I have been intentionally reading a lot of fiction by and about native peoples. This book focuses on Ever, and we see his life starting from his infancy. It is a book full of displacement, pain, confusion, isolation, and anger. The writing is extremely good, however I found the short story format to be distracting. It jolted me out of the story, and sometimes I had trouble getting back into it.

All-in-all, this is an important, haunting book to read. It reminds me This House is Not a Home, which is my favorite book of the year so far, and they both deserve a read.

Oscar Hokeah’s debut novel centers young Ever as he explores his identity, family, community and place in the world. Told from a variety of voices, this story is one of love, loss, growth, tradition and evolution. Not to be missed.

The structure author Oscar Hokeah uses to create the story of Ever Geimausaddle is deliciously inventive and solidly rooted in family storytelling. It gives the characters—and the book—a deep complexity from the layers of voices. Hokeah creates such a memorable first impression with Ever as the baby; it stuck with me through the whole novel. This is a book worthy of multiple readings; there’s so much to notice, so many layers to understand. I will use CALLING FOR BLANKET DANCE with writing students. It’s a perfect example of why can come from thoughtful revision. I highly recommend this book and will be re-reading it soon.

Oscar Hokeah's Calling for a Blanket Dance is a beautifully crafted work of fiction that speaks to the the complicated ties family and "family" build with one another over generations. The promo materials present this title as the story of Ever Geimausadle, but Calling for a Blanket Dance is so much more than a single-character book. Yes, Ever is a frequent presence, but even when talking about Ever, the book's other characters offer readers a much broader portrait.

The different branches of Ever's family include Kiowas, Cherokees, and Mexicanos. These different branches have their areas of tension, but no one in this book would deny that every other character, regardless of their differences, is family. Many of the events in this novel are discouraging, even tragic, but Hokeah's broad cast of characters also allows for genuine possibilities of hope and selfhood—and these positive moments never feel false or forced.

The role of narrator in Calling for a Blanket Dance is distributed among members of this extended family. Most "speak" only once, though a few key characters have the chance to speak twice. This variation in narrator gives readers a way into this family that embraces so many cultures and will teach most readers quite a bit about each of these cultures. The book integrates words and phrases in Kiowa, Cherokee, and Spanish. Usually, these are easy to understand from context, but even when they aren't, the reader's uncertainty about what's being said is a powerful tool reminding us that embracing diversity means embracing that which we don't know and not just that which we learn.

Calling for a Blanket Dance is a book that would reward multiple readings, though the rewards of a single reading are already substantial. Small connections and their importance can become clearer; the motivations of individual characters grow richer as readers revisit what these characters say. This is a buy-or-request-it-now title, a book you don't want to abandon on your one-of-these-days pile. It's also a title that you can read, put down, and return to. Reading in this way may make the complex relatedness between the characters more difficult to follow, but doesn't diminish the the diversity, strengths, and perspectives of the novel's many characters.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

Who is Ever, really? I think reading this book as an electronic galley did it a disservice- I really could have used a better formatted family tree. Without it, I was a bit lost at the start. However, that did not detract at all from the ambition and scope of this novel as told through the many perspectives of a family, looking mainly at our main character Ever. Hokeah does not shy away from all the challenges of Native American life, or how hard it can be to have hopes and dreams and a setting that makes all of them significantly harder to obtain. But there is life and verve here, a respect for tradition and a willingness to make change and evolution within that tradition. I thought the various voices were not all super distinctive (though some were!), but they felt more like a Greek chorus surrounding our hero and explaining his journey- they didn't need to all be unique in order to convey the story. I absolutely loved this book and would hand it to anyone interested in nuance and family stories, or just in search of a narrative where there are no easy answers but there is a lot of love. Five star read, and I highly recommend it!

Oscar Hokeah’s Calling for a Blanket Dance is a combination of novel and connected short stories, a consideration of the life of Ever Geimausaddle. Ever’s father immigrated from Mexico; his mother’s ancestors are members of the Cherokee and Kiowa nations, and Ever moves, through the book, between his different heritages.

Beginning in 1976, when Ever is a baby, the narrative shares Ever’s story through a multitude of voices. We hear from his grandparents, his mother, his sister, his aunts, distant relatives . . . but not, for the longest time, from Ever himself. The voices are distinct and opinionated, and they drive home the way the truth of someone can shift both because of the point of view of the storyteller and because we, as people, grow and change.

There are some recurring themes through the book, traditions that serve as anchors and which older generations are often striving to pass on to keep them alive. There’s a reverence for ceremony but for a ceremony that is alive and that changes with those who are enacting it.

Hokeah’s writing is stunning, and this is a book that I’m sure I’ll be revisiting. Calling for a Blanket Dance has become one of my top reads this year.

{3.5 stars}

In this book we get a series of short stories of an indigenous family through the years which reveal to us the struggles and joys of being native. The stories deal with racism, alcoholism, domestic abuse, financial and healthcare challenges as well as pride and tradition. Each story involves Ever and his various relations in Oklahoma: parents, siblings, children, grandparents, aunts, cousins and his impact on their lives.

We learn a lot about the dynamics of the different tribes. The through line of Ever's life is the importance of his family, his community and his identity. There are times when he strays away and his life gets worse but when he pulls in his support system, he flourishes and brings joy to those around him. Ever comes full circle from a violent, negative experience as a toddler to an angry, violent youth through to an adult counselling another angry youth to a calmer more fulfilled place.

What is most important is while we celebrate the differences and uniqueness of tribal life, we recognize how a lot of the experiences of this family are similar to those of any other culture. And I don't say that to belittle the struggle and strife thrust upon generations of indigenous families but to say that it is easy to empathize with Ever and his family.

Thanks to Algonquin Books for the gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.

This book was moving and beautifully written. I loved everything about it. Each chapter is written by a different character from a large extended family and at a different time period. I loved the variety of perspectives and to see the growth of the characters over time.

The story does a great time of not just portraying the hardships of life for American Indians. There are also stories of triumph, love and commitment to family. The character development is great and gives a well rounded image of a specific Native family.

I will say I read this in large chunks which helped with character retention and relations (since there are a lot of them and the perspective changed). If I took a day off from reading it took me a few moments to to remember who we were hearing from and how they were related, Luckily, there was a family tree at the beginning a kept referencing. Also I was worried this book would be too depressing to read in large chunks but that was not the case at all. It was written so beautifully it just sucked me in, I couldn't put it down.

This reminded me a lot of Olive Kitteridge in terms of structure and writing - but Ever (our Olive) feels infinitely more complex. I really loved this novel - perfect for any fan of literary fiction.

"Another noteworthy debut in what feels like an ongoing renaissance of Indigenous peoples’ literature, both reflecting this lineage and introducing an exciting, fresh new voice to the choir."

From my Library Journal review.

Calling for a Blanket Dance follows the timeline of Ever Geimausaddle's life, told in vignettes from the perspectives of his family members. It's a story about identity, families, and community, and how Ever grows into the person he becomes as a result.

There is a lot to like in this debut novel. The story and characters feel authentic; there is no glossing-over gritty details or leaving out things that might make someone look imperfect. I especially liked learning more about Kiowa and Cherokee culture, as I'll admit I didn't know all that much going into this read. I think it was ultimately a smart move on Hokeah's part to tell the story in the voices of Ever's family, rather than sticking solely to one or two perspectives, although I definitely needed to refer to the family tree a couple of times early in the book.

If I have any complaints, it's that it feels like there are some big chunks of Ever's life missing from the novel, especially when he is an adult. I don't expect the entirety of his life to be laid out on the page, but I do wish we had more information about his life after a certain point. (I'm trying to avoid spoilers here, but the family tree does kind of spoil part of it.) That being said, I don't think it's integral to the story being told; perhaps I just wanted a longer book because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the story just yet!

Overall, this is a heartwrenching story about one man's life. If you're a fan of literary fiction, this is a fantastic read; you'll be thinking about it long after you read the last page.

Thank you to Algonquin and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

A heartbreaking multi-generational story of Native Americans centering around Ever who is an angry young many who grows up to help other angry Native youths while at the same time struggling with his own family and financial issues.

Linked chapters narrated by an assortment of people in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, from the 1970s to the present, who are connected to a central character, Ever Geimausaddle. Their stories illustrate problems such as alcoholism, meth addiction, and domestic violence, as well as strengths that come from community, family, and traditions. A rich and authentic portrait of Native American life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Fascinating novel about generational trauma. It's about Ever Geimausaddle as viewed through family members in the Cherokee Nation and Kiowa Nation. Ever has the last chapter. It's a strong debut but the character's narrative voice are too similar.

Calling For A Blanket Dance is a welcome entry into the diverse body of literature about Native Americans and the generations of abuse that they have endured.

A wonderful read

I have read fiction by other Indigenous authors. I have also read nearly all of Tony Hillerman and Anne Hillerman's southwest mysteries, plus Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak series, which takes place in Alaska. The Hillermans made me want to spend more time in Navajo country. Stabenow made me want to visit Alaska. There is nothing in Calling for a Blanket Dance that makes me want to visit Oklahoma or meet any of the characters in the book.

The style of Calling for a Blanket Dance is a bit annoying. The Cherokee vocabulary is distracting. Each chapter is supposedly told in the voice of a different character. Unfortunately, they all sound the same to me.

I realize the author was trying to paint a picture of the life of a multi-generational Kiowa/Cherokee family in Oklahoma, and perhaps he succeeded, Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
A moving story of generations of indigenous people/native Americans as told by members of the entwined families. An astonishing amount of cultural history ( Kiowa & Cherokee) is explained through the recollections of these storytellers. An excellent read.

This is a well-deserved cultural moment in America where Native voices are reaching the mainstream. TV shows like Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls, both written by and starring native actors are bringing the culture out of the periphery--out of the limited scope of movie and lit westerns.

Oscar Hokeah's Calling for a Blanket Dance adds a welcome, native narrative to the mix. The story of Ever Geimausaddle, son of a Kiowa father and Cherokee mother, unwinds through the voices of multiple narrators. At every stage, from his childhood, through to the climax, Ever must overcome challenges that are not unique to natives and all too common in rural, working-class communities: physical abuse, alcoholism and drug-dependency, and everywhere poverty--bitter poverty. Homes holding a family in each bedroom, careless landlords, lost jobs.

What I found fascinating in the book was the communal ways Ever develops to deal with his problems. The first organized dance of the novel is a gourd dance. Here Ever's grandfather instills in him pride in his Kiowa "red" heritage, even as he lets go of the demons of addiction. The Cherokee Housing authority provides a "forever home" at key points in the book when it seems like families will finally pull apart.

The blanket dance of the title, is a place where the community can gather and drop donations for a family for which the dance has been called. At a deeper level, however, the blankets represent a magic reprieve, sewn by Ever's grandmother. Despite the dire circumstances that Ever must confront, along with his three children and adoptive son, Leander, there is magic in this book, thanks to Hokeah's clever characterization and unique style, mixing in native words to season the prose and providing a steady, dancing beat.

I've never been to a powwow, much less participated in one, but when I read the words, "'That was awesome,' the birthday boy yelled. The words called like a huh at the beginning of a stomp song, and shell shakers moved in Ever's chest," I could fell what one must be like.

In the context of this current, native, cultural renaissance, Calling for a Blanket Dance is exemplary. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance gally in return for this honest--and grateful--review.

I really enjoyed this book! I am always a sucker for a multi-generational story, and this did not disappoint. There were definitely sections/narrators that hooked me more, but generally I found the writing style very smooth and compelling.

The history of indigenous people in the Americas is rife with abject violence. Horrors reached their height when Native Americans encountered white Europeans beginning in the 16th Century. The Native Americans most often came in peace, but were soon tricked, fooled, displaced, and slaughtered, their way of life forever destroyed. The next step was placement in tribal reservations where much was promised, but only neglect and disparity were delivered.

There were always natives who fought to maintain language, stories, customs, and traditions. These elders would do their best to pass knowledge on to younger generations, trying their utmost to offer these tenets as an alternative to lives of retributional violence, addiction, abuse, and neglect. A big part of this effort took the form of maintaining communal gatherings centered on dance.

The central figure in Oscar Hokeah’s wonderful debut, “Calling For a Blanket Dance” is Ever Geimausaddle. A product of a mixed Mexican/multi-tribe Indian marriage, we follow his trajectory from two generations before birth. We witness the earliest signs of Ever’s propensity to violence driven by systemic societal neglect and abject poverty. We meet good people who are bound to make bad choices, believing in false love that only leads to premature pregnancy, birth, ill health and inadequate care, dangerous living conditions, aborted education, and limited employment opportunities, inevitably perpetuating the cycle.

Ever’s heritage and development is told in a series of first person narratives, though not until the final segment by Ever himself. There is little reason to believe that Ever will be the one to break through, but there is always hope. Hokeah is gentle with the reader in sharing his vast knowledge of Cherokee tradition and reality. The Family Tree at the beginning is highly useful. A Glossary may also have helped, but it just made me think harder, which was for the best. It’s a cold, cruel world out there, but Native tradition and culture flows deep. There are pathways to success where community embrace can pay forward and pay back.

Thank you to Algonquin Books and Netgalley for the eARC.