Ojibway Ceremonies (Basil Johnson Titles)

Rating:
Summary: Ceremonies of the Ojibway Life Cycle
Review: In this and his other books, Basil Johnston does an outstanding job of expressing the spirit of Ojibway culture and spirituality. "Ojibway Ceremonies" particularly focuses on the cycle of ceremonies which marked the major events of life in Ojibway Society, beginning with the Naming Ceremony, proceeding through the Vision Quest and Marriage Ceremonies, and finally ending with the Ritual of the Dead. In addition, Johnston outlines some of the rituals of the secret societies, the Midewewin (Grand Medicine Society) and Wabunowin (Society of the Dawn). In traditional native fashion, the ceremonies are introduced and explained through story, rather than as dry anthropological information. Ojibway Ceremonies is an enjoyable read, and a fascinating look into one of the most resilient, if not most outspoken of Native American cultures.

Rating:
Summary: Ceremonies of the Ojibway Life Cycle
Review: In this and his other books, Basil Johnston does an outstanding job of expressing the spirit of Ojibway culture and spirituality. "Ojibway Ceremonies" particularly focuses on the cycle of ceremonies which marked the major events of life in Ojibway Society, beginning with the Naming Ceremony, proceeding through the Vision Quest and Marriage Ceremonies, and finally ending with the Ritual of the Dead. In addition, Johnston outlines some of the rituals of the secret societies, the Midewewin (Grand Medicine Society) and Wabunowin (Society of the Dawn). In traditional native fashion, the ceremonies are introduced and explained through story, rather than as dry anthropological information. Ojibway Ceremonies is an enjoyable read, and a fascinating look into one of the most resilient, if not most outspoken of Native American cultures.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: This book should not be listed under non-fiction. I was looking for an interesting, factual retelling of cut and dried facts on Ojibway ceremonies. What I got was a series of short stories, all confusing and long winded. Each one was a story within a story within a story, to the point that I found it incredibly difficult to follow.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: This book should not be listed under non-fiction. I was looking for an interesting, factual retelling of cut and dried facts on Ojibway ceremonies. What I got was a series of short stories, all confusing and long winded. Each one was a story within a story within a story, to the point that I found it incredibly difficult to follow.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: This is the first book of its kind that I've ever read (specific ceremonies throughout the life of the Ojibway), so I don't really have a point of reference. But I thought it was a great idea how it was written almost like a novel, in that the life of an individual was followed from birth, and all the ceremonies and events described throughout his life. It didn't have the emotion that a novel has, though, and does pretty much stick to describing circumstances, rather than understanding the people from the level of the heart. It is well written, and an enjoyable read. It left me wanting to read something more in-depth on the subjects.