Only the Wind Remembers

Rating:
Summary: Only the Wind Remembers--a must read
Review: An amazing story of one so-called uncivilized Indian and his influence on the lives of those who took him into their hearts and lives. The story is based on the true-life experiences of Ishi (man)-the sole survivor of the Yahi people.
Several years prior to WW1, Wanasi stumbled into the corral of a cattle slaughtering company in northern California and into the white man's modern civilization. Starving,covered only with a long shirt, expecting to die, Wanasi yearned with his whole heart to be with other people--even the Saldu( white men). Living on whatever nature provided,hiding always, without comfort of hot food, warm clothes, shelter, always in fear, Wanasi now faced whatever lay ahead. Would it be death?
Anthropologist Dr. Thomas Morgan becomes Wanasi's protector and teacer. But who is truly the teacher? Wanasi learns to live in San Francsco at the museum. He meets Pop, Mrs. Thomas Morgan, Dr. Kroeber and Willie. As Wanasi learns a little of the Saldu's custom's, their lives mesh in mysterious ways. How does Wanasi know the loneliness and fears in Allison Morgan's heart? Why does Wanasi need to tell Allison Morgan the story of the great Eagle?
Only the Wind Remembers is an unforgettable story of hope, love and a few dreams fulfilled. It is a story of one
"uncivilized" man caring about people and showing God's love to those around him.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling,sensitive story
Review: Because I've taught Theodora Kroeber's original Ishi book to ninth graders, I was especially interested in Marlo Schalesky's fictional account of the last Yahi Indian. I was delighted to find a sensitive story of a young woman's struggle to find her place in a man's world of anthropology, to feel secure in her husband's love, and to find acceptance of self through the Savior's love. I also found myself entranced with the Ishi character, as I had with Kroeber's work many years ago. I could not put this delightful read down.

Rating:
Summary: Secrets
Review: Everybody has a secret and nobody is talking. Yet, each of these secrets affects everybody else. Allison Morgan has never known her father but she does have a vague remembrance of her mother. Her clearest memory is of being abandoned near garbage cans in an alley. Allison's husband, Thomas, has his own secret life that revolves around a father he doesn't understand. Thomas' father, Pop, is a dedicated preacher who is determined to tell the Indian, Ishi, who walked out of the woods one day, about Christ even though neither understands the language of the other. To Pop it doesn't matter. He shoves the Bible in Ishi's face, waves his arms around and shouts about the Lord. Mrs. Whitson who is wealthy, arrogant and obnoxious, is into controlling everyone and every situation.

Risking disgrace and ostracism, Allison secretly learns Ishi's language and he begins telling her a long story that he heard from his now extinct people. He tells her he is compelled to tell her the story so that it won't die when he does but will live on as his people would want. As Ishi tells his story, Mrs. Whitson finds out Allison speaks Ishi's language and forbids her to talk with him again. After all, a decent white woman would not get that close to a savage. Thomas, who works for Mrs. Whitson, is forced to go along with her demands. Ishi becomes ill and is close to death. Will Allison and Thomas disobey Mrs. Whitson and let Ishi finish the story?

This is a story that can teach many lessons, especially with regard to making assumptions about people you don't know. Some of the secrets you can guess but it doesn't take away from the suspense of the story and the need to hurry to the end. It is a book that gives insight into the plight of Indians in America in 1911 as well the how subjugated women were.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Great historical fiction
Review: In 1911 California, a starving and lonely young Wanasi, the last Yahi Indian, leaves his woodland home expecting to join his people in death. However, instead of uniting with his revered ancestors, local ranchers capture and imprison the lad believing he is more animal than man.

In San Francisco, anthropologist Thomas Morgan learns of the last of the Yahi who he concludes would make the perfect addition to his Indian museum. He travels to Oroville to find the Yahi treated like a sideshow freak owned by Barnum. He gains the lad's freedom, renames him Ishi, and takes him back to "civilization". His wife Allison understands being alone as she was abandoned as a child. She and Ishi feel a camaraderie that leaves her spouse on the outside while someone tries to destroy the museum through vandalistic acts.

This is an incredible work of historical fiction that touches the reader on several levels. Besides the obvious shared lonely displacement of Wanasi and Allison, Thomas finds companionship only with his artifacts and not with people. The last of a tribe hits deep into the solar plexus of the reader as this mirrors the loss of many languages vanishing in the world today. My spouse proving that not ONLY THE WIND REMEMBERS said that back when he taught in ancient times (1970s) he vaguely recalls an article in (he thinks) Scholastic Weekly and a biography about Ishi. A follow up search on Amazon found several books that seem worth reading as this terrific but heartbreaking historical novel will send the audience seeking to learn about Ishi.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Had to put the book down and have a good cry ...
Review: In 1911, the last Yahi Indian walks out of the woods and into civilization for the first time. Driven by starvation and loneliness, Wanasi expects to be killed; to go �down the river� to join his family.

Anthropologist, Thomas Morgan, is ecstatic to learn about the Indian�s existence. He will be the perfect addition to the Indian museum where he works. But Thomas is devastated when he arrives and finds out the Indian has been place in a jail cell where citizens come to gawk at him. Not knowing the Indian�s name, Thomas decides to call him Ishi. He gives Ishi white man clothes, and they head for the museum.

Allison Morgan, Thomas� wife, has spent hours setting up the museum so it�s perfect. Nothing is out of place; everything is carefully labeled and sorted by Indian tribe. She is devastated when Thomas and Ishi arrive and they discover the museum has been vandalized. Allison was abandoned as a young girl and the woman who raised her bred her to be the perfect woman, obeying all the tenets of propriety. Why is it is difficult to obey the rules around Ishi? And why will disobeying those rules be devastating to everyone?

In the midst of dreams, a tangle of hidden motives, insecurities, and well-kept secrets, will Allison be able to discover the truth? Will Ishi find friendship? Will Thomas be able to find out who is sabotaging the museum and Ishi and why?

ONLY THE WIND REMEMBERS starts out sad. At first, this reviewer didn�t think much of the book, but as the story progressed, the book became increasingly difficult to put down. The story line is impressive. Based on true events, the reader is instantly transported back to life at the early part of the twentieth century. The characters are very well developed and are easy to relate to, to feel their fears and insecurities. Their hopes and dreams became the readers. This reviewer had to put the book down and have a good cry.

If you love historical fiction, ONLY THE WIND REMEMBERS is an excellent book. The story is lonely, all the way through, and is impossible to read without Kleenex handy. But there is a truth hidden in the book that the reader must read all the way to the end to discover. There are also a lot of unexpected plot twists in this story which will keep the reader guessing. ONLY THE WIND REMEMBERS is a book for the keeper shelf.

--- reviewed by Laura V. Hilton for Christian Bookshelf

Rating:
Summary: A captivating tale.
Review: In the early 1900's the last surviving member of the Yahi tribe walked out of the woods into a town in California. All the other members of his tribe had either been killed or died, he was the only one left speaking his language. Yashi, as he was called, was taken under the wings of a small anthropological museum where he alternately was treated as a human being and as a living exhibit.

In Only the Wind Remembers, Marlo Schalesky takes this rather sad and unusual history and creates a poignant and uplifting fictional story. She describes the loss of connection between well-meaning people when they feel forced to live their lives according to rather restrictive rules of the late 1900's. In the end they are brought to the realization that through Jesus' sacrifice, God provides a richness of forgiveness and acceptance that can be life changing.

Although the characters are ensnared in rather sad situations, this is a gentle and soothing account. It is easy to become caught up with the stories of each individual and you will want to keep reading to find out what will happen to them. The image of the Ishi playing songs on his flute in the museum that no one else in the world will ever hear again is one that will linger with you a long time after the book is over.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT WRITER, GREAT BOOK. GET IT AND READ!
Review: Marlo Schalesky has what it takes to become a truly great writer. Only the Wind Remembers is a powerful book. I could not put it down during the last one hundred pages.

This is a book I feel so strongly about that I am taking time out (late at night I might add) on the day before I begin a cross-country camping trip in order to share my thoughts about it here. Let me start by saying Only the Wind Remembers is a book you should read. I've read a few books lately, and while some have been pretty decent stories, none of them has topped this one by Mrs. Schalesky.

In fact, I have high hopes for Mrs. Schalesky as a writer. If this story is any gauge of what might be to come, the sky is the limit for her. She made me care about these characters.

A book can be as well or poorly written as it wants, but it it doesn't make me FEEL, then it is a waste of time. This book is well written. And my time was not wasted.

Yet what I fear has been wasted is the wider audience. I am grieved that talents like Marlo Schalesky continue to labor in the irrelevant obscurity of the "christian" publishing ghetto. This book is a keeper; but "christian" ghetto styling--the ham-handed sentimentality of the character of Pop, the blatant interpretation of the parable, and the tacky epilogue--combined with the built in audience/restricted circulation of "christian" publishing condemn this book to falling into the wrong hands (preaching to the choir) and not being seen or taken seriously by the rest of the world--which according to the Great Commission needs to hear this a whole lot more than I or other Christ-followers do).

The story of Yuna is some of the greatest pound for pound writing that I have read in a long time. I only wish that it could reach more people who actually need it. The Eagles's outstretched wings seek to embrace us all.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: A compelling tale that will refresh your spirit
Review: ONLY THE WIND REMEMBERS tells the story of the last Yahi Indian who emerged in 1911 from an isolated existence in the woods into the civilised world for the first time. A young anthropologist, Thomas Morgan, and his troubled curator wife, Allison, take the Indian into their care, bestowing him with the name "Ishi", which is Yahi for "man". Despite the rigid boundaries of propriety, Allison is drawn to Ishi, and with Thomas's help she secures time spent with him. Ishi begins to teach Allison his language, and along the way tells her an age-old story that his people have passed on for generations. Seeing Ishi's determination to tell the fable, Allison listens to the story, slowing coming to identify with her own struggles as she does so. But before Ishi's tale is completely told, and Allison's questions answered, circumstances take a turn that begin to jeopardise their very lives. Will Ishi's burning desire to tell the ancient tale be fulfilled before it's too late? And will Allison have a chance to discover the truth about her own existence? Weaving historical facts with fictional detail, Marlo Schalesky brings to life a story that recounts the wonder of redemption and new life. ~~Ellie Schroder, owner of The Christian Fiction Site

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, riveting, historical/spiritual tale!
Review: This is one of the most beautiful books that center on spirituality that I've ever read. And it doesn't hurt that it is also a historical novel. I couldn't put it down. The subtle, yet lyrical language enthralled me from beginning to end.

The year is 1911. The last Yahi Indian entered modern civilization for the first time. He is part of an anthropology museum exhibit, and he develops a friendship with its owners, especially with the troubled Allison. She and the Indian develop an unconventional friendship. He is compelled to tell her the story of Yuna and the Great Eagle. Allison hadn't anticipated that this strange tale would open up old wounds and lead her to self-discovery...

I love the language, the insights on Indian culture and the historical and spiritual references. I also loved the symbolisms throughout the novel. It's reaffirmed my faith. The characterization is wonderful -- Allison, Thomas and Ishi are the most compelling characters in the novel. Although I think the unraveling of secrets and lies at the end has a soap opera feel, the overall novel is one the most riveting and literary efforts I've read thus far this year. This novel is as soothing as a cup of hot cocoa on a winter night. I couldn't recommend it enough.