomes a priest, and then dies tragically in a rather stupid accident, both the mother and the woman-in-love (who marries his brother, ironically, to stay close to him) get angry with the entire world, to no good end.

Men, when they figure in the story at all, are usually distant characters, not fully developed, and the full implication is that the literary character is not very developed because the human character is likewise undeveloped. That being said, this is not feminist-philosophy here; as happened so often, women often had a very different psychological and personality development, given cultural mores, and perhaps the view of the men could never be complete given this societal-enforced distance.

We come up on Rayona's lineage from the other side this time, through her father, but in this, it is very much the matriarchal line. We learn that, even given strong women of intelligence and passion, the wisps of reality still can make for a struggle for survival. Chronic disease runs through the family; great need (most often unacknowledged) contrasts and conflicts with great strength.

The story ends in hope, and renews the hope at the end of YRBW. Rayona has a history and prehistory of tension and passion and difficulty, but also one of love and hopefulness, and this is the conclusion.

This is a truly intriguing way of introducing an entire new cultural element into the storyline, and an innovative way of following up a great novel.

Another generational story of betrayal..., 19 Apr 1999
I absolutely loved "Yellow Raft in Blue Water". But there were so many questions I had, about Rayona's past, and her future. I liked how "cloud Chamber" looked at Elgin's side of the family. THis book was altogether captivating, though I'm not sure I like the idea of everything going wrong. It upset me a little, actually. Rose Mannion made an interesting character, that I loved, and yet hated at the same time. This story lacked the plot of "Yellow Raft in Blue Water", but it still was an excellent novel.

Delicately written and intricately detailed, 19 Jan 1998
I came to this book without connecting it to the story I had read some time ago of the author's suicide. Neither had I read 'Yellow Raft'. As such, my view was relatively free from preconceptions. I liked Cloud Chamber a lot. No doubt, the plot is compelling and nicely paced - if read without demands the book makes a fine, literary plane or train read. Stylistically, I felt the book's structure of rotating tale-telling between the major characters from chapter to chapter provided a neat framework on which to hang a multigenerational novel without it becoming too Michener-like. Dorris covers a lot of ground while being able to give us some fine psychological detail. An intriguing feature of his prose style is that though each separate voice preserves its individuality and distinctiveness, a skilled, unified lyrical tone is preserved throughout. We do not feel that the delicate surface texture becomes awkward or inappropriate in the mouth of even the harsher characters such as Rose. Some of the historical detailing is beautiful, such as the way the women use the Bible as a "fortune-telling" tool, or the treatment of the sisters consumption. I liked Cloud Chamber best for its quiet, unassuming illumination of the sisters interior lives. Dorris does a wonderful job of giving these anxious, devout women real voices without resorting to melodrama or stereotyping. Where its weaknesses are manifest are in the intended unity provided by the "curse" of Rose Mannion, and in the overreaching of including quite so many races to represent the American melting pot. For me, these themes ultimately proved a little clumsy. Overall, though, I can recommend this book as an enjoyable yarn with some lovely portraiture. Read it in a couple of sittings and be entertained - don't expect a profound life lesson.

Dorris' final novel is flawed, but ultimately succeeds., 02 Dec 1997
Finishing the final words of this novel broke my heart. Michael Dorris, at the end of this book, had 'pulled it off' and ended a sometimes-substandard book with beautiful prose and images. Rayona, the young girl from the haunting Yellow Raft on Blue Water, is here again and will be okay. I closed the book and looked at the author's picture for a long time, shedding a few tears for a great writer. It would seem that he, too, was deeply flawed, like us all, yet full of humanity and wisdom. I will miss his literary presence.

Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

Glimpse an unknown world right next door, 24 Feb 2006
We read this novel as part of the pastoral care course at seminary. Partly it was to introduce characters of backgrounds differing from essentially anyone else in the course, to introduce situations and people to whom one might eventually be called upon to minister.

The book begins with the tale of Rayona, a middle-teenage girl who is having problems adjusting to life (of course, which middle-teenage girl is not having problems? one might ask). Her problems are magnified by her alcoholic mother, her distant grandmother, her mixed-race parentage, and her general feeling of being caught between two (or more) worlds.

The book continues in its second part with a backward look at Rayona's mother, Christine, who came of age on a reservation (being an American Indian -- when she was being raised, the term 'native American' had not yet become standard). She was also distant from her mother, we learn, who was known as 'aunt Ida' (exemplifying the distance in the relationship even at the outset).

The third part is yet again a backward progression to Ida's life, so that as we get to know more and more about the background of the person, we begin to see how the child and grandchild turned out as they did.

Each of the three parts bring us further back into the past, and provide us with a different perspective on what is happening in the present. We see, for instance, the encounter of Christine and Rayona returning to the reservation and encountering Aunt Ida on the riding lawn mower, from the perspective in turn of each of the participants: Rayona, who feels abandoned by her mother; Christine, who feels abandoned by her mother Aunt Ida; Ida, who has so much baggage that she is both accepting and rejecting simultaneously, afraid to show the concern that truly beats within her heart. A fascinating trinity of perspectives which interpermeate to give a full picture, but only for the patient.

In pastoral care settings, one will not normally get this kind of insight and detail, but it is a wonderful novel in which to see a unique set of characters who, if one were to encounter them on the street or, say, in a bus station, one might easily overlook as uninteresting.

This is a thoughtful account, full of 'touchy/feely' details, and will appeal to those who are looking for that. There is little action in the book, and no real mystery (beyond the basic 'who are these people?' question). These are, in fiction, what I generally prefer. And yet, I found it engrossing and entertaining, and hard to put down.

Glimpse an unknown world right next door, 22 Nov 2005
We read this novel as part of the pastoral care course at seminary. Partly it was to introduce characters of backgrounds differing from essentially anyone else in the course, to introduce situations and people to whom one might eventually be called upon to minister.

The book begins with the tale of Rayona, a middle-teenage girl who is having problems adjusting to life (of course, which middle-teenage girl is not having problems? one might ask). Her problems are magnified by her alcoholic mother, her distant grandmother, her mixed-race parentage, and her general feeling of being caught between two (or more) worlds.

The book continues in its second part with a backward look at Rayona's mother, Christine, who came of age on a reservation (being an American Indian -- when she was being raised, the term 'native American' had not yet become standard). She was also distant from her mother, we learn, who was known as 'aunt Ida' (exemplifying the distance in the relationship even at the outset).

The third part is yet again a backward progression to Ida's life, so that as we get to know more and more about the background of the person, we begin to see how the child and grandchild turned out as they did.

Each of the three parts bring us further back into the past, and provide us with a different perspective on what is happening in the present. We see, for instance, the encounter of Christine and Rayona returning to the reservation and encountering Aunt Ida on the riding lawn mower, from the perspective in turn of each of the participants: Rayona, who feels abandoned by her mother; Christine, who feels abandoned by her mother Aunt Ida; Ida, who has so much baggage that she is both accepting and rejecting simultaneously, afraid to show the concern that truly beats within her heart. A fascinating trinity of perspectives which interpermeate to give a full picture, but only for the patient.

In pastoral care settings, one will not normally get this kind of insight and detail, but it is a wonderful novel in which to see a unique set of characters who, if one were to encounter them on the street or, say, in a bus station, one might easily overlook as uninteresting.

This is a thoughtful account, full of 'touchy/feely' details, and will appeal to those who are looking for that. There is little action in the book, and no real mystery (beyond the basic 'who are these people?' question). These are, in fiction, what I generally prefer. And yet, I found it engrossing and entertaining, and hard to put down.

Glimpse the world unknown just next door, 17 Oct 2003
We read this novel as part of the pastoral care course at seminary. Partly it was to introduce characters of backgrounds differing from essentially anyone else in the course, to introduce situations and people to whom one might eventually be called upon to minister.

The book begins with the tale of Rayona, a middle-teenage girl who is having problems adjusting to life (of course, which middle-teenage girl is not having problems? one might ask). Her problems are magnified by her alcoholic mother, her distant grandmother, her mixed-race parentage, and her general feeling of being caught between two (or more) worlds.

The book continues in its second part with a backward look at Rayona's mother, Christine, who came of age on a reservation (being an American Indian -- when she was being raised, the term 'native American' had not yet become standard). She was also distant from her mother, we learn, who was known as 'aunt Ida' (exemplifying the distance in the relationship even at the outset).

The third part is yet again a backward progression to Ida's life, so that as we get to know more and more about the background of the person, we begin to see how the child and grandchild turned out as they did.

Each of the three parts bring us further back into the past, and provide us with a different perspective on what is happening in the present. We see, for instance, the encounter of Christine and Rayona returning to the reservation and encountering Aunt Ida on the riding lawn mower, from the perspective in turn of each of the participants: Rayona, who feels abandoned by her mother; Christine, who feels abandoned by her mother Aunt Ida; Ida, who has so much baggage that she is both accepting and rejecting simultaneously, afraid to show the concern that truly beats within her heart. A fascinating trinity of perspectives which interpermeate to give a full picture, but only for the patient.

In pastoral care settings, one will not normally get this kind of insight and detail, but it is a wonderful novel in which to see a unique set of characters who, if one were to encounter them on the street or, say, in a bus station, one might easily overlook as uninteresting.

This is a thoughtful account, full of 'touchy/feely' details, and will appeal to those who are looking for that. There is little action in the book, and no real mystery (beyond the basic 'who are these people?' question). These are, in fiction, what I generally prefer. And yet, I found it engrossing and entertaining, and hard to put down.

Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

Prelude and Postlude, 17 Oct 2003
'Cloud Chamber' is the follow-up novel to his earlier 'A Yellow Raft on Blue Water'. To say follow-up, however, is somewhat misleading. It is actually both a prequel and a sequel to that novel. Whereas in YRBW we are presented with the history of three generations of women in a backwards progression, in 'Cloud Chamber' we begin several generations prior, leading one to speculate (even unto the last quarter of the book) why exactly is one reading this, and what relationship it truly has to YRBW?

The patient will be rewarded in her or his reading. We begin in Ireland, with a tale of passion and betrayal (as only the Irish under English-domination could seem to muster). This account, almost unrelated to the rest of the story save as the seed of the action, actually provides an undertow of passion and betrayal felt by the family's succeeding generations.

When the young, best-prized son becomes a priest, and then dies tragically in a rather stupid accident, both the mother and the woman-in-love (who marries his brother, ironically, to stay close to him) get angry with the entire world, to no good end.

Men, when they figure in the story at all, are usually distant characters, not fully developed, and the full implication is that the literary character is not very developed because the human character is likewise undeveloped. That being said, this is not feminist-philosophy here; as happened so often, women often had a very different psychological and personality development, given cultural mores, and perhaps the view of the men could never be complete given this societal-enforced distance.

We come up on Rayona's lineage from the other side this time, through her father, but in this, it is very much the matriarchal line. We learn that, even given strong women of intelligence and passion, the wisps of reality still can make for a struggle for survival. Chronic disease runs through the family; great need (most often unacknowledged) contrasts and conflicts with great strength.

The story ends in hope, and renews the hope at the end of YRBW. Rayona has a history and prehistory of tension and passion and difficulty, but also one of love and hopefulness, and this is the conclusion.

This is a truly intriguing way of introducing an entire new cultural element into the storyline, and an innovative way of following up a great novel.

Another generational story of betrayal..., 19 Apr 1999
I absolutely loved "Yellow Raft in Blue Water". But there were so many questions I had, about Rayona's past, and her future. I liked how "cloud Chamber" looked at Elgin's side of the family. THis book was altogether captivating, though I'm not sure I like the idea of everything going wrong. It upset me a little, actually. Rose Mannion made an interesting character, that I loved, and yet hated at the same time. This story lacked the plot of "Yellow Raft in Blue Water", but it still was an excellent novel.

Delicately written and intricately detailed, 19 Jan 1998
I came to this book without connecting it to the story I had read some time ago of the author's suicide. Neither had I read 'Yellow Raft'. As such, my view was relatively free from preconceptions. I liked Cloud Chamber a lot. No doubt, the plot is compelling and nicely paced - if read without demands the book makes a fine, literary plane or train read. Stylistically, I felt the book's structure of rotating tale-telling between the major characters from chapter to chapter provided a neat framework on which to hang a multigenerational novel without it becoming too Michener-like. Dorris covers a lot of ground while being able to give us some fine psychological detail. An intriguing feature of his prose style is that though each separate voice preserves its individuality and distinctiveness, a skilled, unified lyrical tone is preserved throughout. We do not feel that the delicate surface texture becomes awkward or inappropriate in the mouth of even the harsher characters such as Rose. Some of the historical detailing is beautiful, such as the way the women use the Bible as a "fortune-telling" tool, or the treatment of the sisters consumption. I liked Cloud Chamber best for its quiet, unassuming illumination of the sisters interior lives. Dorris does a wonderful job of giving these anxious, devout women real voices without resorting to melodrama or stereotyping. Where its weaknesses are manifest are in the intended unity provided by the "curse" of Rose Mannion, and in the overreaching of including quite so many races to represent the American melting pot. For me, these themes ultimately proved a little clumsy. Overall, though, I can recommend this book as an enjoyable yarn with some lovely portraiture. Read it in a couple of sittings and be entertained - don't expect a profound life lesson.

Dorris' final novel is flawed, but ultimately succeeds., 02 Dec 1997
Finishing the final words of this novel broke my heart. Michael Dorris, at the end of this book, had 'pulled it off' and ended a sometimes-substandard book with beautiful prose and images. Rayona, the young girl from the haunting Yellow Raft on Blue Water, is here again and will be okay. I closed the book and looked at the author's picture for a long time, shedding a few tears for a great writer. It would seem that he, too, was deeply flawed, like us all, yet full of humanity and wisdom. I will miss his literary presence.

Please help me!, 17 Oct 1998
Does Sees Behind Trees Really find the place Gray Fire wanted to find?!! Please e-mail me at damien6jan@hotmail.com

Glimpse an unknown world right next door, 24 Feb 2006
We read this novel as part of the pastoral care course at seminary. Partly it was to introduce characters of backgrounds differing from essentially anyone else in the course, to introduce situations and people to whom one might eventually be called upon to minister.

The book begins with the tale of Rayona, a middle-teenage girl who is having problems adjusting to life (of course, which middle-teenage girl is not having problems? one might ask). Her problems are magnified by her alcoholic mother, her distant grandmother, her mixed-race parentage, and her general feeling of being caught between two (or more) worlds.

The book continues in its second part with a backward look at Rayona's mother, Christine, who came of age on a reservation (being an American Indian -- when she was being raised, the term 'native American' had not yet become standard). She was also distant from her mother, we learn, who was known as 'aunt Ida' (exemplifying the distance in the relationship even at the outset).

The third part is yet again a backward progression to Ida's life, so that as we get to know more and more about the background of the person, we begin to see how the child and grandchild turned out as they did.

Each of the three parts bring us further back into the past, and provide us with a different perspective on what is happening in the present. We see, for instance, the encounter of Christine and Rayona returning to the reservation and encountering Aunt Ida on the riding lawn mower, from the perspective in turn of each of the participants: Rayona, who feels abandoned by her mother; Christine, who feels abandoned by her mother Aunt Ida; Ida, who has so much baggage that she is both accepting and rejecting simultaneously, afraid to show the concern that truly beats within her heart. A fascinating trinity of perspectives which interpermeate to give a full picture, but only for the patient.

In pastoral care settings, one will not normally get this kind of insight and detail, but it is a wonderful novel in which to see a unique set of characters who, if one were to encounter them on the street or, say, in a bus station, one might easily overlook as uninteresting.

This is a thoughtful account, full of 'touchy/feely' details, and will appeal to those who are looking for that. There is little action in the book, and no real mystery (beyond the basic 'who are these people?' question). These are, in fiction, what I generally prefer. And yet, I found it engrossing and entertaining, and hard to put down.

Glimpse an unknown world right next door, 22 Nov 2005
We read this novel as part of the pastoral care course at seminary. Partly it was to introduce characters of backgrounds differing from essentially anyone else in the course, to introduce situations and people to whom one might eventually be called upon to minister.

The book begins with the tale of Rayona, a middle-teenage girl who is having problems adjusting to life (of course, which middle-teenage girl is not having problems? one might ask). Her problems are magnified by her alcoholic mother, her distant grandmother, her mixed-race parentage, and her general feeling of being caught between two (or more) worlds.

The book continues in its second part with a backward look at Rayona's mother, Christine, who came of age on a reservation (being an American Indian -- when she was being raised, the term 'native American' had not yet become standard). She was also distant from her mother, we learn, who was known as 'aunt Ida' (exemplifying the distance in the relationship even at the outset).

The third part is yet again a backward progression to Ida's life, so that as we get to know more and more about the background of the person, we begin to see how the child and grandchild turned out as they did.

Each of the three parts bring us further back into the past, and provide us with a different perspective on what is happening in the present. We see, for instance, the encounter of Christine and Rayona returning to the reservation and encountering Aunt Ida on the riding lawn mower, from the perspective in turn of each of the participants: Rayona, who feels abandoned by her mother; Christine, who feels abandoned by her mother Aunt Ida; Ida, who has so much baggage that she is both accepting and rejecting simultaneously, afraid to show the concern that truly beats within her heart. A fascinating trinity of perspectives which interpermeate to give a full picture, but only for the patient.

In pastoral care settings, one will not normally get this kind of insight and detail, but it is a wonderful novel in which to see a unique set of characters who, if one were to encounter them on the street or, say, in a bus station, one might easily overlook as uninteresting.

This is a thoughtful account, full of 'touchy/feely' details, and will appeal to those who are looking for that. There is little action in the book, and no real mystery (beyond the basic 'who are these people?' question). These are, in fiction, what I generally prefer. And yet, I found it engrossing and entertaining, and hard to put down.

Glimpse the world unknown just next door, 17 Oct 2003
We read this novel as part of the pastoral care course at seminary. Partly it was to introduce characters of backgrounds differing from essentially anyone else in the course, to introduce situations and people to whom one might eventually be called upon to minister.

The book begins with the tale of Rayona, a middle-teenage girl who is having problems adjusting to life (of course, which middle-teenage girl is not having problems? one might ask). Her problems are magnified by her alcoholic mother, her distant grandmother, her mixed-race parentage, and her general feeling of being caught between two (or more) worlds.

The book continues in its second part with a backward look at Rayona's mother, Christine, who came of age on a reservation (being an American Indian -- when she was being raised, the term 'native American' had not yet become standard). She was also distant from her mother, we learn, who was known as 'aunt Ida' (exemplifying the distance in the relationship even at the outset).

The third part is yet again a backward progression to Ida's life, so that as we get to know more and more about the background of the person, we begin to see how the child and grandchild turned out as they did.

Each of the three parts bring us further back into the past, and provide us with a different perspective on what is happening in the present. We see, for instance, the encounter of Christine and Rayona returning to the reservation and encountering Aunt Ida on the riding lawn mower, from the perspective in turn of each of the participants: Rayona, who feels abandoned by her mother; Christine, who feels abandoned by her mother Aunt Ida; Ida, who has so much baggage that she is both accepting and rejecting simultaneously, afraid to show the concern that truly beats within her heart. A fascinating trinity of perspectives which interpermeate to give a full picture, but only for the patient.

In pastoral care settings, one will not normally get this kind of insight and detail, but it is a wonderful novel in which to see a unique set of characters who, if one were to encounter them on the street or, say, in a bus station, one might easily overlook as uninteresting.

This is a thoughtful account, full of 'touchy/feely' details, and will appeal to those who are looking for that. There is little action in the book, and no real mystery (beyond the basic 'who are these people?' question). These are, in fiction, what I generally prefer. And yet, I found it engrossing and entertaining, and hard to put down.

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.

For people who want to find about Native Americans!, 28 Jan 1999
One day Moss, a young Native American boy, follows Trouble, a young Native American girl, into a clearing in the woods to see where she is going. Moss talks to Trouble, lies to her about being on his away time, walks into the woods without any weapons or tools, and he gets lost. In the woods, Moss meets and talks to a porcupine, and the porcupine tells Moss not to be afraid of the guests that are coming to Moss's village. Moss thinks about the advice the porcupine gives him. Moss sleeps in the woods, and in the morning he finds his way out. Outside the woods Moss meets Trouble, and they talk as they walk back to their village. When they are at their village they see that the guests have arrived. They are worried!

Michael Dorris wrote this book very well. This story would be a good book for people who like adventure! It wouldn't be such a good book for people under the age of 8 because it is a little confusing. It was very interesting and it made me want to read on. If you are able to check out this book out or borrow it, my advice is that you read it.