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American Indian Studies (AIS)
Sacred Wilderness
A Clan Mother story for the twenty-first century, Sacred Wilderness explores the lives of four women of different eras and backgrounds who come together to restore foundation to a mixed-up, mixed-blood woman--a woman who had been living the American dream, and found it a great maw of emptiness. These Clan Mothers may be wisdom-keepers, but they are anything but stern and aloof--they are women of joy and grief, risking their hearts and sometimes their lives for those they love. The novel swirls through time, from present-day Minnesota to the Mohawk territory of the 1620s, to the ancient biblical world, brought to life by an indigenous woman who would come to be known as the Virgin Mary. The Clan Mothers reveal secrets, the insights of prophecy, and stories that are by turns comic, so painful they can break your heart, and perhaps even powerful enough to save the world. In lyrical, lushly imagined prose, Sacred Wilderness is a novel of unprecedented necessity.
268 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2014
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948 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
April 14, 2020
Grass Dancer bedazzled me few years back, so when I found out Susan Power had written a new novel, I was very excited. Sacred Wilderness does not disappoint! While both novels travel through time with a variety of characters, Grass Dancer and Sacred Wilderness are very different.
Where as the mythology in Grass Dancer is entirely Native American, in Sacred Wilderness the spirituality is an interesting blend of Native American and Catholic. This blend works beautifully! For example Catholic influences are every chapter is named after a mystery in the Rosary and there is an appearance of the Virgin Mary, known here as Maryam.......in modern day a Saint Paul, Minnesota! Different sections of the book are devoted to different clan mothers, some modern day, some historical, some in mythic times. One of my favourite parts was a Mohawk legend of the "Peacemaker" that is very similar to stories of Jesus. Within this story the Virgin of Guadalupe legend is worked in. Susan Powers is not imposing a Christian story on First Nation figures, rather conveying the idea that the First Nations already had their own spiritual beliefs and prophets that were similar to those in Christianly before the Europeans arrived.
This is the kind of book that you keep thinking about days after you read it. It is a very powerful and deeply moving novel and I highly recommend it! Susan Powers is a very gifted author who is becoming one of my favourites.
Edited to add: April 14 20020 I just read this book again and loved it just as much in fact even more!
Where as the mythology in Grass Dancer is entirely Native American, in Sacred Wilderness the spirituality is an interesting blend of Native American and Catholic. This blend works beautifully! For example Catholic influences are every chapter is named after a mystery in the Rosary and there is an appearance of the Virgin Mary, known here as Maryam.......in modern day a Saint Paul, Minnesota! Different sections of the book are devoted to different clan mothers, some modern day, some historical, some in mythic times. One of my favourite parts was a Mohawk legend of the "Peacemaker" that is very similar to stories of Jesus. Within this story the Virgin of Guadalupe legend is worked in. Susan Powers is not imposing a Christian story on First Nation figures, rather conveying the idea that the First Nations already had their own spiritual beliefs and prophets that were similar to those in Christianly before the Europeans arrived.
This is the kind of book that you keep thinking about days after you read it. It is a very powerful and deeply moving novel and I highly recommend it! Susan Powers is a very gifted author who is becoming one of my favourites.
Edited to add: April 14 20020 I just read this book again and loved it just as much in fact even more!
December 31, 2017
This was a Hanukkah gift from one of our daughters, the same daughter (who as a lively UW Badger) introduced me to the joys of Louise Erdrich. What a treasure (the daughter, of course, but also this book)!! It was pure delight on so many levels: literary style, spiritual food, ideas for New Year's resolutions, sources for discussion with my Dear Husband (because it ties in with so much of his reading -- themes about tribal conflict, religious and otherwise), women, information about Native American traditions and ideas (past and present), humor, St. Paul (the city). Just. Absolutely. Perfect.
June 16, 2015
I am not good at writing reviews and this book is going to make it harder than usual. The story started off slow for me, until I began to look into the characters that Powers writes and their underlying motives. Not a religious book, but a very spiritual one that had me delving deep into myself and my beliefs -- a touching novel and one that makes you consider what matters.
January 8, 2024
This book is so special… perhaps I will write a more robust review later, but my initial thought is this: Sacred Wilderness is a tapestry of stories that brings clarity to the soul. I am reminded of the grounding nature of heritage, necessity of indigenous knowledge, the hard-fought whimsy of love, and surprising nature of Christ.
March 23, 2019
I found the ending lacking and that the storyline took too many “short trips” into too many directions. A sharper focus on past or present would have been more enjoyable than jumping so much between them. Still, I enjoyed the read. The characters were believable and endearing.
Gladys is the kind of Elder we all love to be around and learn from.
Gladys is the kind of Elder we all love to be around and learn from.
April 2, 2024
This book will hold such a special place in my heart for so many reasons. Beyond that, it is truly a beautiful book that I will revisit time and time again. I highly suggest anyone read this book and give it time to grow on you. Once it does, it’s truly breathtaking.
September 29, 2023
Wow that was a good book shoutout to my multicultural comp professor for assigning it
February 10, 2016
I rejoice that SACRED WILDERNESS exists! I'm so happy to have read this novel, which is shot through with gratitude and kindness and women's wisdom and reconciliation between faith traditions and healing within the Native community. I'm thrilled to now know of Susan Power, who takes seriously the role of writer as healer in our world and is unafraid to do this work within the structure of a story. I love how she combines utter realism, naming real artists and powerfully evoking real Twin Cities places, with magical realism that's not magic at all but a serious depiction of the spirit world's habitation among us. I only wish some Minnesotan publisher had taken on this novel instead of Michigan State University. Minnesotans need to claim Susan Power as our own.
“I was always there in the process, this observer critiquing as I went, wondering what others would think. Is this good? Is this right? Heaven help me, will this sell? I’m not saying I’ve gone missing from the work completely, it’s my hand and my sensibility, my technique and obsession laying down the paint, but part of me has slipped to the side, quieted that watcher’s voice. Now I operate more on instinct, and I’m, well, this is embarrassing…” She playfull pretended to cover her ears. “I’m shattered with love for these subjects. They are front and center. Their stories, not mine. Sometimes I’m weeping with sympathy and joy, respect, and I don’t even know it ‘til Dylan walks in and wipes off my face.” --Grace in SACRED WILDERNESS
“I was always there in the process, this observer critiquing as I went, wondering what others would think. Is this good? Is this right? Heaven help me, will this sell? I’m not saying I’ve gone missing from the work completely, it’s my hand and my sensibility, my technique and obsession laying down the paint, but part of me has slipped to the side, quieted that watcher’s voice. Now I operate more on instinct, and I’m, well, this is embarrassing…” She playfull pretended to cover her ears. “I’m shattered with love for these subjects. They are front and center. Their stories, not mine. Sometimes I’m weeping with sympathy and joy, respect, and I don’t even know it ‘til Dylan walks in and wipes off my face.” --Grace in SACRED WILDERNESS
February 14, 2017
This book was divided into several different story "sections" -- one that took place in present day and followed an older Native American woman who was employed by a wealthy couple as a cook/housecleaner and others that delved into the stories of the main characters' ancestors.
I loved the way this book blended Native American and Catholic spirituality (which is what drew me to the book), particularly the Virgin Mary's intuitive understanding that all beings who forged a path of peace were sacred and would have been "friends of her son." Mary's manifestation appeared in both the historical and the modern timelines, and I liked her portrayal in the historical one better; she felt just a touch too "woo-woo"in her modern incarnation, and I kind of felt as if the privileged, unemployed middle-aged woman she was sent to "awaken" was not really deserving of the honor. On the other hand, her appearance to comfort a grieving mother and clan leader in the historical storyline seemed a much more worthy visitation.
The historical writing was incredibly beautiful and evocative. The modern writing I found to be a little stilted in places, but I liked that it lent some greater insight into the politics of being American Indian and living in the current culture. This is something I still strive to find a deeper understanding of, especially since moving to a state with a significant Native population that still remains mostly a mystery to me.
I loved the way this book blended Native American and Catholic spirituality (which is what drew me to the book), particularly the Virgin Mary's intuitive understanding that all beings who forged a path of peace were sacred and would have been "friends of her son." Mary's manifestation appeared in both the historical and the modern timelines, and I liked her portrayal in the historical one better; she felt just a touch too "woo-woo"in her modern incarnation, and I kind of felt as if the privileged, unemployed middle-aged woman she was sent to "awaken" was not really deserving of the honor. On the other hand, her appearance to comfort a grieving mother and clan leader in the historical storyline seemed a much more worthy visitation.
The historical writing was incredibly beautiful and evocative. The modern writing I found to be a little stilted in places, but I liked that it lent some greater insight into the politics of being American Indian and living in the current culture. This is something I still strive to find a deeper understanding of, especially since moving to a state with a significant Native population that still remains mostly a mystery to me.
September 12, 2017
This book swept me away!
Reading Sacred Wildernesswas more than a pleasure, it was, for me, a sacred experience. I was so moved by it that it is hard to put into words. Susan Poweris a craftswoman and storyteller of the highest caliber. Her use of language appears effortless, yet so many passages stopped me in my tracks and forced me to read them over again to savor their beauty and to gather all the subtle meaning packed into them.
The novel follows the lives of two women and their families as they connect and become intertwined, learning from one another as they go. It is a story of culture clashes. It is a story of spiritual journey and understanding. It is a story of self discovery and transformation both expected and unexpected. Spanning generations, it is also a story of our humanness and the things that push us apart and draw us back together. Ultimately, it is a story of the deep and powerful love that lives inside each and every one of us.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.
Reading Sacred Wildernesswas more than a pleasure, it was, for me, a sacred experience. I was so moved by it that it is hard to put into words. Susan Poweris a craftswoman and storyteller of the highest caliber. Her use of language appears effortless, yet so many passages stopped me in my tracks and forced me to read them over again to savor their beauty and to gather all the subtle meaning packed into them.
The novel follows the lives of two women and their families as they connect and become intertwined, learning from one another as they go. It is a story of culture clashes. It is a story of spiritual journey and understanding. It is a story of self discovery and transformation both expected and unexpected. Spanning generations, it is also a story of our humanness and the things that push us apart and draw us back together. Ultimately, it is a story of the deep and powerful love that lives inside each and every one of us.
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.
March 31, 2022
The premise was intriguing and there were some especially compelling points in the plot, but the pacing was just not it. It took 100+ pages for readers to get a picture of the main conflict and, afterwards, it would speed thru events at times and crawl at others. As someone who lives in Mpls I was excited to read this— and don’t get me wrong, the local references were fun— but this book just didn’t do it for me the way I thought it would.
April 22, 2024
Much more than 5 stars! Loved the journey this book guided me through - 237 pages of understanding more, learning more, believing more.
August 17, 2023
Would give it 7 stars if I could!
August 28, 2023
This is so good and so beautiful. I can't wait to read more by the author.
December 15, 2016
First of all, I believe this is a book which might be of great significance & inspiration to every young adult/adult American woman. It is a work of validation in the most honest terms one could write.
There is so much wisdom in this almost poetic work by Susan Power, a novel which is part of the American Indian Studies Series of Michigan State University Press. It's one of the clearest & breathtaking expressions I've ever read of the worldview of First Peoples. It's also uniquely innovative in its respectfully honest statement of the conflicts & relationships with Christian, particularly Catholic, religious tradition. The last two chapters "The Gospel of Maryam" & "Assumption" are immensely eloquent & realistic.
If you're looking for a message of hope in this turbulent mess of the end of 2016, Susan Power's book is it!
There is so much wisdom in this almost poetic work by Susan Power, a novel which is part of the American Indian Studies Series of Michigan State University Press. It's one of the clearest & breathtaking expressions I've ever read of the worldview of First Peoples. It's also uniquely innovative in its respectfully honest statement of the conflicts & relationships with Christian, particularly Catholic, religious tradition. The last two chapters "The Gospel of Maryam" & "Assumption" are immensely eloquent & realistic.
If you're looking for a message of hope in this turbulent mess of the end of 2016, Susan Power's book is it!
January 13, 2023
I love Susan Powers’s books, and every so often checked to see if she published anything after “The Grass Dancer.” I read that book in my 20’s through a pregnancy- and always remembered her gift of descriptions of ndn’s (I’m Onondaga from NY). Real -powerful- spiritual- and thoroughly researched- THIS BOOK! It was a beautiful find - as I am from the Six Nations - I can say she did amazing justice intertwining the stories of Ja’goh-sàh-sä and the Virgin Mary - both Mothers of Prophets to people as different and similar as the Ocean that devided them and brought them together. Luff it! Hope there will be more from her -
April 26, 2015
2 1/2 stars. I had mixed feelings about this one. There were moments it was interesting and I liked the character of Gladys and her relationship with Jules. I also liked the contemporary Native viewpoint. But there were many other moments where it just got too convoluted and I wanted the story to be over. Too many stories and it read at times like an Oprah Winfrey pick from the 90s. Which isn't always a bad thing, but it isn't always a good thing either.
September 7, 2014
I was captivated by the four strong women in this novel, whose stories are interwoven to create a tale of love, loss, regret and redemption. Sacred Wilderness spans time and location, allowing the story to unfold to the reader in a slow, organic way. The book moved me as a reader and as a writer.
September 17, 2022
I almost read this in one sitting - glad I discovered it. Migwech.
March 8, 2021
An interesting and original story. Includes Objiwe story time, set with a Mother and her Daughter, (a professor) and the woman she agrees to aid (?) in a St Paul mansion, to the horror of her Mother doing cleaning. Well she does cooking (breakfast), and introduces other very interesting characters.
A fun book with magic, Indian stories, interesting men. and interesting situations.
Review: A Clan Mother story for the twenty-first century, Sacred Wilderness explores the lives of four women of different eras and backgrounds who come together to restore foundation to a mixed-up, mixed-blood woman--a woman who had been living the American dream, and found it a great maw of emptiness. These Clan Mothers may be wisdom-keepers, but they are anything but stern and aloof--they are women of joy and grief, risking their hearts and sometimes their lives for those they love. The novel swirls through time, from present-day Minnesota to the Mohawk territory of the 1620s, to the ancient biblical world, brought to life by an indigenous woman who would come to be known as the Virgin Mary. The Clan Mothers reveal secrets, the insights of prophecy, and stories that are by turns comic, so painful they can break your heart, and perhaps even powerful enough to save the world. In lyrical, lushly imagined prose, Sacred Wilderness is a novel of unprecedented necessity.
A fun book with magic, Indian stories, interesting men. and interesting situations.
Review: A Clan Mother story for the twenty-first century, Sacred Wilderness explores the lives of four women of different eras and backgrounds who come together to restore foundation to a mixed-up, mixed-blood woman--a woman who had been living the American dream, and found it a great maw of emptiness. These Clan Mothers may be wisdom-keepers, but they are anything but stern and aloof--they are women of joy and grief, risking their hearts and sometimes their lives for those they love. The novel swirls through time, from present-day Minnesota to the Mohawk territory of the 1620s, to the ancient biblical world, brought to life by an indigenous woman who would come to be known as the Virgin Mary. The Clan Mothers reveal secrets, the insights of prophecy, and stories that are by turns comic, so painful they can break your heart, and perhaps even powerful enough to save the world. In lyrical, lushly imagined prose, Sacred Wilderness is a novel of unprecedented necessity.
November 19, 2021
This is such an interesting book because of the way it combines the stories of the Native Americans with the traditional narrative of the Christian religion. We encounter these beliefs & philosophies through the life of Gladys Swan, an Ojibwe elder, as she takes a job to work as an "Indian housekeeper" for Candace Jenssen.
Troublesome as that may sound, Gladys felt called to this opportunity because of both curiosity and a desire to teach someone struggling with stereotypes. However, the story goes well beyond profiling as Candace embarks on a journey to uncover her origins through the guidance of Gladys and Maryam, a spirit sent to help with the task.
This book was both brilliant and frustrating! I loved how it explored personal discovery through spirituality and ritual, but I was frustrated with the subplots of other characters' stories. I wish it had remained focused on Gladys and/or Candace without the extra storylines. But, that being said, it was still a fascinating adventure!
Troublesome as that may sound, Gladys felt called to this opportunity because of both curiosity and a desire to teach someone struggling with stereotypes. However, the story goes well beyond profiling as Candace embarks on a journey to uncover her origins through the guidance of Gladys and Maryam, a spirit sent to help with the task.
This book was both brilliant and frustrating! I loved how it explored personal discovery through spirituality and ritual, but I was frustrated with the subplots of other characters' stories. I wish it had remained focused on Gladys and/or Candace without the extra storylines. But, that being said, it was still a fascinating adventure!
January 29, 2019
One reviewer who gave it, as I did, 3 stars wrote "mixed feelings." True, a blend of contemporary times with ancient Indian religion (or mythology?) with Christian and not to be left out, Jewish tradition. I felt it was just too "new age" and way too much on the stories of native stories.
I've loved Erdrich, Hillerman, Least-Heat Moon, and others. This was too laden with Native American tales, guilt, pride and put-downs of European influence. Dreams, fantasy, call it whatever, the predestined life implies we don't have choice, so how to account for characters not taking the right path (having choices)? The duality, almost, blending Biblical into Indian tradition was too cozy, convenient. Finally, why does it always seem in reincarnation and in ancestor tracing/worship, the characters always come from great leaders/spirits of their communities? No ancestor was just "working class."
I've loved Erdrich, Hillerman, Least-Heat Moon, and others. This was too laden with Native American tales, guilt, pride and put-downs of European influence. Dreams, fantasy, call it whatever, the predestined life implies we don't have choice, so how to account for characters not taking the right path (having choices)? The duality, almost, blending Biblical into Indian tradition was too cozy, convenient. Finally, why does it always seem in reincarnation and in ancestor tracing/worship, the characters always come from great leaders/spirits of their communities? No ancestor was just "working class."
September 11, 2017
I will treasure this book forever. I love, love, love the story. I loved the way she incorporated and integrated religious stories from multiple religions. I loved the way she created and shared the very human (and by that I mean imperfect) experiences for all of the characters, even the spiritual ones. All told, this story proves how we are all connected... and not all that different. This story demonstrates why and how we all need to care for one another. This story demonstrates how much we need to pay attention and think about what we are doing and the experience of others throughout that.
March 20, 2024
While I liked some of the sections of this book, specifically the parts with Jigonsaseh, I struggled to finish this book. The characters feel very flat with a predictable happy ending, which is good for them, but it does not feel satisfactory at all. More than this, the writing style is completely over the top, especially with the gross descriptions of Gladys' sex life and the interactions between Candace and Barry at the end of the novel. I can see the concept of this book being a fun story, but the execution is just not for me.
January 5, 2020
Easily one of my favorite books. I had to read this for my Native American Religion class. The novel demonstrates a beautiful, harmonious marriage between traditional Christian theology and Native American spiritualism, mirroring the protagonist's inner struggle to identify with her own heritage. Beautifully written. It is certainly Susan Power's invitation for all to join the conversation.
August 1, 2021
Parts of this book are brilliant, much of it is gorgeous, and I know I will read it again. But I felt propelled and I felt like the novel kept swinging back and forth between didactic and unfolding narrative in a way that forced me to stop and take time away before diving in further. Still: compelling and haunting.
May 25, 2023
Interesting beginning and parts were beautiful, but… this felt like 2 or 3 short stories with very different objectives (spiritual, social commentary, ??) mashed into one novel. The local references and name dropping started out okay but became irritating – too much of it! Same with the characters – they started out really interesting and devolved into saccharine and unbelievable.
September 24, 2019
Theme's of loss and reclamation are threaded throughout this masterpiece of literature. If more people would read books such as these and move towards a culture of peace and connection the world would be a much better place. The book brought me to tears more than once.
June 4, 2021
The vast layers of this narrative make me sure that I will learn new lessons each time I read it. I love the inter-spirituality and inter-religion portrayed in this seamless story. A true testament to how our origins play a significant role in our identities. Definitely recommend.
January 27, 2022
This book is uplifting on many levels, and a very pleasant, informative ride. The story examines and interweaves christian, native and personal family histories from the emotional viewpoints of various individuals in the story, past and present.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews