Synopses & Reviews
Raised in a remote seaside village, Thomas Witka Just marries Ruth, his beloved since infancy. But an ill-fated decision to fight in Vietnam changes his life forever: cut off from his Native American community, he fathers a child with another woman. When he returns home a hero, he finds his tribe in conflict over the decision to hunt a whale, both a symbol of spirituality and rebirth and a means of survival. In the end, he reconciles his two existences, only to see tragedy befall the son he left behind.
Review
"Dream-like. . . . While filled with heartbreaking events, the novel has a life-affirming spirit that makes the journey worthwhile." Library Journal
Review
"Powerful. . . . Hogan employs just the right touch of spiritualism in this engrossing tale." Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
"Deeply ecological, original, and spellbinding. . . . [A] hauntingly beautiful novel of the hidden dimensions of life." --, starred review
Synopsis
A powerful story of a Vietnam veteran torn between his war experience and his Native American community.
About the Author
Linda Hogan was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Mean Spirit. Her other honors include an American Book Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship. She lives in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.