Scarlet Feather

I am so glad a friend told me "you have to read this book". The author weaves words like pearls in a necklace. It is written beautifully and the story pulled me in to that "far away time" to be a witness to each event. Brava!

I loved this story. It is not heavy duty, just a very sweet, poignant story about a girl and boy that made me feel sad it had to end. It's a very quick read, not the great work that "Winged Pharoah" is, but still worth reading. Joan Grant "remembered" this life and wrote it in the form of this novel. She is a very inspired human being and her goodness comes through in every sentence.

This book is easy reading and based on a true story. Remember the film "Dances with wolves"? Like the film, this book also gives a glimpse of how life was long ago in an Indian tribe.The tribe that Piyanah, our main character, lives in, basically works as follows: it has a Chief; Elders(who give advice); Braves(who have to protect the tribe) and the women prepare food and make moccasins from animal-hides. The tribe has to move regularly to prevent attacks from other hostile tribes or to find new "places of the corn-growing". Men and women live in separate tipees, and only come together once a year at the "choosing" to do the ritual that ensures that babies will be born. Now I am not a member of the women's lib, but this sounds a bit ridiculous to me! And yet, that was perfectly normal to them. In addition, the liberal Piyanah is confronted with lots of superstitions. She has to go through a number of ordeals in order to conquer these superstitions and prove that women are not lesser souls than men.The book describes her Piyanah's feelings and her accurate observations of nature and people. She is also in touch with her "inner voice", that guides her through difficult times.Above all, this is a story of love. Piyanah has to learn love for herself (to be true to her heart and goals); love for the tribe and also love for Raki,the special one in her life. We can get comfort from the fact that we all experience similar feelings and go through similar ordeals. Because after all, aren't we all on this journey through life to learn about love?