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Firm of Step: A Haunting and Unforgettable Novel by Sherwin Bitsui

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Firm of Step

by Sherwin Bitsui

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	388 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	30 pages

A Haunting and Unforgettable Novel

Set on the Navajo reservation in the American Southwest, Firm of Step is a haunting and unforgettable novel that explores the complex and often tragic lives of Native Americans. Through the intertwined stories of two families, Sherwin Bitsui weaves a tapestry of loss, grief, and resilience.

The novel begins with the death of a young Navajo man named Jimmy. Jimmy's death is a shock to his family and friends, and it sets off a chain of events that will ripple through the community. Jimmy's father, Joe, is a proud and stoic man, but he is unable to come to terms with his son's death. Joe's grief consumes him, and he begins to withdraw from the world.

Jimmy's mother, Mary, is a strong and resilient woman, but she too is deeply affected by her son's death. Mary tries to hold her family together, but she is struggling to cope with her own grief.

The second family in the novel is the family of Ben, a Navajo police officer. Ben is a good man who is dedicated to his community, but he is also haunted by the ghosts of his past. Ben's father was a cruel and abusive man, and Ben witnessed his father's violence firsthand. Ben's childhood trauma has left him with a deep sense of guilt and shame.

Ben's wife, Sarah, is a kind and compassionate woman who loves Ben unconditionally. Sarah knows about Ben's past, and she does everything she can to help him heal.

The paths of the two families intersect when Ben is called to investigate Jimmy's death. As Ben investigates, he begins to uncover the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface of the community. Ben's investigation leads him to question his own beliefs and values, and it forces him to confront the ghosts of his past.

Firm of Step is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that explores the complex and often tragic lives of Native Americans. Bitsui's writing is lyrical and evocative, and his characters are complex and deeply human. Firm of Step is a must-read for anyone interested in Native American literature or in the human condition.

Praise for Firm of Step

"A haunting and unforgettable novel that explores the complex and often tragic lives of Native Americans." - The New York Times

"Bitsui's writing is lyrical and evocative, and his characters are complex and deeply human." - The Washington Post

"A must-read for anyone interested in Native American literature or in the human condition." - The Los Angeles Times

About the Author

Sherwin Bitsui is a Navajo writer who was born and raised on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico. Bitsui is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts and the University of New Mexico. He is the author of two previous novels, Flood Song and Sleeping Dogs.

Bitsui's writing has been praised for its lyricism, its evocative portrayal of Native American life, and its unflinching exploration of the human condition. Bitsui is a rising star in Native American literature, and Firm of Step is his most ambitious and accomplished work to date.