- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (January 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0806129565
- ISBN-13: 978-0806129563
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.7 x 3.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 544 g
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Library Journal
This unusual novel by the editor of the journal Caliban follows the adventures of a band of "travelers," independent thinkers who "run on memory." Travelers are related to one another by experience but are separated across time and space by geography, culture, and date of birth. The melting pot of characters includes an Italian anthropology student, a Chicano auto detailer, a Native American named Handsome Bear, a blues singer from Mississippi, and many more. Their stories are told in a stream-of-consciousness verbosity that is full of well-observed details. While the writing is engaging and often amusing, this variation on magic realism is sometimes difficult to follow as the author jumps from one reality to another as fast as the sentences fly. Ultimately, the author tries too hard to find a connection between all the characters and their diverse cultures. Anthropologists will enjoy picking out the many cultural illusions and literary references, but others will be overwhelmed.?Charlotte L. Glover, Ketchikan P.L., Alas.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not to be missed!, July 3 2000
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Map of Who We Are (Hardcover)
A friend recently recommended "Map" to me, and I was skeptical that this would be something I'd enjoy. Through the first few chapters I remained skeptical, yet this novel soon hits its stride and begins to show the breadth of its characterizations and vision. The protagonists are vivid and real, whether modern-day radicals or larger than life historical figures. Smith is reaching for a spiritual and emotional higher ground, and this novel proves how earnest and humorous that journey can be.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A multicultural and complex work of fiction., Aug 13 1999
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Map of Who We Are (Hardcover)
"The Map of Who We Are" is a challenging and ambitious novel with a plethora of characters and ideas, and is a rewarding read. It weaves the stories of people of all colors and time periods, forging a history of "travelers" - those special in our world's history that have the capacity to lead us to a greater understanding of ourselves. This novel reminded me Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the U.S" with its focus on the unseen heroes and unusual events that comprise a dual mythology to complement the uninspired version we learn as children. I particularly enjoyed Smith's idea of racial/gender hybridization and his off-beat sense of humor. The language in the novel may be too lyrical and poetic for some, but I believe it added to the overall richness of the novel.
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