From Library Journal
Tapahonso (A Breeze Swept Through, West End, 1987) presents a poignant collection of stories and poems celebrating the joys and sorrows of everyday life. Some bring belly laughs, such as "I Remembered This One in Tucson," which tells of a young wife and mother's search for independence through the purchase of a used convertible. Others produce tears: In "White Bead Girl," a mother reviewing the life of the daughter who's run away is comforted by her father's words: "Once you remember something it never leaves you. It's how we know that we have lived." The title poem honors the birth of a grandchild who "arrived amid a herd of horses," bringing together the pasts of her ancestors. Although deeply entrenched in the author's Navajo heritage, these stories and poems speak to women of all cultures. Recommended for Native American and women's studies collections, with rewards for the general reader as well.?Debbie Bogenschutz, Cincinnati Technical Coll., OhioCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Card catalog description
Blue Horses Rush In takes its title from a poem about the birth of her granddaughter Chamisa, whose heart "pounded quickly and we recognized / the sound of horses running:/ the thundering of hooves on the desert floor." Through such personal insights, this collection follows the cycle of a woman's life and underlines woman's life and underlines what it means to be Navajo in the late twentieth century. The book marks a major accomplishment in American literature for its successful blending of Navajo cultural values and forms with the English language while at the same time retaining the Navajo character. Here, Luci Tapahonso walks slowly through an ancient Hohokam village, recalling stories passed down from generation to generation. Later in the book, she may be telling a funny story about a friend, then, within a few pages, describing family rituals like roasting green chiles or baking bread in an outside oven. Throughout, Tapahonso shares with readers her belief in the power of pollen and prayer feathers and sacred songs.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Blue Horses Rush In takes its title from a poem about the birth of her granddaughter Chamisa, whose heart "pounded quickly and we recognized / the sound of horses running:/ the thundering of hooves on the desert floor." Through such personal insights, this collection follows the cycle of a woman's life and underlines woman's life and underlines what it means to be Navajo in the late twentieth century. The book marks a major accomplishment in American literature for its successful blending of Navajo cultural values and forms with the English language while at the same time retaining the Navajo character. Here, Luci Tapahonso walks slowly through an ancient Hohokam village, recalling stories passed down from generation to generation. Later in the book, she may be telling a funny story about a friend, then, within a few pages, describing family rituals like roasting green chiles or baking bread in an outside oven. Throughout, Tapahonso shares with readers her belief in the power of pollen and prayer feathers and sacred songs.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Among the multitude of anthropological volumes detailing Navajo religion, ceremonies and taboos, too few books describe daily life for the Din. In this uneven, slender collection of 28 stories, essays and poems, Navajo woman Tapahonso (Sanii Dahatall/The Women Are Singing) begins to fill the gap, emphasizing the place of women and mothers in Navajo society. The best of these pieces (such as "White Bread Girl," a mother's memories of her runaway daughter) transcend culture to tell a universal tale. Less successful stories and poems meander, settling for merely anecdotal depictions of Tapahonso's Southwest, but even these weak spots inspire admiration for Tapahonso's efforts to sustain and report the traditions of her people. (Aug.)

Library Journal