Storyteller

By: Leslie Marmon Silko

Narrated by: Tara Gatewood

"A rich, many-faceted book." -- The New York Times

A classic work of Native American literature by the bestselling author of Ceremony

Leslie Marmon Silko's groundbreaking book Storyteller, first published in 1981, blends original short stories and poetry influenced by the traditional oral tales that she heard growing up on the Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico with autobiographical passages, folktales, and family memories. As she mixes traditional and Western literary genres, Silko examines themes of memory, alienation, power, and identity; communicates Native American notions regarding time, nature, and spirituality; and explores how stories and storytelling shape people and communities. Storyteller illustrates how one can frame collective cultural identity in contemporary literary forms, as well as illuminates the importance of myth, oral tradition, and ritual in Silko's own work. This edition includes a new introduction by Silko.

Critic reviews

Praise for Storyteller:

“A rich, many-faceted book . . . [Silko] has a sharp sense of the way in which the profound and the mundane often run together.” —N. Scott Momaday, The New York Times Book Review

“This multigeneric work lovingly maps the fertile storytelling ground from which [Silko’s] art evolves and to which it here returned—an offering to the oral tradition which nurtured it.” —Bernard A. Hirsch

“Takes us into old worlds of consciousness inside the present, and inside ourselves.” —Gloria Steinem

One of the best -don’t let the narration deter you

I found that listening to this audiobook on 0.9 speed helped match the author’s cadence. Words this lovely and poetic should be savored rather than rushed. Leslie Marmon Silko is a brilliant writer with a beautifully immersive storytelling style. This collection of works skillfully weaves cultural history, sacred knowledge, lived experiences, and contemporary issues centered on the Laguna Pueblo community.

This was a first listen of a work I have previously read in physical form years ago. The physical book includes photos which add to the contextual experience, but I didn’t notice any PDF supplemental materials with this audiobook (may have overlooked it).

excitement unrequited

I was so excited to see Storyteller on audio, but the narration unfortunately fell flat for me. Silko has a definitely unique writing voice, and this compilation of her creations is fairly unusual and the narrator was unable to pick up on the voice required to bring her words to full life. There were a couple of moments where they started to give the words their power, such as at the end of Lullaby, but overall some more rehearsal and study of the language probably would have made it much stronger. So, I can't give it less than four stars because it is Silko, but the narration was a letdown.