Grand Avenue: A Novel in Stories (Volume 65)

The town of Santa Rosa in Northern California is intersected by Grand Avenue, which is populated by a diverse group of people including Pomo Indians, Mexicans, Blacks, and some Portuguese. They are all struggling to navigate through the challenges in their turbulent world while living outside the reservation. Despite their differences, they are connected by a shared ancestry, and the stories of the American Indians take center stage in this community.

These stories are filled with tales of healing, poison, family rituals, and a sense of humor that allows the residents of Grand Avenue to see their own flaws with compassion. A teenage girl falls in love with a crippled horse that is destined for slaughter, an aging healer summons her strength for one final song, a father seeks a bond with his illegitimate son, and a mother searches for the power to care for her daughter's spirit as she battles cancer.

These narratives are a tapestry of colorful lives, rooted in the traditional storytelling that the author, Sarris, grew up with. They are vibrant with the emotions and realities of a changing world, and are the basis of an HBO miniseries. Each story is equally stunning and heartfelt, capturing the wisdom and quest for meaning that are characteristic of the traditional storytelling tradition.

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