40 pages 1 hour read

N. Scott Momaday

The Way to Rainy Mountain

Nonfiction | Anthology/Varied Collection | Adult | Published in 1969

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday is a creative nonfiction work recounting the history of the Kiowa nation through a blend of ancestral stories, historiography, and personal memoir. Structured in 24 two-page stories split into three sections—“The Setting Out,” “The Going On,” and “The Closing In”—the book tracks the Kiowas' journey from their origin in the Rocky Mountains to their 1875 surrender at Fort Sill and subsequent reservation life.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

N. Scott Momaday's The Way to Rainy Mountain intricately weaves Kiowa folklore, personal history, and poetry, evoking a rich sense of cultural heritage. Praised for its lyrical prose and vivid storytelling, some critics feel its structure can be disjointed. Overall, it’s a poignant homage to Native American tradition and identity, though it may challenge linear narrative preferences.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Way to Rainy Mountain?

A reader who enjoys The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday likely appreciates lyrical prose, Native American heritage, and reflective storytelling. Fans of Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven and Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine will find similar thematic richness and cultural depth.

Recommended

Reading Age

14+years

Lexile Level

890L

Book Details

Genre

Fairy Tale / Folklore

Narrative / Epic Poem

American Literature

Topics

History: U.S.

Education

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Identity: Indigenous

Identity: Language