Reviews

Gardens in the Dunes by Leslie Marmon Silko

mariab27's review

5.0

Through its detailed and meandering prose, this novel felt hypnotic. The natural world is its own character, so it's fitting that this hypnotic feeling is one I only experience outdoors. As she does with the natural world, Leslie Marmon Silko writes all her characters with compassion and empathy while centering the Indigenous characters throughout. I was relieved to find few, if any, narratives around white saviorism, and one could argue that it is actually Indigo who saves Hattie in the end. I would love to read this novel again, unearthing more of the themes around capitalism, feminism, colonialism, and tribal sovereignty.

jeremysdailyreads's review

slow-paced

5.0

lollybotrox's review

4.0

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This used to be my favorite book hands down. This is my 2nd read and I related differently to Indigo, Sister Salt and Hattie than I did 10 years ago when I first read the book. I still love Indigo for her spirited determination and unyielding belief in meeting her relatives again. However, I thought the overly descriptive portions about Europe and the flowers dragged me as a reader. These bits were hard to get thru. A central message I manage to glean from Indigo's story centered on the power of imagining one's preferred future and holding fidelity to that construction.

efm511's review

5.0

An amazing book with tons of detail, Gardens in the Dunes teaches the importance of acceptance and of alternatives to the stuffy Victorian culture most people know.

phe_bee's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

library_anne's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

unfurlthecurl's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

lurieta's review

4.0

Although the pace is slow in the beginning, I was very invested in the characters, especially the separated sisters. The beautiful descriptions of the gardens across the world told a shifting story of decolonization that kept me reading the whole way through.

stevie28's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

1.0

jrboudreau's review

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75