Watermelon Nights

by Greg Sarris

A Native American saga that spans generations chronicles the deep connections among members of Johnny Severe's family, as his mother's and grandmother's pasts retain a fascinating hold over his present. A first novel. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Native American

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Gregory Michael Sarris is the Chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the Graton Rancheria Endowed Chair in Creative Writing and Native American Studies at Sonoma State University, where he teaches classes in Native American Literature, American Literature, and Creative Writing.

Reviews

[Charlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF's ~30% of the way through

It's becoming very clear to me that I would rather, in fact, eat rocks than pick up this book again. And honestly, it's not because of the writing - It's actually pretty well written - the main problem is just that nothing is HAPPENING. I'm 30% of the way in and I just cannot keep my attention on it because nothing of interest is occurring. I see other reviews saying the first half is slow, and then things start picking up. That's cool, but I could also read a better paced book in that amount of time (which I clearly have since starting this one). Maybe I'll come back to this with greater mental fortitude and knowing that the first third of the book moves at a snails pace, but as of right now, I cant drag myself through that.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars is what I'd actually like to give this book. The first 150pgs were rough. I wasn't drawn into the story and I kept skipping over words. By the middle of the book, I was hooked. The dust jacket compares Sarris to Alexie and Erdrich (two authors with very little in common as far as writing style goes, yet equally brilliant). Sarris falls short of the comparison. Certain structures of his storytelling seem to mimic Erdrich, although I'd argue she does a far better job of character building and storytelling. Sarris is simply ok. He's got some good points in the narrative that seem to need more focus. He's too repetitive, seemingly almost desperate to get his point across and not be misinterpreted. For example, the word sadness is used dozens and dozens of times in the first half of the book and at the end it comes right back to that word - sadness. More foreshadowing and less obvious direction would've improved the narrative.

[Leslievb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting...

I got into the book pretty quick, but after awhile I thought it was going to be short stories,then it got interesting again when I realized how all the characters are connected thru the reading of it. I like reading a book that is written how people actually talk, whether the grammer is correct or not and this book did that. It was written during a sad time for natives so it was hard too get through a little because of that. Being native and growing up on a Rez myself, I could picture actual people in some of these predicaments. That made it sadder. Glad it ended happy.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long, slow summer read for me, slow in part because it's a bit slack in places, but the good bits are genuinely powerful. And the attention given to multigenerational California Indian trauma and resilience is so important. Sarris confronts sexual and familial trauma head-on and brings each of the three big sections of the book (each narrated by a different family member) to a strong conclusion.

[Vincent Veerbeek · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5 stars)

[Susan Herring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good Native American multi-generational family saga. How this family works to stay true to their people. Kind of intense, but very well and beautifully written.

[Jessica Jang Jang · Rating 5 out of 5]

How dare this book have no cover image! One of the most beautiful contemporary pieces I've ever read. Had the opportunity to meet Greg Sarris and ask him questions. One of the questions I asked was the significance of the basket Elba finds as she learns she is pregnant. He said it came to him in a vision one night. Also interesting was that Sarris claimed he originally wrote the order of the 3 stories with Elba's being last and. I found that interesting since the order is one of the great things about the novel. (thank god for book editors, right? hehe) My review won't do this book justice, so please read it if you have any interest in Native American, post colonial, California, or contemporary lit period. Warning (spoiler): I really think Elba's story has the strongest significance. Her molestation, rape, multiple miscarriages, and pregnancy are powerful messages from Sarris about Native American history. Her part of the novel is by far the best. Wonderful author, wonderful book, beautiful, tragic, graphic, and hopeful story.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really eye-opening saga about a ragtag tribe of 20th century Native Americans near San Francisco—unvarnished, unromanticized Native Americans—who are struggling to hold onto their cultural identity while facing prejudice both from outside and inside their tribe. The story spans three generations and, likewise, the protagonist changes three times, but Sarris' characters are so three dimensional and fully realized that I came to love each one. I can't remember the last time I encountered characters who lived such subtly nuanced emotional lives. I only wish the book had gone in chronological order. It starts in the present, then jumps about seventy years into the past and circles back to the present. The end result is that the first third of the book is excruciatingly slow; it's hard to appreciate what happens in the beginning without knowing the full history of the tribe. Once I got past the beginning, though, I really enjoyed it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Sarris who is a wonderful man. I love this book to death. Johnny's story starts out a little slow, but Elba's is hearbreakingly beautiful. If you haven't read or studied much contemporary Native American lit, motivation to read this might be difficult at first. It certainly can be depressing at times. But all in all, Sarris tells a beautiful story of family throughout 3 generations who are trying to heal from the pains of not only their own past, but their people's history. Forgiveness is a big theme as well as love. Healing begins, of course, with the book's title and as Sarris poignantly signed my book "I hope reading this is as sweet as a watermelon night," the book is about hope.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

i only really read every 3rd word, and the first story, couldnt keep my interest.......

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

A different look into the culture of American Indians..a not a very happy view.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's no Grand Avenue.

[D. Keali'i MacKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's turning into one of those books I wish I read years ago...

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story about
3 generations of
American Indians.

[Nicole]

Abandoned the book