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Reviews

Winona's Web: A Novel of Discovery by Priscilla Cogan

First Book of the Winona Series

Movie Rights Optioned

"...Well-told...Cogan has a talent for characterization and weaves together the strengths and weaknesses of the two women with grace and flair...a story that's full of understanding and compassion." -- Publisher Weekly

"If you read only one book [this year] make it Winona's Web by Priscilla Cogan...Her words flow like poetry, her characters come to life...Winona's Web is rich in grace, power, humor, friendship, romance and life." -- Charlevoix Courier

"...an enjoyable and introspective journey..." -- ALA Booklist

"...a superb job of relating Native American traditions and teachings." -- The Grand Rapids Press

"...enchanting fiction novels...fast moving...rich subplots, redolent with symbolism..." -- Visions Magazine
 

From Publishers Weekly
Contrasting the values of modern Western culture with Native American beliefs, Cogan's well-told first novel pits a Michigan psychotherapist against an elderly Lakota woman who seemingly chooses death over life. Winona Pathfinder, a healthy 69-year-old medicine woman, walks into the office of narrator Megan O'Connor after being referred by her daughter, to whom Winona has revealed that she intends to die in two months. At first, Megan uses standard therapy tactics to try to shake Winona's preoccupation with death. When that fails, Megan begins to listen to her story; soon she becomes a pupil, as Winona imparts the Lakota way of life. As the sessions go on, the two women become friends, and the divorced therapist begins to see how her own loneliness is caused by what Winona sees as a lack of balance. The conceit may be clichéd, but Cogan has a talent for characterization and weaves together the strengths and weaknesses of the two women with grace and flair. The author, a psychotherapist with a background in Native American ceremonies, earns bonus points for presenting the cultural material without proselytizing. More problematic are the sections dealing with Megan's friendships and infrequent romantic adventures, many of them mawkish. Though they represent a significant flaw, they seldom get in the way of a story that's full of understanding and compassion.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Dr. Meggie O'Connor experiences a midlife crisis due to the failure of a long-term marriage and fear of her fortieth birthday. Although Meggie is the chief psychologist at a hospital in New York City, she relocates to her deceased grandmother's estate in northern Michigan and embarks upon a new life in private practice. Winona Pathfinder, a 69-year-old, pipe-smoking Native American medicine woman, becomes Meggie's client after her daughter despairs about Winona's unexplained desire to depart from the earthly realm. As Meggie attempts to learn the motivating factors behind Winona's death wish, their roles as therapist and patient reverse. Winona teaches Meggie about prayer, energy, and spirits during their soul-replenishing sessions. Winona's instruction and the healing traditions of the Lakota Sioux Indians facilitate Meggie's metamorphosis into a higher level of awareness regarding the purpose of her existence. First-novelist Cogan, a psychologist and pipe-carrier, guides the reader on an enjoyable and introspective journey of mysticism and enlightenment Liz Rifken --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Independent Publisher
Winona's Web is the story of a spider who has forgotten how to spin her web. Taken at face value, this sounds like a children's story, and on one level it is. The children are what Winona refers to as white two-leggeds, and we are children in need of a story in Winona's eyes. Winona Pathfinder is an elderly Lakota Sioux medicine woman who becomes the reluctant client of a psychologist Dr. Meggie O'Connor at the request of Lucy Arbre, Winona's daughter. The psychologist becomes the patient as Winona becomes teacher in this enchanting novel of self-discovery written by clinical psychologist Priscilla Cogan. Cogan weaves many traditional Lakota beliefs around likable, often mysterious characters and the Leelanau Peninsula countryside of Northwestern Michigan, bringing them face to face with Meggie O'Connor's Caucasian, middle-class belief structure. Meggie O'Connor's recent divorce and attempt to isolate herself in what she hopes will be a purifying Northern Michigan winter becomes a learning experience as she attempts to change Winona's mind about crossing over and completing the circle of life with what Winona believes is her approaching death. Meggie is drawn into Winona's Web of Lakota beliefs and understanding of the spirit world and the physical world. Cogan has a clear vision here, one that is written from a woman's perspective, yet does not alienate men in its purpose or message. Winona guides Dr. O'Connor through the business of sorting out and putting into perspective her personal and professional life in terms of friends, lovers, ex-husband, parents, as well as a pet fox terrier. Cogan has a very readable, straightforward narrative style. Each chapter begins with a poignant excerpt from a wide array of writers from D.H. Lawrence to Geronimo, J.R.R. Tolkien to Dylan Thomas. This binds her narrative together, yet allows it to expand, much like many of the Lakota beliefs taught by Winona. At its heart, Winona's Web is a coming-of-(middle) age story for those trying to come to grips with middle age and all that it encompasses psychologically. Winona's Web also exudes much of the charm of the Leelanau Peninsula and the Sutton's Bay area, the perfect setting for weaving a tale of rebirth in the tradition of the mythical Phoenix. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Winona's Web

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