“No one should miss this beautiful legend.” — Tony HillermanBased on an Athabascan Indian legend passed along for many generations from mothers to daughters of the upper Yukon River Valley in Alaska, this is the suspenseful, shocking, ultimately inspirational tale of two old women abandoned by their tribe during a brutal winter famine.Though these women have been known to complain more than … these women have been known to complain more than contribute, they now must either survive on their own or die trying. In simple but vivid detail, Velma Wallis depicts a landscape and way of life that are at once merciless and starkly beautiful. In her old women, she has created two heroines of steely determination whose story of betrayal, friendship, community, and forgiveness “speaks straight to the heart with clarity, sweetness, and wisdom” (Ursula K. Le Guin).
more
Is was a wonderful story and I am at the age where I would have been put out. Also these are the people that share the same language as the navaho
What an affirmation of the dignity and wisdom of older age. My review may spoil the story for you so proceed cautiously from here.
Two Old Women is based on an Athabascan Indian legend. A starving tribe of Alaskan natives leaves two old women alone in the freezing cold to die, because every mouthful of food is precious, and these two are …
Very simplistic but with a clear moral!
Amazing! The characters prove despite all odds, how being old does not mean they should be discarded and that they have a great purpose in society. A must read for those who value the elderly and know they are indispensable.
What’s a book you’ve been meaning to reread?
Two Old Women is an easy quick read that gives one much to think about every time you read the story. The subtitle; An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival truly describes this book. This book is based on an Athabascan Indian Legend about two older women removed from an Indian Community. The …
Awesome cultural tale. Short, quick read. Lessons taught gently.
This story takes place in the Yukon and finds a nomadic Gwich’in tribe making plans for their winter pilgrimage. It has been a lean season for the tribe, many are starving, and the leader makes the decision to leave behind two needy, aging women. Left alone to perish or survive, this is their story. This book packs a punch into fewer than 200 …
Story about survival and hope and wisdom.
Great development of characters, with a twist at the end. I enjoy most books about the Alaskan people,whether fiction or true-to-life or historic.
Really enjoyed this book. It illustrates how our elders have so much knowledge to share. Maybe they just need to be challenged.
Good lessons for all ages.
Thought it was different and very insightful. Many lessons learned throughout the book. I truly enjoyed that it was not like every other book.
I thought the book ended to soon. The ending was somewhat predictable, however, I enjoyed the book very much.
An interesting look at the traditions and culture of the Eskimos. The women found strength in themselves that they didn’t know they possessed. A quick easy read.
ok
Two abandoned individuals work together to cope when no one thought they could. The story is told in a straight forward way with a simpler plot development than I expected.
Whether real oral history or a morality fable, I have to agree with the Post reviewer who said it is beautiful and moving. Although it doesn’t have the character development that I enjoy in books, the characters feel real and I cared for them. It should be widely read, but probably won’t be.
Wonderful fact-based story of how two women, abandoned by their people prevailed against the odds and ended up saving those who had betrayed them, by using the few survival tools that a few loved ones provided before they left them by decree of the leader.
An excellent account of the culture of Native American women surviving in a harsh, unforgiving environment which depicts the difficult life of their tribe. It is life affirming and portrays the values of hunter gather societies living in the far North.
Thought provoking if you are getting to the age where life is becoming more physically and emotionally challenging.