Lydia's essay 6

Lydia Schulz

Mr. H. Salsich

9 English

12 November, 2008

The Way to Rainy Mountain

an Essay on Why I Enjoyed "The Way to Rainy Mountian" by N. Scott Momaday 

Mostly everyone has that one favorite book that they simply love, and many people may have an author they cant stand. If this is the case, you probably have something about the writing you either love or hate, and whether it be the fast-paced action of a story or the long, drawn-out descriptions, these preferences are different for everyone. Sometimes you just can’t explain why you are drawn to a particular piece of writing. For me, this was not one of those times.

TS: I greatly enjoyed reading “The Way to Rainy Mountain,” by N. Scott Momaday. SD: I was especially partial to the way Momaday described his appreciation for all things small and large. CM: His essay’s topic ranges from the history of his tribe to a cricket in the night. CM: Though many people could boast their appreciation for their heritage, the tone of Momaday’s writing when he talks about the cricket that “had perched upon a handrail,” you can tell that this man cares about living things, big or small. SD: This goes right along with Momaday’s reverence for nature. CM: From his mentioning of “the divinity of the sun” to the way that from “a distance […] the steaming foliage seems almost to writhe in fire,” it is obvious that this man has great respect for nature and life. CM: To him, his grandmother, and his ancestors, the environment is something to love and protect. SD: I was amazed by how close Momaday was with his grandmother. CM: She told him stories, prayed with him, and helped raise him to the man he would become, perhaps not realizing what a colossal influence she was to her grandson. CM: But when you read the way he spoke about what she was like the last time he saw her, you cannot help but see how much Momaday loved and respected his grandmother. CS: Mr. Momaday has proved to be an extremely talented and touching author.

There are so many aspects of N. Scott Momaday’s writing that I enjoy; it is hard to fit them all into one 11-sentence paragraph. His style, his phrasing, and his smooth synchronization from one topic to the next make him really appeal to me as a writer. However, the main part I enjoy about Momaday’s essay is how much of himself he put into it. I wholeheartedly appreciate the fact that I got to read something by this creative and inspiring author.