BIBLOGRAPHY
Dorris, Michael. 1997. CLOUD CHAMBER. Thorndike, Maine: Thorndike Press. ISBN: 078620981
PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of Rose Mannion and her descendents. The story starts in Ireland and ends up in the United States across Kentucky, California and finally to Montana. Rose loves a man who is an English sympathizer and ends up hung for his actions. Rose makes a table from the tree and carries it to America along with Martin McGarry who seems to be caught up in the whole mess of trouble. Rose and Martin have two sons, Andrew and Robert. Each man had different ends but Rose outlived all the men in her life. Robert married, Bridie, and had two daughters, Edna and Marcella. Marcella had an affair with an African American, Earl, and became with child. Edna helped them run away to California where Elgin was born. Earl joins the military service and is killed overseas. Marcella and Elgin return to Kentucky and by the time Elgin is out of high school he has enlisted in the service. In a strange twist of events he finds his way to where his father was killed and discovers that his father had been living in the small town up until three years ago when he died. Elgin decides not to tell his mother of the events and returns to the states where he has a romance with Christine, an Indian from Montana, and has a daughter, Rayona. In the end Rayona takes on the name of Rose, the matriarch of the family and the reason for some many things in the past.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As this culture we are studying was Native American I expected more of that culture to show through instead of Ireland and Kentucky. The chapters and numbered and named for a character or main event in the story. The only part of the story where Native Americans are mentioned is near the ending when Rayona takes on her new name and her father, mother and Aunt come to Montana for the occasion. This happens in modern times and there are mentions of the reservation and these living conditions they are faced with on a daily basis.
The story itself was sometimes difficult to follow with the twists and turns of the characters and even jumping backward in time. The story did not have any illustrations to support the text and one had to use the descriptions the author provided to visualize the story. This was not was I expecting by the title of the book and the culture we are analyzing.
The story does show how a family developed, tolerated each other, loved each other, kept secrets and through all of the events in their lives spanning five generations had a type of enduring quality that one could connect with their own family. I particularly enjoyed the part when Edna and Marcella go back to Ireland to spread Rose’s ashes by the tree that took her only love. It makes you wonder what you would do for a family members last wishes.
When you read Dorris’ biography online you will note that his characters take on some of the characteristics in his own life.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publisher’s Weekly – “Dorris brings the strands of his narrative together in a deft conclusion-a naming ceremony, in which Rayona takes Rose's name, and in which we see the youngest member tenderly managing three disparate generations and loving them all in her own intrepid way. Thus Dorris provides a moving and persuasive image of a reconciliation for which America still yearns.”
Library Journal – “Altogether, this is a fine book whose literary excellence is matched by its accessibility to general readers and young adults. Highly recommended.”
The Washington Post - Alice McDermott – “The book's distinction is its vivid, intelligent portrayal of our perpetual, universal and most inextinguishable longing for both transcendence and—here's the rub—communion in love.”
Chicago Tribune - Sandra Scofield – “A thoroughly absorbing novel remarkable for its lyricism, compassion, humor and thumping good story, all characteristics one has come to expect of the author's work. To my mind, Cloud Chamber is his best yet.
CONNECTIONS
This book is suitable for older students due to the content of the text. You could pair this book with others that explore several generations of a family in one resource. Being a work of fiction you could try and find those points which are historical.
Book cover image from Barnes and Noble.
Dorris, Michael. 1997. CLOUD CHAMBER. Thorndike, Maine: Thorndike Press. ISBN: 078620981
PLOT SUMMARY
This is the story of Rose Mannion and her descendents. The story starts in Ireland and ends up in the United States across Kentucky, California and finally to Montana. Rose loves a man who is an English sympathizer and ends up hung for his actions. Rose makes a table from the tree and carries it to America along with Martin McGarry who seems to be caught up in the whole mess of trouble. Rose and Martin have two sons, Andrew and Robert. Each man had different ends but Rose outlived all the men in her life. Robert married, Bridie, and had two daughters, Edna and Marcella. Marcella had an affair with an African American, Earl, and became with child. Edna helped them run away to California where Elgin was born. Earl joins the military service and is killed overseas. Marcella and Elgin return to Kentucky and by the time Elgin is out of high school he has enlisted in the service. In a strange twist of events he finds his way to where his father was killed and discovers that his father had been living in the small town up until three years ago when he died. Elgin decides not to tell his mother of the events and returns to the states where he has a romance with Christine, an Indian from Montana, and has a daughter, Rayona. In the end Rayona takes on the name of Rose, the matriarch of the family and the reason for some many things in the past.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
As this culture we are studying was Native American I expected more of that culture to show through instead of Ireland and Kentucky. The chapters and numbered and named for a character or main event in the story. The only part of the story where Native Americans are mentioned is near the ending when Rayona takes on her new name and her father, mother and Aunt come to Montana for the occasion. This happens in modern times and there are mentions of the reservation and these living conditions they are faced with on a daily basis.
The story itself was sometimes difficult to follow with the twists and turns of the characters and even jumping backward in time. The story did not have any illustrations to support the text and one had to use the descriptions the author provided to visualize the story. This was not was I expecting by the title of the book and the culture we are analyzing.
The story does show how a family developed, tolerated each other, loved each other, kept secrets and through all of the events in their lives spanning five generations had a type of enduring quality that one could connect with their own family. I particularly enjoyed the part when Edna and Marcella go back to Ireland to spread Rose’s ashes by the tree that took her only love. It makes you wonder what you would do for a family members last wishes.
When you read Dorris’ biography online you will note that his characters take on some of the characteristics in his own life.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publisher’s Weekly – “Dorris brings the strands of his narrative together in a deft conclusion-a naming ceremony, in which Rayona takes Rose's name, and in which we see the youngest member tenderly managing three disparate generations and loving them all in her own intrepid way. Thus Dorris provides a moving and persuasive image of a reconciliation for which America still yearns.”
Library Journal – “Altogether, this is a fine book whose literary excellence is matched by its accessibility to general readers and young adults. Highly recommended.”
The Washington Post - Alice McDermott – “The book's distinction is its vivid, intelligent portrayal of our perpetual, universal and most inextinguishable longing for both transcendence and—here's the rub—communion in love.”
Chicago Tribune - Sandra Scofield – “A thoroughly absorbing novel remarkable for its lyricism, compassion, humor and thumping good story, all characteristics one has come to expect of the author's work. To my mind, Cloud Chamber is his best yet.
CONNECTIONS
This book is suitable for older students due to the content of the text. You could pair this book with others that explore several generations of a family in one resource. Being a work of fiction you could try and find those points which are historical.
Book cover image from Barnes and Noble.
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