Rating: 
Summary: Sacred Ground
Review: A very interesting book with some excellent writing.
My only complaint is that it wasn't longer; just as I got to know and like each and every character the story moved on. The minor characters are so well developed and their stories so intriguing that I was left wanting to know more about everyone.
This one book could be made into a dozen or more separate books that could easily stand on their own, and I hope Barbara writes them.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting history of Los Angeles
Review: As a California native born in Santa Monica, I've always wondered about the street names and city names, as well as what the area looked like prior to civilation invading the area.
I've also been a great fan of Jean Auel and have read many other stories that talk about ancient man.
This particular book is a great find for any Los Angelino or (like myself) a California native who has now moved away who also enjoys stories about Indian and ancient man.
The story is pretty well-crafted and obviously a lot of time went into the research. I enjoyed seeing the progression of history through the descendants of Marima, and think the author found a great way to take a fairly contrived idea and make it into a workable story.
I enjoyed the older indian stories more than the contemporary half of the novel, but perhaps that is because I am more curious about yesterday in Los Angeles than today. It gives the reader an inside look at what the people, land and customs were like and how the Los Angeles area indians fared through history.
Rating:
Summary: Barbara Does it Again!
Review: How often do you get to read a book by your favorite author about the area you live in?! Although the wait between Barbara Wood's books seems long, when you read one, you understand what takes so much time. Her research is meticulous. I love the juxtaposition of present and past. Barbara always creates strong women who inspire us to make a difference with our lives. This book is important because it reminds Californians of the struggle that went into creating the state we know today. Barbara also reminds us that we all came from some place else and we all have mixed blood. Now, how to pass the time waiting for her next novel...
Rating:
Summary: Barbara Does it Again!
Review: How often do you get to read a book by your favorite author about the area you live in?! Although the wait between Barbara Wood's books seems long, when you read one, you understand what takes so much time. Her research is meticulous. I love the juxtaposition of present and past. Barbara always creates strong women who inspire us to make a difference with our lives. This book is important because it reminds Californians of the struggle that went into creating the state we know today. Barbara also reminds us that we all came from some place else and we all have mixed blood. Now, how to pass the time waiting for her next novel...
Rating:
Summary: My first title by this author and looking for more
Review: I obtained Sacred Ground at the urging of a friend who lives on the east coast. She called me at the beginning of September to let me know that she had just read a wonderful novel that contained the story of Southern California.I ordered and received the book a couple days after that, and it has served as a way to temporarily escape the grief and shock of the events that took place a few days later in New York, D.C. and Pennsylvania. I would recommend it if for no other reason. Sacred Ground tells the story of an archaeologist (Erica Tyler) who becomes involved in a dig in the middle of a wealthy community. An earthquake has caused a long buried cave to become accessible. As Erica Tyler makes her way through the layers of soil in the cave, she must also make her way through the political labyrinth that is the reality of modern Native American cultural debate. The story of the excavation is intertwined with the stories of the women of the Topaa tribe, a hunter gatherer tribe founded by "First Mother," Marimi. As each layer of soil reveals its contents, it also reveals the story of successive generations of Marimi's female descendants who carry her characteristics. There are two things I wish the author had done. First, I felt the story of the "First Mother" could have used with a bit more fleshing out. Her initial struggles are well detailed, but we are left to imagine how the stories and traditions of the Topaa tribe, the ones that are passed on from generation to generation, are created. It would also have been interesting to read how her teachings to her great-granddaughter differed from those she rebelled against. The second thing is that I wish the author had included a map showing the locations of significant events in the book. As it was, after the first couple chapters, I read the rest of the book with a AAA Southern California freeway folding map in hand. The above are minor quibbles, however. The book as a whole contains an incredible amount of historical detail that touches upon most major aspects of California history. We learn, not only about the way-of-life and traditions of ancient California tribes, but also about the mission period, the settlement of Los Angeles, the California gold-rush, and about the competing interests of Native Americans, scholars, private collectors and developers. The book allowed me to see the issues involved from a number of different perspectives. I give the book 4 stars for plot, 5 stars for entertainment and educational value. I have lived in Southern California for most of my life, and this book helped me to better understand the place I live. Sacred Ground gets my strong recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: My first title by this author and looking for more
Review: I obtained Sacred Ground at the urging of a friend who lives on the east coast. She called me at the beginning of September to let me know that she had just read a wonderful novel that contained the story of Southern California. I ordered and received the book a couple days after that, and it has served as a way to temporarily escape the grief and shock of the events that took place a few days later in New York, D.C. and Pennsylvania. I would recommend it if for no other reason. Sacred Ground tells the story of an archaeologist (Erica Tyler) who becomes involved in a dig in the middle of a wealthy community. An earthquake has caused a long buried cave to become accessible. As Erica Tyler makes her way through the layers of soil in the cave, she must also make her way through the political labyrinth that is the reality of modern Native American cultural debate. The story of the excavation is intertwined with the stories of the women of the Topaa tribe, a hunter gatherer tribe founded by "First Mother," Marimi. As each layer of soil reveals its contents, it also reveals the story of successive generations of Marimi's female descendants who carry her characteristics. There are two things I wish the author had done. First, I felt the story of the "First Mother" could have used with a bit more fleshing out. Her initial struggles are well detailed, but we are left to imagine how the stories and traditions of the Topaa tribe, the ones that are passed on from generation to generation, are created. It would also have been interesting to read how her teachings to her great-granddaughter differed from those she rebelled against. The second thing is that I wish the author had included a map showing the locations of significant events in the book. As it was, after the first couple chapters, I read the rest of the book with a AAA Southern California freeway folding map in hand. The above are minor quibbles, however. The book as a whole contains an incredible amount of historical detail that touches upon most major aspects of California history. We learn, not only about the way-of-life and traditions of ancient California tribes, but also about the mission period, the settlement of Los Angeles, the California gold-rush, and about the competing interests of Native Americans, scholars, private collectors and developers. The book allowed me to see the issues involved from a number of different perspectives. I give the book 4 stars for plot, 5 stars for entertainment and educational value. I have lived in Southern California for most of my life, and this book helped me to better understand the place I live. Sacred Ground gets my strong recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Sacred Ground
Review: Interesting fairly fast-paced pre-historical/historical/contemporary novel told in past/present/past/present format. The orgins of a small tribe in
California are connected to the anthropologist excavating a cave, and researching the artifacts discovered after a major earthquake. Enjoyable, but coincidences abound. The historical parts are so much better than the contemporary parts. The historical being well researched and written; and the contemporary was somewhat corny and seemed amateurish; not the author's usual calibar at all. Made me wonder if Barbara Wood even wrote the present day portions.
Rating:
Summary: Sacred Ground
Review: Interesting fairly fast-paced pre-historical/historical/contemporary novel told in past/present/past/present format. The orgins of a small tribe in
California are connected to the anthropologist excavating a cave, and researching the artifacts discovered after a major earthquake. Enjoyable, but coincidences abound. The historical parts are so much better than the contemporary parts. The historical being well researched and written; and the contemporary was somewhat corny and seemed amateurish; not the author's usual calibar at all. Made me wonder if Barbara Wood even wrote the present day portions.
Rating:
Summary: Is just Barbara Wood
Review: Reading this story was amazing, combining the present with different past eras, and viewing how the people make the same things no matter the era that is living and always go to the same place to look for their past.
When you are reading the book you see how she (Barbara Wood) studied the geographic land, the custom of the tribes, the way people get dressed in the past, etc.
Barbara involves in this story love, hate, family and going from hate to love again, including finding a lost parent. I read it in 3 days, it was really wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This was a wonderful book - a real page turner. Barbara Wood has done a lot of historical research and woven it into a beautiful story.
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