A Yellow Raft in Blue Water

Rating:
Summary: Didn't live up to its reputation
Review: I had heard so many great things about this book, and had thoroughly enjoyed Michael Dorris's non-fiction work, "The Broken Cord," but I couldn't finish this. It just felt like an aimless walk through a trailer park. I couldn't believe a single thing any of the characters did, and the capper was Rayona's rodeo ride.

Rating:
Summary: heartfelt and moving
Review: This book gets right down to the raw emotions. It doesn't try to hide anything, but presents its characters in harsh, unflattering daylight for all to see. There are no flimsy characters in here either, no simpering, fainting women who are afraid of the sight of their own blood. The story may not be ordinary, but it is certainly true to life. Michael Dorris allows the reader to get inside the heads of these three women, and experience firsthand their every thought, which is definitely not an everyday experience. The voice is appropriate to the characters and setting, and seeing as these women are far from being snobs, it is appropriate that the language be somewhat unsophisticated. All in all, this is truly a down-to-earth, amazing book.

Rating:
Summary: Cursed with poor writing.
Review: A thoroughly pandering, sophomoric book. Pedestrian writing that insults the intelligent reader. Dorris' book rambles on with low-rent symbolism and meandering plot, resulting in nothing but drivel. I get the feeling that the book is so popular because of the large number of liberal pseudo intellectuals in the world who love anything to do with oppressed people and are too unsophisticated for Rushdie or Ellison (to name just two). Makes me wish someone would take up book burning again and start (and end) with this one.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful and captivating
Review: I chose to read this book as a summer reading book for my english class. I thought that the use of different viewpoints and moving from the present to the past in first person form was very interesting. Going through three generations and seeing and comparing the different view of these women was a creative way to write a novel. I recommend this book for any literary lover

Rating:
Summary: An excellent novel -- well-worth the money
Review: I was required to read this book for my high school AP English class as well, yet I still enjoyed it. The effect of Dorris' use of shifting point-of-view is profound. In addition, he created believable, REAL characters for whom the reader can have compassion. I recommend it to anyone!!!

Rating:
Summary: ONE GREAT BOOK.
Review: I read this book about five months ago but still its effect is still in the atmosphere of my and my parents' room, locations wherein I experienced one of the rarest jubilance concerning my love of reading. Like many readers, I read because I love reading and I will never stop reading: even after finishing a great book like this one, I would still look for an another book that would reward me the way Isabel Allende, Toni Morrison, and A YELLOW RAFT AND BLUE WATERS did. I read this book with my back on my and my parents' bed, a lamp illuminating me, my book, and my space. I met three amazing women, women who, once again, proved to me that we are who we are and that we can count on us. It was simply but effectively written by Michael Dorris, an author who has an exquisite talent whenever it comes to stepping in his characters' shoes then walking, his feet in them, to produce very compelling points of view. I strongly recommend this book to those who are not parochial with what they read. I've met a lot of readers and most of them are very provincial: "I only read books by..." Whatever! If you do that then how can you call yourself a reader? Read this book and love it (these aren't orders but an invitation to something special).

Rating:
Summary: A marvelous 'braid' of viewpoints from three generations .
Review: This book is a masterpiece. Told from three viewpoints, daughter, mother, and grandmother, one is convinced each, in turn, is the wronged party, only to find in the end, that each is a victim of circumstances she cannot control. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who loves good literature.

Rating:
Summary: one heck of a rollercoaster ride
Review: I had to read this book for College English and I couldn't put it down. Intertwining three strands, one for each character, into a braid is a great metaphor. The fact that the same events were told in different views was incredible. I liked the fact that it was written backwards. Good book!

Rating:
Summary: nice plot, lacks in language
Review: Story, yes. Literary merit: not so good. I found myself reading paragraph after paragraph of typical sophomoric vocabularay, and, suddenly, there's this deep thought, as if Dorris intended it to be really secretive. Sorry! Yes, I did read this for a class in High School, but I also have a significant literary background. Sure, characterization was execellent, but it doesn't even compare to a Joseph Heller in his Catch-22. Therefore, I consider this a novel in cohesion with The Boxcar Children. It's a great read if you don't want to think.

Rating:
Summary: Chose this for my bookclub
Review: I chose this book for my bookclub and we meet this coming Wednesday to review it. I was surprised to see all the reviews on here from students who HAD to read the book for English. I thought the book was well written, it was confusing at the end, to have Aunt Ida on the roof with the priest and not know what happened to her, Christine and Rayona. However, I read that Michael Dorris wrote somewhat of a sequel to this book. Maybe if you aren't made to read this book you would have enjoyed it more, I thought the characters were wonderful, that Mr Dorris captured the female pysche in each woman. Definitely glad I chose this book as the April book!