Sacred Wilderness

Sacred Wilderness follows the story of Candace Jenssen, a privileged white woman in Saint Paul, Minnesota who hires an Ojibwe elder named Gladys Swan as her housekeeper. The unexpected arrival of Gladys brings significant changes to Candace's life and her understanding of herself. The narrative spans multiple time periods and perspectives, connecting present-day Minnesota with historical events and traditional Native American stories. Four women's lives intersect: Candace, Gladys, a 17th-century French woman named Jeanne, and a young Native woman called Aurora. The novel explores Indigenous spirituality, the complexities of cross-cultural relationships, and the lasting impact of colonization in North America. Through interconnected storylines, Sacred Wilderness examines how ancient wisdom and modern life collide while questioning what it means to be "civilized" in contemporary America.

Readers describe Sacred Wilderness as a complex story that weaves together Indigenous spirituality with modern urban life. The nonlinear narrative structure follows four women across different time periods. Readers appreciated: - The authentic portrayal of Native American perspectives and traditions - Strong character development, especially of Candace and Gladys - The exploration of faith and identity across generations - Power's poetic writing style Common criticisms: - The shifting timelines can be difficult to follow - Some readers found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Religious themes felt heavy-handed to some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (163 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (21 ratings) "The way Power blends the spiritual and physical worlds is masterful," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Another reader on Amazon commented that "the constant time jumps made it hard to stay engaged with any one character's story."

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🌟 Author Susan Power is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and draws deeply from her Dakota heritage to weave traditional storytelling elements into her contemporary narratives. 🌿 The book intertwines four women's stories across different time periods, including that of a 17th-century French woman who lived among the Mohawk people and was later canonized as Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. 📚 Sacred Wilderness explores the complex relationship between Native and European-American cultures through both historical and modern-day perspectives, particularly focusing on women's experiences. 🎭 The character of Candace, a central figure in the novel, challenges conventional portrayals of Native American women by being a successful urban professional who maintains strong connections to her traditional culture. 💫 The novel's structure mirrors traditional Native American storytelling patterns, where time is not linear but rather circular, with past and present existing simultaneously and influencing each other.