Rabbit Boss

by Thomas Sanchez

This legendary, epic novel tells the story of four generations of the Washo in Nevada and Eastern California—a story of dreams, dying, the loss of power, death and apotheosis.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels, Historical, Literature

544 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1973

Reviews

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Off-hand, one could simply classify this as quality Native American literature centered on the plight of the Washo Indians near Lake Tahoe. Beginning with a group of Washo witnessing the Donner Party and ending in the mid-20th century, the novel describes the history of the tribe through various protagonists.

But that doesn't quite describe the overall quality of the book, which is astoundingly superb. It's heartbreaking and beautiful simultaneously. The characters are described in full, sharp-focus humanity, that actually can be quite disturbing at times. Character that you really want to like, will do things that you really hate.

The prose is also quite sophisticated. It's not an easy read, although it's never very abstruse.

Really, just read it. Your soul will thank you afterwards for dwelling upon such an amazing book.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Thomas Sanchez's first novel (1973), written during an enviable period in which he and his wife lived as expatriates in an isolated part of Spain. It's a Northern California Native American history---the kind of book that would probably be impossible to publish today (although people said the same thing in the 70s when it was published). The style is richly textured---less voluble than Sanchez's later work---and the intergenerational plot dramatic but slow-moving (in a good way). It took me a long time to read this when I first bought the reissue in 89 when I first discovered Sanchez (thanks to the pub for MILE ZERO). I reread it over the summer when I finally had time to concentrate---it's well-worth the effort.

[Ruth Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never read anything quite like this before.

[JAE510 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was many things for me - the story is poignant, achingly sad, and reinvigorates the horror of first contact between whites and the Washo in Nevada/California and their subsequent decimation.
Plenty of synopses out there so no need to rehash.

There are passages that for me were significantly overlong - mostly descriptions of - mostly related to the Washo practices and beliefs. And some just sounded as if they may have been written under influence of some interesting mind enhancing drugs.

Which got me thinking - what do the Washo and Paiute think of this book? Is it accurately researched? Does it convey their society and its beliefs and practices accurately? I tried to research and found nothing about the authors research for the book or the native support or rejection of it. The underlying story and how it’s told is untarnished by those questions , but for me, the long passages about ritual and belief need that underpinning to carry the book fully.

And there should be warnings as there are some very disturbing rape and violence against humans and animals.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rabbit Boss by Thomas Sanchez is a fictional account of the experience of Native Americans (Washo of the Lake Tahoe area in N. California) from the time of first contact with Europeans until their near annihilation literally and culturally over a period of about 100 years. In this second reading of the novel after almost 30 years I still found it powerful and entertaining. I will say that this time around I did notice much more how much it was flavored by the whole hippie/counter culture movement of the late 1960s to early 1970s, influences of the drug culture and veneration of Native American culture, much more noticeable than I did on the first read. Sanchez wrote the book in the early 1970s.

[Will Lashley]

"The Washo watched. The Washo watched through the trees. The Washo watched through the trees as they ate themselves."
~ opening lines of "Rabbit Boss" by Thomas Sanchez

I read those lines nearly 50 ago. I have never failed to hear those words in my head ever I time I see or hear something about the Donner Party. That and a lot of the other parts of this book stuck with me.

[Susan Beecher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't finish this book right now: it is the story of a family of Native-Americans of the Washo tribe which was centered in the area around Lake Tahoe. Too much violence done by both the whites and the Native-Americans. Maybe I will come back to it later.

[Miriam]

Did not finish

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times, heavy reading, but worth it.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal account of the Washo Indians in the Tahoe valley and their meeting with the whites--they that EAT of THEMSELVES. Unfortunate first glimpse of the Donner Party. I was put off some by the intrinsic racism and sexism in the stories of three (four?) generations of Washo, against the Native Americans, the Chinese (building the railroad), and the Whites as well.

Lots of black humor along the lines of a group of gold rush townies wanting to hang a Washo on ridiculous charges can't find a tree to hang him from because they've cut down all the trees (including the ones that provide pine nuts that the washos survive on during the winter).

As the stories become clearer time-wise, the tragedy is also better defined. Some beautiful moments of traditional life are depicted as well as the crushing of it.

[Martin Voermans · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my First - Books ever purchased . . . .
1974 ( first edition Ballantine Books _ $ 1.95 )
( and one of those few books I still have )
RABBIT BOSS - changed the Path I Followed in Life .
> including knowledge of ( then unknown ) my Roots .
So I discovered the SHOSHONE .
And then my JEWISH Connection .
I have met a few Holocaust ( now in old age ) Survivors .
And have also welcomed - PACIFIST minded persons -
( Fleeing form ISRAEL ) into my home .
To me - the War on Gaza - came as an unpleasant surprise .
NOW - The memory of the book ¨ Rabbit Boss ¨
has once again -become a part of me .
as -- History Repeats the Past -- 2025 .
( and the name SANCHEZ - Echos with Resonance - in Spain )

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving, and a good look at just how different the Washo's and Euros world views are. After a while you will find yourself identifying with Joe Birdsong and his elders, at least I did. Our ways equal slavery and death to the Washo. I took off one star because one or two of the chapters reminded me of the "flensing" chapters in Moby Dick. You will learn all you want to know and more about rabbit-hunting, from a Native American POV.
The characters are great, and you can actually still meet a few of these types in the West, just like you can still meet crabby old salts in New England. Favorite line: "Senor, you are a Prince among men".

[Michelle Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this look at the Washo Indians of Lake Tahoe/Sierra Valley. The story jumps from one generation to the next which can be disorienting at moments, but enhances the overall sense of of the timeline. As you can imagine, it is not an easy story to read; but has echos in today's news, specfically the battles of the Winimem Wintu tribe of California to be able to hold their womens' puberty rites on what is now forest service land without interruption and aggravation by outsiders. Still a timely story.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The layout of this book is quite unique while it takes you through four generations of Washo Native Americans as they "assimilate" into modern society. The struggles of these men are hard to watch yet eye opening. I will never look at Lake Tahoe The same.

[Hans Ostrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set mostly in the Sierra Valley, California, which more or less West of Reno on the western side of the Sierra. It's a plateau at about 5,000 feet. The protagonist is a Washo Indian, and the story is a window onto late 20th century issues in that region. A big naturalistic novel.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Helped me learn about the area when I lived in Reno. About some Washo Indians whose first exposure to whites is seeing the Donner party practice cannibalism. Would love to get a copy to read again.

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly unusual book - makes you re-think land ownership.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this twice, a long time ago...it was sad, sometimes comical but very thought provoking. I have to buy this one to have my own personal copy...I want to reread it again.

[Lorespar Sparling]

Wow! California, how you have changed. I loved the Native Americans depicted in this story because it makes me want to rage on.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very odd, at times almost surreal account of several generations of Washoe in the Tahoe/Truckee basin. I assigned it to a class on the West & the students REALLY liked it....