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Reviews 373 SaaniiDahataal: The WomenAreSinging. ByLuci Tapahonso. (Tucson: University ofArizona Press, 1993. 95 pages, $19.95/$9.95.) In Luci Tapahonso’s latest book of poems and prose you’ll encounter the exquisite splendor of the spoken word and the real beauty of simplicity. Her small stories, details of home, and genuine words of everyday living all illumi­ nate the Navajo wayof life. This book begins with a preface that explains Tapahonso’s traditional upbringing in Shiprock, New Mexico, her nostalgia for home while living in Kansas, and reunions with her family. She also writes about the challenge of translating Navajo ideas and thoughts into English. Her own storytelling style flows in a compelling cycle ofstories and poems that gives us awarm picture of her family and their history. Like so many snapshots from a treasured photo album, we see distinct places, people, and events: the Yeibicheii dancers, a weekend goodbye, family trips to the store, Navajo cowboys, Tapahonso braid­ ing her daughter’s hair, the death of her brothers and their legacy to her, an uncle drinking coffee, adventures of the family dogs, and so on. Perhaps the strongest stories mix historywith present-day occurrences. For example, “In 1864”tells the storyofa man who leaves hisjob near Fort Sumner because he hears the nightlywailing ofhis ancestors, who, in 1864, were forced towalkfrom their homeland to the fort, in an abhorrent attempt at assimilation by the government. Thousands died and the survivors were allowed to return home four years later. The book closes with an eloquent prose piece titled “Who I Am.”It begins in 1935 with the death ofTapahonso’sgreat-grandmotherwhile waitingfor her son, Prettyboy, throughout awinter’snight. It continueswith that uncle’sdeath in 1968. Her mother’svoice isher memory. Then itis 1987 and Tapahonso ison her wayto France. There, missing her family and confronted with the curiosity of“being a ‘real’Indian,”she prayswith an offering ofcorn pollen: “Itwaswhile I stood on top ofthe EiffelTower that Iunderstood thatwho I am ismymother, her mother, and mygreat-grandmother, Kinjichii’nii Bitsi.” Tapahonso’ssubtle styleand the message she delivers on the importance of family and heritage speak to the heart of the human race. ANDREA-BESS BAXTER Albuquerque, New Mexico Between Towns. By Laurie Kutchins. (Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press, 1993. 96 pages, $16.50.) Laurie Kutchins’first book of poems, Between Towns, delivers on the rich verbal promise ofits bookjacket—no small feat given the provocative nature of ...

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