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The Forgetters: Stories
A tender, astonishing, and richly beautiful story cycle about remembering our shared histories and repairing the world. Perched atop Gravity Hill, two crow sisters—Question Woman and Answer Woman—recall stories from dawn to dusk. Question Woman cannot remember a single story except by asking to hear it again, and Answer Woman can tell all the stories but cannot think of them unless she is asked. Together they recount the journeys of the Forgetters, so that we may all remember. Unforgettable characters pass through these a boy who opens the clouds in the sky, a young woman who befriends three enigmatic people who might also be animals, two village leaders who hold a storytelling contest. All are in search of a crucial lesson from the past, one that will help them repair the rifts in their own lives. Told in the classic style of Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok creation stories, this book vaults from the sacred time before this time to the recent present and even the near future. Heralded as a "a fine storyteller" by Joy Harjo, Greg Sarris offers us these tales in a new genre of his own making. The Forgetters is an astonishment—comforting and startling, inspiring reveries and deepening our love of the world we share.
248 pages, Paperback
Published April 16, 2024
15 people are currently reading
5586 people want to read
About the author
Greg Sarris
22 books62 followersGregory 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.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 5, 2024
Greg Sarris' The Forgetters draws from Native American history and lore, constructing a chain of stories that offer us the opportunity to look at our own time in new ways. The storytellers are a pair of sister crows: Question Woman, who asks questions, and Story Woman, who answers those questions with stories. These sisters have seen too many forgettings, and when stories are forgotten cultural knowledge is lost and the lessons underlying the stories fade, allowing us to repeat the mistakes of the past.
I found myself growing increasingly fond of the crow sisters, Question Woman and Story Woman, as the book progressed. I also found myself moved by the stories they tell. We do forget. And we do repeat our mistakes. Question Woman and Answer Woman remind us that at one time people, animals, and plants were all "people," who could interact with one another. Because we've forgotten that, we treat plants and animals as commodities, which undercuts our humanity and our respect for the beings who surround us.
The Forgetters is the sort of book one can read in bursts, taking in a story, sitting with it, reflecting on the crow sisters' thoughts about the story. In fact, I think this is the best way to read the book. The stories are lessons, and we need to live with each before moving on to the next.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
I found myself growing increasingly fond of the crow sisters, Question Woman and Story Woman, as the book progressed. I also found myself moved by the stories they tell. We do forget. And we do repeat our mistakes. Question Woman and Answer Woman remind us that at one time people, animals, and plants were all "people," who could interact with one another. Because we've forgotten that, we treat plants and animals as commodities, which undercuts our humanity and our respect for the beings who surround us.
The Forgetters is the sort of book one can read in bursts, taking in a story, sitting with it, reflecting on the crow sisters' thoughts about the story. In fact, I think this is the best way to read the book. The stories are lessons, and we need to live with each before moving on to the next.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
April 25, 2024
4/19/2024 3.5 stars rounded up. Lots of food for thought here. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
4/25/2024 Y'know, when I first said yes to this collection of short stories based on the indigenous storytelling traditions of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok peoples, I was expecting something very different. I thought that this would be a collection of old myths given a fresh retelling. And there is a little of that, definitely, but these are for the most part an entirely original set of stories revolving around the theme of storytelling that just happen to use that particular oral tradition as its template.
Now if there's one thing I love almost as much as I do retellings of old stories, it's postmodern fiction, and this is that in spades. Each story is framed by two sisters, Question Woman and Answer Woman, who may be humans or may be animals and are 100% symbols that represent both the perils of forgetting and the need for there to be active participants in the art of telling stories. What is the point of telling a story, after all, if no one is there to listen? And who, in the general course of things, tells a story unprompted? It's the kind of subtle metaphysical pondering I adore, because I love stories and the many different ways we humans convey them to one another.
But even if you're not high on the same intellectual supply that I love to roll around in, this collection of short stories is the exact kind of literary that I admire (and y'all know how I usually use the term "literary fiction" as a pejorative.) The ten stories here all discuss what it means to tell a story and, perhaps more importantly, to learn from it, but in such a playful way that it feels less like a set of moralizing fables and more like a reminder of the many ways in which stories transmit culture, acting as the lifeblood that keeps an idea -- of civilization, of values, of traditions -- alive.
Not all the stories here hit that exalted mark, ofc. I was actually least impressed with the opening story, A Boy Opens The Clouds. Interestingly, that tale of a young boy who learns how to open up vistas into the past, to the delight and eventual horror of his people, felt the most infuriating. Perhaps I was only transmitting my irritation with the selfish boy to the rest of the story, tho (which is a testament to Greg Sarris' ability to set a mood!)
The next story, Dissenters Find A Stranger In Their Camp, picks up the theme better, even if it did feel a little more heavy-handed than necessary. It's all smooth sailing from the third story on, tho, almost like a storyteller finishing their warm up and really getting into the flow. The third through eighth stories all have that exquisite balance of subtly imparting their important message via an absorbing story, with characters who are easy to care about. Interestingly, I felt that this quality tapered off with the last two stories: I still cared about the characters in the penultimate tale, A Girl Sees A Giant Sturgeon, but felt I was somehow missing the point of the story overall. In contrast, the closing chapter, The People On Sonoma Mountain Have A Storytelling Contest, felt a little too obvious, if entirely thematic. Its greatest virtue is that it could take place at any time, from distant past to near and further future.
I think one of my favorite things about this story cycle is how so much of it spans the early to mid-20th century, firmly highlighting the experiences of both American Indians and other minorities in that time frame, and underscoring their importance in the agricultural industry of California. It's important to have stories that remind readers that the indigenous people of America aren't just a collection of tragic events, that they have lived and worked and coexisted with other races for as long as memory serves. Mr Sarris' book is a gentle reminder that stories keep memory alive, and not just the old, "important" ones. American Indians have always existed throughout the history of this nation, and have their own stories that are just as meaningful as anyone else's, peopled, just as this country is, with characters of all races. The Forgetters is a meaty reminder of that, and I'm the richer for having experienced it.
The Forgetters by Greg Sarris was published April 16 2024 by Heyday Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
4/25/2024 Y'know, when I first said yes to this collection of short stories based on the indigenous storytelling traditions of the Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok peoples, I was expecting something very different. I thought that this would be a collection of old myths given a fresh retelling. And there is a little of that, definitely, but these are for the most part an entirely original set of stories revolving around the theme of storytelling that just happen to use that particular oral tradition as its template.
Now if there's one thing I love almost as much as I do retellings of old stories, it's postmodern fiction, and this is that in spades. Each story is framed by two sisters, Question Woman and Answer Woman, who may be humans or may be animals and are 100% symbols that represent both the perils of forgetting and the need for there to be active participants in the art of telling stories. What is the point of telling a story, after all, if no one is there to listen? And who, in the general course of things, tells a story unprompted? It's the kind of subtle metaphysical pondering I adore, because I love stories and the many different ways we humans convey them to one another.
But even if you're not high on the same intellectual supply that I love to roll around in, this collection of short stories is the exact kind of literary that I admire (and y'all know how I usually use the term "literary fiction" as a pejorative.) The ten stories here all discuss what it means to tell a story and, perhaps more importantly, to learn from it, but in such a playful way that it feels less like a set of moralizing fables and more like a reminder of the many ways in which stories transmit culture, acting as the lifeblood that keeps an idea -- of civilization, of values, of traditions -- alive.
Not all the stories here hit that exalted mark, ofc. I was actually least impressed with the opening story, A Boy Opens The Clouds. Interestingly, that tale of a young boy who learns how to open up vistas into the past, to the delight and eventual horror of his people, felt the most infuriating. Perhaps I was only transmitting my irritation with the selfish boy to the rest of the story, tho (which is a testament to Greg Sarris' ability to set a mood!)
The next story, Dissenters Find A Stranger In Their Camp, picks up the theme better, even if it did feel a little more heavy-handed than necessary. It's all smooth sailing from the third story on, tho, almost like a storyteller finishing their warm up and really getting into the flow. The third through eighth stories all have that exquisite balance of subtly imparting their important message via an absorbing story, with characters who are easy to care about. Interestingly, I felt that this quality tapered off with the last two stories: I still cared about the characters in the penultimate tale, A Girl Sees A Giant Sturgeon, but felt I was somehow missing the point of the story overall. In contrast, the closing chapter, The People On Sonoma Mountain Have A Storytelling Contest, felt a little too obvious, if entirely thematic. Its greatest virtue is that it could take place at any time, from distant past to near and further future.
I think one of my favorite things about this story cycle is how so much of it spans the early to mid-20th century, firmly highlighting the experiences of both American Indians and other minorities in that time frame, and underscoring their importance in the agricultural industry of California. It's important to have stories that remind readers that the indigenous people of America aren't just a collection of tragic events, that they have lived and worked and coexisted with other races for as long as memory serves. Mr Sarris' book is a gentle reminder that stories keep memory alive, and not just the old, "important" ones. American Indians have always existed throughout the history of this nation, and have their own stories that are just as meaningful as anyone else's, peopled, just as this country is, with characters of all races. The Forgetters is a meaty reminder of that, and I'm the richer for having experienced it.
The Forgetters by Greg Sarris was published April 16 2024 by Heyday Books and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
October 23, 2024
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
◇ Thank you to the author and HEYDAY for the free book.
◇ Synopsis
A beautifully rich story cycle about remembering our shared histories and healing the world. On Gravity Hill, two crow sisters—Question Woman, who needs to hear stories to remember, and Answer Woman, who recalls them only when asked—narrate the journeys of the Forgetters. They encounter unforgettable characters, including a boy who opens the clouds, a young woman befriending mysterious beings, and village leaders in a storytelling contest. These tales, inspired by Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok traditions, span from sacred times to the near future. Greg Sarris, praised by Joy Harjo, crafts an astonishing narrative that comforts, inspires, and deepens our love for the world.
◇ Thoughts
Having grown up on a reservation myself, I am always eager to read book with Indian lore and tales so when this book came my way, I was very excited. It did not disappoint and the verbal retelling by having the stories prompted by two crow sisters, Question Woman and Answer Woman, made it more fun. The stories tell us of the stories of the Forgetters so that all the stories can be remembered as they are retold again and again. The stories tell of the past and how decisions can change the course of the future and how everyone and everything is connected. I currently live in California, so the setting is not far from where I currently live, told atop the Sonoma Mountains. Every story is different, and some are better than others depending on the readers Point of view. I highly recommend it.
◇ Thank you to the author and HEYDAY for the free book.
◇ Synopsis
A beautifully rich story cycle about remembering our shared histories and healing the world. On Gravity Hill, two crow sisters—Question Woman, who needs to hear stories to remember, and Answer Woman, who recalls them only when asked—narrate the journeys of the Forgetters. They encounter unforgettable characters, including a boy who opens the clouds, a young woman befriending mysterious beings, and village leaders in a storytelling contest. These tales, inspired by Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok traditions, span from sacred times to the near future. Greg Sarris, praised by Joy Harjo, crafts an astonishing narrative that comforts, inspires, and deepens our love for the world.
◇ Thoughts
Having grown up on a reservation myself, I am always eager to read book with Indian lore and tales so when this book came my way, I was very excited. It did not disappoint and the verbal retelling by having the stories prompted by two crow sisters, Question Woman and Answer Woman, made it more fun. The stories tell us of the stories of the Forgetters so that all the stories can be remembered as they are retold again and again. The stories tell of the past and how decisions can change the course of the future and how everyone and everything is connected. I currently live in California, so the setting is not far from where I currently live, told atop the Sonoma Mountains. Every story is different, and some are better than others depending on the readers Point of view. I highly recommend it.
April 16, 2024
The stories in tribal leader Greg Sarris’s latest collection, The Forgetters, are connected by two sister crows who sit all day and night on Sonoma Mountain talking about the creation of the world, human frailty, silliness, and suffering. One crow sister can only ask the questions, and one can only answer in tales about Native American Indians struggling to remember the stories that made them who they are.
I don't usually enjoy story collections, but loved that these tales are connected by the two sister crows who chat day and night. I also loved that the stories are seemingly simplistic, but delve into serious topics of belonging, family, home, and forgetting what makes us human.
I had the honor of interviewing the author and getting to the heart of some of his stories: https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-forge...
I don't usually enjoy story collections, but loved that these tales are connected by the two sister crows who chat day and night. I also loved that the stories are seemingly simplistic, but delve into serious topics of belonging, family, home, and forgetting what makes us human.
I had the honor of interviewing the author and getting to the heart of some of his stories: https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-forge...
July 17, 2024
Great read. This is a series of stories prompted by two crow sisters, Question Woman and Answer Woman. The stories tell us of the stories of the Forgetters so that all the stories can be remembered as they are retold again and again. The stories tell of the past and how decisions can change the course of the future and how everyone and everything is connected. The books takes place in California atop the Sonoma Mountain. I found this series of stories to be very engaging and cannot wait to read another book by Greg Sarris. I highly recommend for anyone interested in Indian history.
February 18, 2025
Beautiful storytelling, loved to look for and find all the local references (Nicasio, San Rafael, Novato, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol). Answer Woman and Question Woman share tales of the Forgetters and how they can appear at any time in history, in the end even taking us on an Indigenous Futurism adventure. Excellent, quick read, going to send a copy to all the 3rd and 4th grade teachers I know.
April 7, 2025
I was less uncomfortable with this collection of folklore-style stories (parables? allegories?) than I was with Sarris's previous such book, How a Mountain was Made because the stories take place in modern times and do not appear to be creation myths of dubious provenance.
Pretty good stuff.
Pretty good stuff.
May 7, 2024
Won this on goodreads giveaways . All I can say I loved this book and couldn’t put it down . Great stories that make you think and have great morals to learn . I highly recommend reading this book . This book has me wanting more
July 13, 2024
Really good. I enjoyed this book. The storytelling device (crow sisters) was clever. The stories were well-told. The writing was great. This is a book I will not only recommend but also plan to read again.
June 12, 2024
Excellent read.
August 28, 2024
Author nicely ties Southern Pomp and Cost Miwok stories together with links to crows/women.
October 4, 2024
Stories we would be well wise to learn from at this point in time
October 11, 2024
Beautiful and meaningful
December 27, 2024
Another great book of stories, these with a modern twist. Great read and fun to learn more about my county!
January 5, 2025
Wonderful book! Loved it!!!
February 14, 2025
Delightful and insightful stories (or are they really one story—a story of stories) connecting the land (Sonoma county) and its past (and present)
August 9, 2025
An interesting collection of short stories. You can almost imagine yourself sitting around an Indian campfire listening to them.
May 18, 2024
The Forgetters' stories have good moral themes. Very sweet book. Interesting writing style. a good read.
April 4, 2025
I really love this author. Period. I sometimes look into compilations of Native American stories. And I like them but rarely respond much. These stories and the previous book by same author (How a Mountain is Made) caught me and kept me close.
The first book is a story arc mostly before much European presence in the coastal ranges of California. This one imagines stories from the native communities after the same landscape was thick with us (European-derived folks). It took me a month or so after reading both before I woke up one morning with realization of how much is revealed in these two books. Previously I read Wisdom Sits in Places (which is an academic book by a very different author), and between the three I came to understand a bit of how story reflects/determines world view and culture in Native American cultures, then and now. And maybe what “we” miss as we pass through these landscapes. And how that isn’t a statement only about Native Americans of two centuries ago; I think it must apply now too. (Could be very wrong about all this. I’m an old white US males, after all. But that was what I woke up with a month or so after diving into the author’s misleadingly simple story arcs.) And I am grateful one way or the other, in Avery personal way that I can’t think of many books of fiction that have tapped into.
I love abook that changes what I see and feel when I walk through my home landscape.
The first book is a story arc mostly before much European presence in the coastal ranges of California. This one imagines stories from the native communities after the same landscape was thick with us (European-derived folks). It took me a month or so after reading both before I woke up one morning with realization of how much is revealed in these two books. Previously I read Wisdom Sits in Places (which is an academic book by a very different author), and between the three I came to understand a bit of how story reflects/determines world view and culture in Native American cultures, then and now. And maybe what “we” miss as we pass through these landscapes. And how that isn’t a statement only about Native Americans of two centuries ago; I think it must apply now too. (Could be very wrong about all this. I’m an old white US males, after all. But that was what I woke up with a month or so after diving into the author’s misleadingly simple story arcs.) And I am grateful one way or the other, in Avery personal way that I can’t think of many books of fiction that have tapped into.
I love abook that changes what I see and feel when I walk through my home landscape.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews