The Grass Dancer

by Mona Susan Power
The Grass Dancer cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 1316
  • Added: 2025-10-04
  • Updated: 2025-10-04
  • ISBN: 9780593819449
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 1997-04-01
  • Reviews: 3

Inspired by Sioux heritage, Mona Susan Power's critically-acclaimed novel, The Grass Dancer, is a rich tapestry of interconnected lives on a North Dakota reservation. The story explores the harsh realities of unfulfilled longings and the healing power of mystery and hope, blending drama with the enchantment of the ordinary. /n/n Set against the backdrop of both past and present, the novel takes readers on a journey through time, resonating with the echoes of ancestors and the dreams of children. Winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel, this haunting and promising tale is infused with the magic of everyday life.

Reviews
Hardcover.app · Eduardo Santiago · 2025-06-13
moving 4.50

A beautiful and moving story that is best experienced without prior knowledge, encouraging readers to immerse themselves fully in the narrative.

Eduardo Santiago describes 'The Grass Dancer' as a beautiful and moving story that is best experienced with an open mind. They suggest coming into the novel with no advance knowledge to fully appreciate its impact. The reviewer highlights the effectiveness of the narrative and its ability to evoke deep emotions, making it a memorable reading experience.

Quick quotes

    Effective. Beautiful and moving.

    Best to come into this one with no advance knowledge except for one hint: stick with it.

    One of the best books I have listened to.

Dolce Vita - Mariel Tan · Mariel Tan · 2025-01-26
wonderful 5.00

A wonderful read that offers beautiful insights into Native American culture, making it a highly enjoyable and enlightening experience.

Mariel Tan finds 'The Grass Dancer' to be a captivating and enlightening read. They highlight the novel's ability to provide beautiful insights into Native American culture, making it a highly enjoyable experience. The reviewer appreciates the depth and richness of the cultural elements presented in the story, which adds a layer of authenticity and beauty to the narrative.

Quick quotes

    What a wonderful read.

    It was my first time to read something about Native American culture and I picked up beautiful insights.

    The novel's cultural elements add a layer of authenticity and beauty to the narrative.

The New York Times · 1994-08-21
insightful 4.00

The novel's strength lies in its rich cultural tapestry, but some characters' voices blend together, making it harder to distinguish their individual stories.

The reviewer appreciates the novel's deep cultural roots and the way it weaves together historical and magical elements. However, they find that many of the women's voices are indistinguishable from one another, which slightly diminishes the impact of their individual stories. This criticism doesn't overshadow the overall beauty of the narrative, but it does highlight a potential area for improvement.

Quick quotes

    The single fault with 'The Grass Dancer' is that many of the women's voices are indistinguishable from one another.

    Had Ms. Power found a way to distinguish the women's voices more clearly, the novel would have been even more powerful.

    The novel's strength lies in its rich cultural tapestry and its ability to weave together historical and magical elements.

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