A Yellow Raft in Blue Water

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Summary: Glimpse an unknown world right next door
Review: We read this novel as part of the pastoral care course at seminary. Partly it was to introduce characters of backgrounds differing from essentially anyone else in the course, to introduce situations and people to whom one might eventually be called upon to minister.

The book begins with the tale of Rayona, a middle-teenage girl who is having problems adjusting to life (of course, which middle-teenage girl is not having problems? one might ask). Her problems are magnified by her alcoholic mother, her distant grandmother, her mixed-race parentage, and her general feeling of being caught between two (or more) worlds.

The book continues in its second part with a backward look at Rayona's mother, Christine, who came of age on a reservation (being an American Indian -- when she was being raised, the term 'native American' had not yet become standard). She was also distant from her mother, we learn, who was known as 'aunt Ida' (exemplifying the distance in the relationship even at the outset).

The third part is yet again a backward progression to Ida's life, so that as we get to know more and more about the background of the person, we begin to see how the child and grandchild turned out as they did.

Each of the three parts bring us further back into the past, and provide us with a different perspective on what is happening in the present. We see, for instance, the encounter of Christine and Rayona returning to the reservation and encountering Aunt Ida on the riding lawn mower, from the perspective in turn of each of the participants: Rayona, who feels abandoned by her mother; Christine, who feels abandoned by her mother Aunt Ida; Ida, who has so much baggage that she is both accepting and rejecting simultaneously, afraid to show the concern that truly beats within her heart. A fascinating trinity of perspectives which interpermeate to give a full picture, but only for the patient.

In pastoral care settings, one will not normally get this kind of insight and detail, but it is a wonderful novel in which to see a unique set of characters who, if one were to encounter them on the street or, say, in a bus station, one might easily overlook as uninteresting.

This is a thoughtful account, full of 'touchy/feely' details, and will appeal to those who are looking for that. There is little action in the book, and no real mystery (beyond the basic 'who are these people?' question). These are, in fiction, what I generally prefer. And yet, I found it engrossing and entertaining, and hard to put down.

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Summary: You will probably read it twice
Review: This is a story that is told backwards in time. The story starts with Rayona, a mature 15 year old girl who seems to be trying to raise her irresponsible mother. Christine, Rayona's mother, speaks next, and the reader learns of her struggles growing up rebelling against her unaffectionate mother. Finally, Ida, the grandmother is allowed to defend her self, and tell of the secrets and betrayals that shaped her life. After finishing the novel, I was seized with the urge to reread it (which I have), because each irrational action of the mother viewed by the younger generation, is later explained. And in the end, I was amazed by the masterful tapestry Michael Dorris has created, and I was deeply moved by the integrity and strength of all three women.

I wrote my senior thesis on the unrealistic depictions of Native Americans in popular media, and I was floored by the realism and the matter of fact presentation of the lives of the three women here.

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Summary: Women with Stronge Souls
Review: Lonely. In life when an individual goes through tough times they my feel alone like the three Native American women in the novel The Yellow Raft in Blue Water, by Michael Dorris. All three of the women had dilemmas they dealt with, some due to their past lives or their mothers past lives. Every incident in the story is written so realistically that it seems to be a true story.

This takes place in Seattle Washington and on a reservation in Montana with Rayona, a 14 year old Native American/ African American girl, who goes through difficult situations, while at the same time is trying to find where she falls in life. Her mother Christine, a single parent, is having health issues and is having problems with being a mother for Rayona. Then there's Aunt Ida, Christine's mother, who reveals many secrets of her life.

Rayona is by herself on a reservation in Montana, while her mom is somewhere unknown. She is Staying with Aunt Ida, who she hasn't seen sense she was a baby. Rayona is required to go to school in the missionary but she doesn't seem to fit in because she is African American and Native American. People on the reservation insult her and treat her badly. She then gets tired of it and decides to head back to Seattle without informing anyone that she was leaving. That is when she learns to take care of herself and becomes more independent.

People who should read this book are people who enjoy reading realistic fictions and women who are looking to overcome their weaknesses in life. The age group in which should read this is around 14 or older because the writing and language in the novel was wrote more mature individuals. The novel was written in an unusual way. There are three different sections, each with a different point of view for the character of the section. This novel will bring readers back in the past but at the same time show them how three young girls grow up to be some what alike in their own ways.

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Summary: Yellow and Blue Dividers
Review: Yellow and Blue Dividers

Divided generations. The book A Yellow raft in Blue Water, by Micheal Dorris, is that of a story that shows how the dividers between generations form and what is done to knock them down.
The story is told from the point of view of three women. All grew up in different eras, were raised different ways, and trying to find their way through life with or without the help of each other. Rayona, a 15 year old girl, half Indian half black, trapped in the life her mother's poor choices have created. Christine, Rayona's mother and full Indian, having been hurt in the past, is torn between love and resentment towards those closest to her. And Aunt Ida, mother to Christine, grandmother to Rayona, is extremely bitter, due to the fact she was forced to grow up all to fast.
The book begins with the story told from the point of Rayona. She explains how she is always changing schools and really has no friends, aside from her mother who she doesn't understand. Her mother decides to leave Seattle where they live and go back to the reservation in Montana. However once they arrive, Christine abandons Rayona with Aunt Ida, without an explanation. Rayona is forced to try and fit in on the reservation, but finds it hard because of the fact she isn't full Indian. So she leaves the reservation to try and find meaning in her life.
In the second part, the book goes back in time about 20 years to when Christine was a teenager, and tells her life all the way to Rayona's period. She tells her story of how she always felt her brother Lee was liked more than her and how she never really felt loved by anyone, aside from Rayona. She also explains how all the poor choices she had made throughout her life changed it forever and not for the better.
Finally the story goes back even further in time to when Aunt Ida was young. She explains the pressures put on her by her family that forced her to grow up all to fast. Also she explains why she is so bitter towards the people she loves the most.
Though the dividers between all three generations of the women exist, detours are found to get around them. Making this story an unforgettable, inspirational novel; giving the reader a new outlook on life. This incredible story gives new meaning to the saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!"

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Summary: A Yellow Raft In Blue Water, stayin afloat?
Review: People always say, "You can't judge a book by its cover", and in the case of A Yellow Raft in Blue Water, this saying is defiantly true. The picture on the cover and the title might not leave you at the edge of your seat, dying to read the book, but it is the amazing and captivating story about three generations of women who are all struggling in life to find a reason that counts the most. This realistic fiction novel is intense and heart-wrenching, and lets you see that what happens in the past isn't always forgotten.
The book is told from the point of view of three women who all grew up in different times with different aspects on life. It shows how each choice they made throughout their lives affected each other in more ways then they will ever know, and tore apart their relationships with each other, when they really need each other the most. Rayona, a half black and half Indian girl who is around 15 years old, is suffering from her mother's poor choices in life when all she really wants is to find her place and reason in life. Christine, the mother of Rayona, is an excessive partier who never took life seriously, and who strived to be noticed and admired like her older brother Lee. Her motto was that you can never get to old to be a kid, and living by that left her unstable with many regrets from her foolish choices. Last but not least is Ida, the mother of Christine who has deep secrets of betrayal, and who never had the chance to live life. They are all in search of their selves, but need each other more than ever.
The book starts out in the present with Rayona and then gradually fades back to her mother Christine's life, told by Christine's point of view. After that, it even goes farther back into the life of Ida, which is told by her. Each of the woman have problems that keep them apart from each other, and as the book travels back in time, you see how each decision and action affected their futures and how their relationship turned out.
This book is touching, a very realistic story that can be related to in many ways. Will Rayona, Christine, and Ida ever set their differences aside so they can all be a family? Or will they all be lost forever without each other? Read A Yellow Raft In Blue Water to find out, you won't be disappointed.

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Summary: Dorris has wonderful insight into real life
Review: Dorris does a great job enabling the reader to identify w/ the 3 characters. THis family reminds me so much of a 'real' family-not a family so often found in literature. It is obvious that Dorris truly understands human behavior and that this story has evolved from an experience that perhaps Dorris himself went through. Dorris reveals the mistakes thta each character makes and shows the dire consequences and how they can deteriorate even the most potent and powerful of relationships, maybe just as powerful as his own marriage. THe depth of his understanding could only result from a first-hand experience, not something simply created in one's mind.
I did not like watching the charcters mess up their lives-the mistakes were too obvious. I think that miscommmunication and a lack of communication lies at the root of this family's problems. To me, Ida's strengths were also her weaknesses- her stubborn nature and holding in her own feelings. Also, I think the omniscient view, although very enlightening, lacked the depth usually found in getting one person's full point of view. Although the viwe was vaqried and widespread, it was not as deep-not as personal. Perhaps this helped to understand the problems and conflicts usually lack understanding anyway. Eventhough this story focuses on the cultural problems faced by minorities, I found myself not empathizing with the characters, due to thier self-pity and failure to act on their intuition and better judgement. Although I cannot connect with the problems, I cannot connnect w/ the reasoning behind Christine and Ida's decisions-except their past is the only indicator. Not the most riveting and moving novel I have ever read, it does hold a profound meaning and teaches a lesson that is both helpful in literature and life- the lesson to love and be loved, no matter what the barriers. Ida exeplifies this when she says " If I were to live my life differently, I would start with the word No: [...]", (297). She shows that she regrets hiding her true feelings and revealing her true deciaions. She yields to what evil allows her to do. Read this book to gain perspective and wisdom on life, but not to feel moved.

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Summary: A Yellow Raft in Blue Water: Braiding the Strands of Life
Review: The outstanding novel, A Yellow Raft in Blue Water, written by Michael Dorris is an in depth insight into the lives of three extremely different women. Dorris tells each character's story in unique ways so the reader is able to form their own opinions. With each section, Dorris discretely unfolds new information that will eventually assist the reader for a complete and total understanding of the novel as a whole. These three characters, Rayona, Christine and Ida face many obstacles in their lives, which ultimately change them as a whole. As they reflect and ponder about the past or the future, these three women begin to notice what they should've done and what they have to do. For example, as Ida remembers her past, she states "If I were to live differently, I would start with the word no." This novel explains the feelings of regret and resentment in positive and negative aspects. Dorris carefully uses a metaphorical braid to intertwine three very different stories, which beautifully portray love, life and perseverance.

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Summary: Rayona, Christine, and Ida
Review: A Yellow Raft in Blue Water is a study of how our ancestors, both those we know and those we never know, influence our life and choices in both profound and simple ways.

This book tells the story of three generations of women. The story begins with Rayona, a young woman of mixed African-American and American-Indian heritage. Rayona has been left at her grandmother's home, on a reservation, and begins to wonder at why her mother made the choices she did. The story then moves on to Christine, and finally to her mother Ida. When Ida tells her story, the reader finally realizes that the secrets that haunt this family have a long history, and will take much effort to undo.

This book is overall remarkably told, and well recommended.

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Summary: Touches the Soul
Review: I read this book some time ago, and absolutely LOVED it. I'm an avid reader, and not many books get a 10/10 from me. This one did. Written in a compassionate and understanding way, the lives and relationships of the women will stay with you for a long time. Beautifully written, and so believable. A real treasure of a book.

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Summary: Who you become has a lot to do with your mother and grandma
Review: A Yellow Raft in Blue water starts in the present and moves back in time telling us the story of three women connected by blood and resentment. We met Rayona a young fifteen year old who has almost been more responsible for her Mother(Christine) than her Mother has been for her. After breaking out of the hospital she was in Christine is about to commit suicide when Rayona stops her and than Christine decides to take a roadtrip with her daughter. To where she grew up on an Indian reservation.

When they arrive there she leaves Rayona and the story unfolds.
From there we follow Rayona's adventure and than we meet Christine who fought with her mother over almost everything. She never understood her mother at all for making her and her brother call her Aunt Ida and left the reservation and made mistakes of her own.

Finally we meet "Aunt Ida" not only do we see why she has become so strong and hard but we come to understand her. A strong woman who became strong because of her own mothers bad decisions and the inability to say No.

I love books that deal with mother-daughter relationships and this one is a treat. The story is wonderful and by the time you get to Ida you feel as though these characters have become your friends. This is a treasure that I hope you don't pass up!