Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko; narrated by Pete Bradbury | 2011; originally published 1977 | Recorded Books | Audiobook $ 32
Tayo, a young Native American, has been a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II, and the horrors of captivity have almost eroded his will to survive. His return to the Laguna Pueblo reservation only increases his feeling of estrangement and alienation. While other returning soldiers find easy refuge in alcohol and senseless violence, Tayo searches for another kind of comfort and resolution.
Tayo’s quest leads him back to the Indian past and its traditions, to beliefs about witchcraft and evil, and to the ancient stories of his people. The search itself becomes a ritual, a curative ceremony that defeats the most virulent of afflictions — despair.
Experiencing narratives from authors from cultures different from my own, particularly cultures that are typically marginalized in conventional publishing, was one of my goals for my list for Classics Club. Ceremony’s Native American perspective fits both categories — well outside of my own experience, and from a group of people that are often mis- or under-represented not only in the publishing world but in popular culture and political power as well.
I will admit that it was quite difficult for me to follow the story at first. The narrative jumps back and forth through time; I respect that this is at least in part meant to reflect the unmooring effect of trauma on a person’s perception of the passage of time, but it did also have an impact on my understanding of events. It’s possible that this discombobulating time-jumping experience is presented differently in the print version of the book, and perhaps my confusion was due in part to listening to the story rather than reading it in print.
This book is just so unique, but to be honest it’s also a challenge for me to think of anything particularly perceptive to say about it. I think the only other novel on my bookshelf that might compare is Slaughterhouse-Five, but though the war survivor theme and disjointed timelines are similar, the character perspectives and general vibes are certainly different.
I’m glad to have had the experience of reading Ceremony, despite my initial difficulties with its fractured narrative. The overall message is one of healing and hope, a reminder of the interconnectedness of all humans, and a tribute to the powers of storytelling and subversive traditions.
Links:
- Biography of the author from the Poetry Foundation
- Leslie Marmon Silko Papers collection at the Yale University Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Publication information: Silko, Leslie Marmon. Ceremony. Landover, Maryland: Recorded Books, 2011. Audiobook.
Source: Public library, via Hoopla.
Disclaimer: I am not compensated, monetarily or otherwise, for reviews of books or other products.
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