The Half-white Album

by Cynthia J. Sylvester

This powerful debut collection explores lives lived between worlds. Sylvester masterfully weaves together fiction, poetry, and nonfiction to give readers a poignant though fractured view of her characters' lives, their loves, and their struggles. Told from the perspective of an urban Native, the work details a journey led by the nomadic band, the Covers. It is an experience meant to heal generational trauma and bring back into the light people who may otherwise be forgotten. At its heart, The Half-White Album is a healing ceremony of the author's own creation, a process grounded in music that celebrates what it is to be human and imperfect and to love imperfectly.

Genres: Poetry, Indigenous, Short Stories, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Native American

Audio CD

Published August 22, 2023

About the author

Cynthia Sylvester is born into the Kiyaa’áanii Clan for the Bilagáana Clan and is an enrolled member of the Diné. She is a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her work has appeared in numerous literary magazines. She received the Native Writer Award at the Taos Writer’s Conference. She graduated from the University of New Mexico and received her MFA in creative writing from the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Sylvester’s debut book, The Half-White Album, was published by the University of New Mexico Press as part of the Lynn and Lynda Miller Southwest Fiction Series. The Half-White Album won the best LGBTQ+ book in the 2023 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. She’s currently working on a novel and a collection of fiction and creative non-fiction.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book!! A collection of short stories, poems, and shorter pieces. All beautifully written. Hard to describe this amazing book. I really liked the later bits as they seem more a tribute to the author's mother. Highly recommended!!

I am fortunate to know the author as she is the wife of my sister-in-law. She walks in beauty and has a special light around her. I am so happy that she has gotten her work published, now everyone can enjoy her amazing words.

[Ruth Garcia-Corrales · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Half-White Album, by Cynthia J. Sylvester. Short stories of indigenous lives with magic connotation and spiritual rituals. Ancestral tradition and a reflection of a legacy from grandparents. The use of indigenous language gave it an authentic voice. Some of the stories you wanted more.

[Meghan Furey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm so I didn’t know this was a short story book lol. The writing was VERY poetic and lyrical and some stories made sense but others were more artistic and not easy to follow. But I loved the concept of the collection!

[Miranda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I simply have no clue what was happening in this book/collection of short stories. They were hard to follow or understand. Maybe it just wasn’t for me.

[Claudia Putnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of stories. Some of the points of view were continuous and sometimes not... But the stories felt seamlessly put together and utterly true to their world.

[G.P. Gottlieb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Half-White Album is a compilation of a cover band’s performances, told in stories of hope, frustration, despair, family, and banishment. Based mostly in New Mexico in what was once the wide-ranging land of the Diné (aka Navajo), each story is connected to a song covered by the band – a mother recalls her daughter running away from the missionary school, a daughter remembers her mother when she was younger. Characters suffer or are healed, dream of home or leave home, bury things, or unearth them in their ongoing struggle to live.

I was honored to interview the author! https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-half-...

[Cynthia Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women and music--rising up and through and around all of these stories, flash pieces, and poems. It was like I was reading and hearing music all at the same time. And the writing is beautiful. I loved it and can't wait to re-read it.

"She opened the drawer and pulled out a pen she already knew didn't work. The ink had dried up years ago: thirty-nine to be exact, if she counted backward from today, past her divorce, through the years. Back when there was a roast beef cooking in the oven that hadn't worked in five years. When her children were outside running in a sky turning pink..."

[?? · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lyrical but challenging look into the Navajo Nation. There are about a million different descriptors I could use for this because it was clearly a good book, yet I didn’t really know what was happening most of the time.
This is one of those books that I don’t really know how to rate, so I gave it my default rating of 4 stars. I don’t think the character-driven/nonlinear (?) style was for me, but the writing was amazing and clearly very personal.
I read this for the Native Voices Goodreads achievement.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook for this one. I enjoyed the urban Native perspective and the blend of historical and contemporary elements. This is a mix of poetry and short stories. Moments that have stuck with me are the story about the battle over the casino, the eagles coming back, and the story with the motel and the person in drag. There's so much here and I bet I'd discover new things if I read this again.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

By the time I got around to reading this, I forgot it was short stories and poetry. I made it 30% into the audiobook before I checked the synopsis and remembered this. The audiobook just blurs it all together. I went back to the start and was able to follow it better but I really feel the audiobook does not do this justice. Eventually I might read it physically and my rating will probably go up.

[Jane Fudger · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book format where the author weaves fiction, non fiction, quotes and poetry into a mutual theme which explores the Navajo experiences through music which is meant to heal generational traumas of the past. A process that celebrates what it is to be human
Quite a compelling and engrossing - one that I will read again in the future.

[Anaide · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was something. I am not really a fan of ambiguity and this book seemed to me like ambiguity personified. Some stories interested me more than others, but I didn't like how some characters were reoccuring, is this all one big universe and I am just not seeing all the connections or I am crazy?

[J Carley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savor this read like a favorite LP you spin on your record player on rainy days; maybe fall in love with one side and visit it repeatedly, then flip it over to discover more gems on the other side.

Love the cover. Love the quotes —- might have to create a song playlist for a reread.

Great concept, stories, and writing. What a wonderful way to wrap up and wind down the year.

[Katie Bruell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so loved this beautiful book. The characters are people you want to hug and spend time with and laugh with. The stories are fascinating glimpses into other lives, and the whole arrangement of the book felt like a beautiful mystery.

[Sylvia Light · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book are authentic accounting’s of Southwest US, Albuquerque, New Mexico told from the perspective of an urban Native meant to heal generational trauma through a healing ceremony. It is a powerful read.

[Simi · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 30%

It is simply too late in the year for me to get into something like this. I tried but I could not connect with the chapters. I really like the premise but I just think it’s the wrong time.

[cherryyemilyy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆

This was not a book I ever would have heard about if it wasn’t for the good read like award that I stupidly started. So thankful for it I guess?

But it was a really good read and a great example of threading together different story lines and short stories!!

[Sasan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found it a bit hard to care about or enjoy the majority of the stories in this one. The usage of the same names in later stories also did it no favours when I was left confused if it’s a continuation or a different story in its entirety.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book and the final paragraph literally took my breath away.

The stories were all beautifully written, and built to that moment.

I will be keeping this collection to study technique and improve my own storytelling.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

A whimsical - but very real - collection of colourful (and exagerrated?) short stories and poetry that capture the heartfelt and chaotic essence of love, resilience, and trauma that connect generations.

TW: divorce, abandonment, assault
Themes: homosexuality, race, identity

[Jihad Mahmoud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the concept of the book

[Nandini]

🤌🥲

[Keyisha · Rating 1 out of 5]

idk this might be a me problem but this book didn’t make any sense whatsoever and i don’t feel like i’m taking anything at all with me from it

[Briana Gagnon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a early release ebook courtesy of Edelweiss.
This book contained such beautiful stories and storytelling. Gorgeous descriptions I could see with every word I read. Enlightening and thought provoking. I look forward to the print version of this. I will be requesting a copy to be ordered for my library’s collection.