Dances with Wolves
by Michael Blake
If you liked the 1990 Oscar winner, you’re going to want to pick up the original novel behind the film. I’d already seen the movie when I rented Michael Blake’s Dances with Wolves from my college library. It’s a pretty quick read, so I finished it up over the weekend. A couple of months later, after having viewed the film a third time, I checked the book out again from the library—they’re a perfect pairing!
One man’s relationship with Native Americans in the midwest is fictionalized in this fascinating and moving novel. Of course, this is a serious drama, so there are heavy battle scenes. I particularly like Blake’s writing; he writes the title character’s journey as if he’s really documenting history, but the novel isn’t dry or slow-paced. The reader is given a front seat in the action and an aerial view for the beauty of the natural land; it’s a very talented balance.
Unless you know you’d find this type of book terribly boring, I’d recommend picking it up. Even if it isn’t the normal genre of novels you read, you’ll be able to appreciate the writing and the story. And if you’re normally a historical non-fiction reader, this is the perfect book to spark your love of novels.
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1990 film adaptation here!
One man’s relationship with Native Americans in the midwest is fictionalized in this fascinating and moving novel. Of course, this is a serious drama, so there are heavy battle scenes. I particularly like Blake’s writing; he writes the title character’s journey as if he’s really documenting history, but the novel isn’t dry or slow-paced. The reader is given a front seat in the action and an aerial view for the beauty of the natural land; it’s a very talented balance.
Unless you know you’d find this type of book terribly boring, I’d recommend picking it up. Even if it isn’t the normal genre of novels you read, you’ll be able to appreciate the writing and the story. And if you’re normally a historical non-fiction reader, this is the perfect book to spark your love of novels.
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1990 film adaptation here!