We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(8) Snow Line
One of the tricky things about this novel is that Silko doesn't really spell anything out for us. At the beginning, the story jumps around in time and space, and it's pretty tough to figure out what's going on. Just like Tayo, we start out confused and disoriented. In fact, we understand why he feels like he's crazy.
But as we keep reading, things start to make a little more sense. The novel is like a giant puzzle: Silko gives it to us in pieces, and it's our job to put it all together. Sure it might seem challenging at first, but that makes it even more satisfying when we figure something out.
Rest assured, eventually everything will make perfect sense. At the end of the novel, Tayo "crie[s] the relief he [feels] at finally seeing the pattern, the way all the stories fit together" (XXV.223). We're sure you'll feel relieved, too. You may even shed a tear or two—keep those tissues handy.