Every reading reveals a new layer., 08 Mar 1999
Simply, I read it back in 1995 for a course at Santa Barbara City College, and continue to reach for it to get new ideas and perspectives. Also, the interview with Momaday by Charles Woodward--if you can get ahold of it at your library--Momaday describes a memorable moment where he found a new appreciation for the poetic qualities of expletives.

The book is an interesting tale of a group and their fall., 14 Dec 1997
I enjoyed the book. I especially like the way Momaday wrote the book as if it had been written by three people. Not only did I learn about Momaday's journey to Rainy Mountain, but I also learned about Kiowa myths and legends. It showed the last years of the Kiowas as a people. The book was simple to read, although when thought about, I realized it was more complex. I would reccommend this book to people who like to learn about cultures and their myths.

Rainy Mountain, 05 May 1997
Greawt way of presenting the culture of indians aboard....

Prose-like poetry, 18 Jan 1997
The Way to Rainy Mountain is poetry for people who don't usually ready poetry. Personally, I really like the way *very* short stories are interspersed throughout - it's like something you'd hear coming out of the mouth of your grandparents (or great grandparents) as they talk about stuff they remember doing or seeing. There's all sorts of articles written about this poem, and you can see synopsis of them at: http://users.mwci.net/~lapoz/Momaday.html

A mythic voyage into the Kiowa spirit, 02 Jul 1996
THE WAY TO RAINY MOUNTAIN is a fscinating account of the Kiowa spirit's core through the poet N Scott Momaday's three voices: the collective tribal story-telling voice, the historic voice (based on historical documentation), and the poet's own experiential voice (Momaday retraced the migratory route of his ancestors from Montana to Oklahoma). These three voices work on the reader's imagination to produce a fourth voice on the stage of the reader's mind. THE WAY TO RAINY MOUNTAIN depicts an epic journey of the Kiowa people through space (Montana southward) and time (mythological to modern). The ancient Kiowa's psyche fuses with primal nature be it with dog persons, antelope beings, or the mythological (but very real) creature called Taime.Once in Oklahoma the Kiowa mastered the horse and became among the best of hunters on the Great Plains. Brave in spirit, sharing in heart, they became a proud people. But European civilization closed in and all but crushed them by killing off the buffalo, killing herds of horses and turning hunters into farmers. Yet the Kiowa people held their vital contact with the land in today's hectic world: "Once in his life a man ought to concentrate his mind upon the remembered earth, I believe," writes Momaday. "He ought to give himself up to a particular landscape in his experience, to look at it from as many angles as he can, to wonder about it, to dwell upon it. He ought to imagine that he touches it with his hands at every season and listens to the sounds that are made upon it." Momaday helps the reader do just that--gain an appreciation for the multi-dimensional land of North America.

Every reading reveals a new layer., 08 Mar 1999
Simply, I read it back in 1995 for a course at Santa Barbara City College, and continue to reach for it to get new ideas and perspectives. Also, the interview with Momaday by Charles Woodward--if you can get ahold of it at your library--Momaday describes a memorable moment where he found a new appreciation for the poetic qualities of expletives.

The book is an interesting tale of a group and their fall., 14 Dec 1997
I enjoyed the book. I especially like the way Momaday wrote the book as if it had been written by three people. Not only did I learn about Momaday's journey to Rainy Mountain, but I also learned about Kiowa myths and legends. It showed the last years of the Kiowas as a people. The book was simple to read, although when thought about, I realized it was more complex. I would reccommend this book to people who like to learn about cultures and their myths.

Rainy Mountain, 05 May 1997
Greawt way of presenting the culture of indians aboard....

Prose-like poetry, 18 Jan 1997
The Way to Rainy Mountain is poetry for people who don't usually ready poetry. Personally, I really like the way *very* short stories are interspersed throughout - it's like something you'd hear coming out of the mouth of your grandparents (or great grandparents) as they talk about stuff they remember doing or seeing. There's all sorts of articles written about this poem, and you can see synopsis of them at: http://users.mwci.net/~lapoz/Momaday.html

A mythic voyage into the Kiowa spirit, 02 Jul 1996
THE WAY TO RAINY MOUNTAIN is a fscinating account of the Kiowa spirit's core through the poet N Scott Momaday's three voices: the collective tribal story-telling voice, the historic voice (based on historical documentation), and the poet's own experiential voice (Momaday retraced the migratory route of his ancestors from Montana to Oklahoma). These three voices work on the reader's imagination to produce a fourth voice on the stage of the reader's mind. THE WAY TO RAINY MOUNTAIN depicts an epic journey of the Kiowa people through space (Montana southward) and time (mythological to modern). The ancient Kiowa's psyche fuses with primal nature be it with dog persons, antelope beings, or the mythological (but very real) creature called Taime.Once in Oklahoma the Kiowa mastered the horse and became among the best of hunters on the Great Plains. Brave in spirit, sharing in heart, they became a proud people. But European civilization closed in and all but crushed them by killing off the buffalo, killing herds of horses and turning hunters into farmers. Yet the Kiowa people held their vital contact with the land in today's hectic world: "Once in his life a man ought to concentrate his mind upon the remembered earth, I believe," writes Momaday. "He ought to give himself up to a particular landscape in his experience, to look at it from as many angles as he can, to wonder about it, to dwell upon it. He ought to imagine that he touches it with his hands at every season and listens to the sounds that are made upon it." Momaday helps the reader do just that--gain an appreciation for the multi-dimensional land of North America.

go slowly into his heart-Momaday comes out with yours, 22 Jan 1997
His mind is the atelier. The depicted soul of the young woman, Grey, Koi-ehm-toya, was hauntingly perfect. Entwined with notoriety, she grew to an assured love, preserving the heart of a Kiowa man, Loki. Man or mythological God? Distant, the sublime power draws into the solar plexis of humanity, and remains. As if two souls, autoecious azygos, encompassed all characters; Kope'mah, the grandmother earth, 'anomalous cohesion and disintegration of form...motion...color at once.' 'A timeless rejoicing entered into their veins...', (pg35), Grey the elements within, water and root, '"You are Set-angya, the chief of dog soldiers...best of warriors, of battles...enemies."', (pg258), 'Here are weeds about his mouth...', (pg234), the elements above earth, air and fire, introspection and preparation create a watercolor backdrop. Grey, '...a question of control, coordination, mastery: how to bring her body and the body of the horse into concert...', (pg185), eradicated, effectively, Billy the Kid, from the vines of youth, and those who harmed her bodily nature; with hoyden grace. J. Jaederland (shack@concentric.net)

How fantasy mixes with reality, 18 Jan 1997
I love this book. It's my favorite by Momaday. The main female character, Grey, is strong and fascinating: "Set remained curious about Grey - Grey had taken hold of his imagination..." (pg 69). Grey also has all sorts of daydreams that affect her 'real' life, and her 'real life' has some very strong affects on those she meets. It's a great book! Oh, and then there's the main male character - Set, an artist who has a breakdown that gets him back in touch with family and heritage (and Grey). But Grey is my favorite. For more info on reviews & stuff about this book, visit: http://users.mwci.net/~lapoz/N.Scott.Momaday.html

Every reading reveals a new layer., 08 Mar 1999
Simply, I read it back in 1995 for a course at Santa Barbara City College, and continue to reach for it to get new ideas and perspectives. Also, the interview with Momaday by Charles Woodward--if you can get ahold of it at your library--Momaday describes a memorable moment where he found a new appreciation for the poetic qualities of expletives.

The book is an interesting tale of a group and their fall., 14 Dec 1997
I enjoyed the book. I especially like the way Momaday wrote the book as if it had been written by three people. Not only did I learn about Momaday's journey to Rainy Mountain, but I also learned about Kiowa myths and legends. It showed the last years of the Kiowas as a people. The book was simple to read, although when thought about, I realized it was more complex. I would reccommend this book to people who like to learn about cultures and their myths.

Rainy Mountain, 05 May 1997
Greawt way of presenting the culture of indians aboard....

Prose-like poetry, 18 Jan 1997
The Way to Rainy Mountain is poetry for people who don't usually ready poetry. Personally, I really like the way *very* short stories are interspersed throughout - it's like something you'd hear coming out of the mouth of your grandparents (or great grandparents) as they talk about stuff they remember doing or seeing. There's all sorts of articles written about this poem, and you can see synopsis of them at: http://users.mwci.net/~lapoz/Momaday.html

A mythic voyage into the Kiowa spirit, 02 Jul 1996
THE WAY TO RAINY MOUNTAIN is a fscinating account of the Kiowa spirit's core through the poet N Scott Momaday's three voices: the collective tribal story-telling voice, the historic voice (based on historical documentation), and the poet's own experiential voice (Momaday retraced the migratory route of his ancestors from Montana to Oklahoma). These three voices work on the reader's imagination to produce a fourth voice on the stage of the reader's mind. THE WAY TO RAINY MOUNTAIN depicts an epic journey of the Kiowa people through space (Montana southward) and time (mythological to modern). The ancient Kiowa's psyche fuses with primal nature be it with dog persons, antelope beings, or the mythological (but very real) creature called Taime.Once in Oklahoma the Kiowa mastered the horse and became among the best of hunters on the Great Plains. Brave in spirit, sharing in heart, they became a proud people. But European civilization closed in and all but crushed them by killing off the buffalo, killing herds of horses and turning hunters into farmers. Yet the Kiowa people held their vital contact with the land in today's hectic world: "Once in his life a man ought to concentrate his mind upon the remembered earth, I believe," writes Momaday. "He ought to give himself up to a particular landscape in his experience, to look at it from as many angles as he can, to wonder about it, to dwell upon it. He ought to imagine that he touches it with his hands at every season and listens to the sounds that are made upon it." Momaday helps the reader do just that--gain an appreciation for the multi-dimensional land of North America.

go slowly into his heart-Momaday comes out with yours, 22 Jan 1997
His mind is the atelier. The depicted soul of the young woman, Grey, Koi-ehm-toya, was hauntingly perfect. Entwined with notoriety, she grew to an assured love, preserving the heart of a Kiowa man, Loki. Man or mythological God? Distant, the sublime power draws into the solar plexis of humanity, and remains. As if two souls, autoecious azygos, encompassed all characters; Kope'mah, the grandmother earth, 'anomalous cohesion and disintegration of form...motion...color at once.' 'A timeless rejoicing entered into their veins...', (pg35), Grey the elements within, water and root, '"You are Set-angya, the chief of dog soldiers...best of warriors, of battles...enemies."', (pg258), 'Here are weeds about his mouth...', (pg234), the elements above earth, air and fire, introspection and preparation create a watercolor backdrop. Grey, '...a question of control, coordination, mastery: how to bring her body and the body of the horse into concert...', (pg185), eradicated, effectively, Billy the Kid, from the vines of youth, and those who harmed her bodily nature; with hoyden grace. J. Jaederland (shack@concentric.net)

How fantasy mixes with reality, 18 Jan 1997
I love this book. It's my favorite by Momaday. The main female character, Grey, is strong and fascinating: "Set remained curious about Grey - Grey had taken hold of his imagination..." (pg 69). Grey also has all sorts of daydreams that affect her 'real' life, and her 'real life' has some very strong affects on those she meets. It's a great book! Oh, and then there's the main male character - Set, an artist who has a breakdown that gets him back in touch with family and heritage (and Grey). But Grey is my favorite. For more info on reviews & stuff about this book, visit: http://users.mwci.net/~lapoz/N.Scott.Momaday.html

Beautifully written account of a childhood on Jemez Pueblo., 07 May 1997
N. Scott Momaday's beautifully written memoir of childhood in Jemez Pueblo, NM is geographically as well as chronologically defined, incorporating "the empty spaces of time in the morning and afternoon," the wide blue New Mexico sky, and the undeveloped high desert into the narrative as Momaday searches the landscape of his memory for the key word or image, _the name_ for things, that will retrieve the entirety of his history. Retrieval of this complex history, of emotion and memory, "the vibrant ecstasy of so much being," is almost possible. "Again and again, I have come to that awful edge, that one word, perhaps, that I cannot bring from my mouth."

_The Names_ is moving in its description of the ceremonies of Jemez Pueblo and the stories of Momaday's family. The author writes sometimes in a child's voice and sometimes in his grandfather's or the voices of others around him. It is clearly a child's story, saturated with a child's sense of wonder. But Momaday also provides an account of the process of attempted recovery, the descent into storytelling: "The first word gives origin to the second, the first and second to the third, . . . and so on. You cannot begin with the second word and tell the story, for the telling of the story is a cumulative process, a chain of becoming, at last of being."

Momaday's exploration of language's structure and limitations makes much of the book beautiful to me, but gets weighted down in intellectualization from time to time. Scott Momaday is a scholar -- he went to Stanford -- and the analytical aspect of _The Names_ can be a bit dry at times. It is, on the whole though, a sensitive and moving exploration of a Native American childhood and one of my favorite male autobiographies.

A Photo album and long letter..., 18 Jan 1997
That's how I think of this book - a photo album of old family photos with one long letter (or, perhaps it would be better described as a series of short notes written by someone trying to remember what they'd seen, heard, imagines, or discovered). It's a fun book to read straight through, or to flip around in, going back and forth through the photos and reading about the person whose face or photo catches your eye . For info on articles & stuff written about this book visit: http://users.mwci.net/~lapoz/Momaday.html