Synopsis
The author recounts her experiences among the Pueblo Indians, describes their way of life, and discusses the impact of their outlook on her own
Reviews
For nearly a year the author lived in northern New Mexico researching and writing a public television documentary on contemporary Native Americans. Fein, who portrays herself as naturally reticent, overcame her reservations enough to explore ancient ruins, make friends with people from an alien culture, take part in native rituals and even arrange a ceremony that would bring together the traditionally antagonistic Hispanics and Indians--this while battling an uncooperative Native American writing partner and unsympathetic television producers back home in Los Angeles. Fein attributes her newfound courage to new ways of thinking about life she learned from the Indians. Her receptiveness to their customs and philosophy is admirable, but unfortunately her wide-eyed idealization of all things Native American has resulted in a breathless book replete with such dictums as "we must heal ailing personal and cultural relationships to get in touch with our hearts" and "the universe will keep us afloat." The cumulative effect is cloying.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
In 1991, Fein, a documentary producer/screenwriter, traveled to the Southwest to research a TV series on contemporary American Indians. Here, in an honest, often wide-eyed account of the land and its diverse peoples, she chronicles her year of discovery. From an initial disappointment with her Indian cowriter, who professed to be too busy to work with her, to persistent difficulty in stifling an inquisitiveness considered offensive in the native Pueblo culture, Fein has her share of obstacles to overcome, but she and husband Paul quickly adjust to a world far from the self- promoting, gossipy one they left behind. Any invitation to visit with an Indian family invariably leads to others, with Fein's success in gaining acceptance acknowledged when she's invited to take part in an Apache puberty ceremony. Frequent trips to various Pueblos for Feast Days and less formal occasions give firsthand knowledge of contemporary Indian problems and achievements--an education enhanced by exploring ruins, petroglyph sites, and other evidence of the region's heritage. One excursion leads to an encounter with a Hispanic man guarding petroglyphs on his land; he agrees to sponsor a ``petroglyph party'' to bring together previously segregated native and Hispanic communities--an effort to reconcile differences and hostilities that have lasted for centuries. The process of uniting others enables Fein to better cope with her own fears, allowing her to return home fulfilled and with renewed purpose. Overly confessional and, at times, too focused on day-to-day details, but, still--with its appealing, steady warmth and sympathy for human foibles--a lively study of personal growth and cultural exchange. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Readers acquainted with the Southwestern locations discussed in this book will be pleased to read Fein's personal insights into the people and culture of the area. The book is a collection of letters and diary entries composed by the author on a trip to Sante Fe, New Mexico, in 1991 with her husband to research a public television documentary. They witness not only their everyday life, concerns, and problems but also their religious ceremonies and public events. While experiencing a totally different world from her native Los Angeles, the author underwent a personal transformation, going from a fearful urban dweller to a confident and happier world dweller. Recommended for public libraries needing personalized views on contemporary Native American customs, religious practices, and social problems.
- Bruce Alan Hanson, Wayzata East J. H.S. Lib., Minn.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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