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Published Oct 2010
336 pages
Genre: Biography/Memoir
Publication Information
Leslie Marmon Silko's new book, her first in ten years, combines memoir with family history and reflections on the creatures and beings that command her attention and inform her vision of the world, taking readers along on her daily walks through the arroyos and ledges of the Sonoran desert in Arizona. Silko weaves tales from her family's past into her observations, using the turquoise stones she finds on the walks to unite the strands of her stories, while the beauty and symbolism of the landscape around her, and of the snakes, birds, dogs, and other animals that share her life and form part of her family, figure prominently in her memories.
Strongly influenced by Native American storytelling traditions, The Turquoise Ledge becomes a moving and deeply personal contemplation of the enormous spiritual power of the natural world-of what these creatures and landscapes can communicate to us, and how they are all linked.
The book is Silko's first extended work of nonfiction, and its ambitious scope, clear prose, and inventive structure are captivating. The Turquoise Ledge will delight loyal fans and new readers alike, and it marks the return of the unique voice and vision of a gifted storyteller.
"Novelist, essayist, and poet Silko ...finds in her deeply meditative memoir-cum-journal an exquisite harmony between the native ways of her ancestors and the cycle of nature that unfolds in the high desert of Arizona." - Publishers Weekly
"A much-needed treatise on renewing our relationship with the natural world, though the lack of a singular narrative thread may restrict the work from reaching the audience it deserves." - Kirkus
This information about The Turquoise Ledge was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Leslie Marmon Silko has published three novels, including Ceremony, which has sold more than one million copies since its publication in 1978. She has also written many short stories, poetry, and essays. The recipient of numerous grants and awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship and an NEA fellowship, Silko lives in Tucson, Arizona.
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