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Audiobooks > Fiction >  General Fiction > The Grass Dancer
The Grass Dancer Audiobook, by Susan Power Play Audiobook Sample

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3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 (3.00) - 864 customer ratings
The Grass Dancer Audiobook, by Susan Power Play Audiobook Sample
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Author: Susan Power Narrator: Susan Power Publisher: Brilliance Audio Audio Length: Release Date: September 2009 Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download ISBN: 9781423393825
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Publisher Description

Back in the 1860s, Ghost Horse, a handsome young sacred clown, loved and lost to death the beautiful warrior woman Red Dress. As their spirits seek desperately to be reunited, they influence the sometimes violent fate of those who have followed them. Now in the 1980s, Red Dress's teenage descendant Charlene Thunder has fallen hopelessly in love with Harley Wind Soldier, the dashing traditional dancer of Ghost Horse's lineage. When Harley's soul mate is killed in an accident, Charlene guiltily suspects her own grandmother, a notorious witch, of making it happen - just as she may well have caused the death of Harley's father and brother, which even today obsesses him. The Grass Dancer is a debut novel for Susan Power, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

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Quotes

  • “Covering some of the same themes as Louise Erdrich but displaying her own distinctive voice and transcendent imagination, Power has produced an authentic portrait of Native American culture and characters who are as resilient and tangible as the grass moving over the Great Plains…This is a book that begs to be read at one sitting, and then again.”

    - Publishers Weekly

  • “Each chapter can stand alone as a short story, but recurring characters provide unity, and the book takes on added depth and resonance as the stories unfold…Comparisons between Power and Louise Erdrich are probably inevitable, but Power has her own unique vision and voice.”

    - Booklist

  • “Despite the fact that many of these stories deal in the supernatural and that they intersect almost constantly, there is never a feeling that Power is forcing her hand…The non-chronological…graces the book with numerous small and large surprises and moments of recognition. Startling and complex, but always in the most natural way.”

    - Kirkus Reviews

  • “The strength of the novel lies in the meshing of the various stories of the descendants of Red Dress and Ghost Horse so that they all come together in one piece. The result is a passionate portrayal of universal human emotions and a vivid account of Native American history and culture.”

    - School Library Journal

Awards

  • Winner of the 1995 PEN/Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award
  • Selected for the Barnes & Noble Discover Award
  • An ALA Notable Book Finalist for Fiction

Customer Reviews

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  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Every once in a while, I stumble across a book in my mom's library--most of which I kept--that not only have I not read, but that we never discussed. I found this one recently while looking for something else. Given the wear it's seen, she obviously read it many times. I know I will, too. The narrative switches and it takes some time to piece it together, but it's just hauntingly beautiful. One of those where I find myself, when doing laundry or something mundane, wondering about the characters. "

    - Csillitoe, 2/10/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " It felt a little too Dances with Wolves inspired, but wasn't altogether terrible. "

    - Julie, 2/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Beautifully crafted novel about Sioux culture. "

    - Elizabeth, 1/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " One of my all time favorite novels. Gorgeous prose in a kind of magical realism plot set in one of the Sioux communities. Well worth tracking down. "

    - Catherine, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Winner of the Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award for First Fiction. Creative in that it is told from the present backwards in time until it resolves itself again in the present. Loved the storytelling style that relates to the Sioux people and the beautiful prose. Hard to keep track of the characters and the relationships as the author goes back into the past. "

    - Karissa, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " This is my favorite book. It's a story of culture, family history and finding yourself. There is a myriad of characters to keep track of but in the end each story weaves a tapestry that links everyone together in one way or another. And in the end, it's about self-discovery. I try to read this book once a year - that is how much I love it. "

    - Jenny, 1/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A lovely novel depicting the lives of multiple generations of Plains Indians. My publisher, Sharmagne Leland St-John, has purchased the film rights and is working on a screenplay. I'm a little mystified how this can be made into a film, but I can't wait to see it! "

    - Janet, 1/11/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " A favorite book. When Margaret Many Wounds dances on the moon, it takes my breath away! "

    - Glenda, 12/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I picked this book up without realizing that I had read it before. It was a well-written and interesting book, particularly for anyone interested in Native American culture, but I think the book suffered from too many point-of-view shifts. "

    - Kelly, 12/8/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I read this volume of loosely related short stories for a book group. Most of the members liked it better than I did. The characterization is weak and the plot is weaker. The metaphysical aspects were too facile. Good idea not fully developed. "

    - Deborah, 11/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I read this while traveling through europe. I traded in my copy of little women for this book at one of the youth hostels where I stayed. It was an engaging book. I enjoyed reading it, but since it was so long ago I can't really offer up too many details regarding plot line or characters. sorry. "

    - Santos, 11/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Loved the structure of the book ... multiple narrators/points of view and, for the most part, reverse chronology. If your a fan of Louise Erdrich, you will probably like this book. "

    - Dennis, 8/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Some of the experiences within the book were profoundly realistic and hit home. Looking foward to reading more of her books. "

    - April, 6/3/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I first read this when I was 15, the summer I was living in Japan. I love it. Need to own it. I've always been drawn to Native American stories and themes, and this novel is so entrancing, I gratefully step in and lose myself. "

    - Keleigh, 4/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Rereading for the humanities series. "

    - Jo, 11/27/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Pair with Sherman Alexie and Louise Erdrich for an amazing study of Native American lit. "

    - Tamara, 10/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Read this years ago- and recall it was a powerful gorgeous story about Native american tradition in a 20c res setting. Came up as a recommended contemporary- the author, I beleive, usually does childrens stories - this is a rare novel by her. WILL REREAD soon. "

    - Linda, 6/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " this is remarkable as an audiobook "

    - Mendy, 12/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Good read...jumps around in time, but has lots of interweaved plots. "

    - M, 10/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book is a wonderful illustration of a Native American world view. "

    - Ben, 8/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " A little confusing at first because it plays with time frames. Once the reader "gets" the play on time, the story unfolds then relapes onto itself and it all comes together in the end. "

    - Sharon, 3/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Powers' writing is lyrical, and the stories here are beautifully woven together. My only disappointment with this book is the quick, neatly-tied together ending. After such a journey throughout the novel, the ending is a little too abrupt and "nice." "

    - Valerie, 8/18/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " The first novel I ever read in English, when I started at university in Berlin- Awww, memories. I still love it- an utterly captivating read and a window into a different world. "

    - Teresa, 8/12/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I was really surprised by how much I loved this book. Wonderful characters, and just very interesting in general. Now i just need to write my essay... "

    - Kendra, 7/16/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " A suggestion for American Literature - I'll have 4 sections of it next year. She's Sioux, the book is set on a North Dakota reservation, I'm curious to see as I haven't read much Native American literature. "

    - Indira, 7/3/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " it was a somewhat depressing book. and it just kind of "ended". i would have liked some closure. but, it did wrap up, and i love that it gave many of the character's viewpoints in separate chapters. "

    - Sam, 6/20/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " I first read this when I was 15, the summer I was living in Japan. I love it. Need to own it. I've always been drawn to Native American stories and themes, and this novel is so entrancing, I gratefully step in and lose myself. "

    - Keleigh, 4/26/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Pair with Sherman Alexie and Louise Erdrich for an amazing study of Native American lit. "

    - Tamara, 12/24/2009

About the Author

Susan Power is a Standing Rock Sioux author from Chicago. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a JD from Harvard Law School. After a short career in law, she decided to become a writer, starting her career by earning an MFA from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. Her 1995 novel, The Grass Dancer received the 1995 PEN/Hemingway Award for Best First Fiction. Her short fiction has been published in the Atlantic Monthly, Paris Review, Voice Literary Supplement, Ploughshares, Story, and the Best American Short Stories 1993. She teaches at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.