Rating: 
Summary: fascinating but not up to Silko's previous books
Review: "Gardens in the Dunes" covers a lot of territory, most of it new--for example, one subplot concerns botanical theft (uprooting specimens of a particular orchid species from its habitat in the Amazonian rainforest, then burning the rest of the habitat to increase the value of the specimens). Silko has obviously done exhaustive research on many different plants and garden types, European and Native mythology, the Ghost Dance, and numerous other topics outside the range of most historical fiction. These details definitely make the novel worth reading.However, unlike some of Silko's earlier work (ie. "Ceremony"), "Gardens" is written with little attention to prose style. Instead of showing the characters' emotions through their actions or dialogue, Silko is often content to describe them ("Hattie felt sad...") which has little impact for the reader. Considering the themes it deals with (suppression of Native cultures, women's rights, ecological destruction), the book is fairly apolitical. No one ethnic group is given a monopoly on meaningful spirituality or wisdom. White people are not the villains; the general human failings of greed, dishonesty, ignorance and condescension are what cause trouble, and the people that display these faults are in every culture. The destruction of nature and the oppression of fellow humans are the ills; a respect for the ancient wisdom (of any culture) and the beauty and providence of the natural world are the remedies. "Gardens" may seem dry to some, but it's well worth the effort to discover Silko's unique and detailed cultural vision.
Rating: 
Summary: Gardens in the Dunes
Review: An outstanding, mezmerizing journey with both outstandingly interesting and hideous characters. I didn't want it to end. the journey through several lives, tied together with plants and history was incredibly woven - as a fine literary basket. This book of Ms. Marmon Silko's SHOULD be at the top of the best sellers! I would recommend it very highly.
Rating: 
Summary: On and On...where's the editor when you need one
Review: First, I'm a fan of LMS. That's why I'm critical of this work. It read like it was often restarted with only little effort to avoid repeating itself, then put away,and so on and so on. And then come the last few pages, reflecting a style that wants to wrap this baby up. Its a story about people I genuinely cared about; but told in a style that seems to regularly turn into a trance inducing chant, often robbing the story of its power. But then again, maybe that was the other story being told.
Rating:
Summary: Evocative Sense of Place
Review: I am really astonished at the low sales rank for this lyrical and beautifully written novel. Silko's feel for the spirit of place is acute. I was swept along by Indigo's story, and it was enlightening to see the author explore North American history through the point of view of an indigenous female. I wouldn't say this novel was packed with agendas as one of the editorial reviews suggested - simply an alternate point of view achingly rendered.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanted Gardens, Lush and Vivid botanical descriptions
Review: I loved this novel because of its vivid descriptions of plant life and gardens. I live in an urban environment and flowers, trees, colors and scents are not part of my daily life. I just couldn't get enough, and Silko creates dazzling gardens everywhere throughout her book. The first section is about a young Native American girl named Indigo, her Sister Salt and their Grandmother Fleet. They are making a life for themselves in a small town in the American Southwest around the turn of 19th century. Their greatest wish is to return to the home of their people, the Sand Lizards, and tend their desert garden in the dunes. But they are in constant fear of being caught by the white government and forced to live in schools or on reservations. Although the beginning of the book is wonderfully descriptive, I became very engaged with the characters about 50 pages in. Indigo escapes from the Indian school and wanders into the gardens of Hattie and Edward, a wealthy married couple. Edward's monkey, Linnaeus, charms Indigo out of hiding and as the 2 get acquainted, we learn of Hattie's life. Hattie was a scholar devoted to studying the role of women in early Christianity. However, the all male Harvard review board rejected her thesis topic and when she returns home, she meets and marries Edward, an older man with a professional interest in botany. Edward travels the world in search of plant specimens and his trip to South America to gather rare orchids is described in detail. In Brazil he was sabotaged, causing him personal injury as well as legal and financial difficulties. His leg was hurt so badly that intimacy is painful and unlikely for him, but Hattie wished to marry him regardless of their passionless future. With the intention of curing his money problems, Edward seeks out profitable citrus cuttings guarded closely by the Italians. Hattie becomes attached to Indigo and persuades Edward to let Indigo travel with them. Edward has planned a trip to Italy and en route they visit their families in Long Island where we get a glimpse into the frivolous lives of the wealthy and visit their cultured gardens. Indigo meets other Native Americans whose land and lifestyle has been taken from them. The story turns to Sister Salt who is now living in the Southwest with other Native American Indian girls. Sister Salt has become a laundress and works in an area where the government is building a dam to divert water to California, taking more life-sustaining farmland away from the Indians. Meanwhile, Indigo, her pet parrot Rainbow, Hattie and Edward travel to England and visit enchanting gardens in Bath, then more charming gardens in Italy where Edward pursues his illegal scheme. There is an underlying theme of the deification of snakes and the worship of the Mother figure that is explored and lends an air of mysticism to the novel. Throughout the story Indigo and Sister Salt long to be reunited with one another and we always wonder if it will happen. The story could have been edited in several places and I was upset by the violence against Hattie in the end of the novel. Could the author have still made her point without Hattie's loss being so extreme? Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and I loved the journey it took me on. It is laced with many issues that are thought provoking and still relevant in today's world: feminism, religion, environmental awareness, class structure, oppression and beliefs about our relationships with others, the earth and our spirituality. I loved Indigo, Sister Salt and Hattie. I loved the mesmerizing Ghost Dance, Grandma Fleet's apricot tree, the lively Linneaus, the miniature farm animals, the Rainbow parrot, the eccentric Aunt Bronwyn, the allure of long distance travel by train and by boat, the snake in the water hole and most of all the lush and enchanting gardens.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanted Gardens, Lush and Vivid botanical descriptions
Review: I loved this novel because of its vivid descriptions of plant life and gardens. I live in an urban environment and flowers, trees, colors and scents are not part of my daily life. I just couldn't get enough, and Silko creates dazzling gardens everywhere throughout her book. The first section is about a young Native American girl named Indigo, her Sister Salt and their Grandmother Fleet. They are making a life for themselves in a small town in the American Southwest around the turn of 19th century. Their greatest wish is to return to the home of their people, the Sand Lizards, and tend their desert garden in the dunes. But they are in constant fear of being caught by the white government and forced to live in schools or on reservations. Although the beginning of the book is wonderfully descriptive, I became very engaged with the characters about 50 pages in. Indigo escapes from the Indian school and wanders into the gardens of Hattie and Edward, a wealthy married couple. Edward's monkey, Linnaeus, charms Indigo out of hiding and as the 2 get acquainted, we learn of Hattie's life. Hattie was a scholar devoted to studying the role of women in early Christianity. However, the all male Harvard review board rejected her thesis topic and when she returns home, she meets and marries Edward, an older man with a professional interest in botany. Edward travels the world in search of plant specimens and his trip to South America to gather rare orchids is described in detail. In Brazil he was sabotaged, causing him personal injury as well as legal and financial difficulties. His leg was hurt so badly that intimacy is painful and unlikely for him, but Hattie wished to marry him regardless of their passionless future. With the intention of curing his money problems, Edward seeks out profitable citrus cuttings guarded closely by the Italians. Hattie becomes attached to Indigo and persuades Edward to let Indigo travel with them. Edward has planned a trip to Italy and en route they visit their families in Long Island where we get a glimpse into the frivolous lives of the wealthy and visit their cultured gardens. Indigo meets other Native Americans whose land and lifestyle has been taken from them. The story turns to Sister Salt who is now living in the Southwest with other Native American Indian girls. Sister Salt has become a laundress and works in an area where the government is building a dam to divert water to California, taking more life-sustaining farmland away from the Indians. Meanwhile, Indigo, her pet parrot Rainbow, Hattie and Edward travel to England and visit enchanting gardens in Bath, then more charming gardens in Italy where Edward pursues his illegal scheme. There is an underlying theme of the deification of snakes and the worship of the Mother figure that is explored and lends an air of mysticism to the novel. Throughout the story Indigo and Sister Salt long to be reunited with one another and we always wonder if it will happen. The story could have been edited in several places and I was upset by the violence against Hattie in the end of the novel. Could the author have still made her point without Hattie's loss being so extreme? Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and I loved the journey it took me on. It is laced with many issues that are thought provoking and still relevant in today's world: feminism, religion, environmental awareness, class structure, oppression and beliefs about our relationships with others, the earth and our spirituality. I loved Indigo, Sister Salt and Hattie. I loved the mesmerizing Ghost Dance, Grandma Fleet's apricot tree, the lively Linneaus, the miniature farm animals, the Rainbow parrot, the eccentric Aunt Bronwyn, the allure of long distance travel by train and by boat, the snake in the water hole and most of all the lush and enchanting gardens.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Reading! Fantastic Descriptions!
Review: I was not surprised to read such a wonderful novel. This is the lastest I have read since Storyteller in college. This book is beautifully written to take the life story of a girl who was ripped from her culture, but still had the instinct to return to her roots. The description of gardens is beautifully done and quite accurate I might add. I could actually see these wonderful places. If you would like to read about hisory with a twist, pick up this book because you will not be able to put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Superb Victorian Odyssey of Young Native American Woman
Review: Leslie Marmon Silko moves to the first rank of American novelists with this haunting, exquisitely written tale of a young Native American woman's odyssey through Victorian Age America and Europe. Her keen observations on 19th Century women's rights and exploitation of nature are still quite relevant today. Anyone who has enjoyed reading Charles Frazier's "Cold Mountain" and Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" will find this magnificient book just as poignant and mesmerizing a read. "Gardens in the Dunes" truly deserves a wider readership than it's earned so far. On a personal note, I remain indebted to Leslie Marmon Silko for taking the time to read a science fiction novel I had written that was rich in ideas and deficient in character development. Her generous advice I wasn't able to heed, but I hope a current work which a literary agent is now reading will bear some promising fruit.
Rating: 
Summary: Overall, a great read
Review: Overall I liked this book very much. Lush, breath-taking descriptions of the Sand Lizard people and their world, and its contrast to the greed of the white world. I found the characters engaging, and reading this book made me feel a deep sense of loss---the world has lost the wisdom and tradition of Native people. The greedy and destructive ways of one culture have won out and all of humanity is worse off for it. In terms of criticism of the book, I thought it needed a better editor. Silko has a talent for writing descriptions, but at times the descriptions went on and on for pages. It boggs down the storyline several times. Still, this flaw does not detract from an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Great storytelling and an intersting glimpse of history...
Review: Silko carries on her tradition of producing excellent literature in a Native American "bent" with "Gardens...". The story is a mixture of interesting historical anecdotes that perfectly contextualize her characters. The main characters are a native girl (Indigo)and her sister (Sister Salt) who are both members of the Sand Lizard Tribe. Their tale becomes intertwined with a rather educated woman, Hattie, who has recently married a prototypical American man. All of the female characters are well-developed and one is treated to very interesting character traits to develop Silko's story of government's sad attempts to "integrate" Native Americans into the newly-formed American culture. Silko has a real skill for maintaining a rather "objective" view while simultaneously showing the hypocritical stance of the conquering white people. The male characters are rather weak but the various historical anecdotes (building of a dam and the methods of collecting orchids from South America being my favourites) woven through the central story make up for any deficiencies. A very enjoyable tale that really should appeal to the mainstream.
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