North Dakota Books

Power certainly does not make this an easy read. At first glance you can read through it and be happy, then you start really reading it, and it never ends! There are so many messages in this book than I care to count, and our class disected this book till I wanted to puke. However, in defence of Power, it was well written and if I had read on my own, not only would my knowledge of Native American life been increased dramatically, I would have enjoyed it!

I have also met Power, very nice woman, and she can most certainly tell a story.

Sometimes the best intentions at innovative approaches result in something akin to torture. I suspect that Susan Power was envisioning a novel approach to the NA Novel genre. Instead, she sold herself short - and her readers along with her. It was expertly crafted short stories disconnectedly telling differing tales of the same connected story lines, some without resolution and some surprisingly with. Obvious talent such as this should not have as its supreme result a book so unworthy of representing the author. Let us pray she fixes these flaws and continues to hone her amazing story telling gift.

The editorial and other customer reviews do a good job of covering the characters and basic plot, so I won't go into that.

This has to be the best book I've read in months. It's practically lyrical, the sentences are so pretty. The dust jacket is more than a little off on the plot, so don't read that. It's a collection of self contained stories about a messed up family living on a reservation in North Dakota.

Each story is narrated by a different person and takes place a random number of years before the last one. The effect is that each new chapter gives you a different understanding of the events in the previous chapters, until you get back to the "present" time from the first chapter, where you have a completely new take on everyone involved.

It's unusual to find a short story collection this good from such a new author. I highly recommend it.

This is an interesting book that gives us a series of stories about Sioux spirituality. The stories are loosely interconnected with each other and tell of people who maintain an ability to employ a sort of black magic. With this "gift" they communicate with past generations, conjure up love potions, compel others to self destruction, and other bizarre phenomena. Within these stories is a generally clear view of life in a modern day Indian reservation. The author, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation who grew up in Chicago, gives an inside view of a live fairly removed from mainstream America. I got the feeling that there was a fair amount of autobiographical material included in these stories.

I was prepared to give this book a "3 Star" rating until I noticed how well the author pulled things together towards the end. I had made the mistake of reading the book one story at a time spaced in between my other reading. I finished the last third of the book in a day's time and was able to catch the inter-relationships of the stories. Still, I was not as drawn into the spiritual magic as others may be. I don't discredit this phenomena but I suspect there are others who will get more out of the book than I did. I did enjoy a lot of the local flavor. I don't ever recall seeing any other novel that mentioned my wife's hometown of Mandaree, North Dakota. I have come to appreciate that there is a real element of spiritual magic through her Hidatsa/Mandan roots. Of the many stories and incidents that she has shared with me, I do vividly recall the night after her mother's funeral. My wife expressed her aprehension about going to bed that night because she was sure her mother's spirit would come to visit. That night, about 2AM, our house dog started barking. He never barks indoors at night and, when I got up to look around, nothing explained his outburst. I was puzzled, my wife wasn't. Susan Powers shares a lot of this in "The Grass Dancer" but on a much larger scale.

Susan Power's THE GRASS DANCER, although billed as a novel, is a series of tightly bound stories centered around the thematic core of a Sioux myth. Separately, these stories, many of which have been previously published in high-quality magazines such as The Atlantic and The Paris Review, are excellent, but read as a whole, one after the other, they form a powerful whole - a novel, if you will. The world Ms. Power creates it at once current and ancient, with legends and tales of ancestors so entwined with the present day that the Native American characters seem less like individuals and more like highlighted segments on a multi-branched and infinitely continuing time line. But that is not to say that Ms. Power creates simple characters. Her people are complex and often troubled, struggling with the magic that swirls around them.

The individual stories tell the larger one of Native Americans, in particular the Sioux, and their battles, both physical and metaphysical, with the white men who invaded their land. This is not a historical novel, however, but rather a lyrically psychological one, where myth becomes fact. The pivotal legend that embraces all the characters in The Grass Dancer is the one of Red Dress, a Sioux woman with breath the scent of plums and a spirit that guides a long line of women to their destinies, both tragic and exhilarating. Charlene, a direct descendent from Red Dress, is in love with Harley, a descendent of Red Dress's husband Ghost Horse. But Harley keeps in his heart the spirit of another woman. Charlene's grandmother, Mercury, uses Red Dress's magic to control men and to wrest Charlene from her mother. Lydia, who is mute by choice, survives her husband and son, dead because of her anger with the magic of Red Dress. The magic in this novel has such force that when Red Dress finally tells her own story, we cannot wait to see what kind of mortal she was that gave rise to such spiritual power. Sadly, the Red Dress story is the weakest of the book. Her motivation to lure white men to their deaths, ultimately bringing on her own, seems flimsy. However, Red Dress as a spirit has become so poignant through the other stories that her final appearance in the novel is perhaps one of the most moving passages.

Susan Power is an extraordinarily gifted writer with a taste for language that makes a reader want to linger over her words. Her imagination is so precise that it is difficult to accept that her characters do not exist beyond the pages.

This is a terrific book about the last four years of one of the giants of the last half of the 20th Century. Richard Nixon won big, lost big, won and lost and won again.His best tools were an unbelievably resilient character,a truly brilliant intellect,and hard work.

A fine book,primarily addressing leadership, 91-'94, the election of '92,and the early years of the Clinton Presidency. Wonderfully insightful. He accurately predicted Clinton's impeachment and why. Just fascinating highly informed political talk from one of the best minds of any generation.

I'm ordering Nixon in Winter next.

As a lover of all things to do with U.S. Presidents, and with Nixon being one of my favorite subjects, I purchased this book with great excitement.

Positively it is a wonderful look into this very intelligent man, and a joy to read his thoughts about the politics and politicians of the day. However, this is where the book suffers as well...

The author puts her own political agenda spin on this to the degree that it makes her subject suffer. There is a section where she (surprise) bashes Bill Clinton, but if one takes her arguments seriously, it would be difficult not to apply many of those to the subject of her book.

In short, the reader is left with a book that contains some wonderful nuggets, that are almost obliterated by the author's strong opinions which are basically (republicans = good, democrats = bad).

The best works on Nixon are able to show that he was not a night in shining armour, but was human, with faults like any of us. Unfortunately Crowley white washes her subject where he does not need to be.

Monica Crowley's book is very good in describing her daily work with one of the best american politician, it is a true portrait of a man with a great understanding of politics, foreing policy in particular. The outstanding fact is Nixon share with Ms.Crowley of his most personal political convictions and projects, so in the end the impression you have is that of a sincere, true, skillful man, that only one of the worst name-calling political and media campaign could render as false and paranoid ; that is why I say that this book is useful.
Strangely, the last months of Nixon's life are covered very quickly, compared with the other ones, maybe because you'll find them examined in Ms.Crowley other book " Nixon In Winter ", that I'm curious to read. so, Monica Crowley has done a very good job.

Monica Crowley focuses on the three qualities Nixon has said each political personality absolutely requires for survival and thriving: head; heart; and guts. Crowley's readable work exemplifies the political mind that Nixon used to gain election as a U.S. Senator, the political savvy that kept him on the Republican ticket in 1952, and the mastery that saw his elections change for the better from 1960 to 1968. Crowley doesn't shape anything that Nixon says, other than to put it into proper context, because she knows Nixon's words and ideas speak for themselves. He doesn't need a mouthpiece and not every thing he says is controversial or outlandish and deserving of reprisal from political foes, as any careful reader of Nixon's own books will come to understand. This work further exonerates Nixon from the political graveyard much more so that his own books following his resignation. Crowley's articulate, readable format is sure to rekindle reader's interest in Nixon as a person and as a personality.

If you ever wondered what an ex President might talk about with his friends then you need to buy this book, a real fly on the wall type book. I have to admit up front that I really liked this book. It was not that I have a deep interest in Nixon or that Nixon spelled out some overly insightful view of the political landscape. It was just that this author did such a good job of detailing out (quoting) so many of Nixon's musings about the political landscape from 90 to 94. I was most surprised at how petty he came off. He was whining and complaining about the press in about every three sentences. Regardless of the situation, he somehow related it back to how the press and Democrats unfairly went after him during the Watergate scandal. At this point in his life he must have focused on it so much that he saw the whole world through this hate filled prism.

I guess it was not such a surprise about Nixon disliking the press, but what did surprise me is that it seamed that he disliked any President that came after him. In his mind, they all fell short of his accomplishments and were far from a close second. He of course would then work in a diatribe about the press and how they will never give him the credit he deserves. It was interesting that he had such a low opinion of Bush Sr., he went after Bush on the poor reelection campaign, which was fair enough, but he also let him have it about every aspect of his Presidency. Yet his opinion would change the minute anyone in the Bush administration called him. Once he was shown some attention his opinion would suddenly change and all was right again with Bush, at least for a few weeks. I was surprised by this very apparent selfish and almost immature behavior.

I was again surprised by his roller coaster ride with President Clinton, during the campaign he down right hated the man. Once Clinton became the President and started calling Nixon, he is thought of by Nixon as FDR reincarnated. Well it was very predictable that when Clinton started to distance himself from Nixon that the ugly side of tricky Dick came back into the picture. Overall Nixon came off as a man with a very bruised ego and a bit bitter. I thought he some good views on the political situation of the time, but it was basically common sense. I kept thinking that if you follow politics you would have many of the same observations. I guess I just thought given his long career that he would somehow have insight that really would have surprised me. Overall the book was very interesting and a fast read. I had trouble putting it down. If you are interested in American politics then this a great book.

The book I read was called Blizzards Wake by Phyllis Reynolds Naylar. This story took place in Red River Valley, North Dakota in late winter of 1941.
Blizzards Wake is a sad story about a family that lost their mom. She was killed driving her car late at night when a drunk driver hit her. Her daughter Kate cannot move on with her life. Her brother and father struggle but move on. It has been five years since this night. The local man in a small town who killed Kate's mom went tp prison for 5 years. He gets released early for good behavior. With no place to go but back to Red River Valley. During the story their lives come together and they find a friendship in a unique way.
A huge key event in the book is a horrible blizzard that comes up with short notice. Kate's father and younger brother Jesse drive into town. The man that killed the mother was walking to him home he grew up in. Jesse and his dad got stuck in the car with no heat. The man was out walking when the blizzard moved in fast and furious.
He gets lost in the blizzard and stumbles into the stalled car of Dr. Sterling and Jesse. Kate is home alone waiting for her dad and brother. Dr. Sterling lets him in the car, He was frostbite. He recognizes the man is the guy that was driving drunk 5 years ago and killed his wife. But he does the right thing and tries to save him from dying in the blizzard..
They all get home safely. You wonder how Kate and the man that killed her mother lives come together. You are suspense, how she ever forgives Zeke Dexter. It is so sad and touching how his life and those at the woman he killed that night cross paths.
I enjoyed reading this book. It did make me sad. I couldn't guess how Kate would ever forgive Zeke for killing her mother. I think this book is for anybody who likes to think about what's going to happen next, somebody who likes surprises.

My book was based on the devastating blizzard that hit North Dakota. Many people were killed or injured. Farmers lost a lot of livestock. Many bodies were found miles away from their homes. Autopsies showed that many people suffocated or died of hyperthermia.

My book was about a young girl who lost her mother in a car accident. She was hit by a drunk driver. Kate lived with her father and her brother. Then in March when her father went out to do the doctor's calls, a blizzard hit. He was right in the drive way when the car completely stopped. He didn't want to get out of the car, because he couldn't see anything. Kate was home she was worried. It turns out that the man that killed Kate's mother was walking home and stumbled across the car. So Mr. Sterling took him in. When Kate finally came out and found them, she saw him. She hated him. He ended up staying at their house until after the storm had completely stopped. Jesse grew quite fond of him. Then Zeke got hurt. Kate was watching the dishes when she heard a shrill scream. It was Jesse. She ran out to find Zeke lying on the floor moaning and groaning. Her father ordered her and Jesse to put him on the operating table. Zeke was cutting wood and completely missed the wood and got his leg. Kate debated whether or not to mess up on the procedure she was helping with. But she decided not to. After He left it all came out of her why she was so bitter. She explained to her father that the night her mother left, she told her that she hated her. So Kate held that in all that time.

Some books like that make me cry, but for some reason it didn't make me cry. I loved it though. It was suspenseful enough to keep you reading to find out what happens. So I would recommend that children in junior high should read this.

"Groggy with sleep, numbed by cold."Imagine being stuck in a car, in the middle of winter, no heat, noone else, but the sound of the whirring wind. Kate Sterling is forced to face her biggest nightmare, the cause of her mother's death.

Blizzard's Wake by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a survival story, about a young teenage girl who keeps getting haunted by Zeke Dexter, her mother's killer.

Zeke Dexter was at the wrong place at the wrong time. A drunk driver is never good news. His actions resulted in a terrible disaster, that caused a loved mother's life. Now Kate is pushed against her will and she has to live with the most hated man in Grand Forks.

The weak points of the book was that there were too many flips between characters in the begining. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor uses description, sensory images and leaves you wondering.

"The terrible awful thought that kept coming to her unbidden was that the haunting would go on until Zeke Dexter, too, was dead." This book is recommended for ages ten and above.

Will she ever forgive Zeke?

my name is alina. NEVER read this book. I read this last year(6th grade) the same things happen over and over and over. it's like come on get to the fun part! unfortunately it never comes. DO NOT BUY THIS!

Kate Sterling lives in a home with her father and brother. Her mother was killed in a car accident by a man named Zeke Dexter who Kate hates. When Zeke gets dismissed from jail early it puts him back on the street with no home and nobody even knowing he is out. One day Kate stayed home while her father and brother went out to the skating rink. On the way back they got stuck in a blizzard causing Kate to worry. When Kate goes out to rescue them she finds her father, a home doctor, tending to Zeke Dexter for his frostbite. Even though Kate despises him she still lets him room in their house and gradually bonds with him. Blizzards Wake is an excellent story about forgiving and is a great read for middle and high school students.
I like the resolution in this book. The resolution teaches the lesson of forgiveness to the reader because even though Kate strongly disliked Zeke she still found room in her heart to forgive him. First she was thinking about hurting him back but she didn't. Instead she opened her arms to a homeless man. This took a lot of courage from her and a lot of heart and that is what forgiveness is all about. This resolution was perfect for this novel.
I also like the plot. This story was told by two narrators. Every chapter it switched off to the other. The two narrators were Zeke and Kate. I liked this because it gave you two different perspectives. When Kate and Zeke, were in the same car it told you what Kate thought about it and what Zeke thought about it. The whole book it expressed Kate's feeling toward Zeke and Zeke's feelings about the issue. This made the book easier to understand and more interesting because it provided two different points of view.
Lastly I like the moral in the book. The moral in this book taught people to forgive because even though Kate was very mad at Zeke she still forgave him. Zeke wasn't a bad person he just had an accident which caused Kate to despise him. That is what people have to find a way to do know. Lots of people hold grudges over people or seek revenge when the other person really wants to be forgiven. This book teaches the reader to forgive.
Blizzards Wake is a very good book. All of the elements of a novel are great in this book. Even though they were not mentioned, the characters, setting, and everything else were very interesting. It taught morals as well as making fun for the reader. This book was told in two perspectives making it highly understandable and more fun to read. All together Blizzards Wake is an excellent read for middle school and high school students.

-Byron N.

London's adolescent fantasy for wannabe AIMsters completely misrepresents the meaning and purpose of sun dance. The true sun dance has always been a ceremony of individual sacrifice for the People and healing of the sick. It has never been about inspiring violent acts with stolen weapons. How curious to find the old white man's paranoia that ceremonies like sun dance and the ghost dance stir up the Indians on the war-path in a book that purports to be sympathetic to the Lakota cause.

Sun Dancer goes beyond simply committing cultural theft of using sacred ceremonies as a back-drop to tell a rather un-inspired story. The family names Mr. London uses for his main characters are part of a spiritual and peace-keeping tradition on Pine Ridge that pre-dates white contact. They are the actual surnames of the traditional Lakota leaders who organized the take-over at Wounded Knee in 1972 to draw national attention to FBI directed disappearances and kidnappings on Pine Ridge Reservation during the COINTELPRO investigations.

Although Mr. London claims to have summered in Wanblee and Kyle while on sabbatical, he never actually talked to the families whose names he used or asked their permission. They do not enjoy being portrayed as alcoholic victims of PSTS motivated by a "complex mix of personal bitterness, ethnic pride, and long-simmering desires for revenge" as your Amazon reviewer so aptly summarized. If you care about injustice against Native Americans, do not buy this book.

This book gives the reader the best of all worlds. You experience the action-filled plot and care about the characters right from the beginning (two brothers, Clem and Joey, just their names are great!) and at the same time are transported to another culture, another place, another time, and given the opportunity to learn about the Sioux Indians' customs and struggles.

Can't wait for London's next book!
p.s. the cover of this book is particularly sexy

One of the best books I've read in years.

The plot moves fast and you find yourself caring a great deal about these characters. Clement is extraordinary, and yet he feels completely real and believable.

I love Joey's narration--sly and seemingly cynical but also open to the possibility of higher things being at work. And how can you not love Linda?

When you think of what has happened to the Sioux, you wish everyone would read this book, which seems to call for a touch of justice It's also a hell of a ride.

I refuse to give any book five stars, but this story left me winded.

Years ago, I taught on the neighboring reservation and spent a lot of time on Pine Ridge. Sun Dancer and its fleshed-out characters took me back and that felt great. "Fleshed-out," what a funny choice of words when what I really mean is that their psyches and personalities felt completely real and deep and reminded me of friends and others on Pine Ride and Rose Bud and off the reservations, too.

I love how the story grips you and at the same advocates so passionately (and seemlessly) for a return of THE BLACK HILLS TO THE LAKOTA---or at least parts of the Black Hills. Yet it never feels like you're being lectured to. It's a fast, compelling story, but the message is there for anybody with brain and a heart.

I'm amazed that a fellow reviewer on this site accuses this novel of portraying the sun dance as a force of violence and armed rebellion, for through out the book the Sun Dance is clearly portrayed as a healing, cleansing, resorative and peaceful act. Above all, a spiritual and selfless act. Meanwhile, the proponents of armed conflict in the book are so clearly at odds with the sun dancer Clem and his mentor Bear Dreamer Bordeaux, who both clearly seek a non-violent path to Justice.

It's fine for people to have strong and politicized opinions, but why not READ the book before logging on?

I read SUN DANCER because I came across it on the web site of the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Association, which bestowed its fiction prize on this book, and it has similarly honored the works of writers like N. Scott Momaday, Vine Deloria, James Welch and Leslie Marmon Silko, as well non-native writers like, Tony Hillerman, Cormac McCarthy, Wallace Stegner and Barbara Kingsolver.

This book grabs you and never lets you go. I read this book in a few days. Shelby does a great job of showing us how the citizens of Grand Forks, local authorities, FEMA, and our president Clinton handled one of the biggest floods in American history. This book has given an insight on how New Orleans may be able to survive hurricane Katrina.

I picked this book up as a gift for a friend who lived through the flood and I became so engrossed in it I never put it in the mail! (I bought another copy for my him. ) As well as being hugely infomative, there was a richness of detail and character that gave it the feel of a gripping novel.

The book brought home for me the true devastion of the flood, which I had of course heard about, but could not truly fathom until Red River Rising.

I was surprised to read another Amazon reviewer (and local) say: "There is a sense throughout the book that North Dakota residents are hicks waiting on federal hand outs, too stupid to purchase flood insurance, and too easily swayed by a newspaper column."

It's a strange comment. You could only conclude the person read a different book. Red River Rising reads as nothing less than a moving tribute to the intelligent, proud, generous and above all courageous people of Grand Forks.

I recommend it highly!

I enjoyed this book. As a life-long resident of North Dakota, I love getting an impartial analysis from outside the state on such a major event, and heartily enjoy the ball-busting this author gives the area. The simple fact is, people did look desperately for scapegoats in the form of the National Weather Service or the Army Corps of Engineers or what have you, and I think the same story is likely repeated every year in similar disasters in this country. People do and think foolish things in times of calamity, and I wish more people in this area would own up to our own displays of idiocy.

Red River Rising offers great journalism and an enthralling read in the same package. I kept saying to myself, "Just one more page..." Shelby presents a masterful overview of the disaster and brings all of the people to life, too. A terrific book.

This is a book about Democracy and the roll of government. Increasingly, as taxes, tensions and the everday involvement of government slowly rise, we ask ourselves and our leaders: Where should personal responsibility end and regulation begin?

Do taxpayers owe anything to disaster "victims" who willingly live, year after year, uninsured, at the constant verge of mortal danger?

And the rich social and political subtexts abound. Anyone who wonders why no qualified leader in his or her right mind would enter public service in America needs only read "Red River Rising." Shelby's descriptions of the government, the press and the people and their interactions -- from the origin of questionable information under the strict rigors of flawed government mandates, to its botched transfer through the hands of under-educated reporters, to the public's inability to assimilate and use it, is priceless.

Aside from being an amazing book about strife, courage and recovery, this is a text so socially relevant to our country's current struggles that it can be extrapolated to relate to any issue on any level. From imposing a recycling tax, to going to war, this book describes how every public decision in America transpires -- right down to the last militant holdout spitting in the face of The Man.

Every leader, voter and reporter needs to read this book.

Bryan Harris
Journalist

I just finished this book and I can truly say it is a eye opener! Eagle Man, Ed McGaa, certainly does a fantastic job explaining Black Elk's vision and the role of the Rainbow Tribe. He does so in a very humble and moving way. I have long felt connected to Native American Spirituality. The possible link between the Celts and the Native Americans beliefs were remarkable. Since I am of Celtic ancestry, it seemed to explain that connectedness. He lets people of non-native ancestry know you do not have to be native american to live in the native american spiritual way.

He also gives you some history about his tribes customs and beliefs. I really enjoyed learning this and reading about the different ceremonies there are. He speaks about the holy men that taught him and the experiences he has had in some of the ceremonies. He talks about the different Rainbow Tribe people he has encountered and his experiences with them. He speaks of the spirit world and the natural world in a very spiritual yet simple way.

One of the most touching things in this book is about the healing ceremonies and the different stories. But the most touching, I felt was the one with the Vietnam Veterans at the Wall Monument. It was very humbling and moving to read.

If you are a Christian, please try to keep an open mind. There is so much to learn and put into practice. I have always believed the native americans have the spirituality that we all need to take heed to. After reading this book, my beliefs that I had about the natural and spirit world were pretty much on the mark. I hope you chose to purchase this book and get as much knowledge as I did. Thank You Eagle Man, Ed McGaa.

How can anyone not respect the author and this book for the cross-examination of religion, especially western Christian religion, as he so eloquently does in this book? This book is 15 years old and I finally started reading this a few days ago and after each session I have to take time out to digest the topics he covers. Many of the topics first became controversial in 1992 when this book first was published, namely that he seriously tackles Christian thought and its historical abuse of all non-white subjects. McGaa talks about the White Man's Reign in broad terms that could make anyone ashamed of one's ancestry.

Despite what a few hate mongers have written earlier about this book, I found McGaa's humble approach refreshing. He does not claim to be a medicine man, but he does mention other spiritual men who mentored him through life. He does not claim to be an expert on all things Sioux/Lakota but does suggest others who may be.

I found the chapter on the Celtic connection very interesting. I had heard others years before mention that perhaps the Celts were the first whites to touch on North America, and McGaa's citations of other scientists/antropologists certainly makes one wonder how strong that connection may be. (Since 1992 many other antrhopologists have come forward with similiar theories of Celtic/Scottish influence).

Granted, at times the author rehashes topics. But what I like about this book is how it makes me think about the first real Americans and how white man treated them with disdain and disrespect. The change toward a more tolerant Rainbow acceptance is long overdue.

Readers can disagree with the author, but I hope readers accept the author's opinions and take time out to ponder the many topics covered in this book.

Ed McGaa, writing about what he is called to write about, has the blessed good fortune to be published. The ceremonies he writes about have meaning to him and he wishes to share their essence with the readers. There is nothing about exploitation in this. What this book does is send a message of hope that people will do SOMETHING in themselves to correct their insane ways and reconnect with the living Spirit that flows through Nature. Small minds need opening. Small hearts need opening. Envy is a disease of the soul. 1000 blessings to Ed McGaa, whoever he is, for his beautiful efforts. Small stones dropped in the water make ever-expanding rings. It is for readers to reflect on the meaning of what is written. Noone has to go out and perform rituals that are not theirs. There is something universal in all people's rituals, however. The wise see it and can work with it. The lazy idiots sit back and sling mud. When has it ever been otherwise? Bright Blessings.

This book pulls no punches about developing a successful and spiritual life. The is serious stuff.

Once again Eagle Man does a great job in showing that the protection of Nature is a multi-cultural responsibility. He shows that we can bridge the culture gaps and really work together.

I am an avid reader. Few books have had the power to stir my emotions, as much as this one. The tragedy of Lost Bird and all she stood for are so compelling that now, two years later, I can still recall the power that this book had for me.

The story of Lost Bird is not just the biography of an unlucky woman. It also recalls the tragedy of Native American history and the consequences that flowed from it, directly affecting Lost Bird.


If I could find other biographies or memoirs as vivid & memorising as this one, I would like any readers out there to let me know.

After reading the other reviews on this page, and seeing the one from EC Taylor, I decided to do a little more investigating. I wanted to know all the facts. I personally spoke to the author of the book and after hearing all the facts and looking at her research, I am convinced that this is the true story of Lost Bird. I found the author's email address quite easily and I wondered after why the Crane-Pretty Voice Family did not do the same if they had concerns. I found the author had all her facts with extensive research to back up her writing. This is truly a great, haunting, sad story which has been told with love and respect for the Lakota people. I have recommended it to numerous people and will continue to do so.

Words not enough to decribe this book: the true review manifests itself as a bruise to your heart and soul.
Heartbreaking and eye-opening - A MUST READ!

In December 1890 the United States of America massacred an unarmed band of Lakota men, women and children at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. Most of them were starving and many of them were very ill. They were cut down like prey in the bitter snows of the Badlands and it was a sad day for Human Beings, one of many days I can never get out of my heart. There was a tiny miracle that day. A little baby girl survived unharmed, protected were she fell, by the body of her murdered mother. She was taken in by other Lakota people but Brigadier General and future Assistant District Attorney of the United States, Leonard W. Colby kidnapped and then adopted the baby as a "living curio." This murderous, inhumane and corrupt man wanted a little souvenir so he stole a human being, a helpless infant, and ripped her away from her people and her culture. He exploited her to attract prominent tribes as clients of his law practice. His wife, Clara B. Colby, who later divorced him was a prominent suffragist and newspaper editor. She tried to give this little Lost Bird a stable home and she meant well but she could never replace the Lakota ways or help Lost Bird to fit in to an alien and inhumane world. Lost Bird, whose real name was Zintkala Nuni only lived to be 29 years old and her short life was filled with pain and degradation and tragedy. She suffered sexual abuse, violence, prostitution and rejection. She was a being caught between two worlds and accepted in neither. The author of this book has done a wonderful job of bringing this poignant story to light. She illustrates the atmosphere of the times and offers rich insight into the insidious racism of the America of that time. This is a story of not only the cruelty that was done to the Native peoples of this land but of the misogynous, unscrupulous and socially unjust attitudes and actions of the leaders and people of this country. It is a testiment to endurance, a chronicle of tragedy. In 1991 Zintkala Nuni was returned from her burial place in California to Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the Badlands of South Dakota. She was buried with respect and ceremony among her people. Last summer I drove past the crowded impoverished homes to pay my respects to the people who died that day at Wounded Knee. I saw the harsh reality of the ancient gray hills of the Badlands with their ghostly beauty. I saw the offerings and prayer bundles in the burial grounds. I talked with two men selling souvenirs, trying to make a few dollars in a place where work is so hard to find. The arrogance and greed that murdered so many people, that stole a little girl from her people, that sought to cripple and defeat a powerful People is still alive and walking in the land but it has not succeeded. This book may help people to feel the injustice in their heart of hearts. It may illuminate our past and open our eyes to the injustice we still condone, many of us, with our silence. It is a powerful and moving story, well told.

I am Zintkala Nuni, aka Lost Bird. I was given this name by my family in ceremony 1999. I was born and raised on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in North Central South Dakota. I have records to prove my name and my relationship to The Lost Bird of Wounded Knee. Renee never interviewed my family for her book. And from what my family has found out, all of the information about Lost Bird's mother in the book is untrue. I'm sorry for writing this BUT the truth must be known and I WILL be writing a book about my grandmother, Lost Bird, in the future to counteract the fiction that appears in this story. I hope someone reports this to Renee. I would love to speak with her and I'm sure my family would want to do the same.

This is one of the best series that I have ever read. It is a must see but beware, once you pick it up you will not want to put it down.

I have read all the books in this series and all the books in the sequel series. Ms. Snelling is one of my favorite authors and this is one of my favorite books. I have rad every book numerous times and would recommend them for anyone. Ms. Snelling knows real-life situations that pertained to the late 1800s and writes about them. I personally believe "A reader from Alberta, Canada" must have only skimmed the book and I suggest that she get her facts straight.

This is a sad book at times, but it brings out the truths of life for the homesteaders. Although I wish Ingeborg would get her baby, I also know that her situation was very real for many women. Alberta, Canada hasn't read this book because she doesn't know what she is talking about at all. It's a great book in a great series, I love them all.

Very good book. I love this series. Lauraine Snelling moves the characters lives along in each book, while adding new ones as well. She makes you care for the Bjorklund family and worry about their future.

Even though I felt book 4 was just a bit dragging at times, it kept my interest because it built on the life of Hjelmer. There is finally a blacksmith and a merchantile in town. Penny's only known relative comes to join her. Haaken contracts mumps as they spread throughout the families, and the Bjorkland matriarch arrives with 4 others for vacationing -or is it a move?

A very dramatic incident occurs when Anner, an angry farmer, has a farm accident.

During a 6 wk absence of her husband and against all advise including his, Ingeborg returns to her britches and plowing and has a freak though serious accident. Zeb MacCallister, a fugitive caring for orphans Manda and Deborah, joins the prairie families. Manda talks too much.

Blessing women are discussing the possibility of women's votes and the fact their area is about to become a state. Katy and Zeb are extremely attracted but speak completely different languages.

A bank is opening, several weddings take place, and near the end of the book Zeb sees his siter momentarily and gets a painful scare which forces him into an even more painful decision.

Despite a slight discrepancy in timeframes by the author, I am glad I already have purchased book 5 in this series.

This is one of the best series that I have ever read. It is a must see but beware, once you pick it up you will not want to put it down.

This is a very sad book at times with many deaths, but I love the new characters that were added. I think it was high time that the Pastor got a wife. Although many people complained they wanted more happiness, that wasn't the truth of homesteading or actually any lives in the 19th century.

After growing up Norwegian in the Red River Valley I love these books dearly. They are such a sweet tale of how God loves his children even through the difficult times-which were many out on the frontier. Many say this book is depressing but I found it more realistic than most portraying life on the prairie.

I found this book to be very depressing. First Ingeborg loses the baby in book 4 and is unable to have an other one. Haaken never has a son that he and Ingeborg want. When Katy died while having her's and Zeb's baby that was too much. I had grown to like Katy and Zeb and the author took both of them out along with the baby. Way did she make Zeb leave when Deborah and Manda needed him? It just depresses me. Then she thinks she can replace Zeb and Katy with Zeb's sister and the pastor. The only thing that could keep me reading the series is if Zeb comes back. I wonder if Laurine Snelling every had a happy childhood. I as a 14 year old didn't like the deathes or the depressing stuff that was in her book.

Book 5 of this series was sort of a hodgepodge about too many people, and there was a lot of death. The pastor is featured more as the teacher of the school. Zeb's sister Mary Martha is prominent and Singer Sewing machines are introduced into the community. This causes a huge rift between Penny and Goldie. Ingeborg remains unable to conceive. Sign language has come to Blessing in order to help little Grace communicate. A fire in the grain house takes the life of a man traveling through. Politics are in full gear, with debates and Hjelmer traveling for meetings. Mary Martha is called back home to nurse her ailing mother. Little Anna contracts whooping cough and dies. Perhaps the central tragedy occurs with Katy during childbirth. Personally, I hope this book is a bridge to a happier conclusion of this series with book #6.

I expected the book to have wrote of a story, but so far so good.

Some people viewed this book as a bunch of hype or a bunch of BS from guys who are really full of themselves. I didn't feel it was that kind of book. I felt it was them looking back on how full of themselves they were and how much they had to learn and had learned. I thought the book was worth reading.

Ok, I'll admit that it's been a while since we've heard anything from the guys, but this is absolutely the most funniest book I've read all year. Though it's filled with massive amounts of interesting material, it's still an utter and complete ego trip. But I'd have to say that it's the best book Metallica will ever come out with.

I got this book right in front of Metallica and they signed it too! The sad part about this book though is that it starts from their "Load" era - the era when they started to suck majorly. All their creative juices went down with the drugs, alcohol and fighting. They do show us eventually how Jason Newstead started getting alienated from the band, but do not show any signs of regret. Jason Newstead was the only member of Metallica who did not have the rock star ego (and still doesnt). They did a huge mistake by bringing in Trujillo (who is a pretty bad bassist). There is an article by Torben Ulrich (Lars's dad) that is one of the most pretentious and bombast articles ever written. They should have done without it real easy. Also, they did not include any information about Dave Mustaine who deserves at least some recognition for writing the 'Kill em all' album. Instead, they added useless information about their first bassist Ron McGovney (who hasnt achieved anything and is hatching eggs). People care about Dave Mustaine and no one really wants to hear about Ron McGovney. I am a Metallica fan, but I think this book tries to polish their ego. After all this "some kind of monster" crap, fighting, whining, rehab and losing a band member (Jason), fans would expect a little more humble approach from Metallica. But this book is all "me, me, me, me." And it is really irritating to hear Lars misspell words because he thinks its cool and hip. And yes, there are a TONNE of pix in this ego booster...sadly, a lot of them are of Lars trying to look like a GAP model, James trying his best to look intimidating and Kirk dressing up like a drag queen, trying his best to hide his insecurity by repeatedly mentioning how he doesnt care about other people's opinions. The only cooling factor in this book is Jason. He's the one who comes off as a genuine nice guy, fan friendly, ego free, respectful, courteous, generous, humble, mindful, caring and sensitive. And the funny part is, he left the band! haha!

This is a compilation of Metallica's SO WHAT magazine from 1993 till 2004. The band did not put any effort in making the book. They only wrote tiny introductions to the chapters. For being Metallica's first official book, I hoped to see more band participation. If the band explained matters personally, I would not be giving them a 1 star. But its all just 'copy and paste.' The band just ripped off fans by trying to show they care about what fans have to say. The book is entertaining if you want to study how big rock stars behave (and whine), but you will be turned off by "Larz, Kirk and Jaymz." They are grateful to none.

This book really could have been called "Written Sh*t: Binge and Purge", as it's really the literary equivalent to Metallica's live music box set. Like the box set, it's a bloated, excessive and sometimes self-serving overload to the senses, and it's up to the individual's tolerance for the personalities in the band that will determine whether or not that this a good thing or not.

The book is beautifully put together. Tons of pictures on high-gloss paper make this a feast for the eyes. The articles are of varying quality. Peppered between the yearbook and scrapbook looking sections -- usually put together using notes, pictures and art created by the band - are some of the best interviews of the band in the last 10 years (particularly the round table discussions which, in light of Jason Newsted's departure, are quite revealing). There are even glimpses of James Hetfield's struggle with his demons before going into rehab, that in hindsight should have been pretty obvious to everyone. Weak are the Q&A sections (the band never seems to give straight answers), a lack of great detail in events in the pre-Load era (understandable as these items are pulled from the fanclub magazine started in the mid-'90s), and Lars Ulrich making love to his ego (haters like to say how much the band has changed, but Lars and his ego have remained pretty consistent over the years, if you ask me).

Complaints are relatively minor. Metallica fans that have been members of the Metclub since it's inception will pretty much have all the items in here already (from So What!, the fanclub magazine). The magazines don't look nearly as good as the book though, but it may not be reason enough to buy this for some. At times, the self-indulgence can get a mite irritating, but the honesty and candidness makes up for a lot. The band at times seems more relaxed and sincere in some of the interviews, more so than they have for industry magazines and the press, although any fan with an axe to grind will find plenty of fuel to feed their accusations that the band has sold out, only cares about money and have sucked since (fill in the blank). Those who don't will find quite a lot of revealing details on what makes their favourite band tick - even if one has to be read between the lines sometimes.

As we're not likely to see any autobiographies from the band anytime soon, So What! is the only source for words straight from the horse's mouth and something that fans won't be able to resist.