Oklahoma Books

This is a really wondeful collection of stories. Two-Rivers takes us from Sapawe, Ontario to the streets of Chicago with stories that are immediate and from the heart. He is a terrific writer who takes us on a great journey of distance, time, and emotion.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book that brings back fond memories of my own Ojibwe upbringing. Two Rivers writes with a style that is raw and true to his Anishinaabe people. Gchi Migwetch Eddie!

I have known of E. Donald Two-Rivers' work since he started the "Red Path Theatre Company" of Chicago, and am glad he found the time in his busy schedule/career to write a book on short stories based upon the Native American experience(s).

Good Luck E. Donald; and may the you always stay in the Gods' favor for Poety & Muse.

David Andrew Shawanokasic, Menominee

I knew Harold Ball. I wasn't his friend because, as this book explains, for most of his life he drove people away. I wasn't at the party that changed his life, but I know some who were. In fact, I know everybody in this book. Set in the city, on the rez or on the road, these stories read as real to me as the last time I stepped out the door or walked into a truck stop. Each person has his or her own fully realized voice. But what recommends this book most to me are the narrator's voices.

Many writers talk about cultural conflict, the Relocation Act or going back to the reservation, but few express it in more than one voice. Eddie Two-Rivers has the classic short story writer's gift for implication: "It was mid-afternoon-the time of day for sighing. That second when everything is just right and silence slices through time. A slight wind rustled the leaves of a nearby tree and the moment was lost to the past." (p. 54) He evokes nostalgia: "Timber supported the town and everyone in it. I remember it as a green, blue, and brown place: forest, sky, water, and sawdust everywhere. A great place for a kid." (p 221)

Yet he also has that educated awareness that summarizes whole decades in short, sociological parapgraphs: "Bill and Glenda thought of themselves as second-generation urban Indians. Their parents had moved to Chicago's South Side during the 1950s in accordance with the Relocation Act. They met at Red's, a blues bar on Thirty-fifth and Archer Avenue. It was love at first sight. They dated a couple of weeks then decided to live together. Their families disapproved so they moved to the more liberal North Side. Both had been raised in working-class homes. Both regarded their families as being provincial, not with the times." (p. 144)

But Eddie Two-Rivers also understands deeply the power of writing to heal communities and make each of us whole: "Everybody got something they do to make themselves feel better. Writing is my medicine." (p. 83)

You may see it in other writers; you can hear it here.

Ed Two-River's book Survivor's Medicine is an important contribution to the literary world both for Indians and non-Indians. The stories unfold to present a fresh perspective on the human condition in general, and the reality of American Indians specifically. As an educator, the collection of stories explores a spectrum of issues and themes that makes it a dynamic book for teaching in the classroom. Each story broadens the reader's perspective about the reality of American Indians' experience today and challenges the reader to consider and question his or her own perceptions. It grapples with history, politics, and culture in a way that is accessible and poignant to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Survivor's Medicine can be used with students of all academic abilities. The story "Slow Walker: Hero of the Mud Flats Battle" which tells the story of childhood lessons and lifelong memories fought out in the bush in Canada, can be read to a third grade classroom or in a college literature class. I highly recommend this book for educators at all levels and encourage Native educators across the country to use this book with their students. Mr. Two-Rivers is a wonderful and rare role model for young Indians today. I anxiously await his next book.

I've read about 40 first-person books written by survivors of the Japanese POW camps and this is one of the best. When I began reading the book I didn't realize that I knew Lt. Boyt's family and when I did the story became even more compelling. Lt. Boyt and his biographer did an excellent job of telling his story, outlining what life was like for the young people during the 1930s and early 40s and how overcoming the hardships of that life was what made this the "Greatest Generation". Boyt's story tells how he used determination to overcome barrier after barrier to become a successful and useful citizen. Those traits did him well when he was suddenly thrust into the horror of prison camp under the brutal heel of the Japanese. He and his buddies withstood more than is hardly believable. Young Americans should be required to read this book so they can better understand that this is the "Home of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave!"

Pleased with the prompt delivery. Good doing business with you.

This is a fascinating, well-written account of the life of a man who symbolizes the best qualities of "the greatest generation." Men like Mr. Boyt endured unimaginable suffering and then came home to live quiet, decent lives without seeking the attention and respect they deserved. We need to hear their stories and learn from them before they pass away. This book is inspiring and easy to read. I highly recommend it.

Great read! Clear, concise, draws you in. Gene Boyt's outstanding character and his attitude about the horrible ordeal he is forced to endure comes through clearly as a big reason for his survival. Mr Boyt's story is one of true heroism, although he states he considered himself only a survivor. This excellent book shares a special place on my bookshelf next to other stories of Mr Boyt's great generation. -Forever Greatful

This is the story of my Grandpa. I hope you all enjoy this book! Now that my Pops is in a better place I can read this book and feel closer to him than ever. Through reading this book my family and I have learned so much that we never knew about our Pops. It shows the best and worst of the people of the Death March and the angels that helped my pops to survive so that I may be here today. I hope you enjoy this as much as we have! Thank you for reading it.
Shoni Boyt

I am always careful about books written by journalists from back East, especially when they deal with Montana's vigilantes. Frederick Allen, however, has made a worthwhile contribution to a controversial field.

I gave him five stars, although I do not entirely agree with some of his conclusions. It seems to surprise him, for example, when Plummer and some of his contemporaries started bouncing off the walls mentally after shooting somebody.

My experience in law enforcement has been that such behavior is normal. There are some sociopaths out there who just like to kill and don't feel any emotion about it, but they are few and far between despite what Hollywood scriptwriters would like you to believe.

This is a well written book, but it didn't change my opinion that the vigilantes cleaned up a situation that had spun out of control at a time when nobody else would, or could. The country was, after all, engaged in a bloody Civil War and the struggling miners in Montana's goldfields needed something to restore order in their isolated, vulnerable communities. Vigilante justice proved to be better than no justice at all.

This amazing book works on three different levels. It is first of all a compelling, action-packed narrative of Montana's vigilante period - carefully researched, engagingly written, and peppered with memorable characters and dramatic action. Western fans will love it. But Allen does not stop there. His brilliant examination of Henry Plummer, the mysterious and elusive sheriff-protagonist, adds deeper and darker shadings to the story. This is less a black-and-white tale of heroes and villains than one about how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The author does not trade in the romanticism surrounding the vigilantes. Finally, and most remarkably, Allen's book can be read as an allegory about the uses and misuses of all governmental power. In the nineteenth century, Montana's besieged citizens cried out for help against their version of terrorists -- only to discover belatedly that the response by unchecked governmental authorities could be equally lawless. Who would have thought that the Vigilante Trail led to Abu Ghraib?

People who hate "High Noon" have been known to cite the goings-on in Idaho Territory of the 1860s as proof that an enraged citizenry would never back down from outlaws. According to "eyewitness accounts," a locally formed vigilance committee rounded-up Sheriff Henry Plummer and his bloodthirsty compatriots and, with the aid of lots of rope, soon put an end to the rampant murder and robbery in the gold camps.

While this account made for excellent melodrama, it was a bit too pat to stand the test of time, and of late, had become the center of some arguing and fist shaking in the vicinity of Alder Gulch. Frederick Allen painstakingly examines the players and their times. His conclusions will not please the revisionists nor the vigilante apologists. While the vigilantes started out with the best of intentions and went after the worst of the thugs, their focus was lost in the chaos and power struggles of their era. Like many mavericks, they went from being heroes to embarassments.

But Allen confirms that Henry Plummer, George Ives & Co. were not martyrs of misdirected justice. It's too bad the vigilantes didn't have the forsight to stop while they were ahead.

This is the type of book that gives University Presses a good name. The author is a former political editor and columnist with the Atlanta Constitution and commentator for CNN. He has managed to write a scholarly yet reader friendly book that challenges some standard accounts of the famous Montana Vigilantes and their sometimes extra-legal activities. In what was the deadliest chapter of vigilante justice in American history, from 1864-1870, in excess of 50 men were hanged in Montana. The majority were inocent of capital crimes and a disturbing numer were innocent. This is a riveting book that will, in addition to bringing the reader up to date on a significant chapter in western history, cause one to ponder the significance of the Vigilantes on our current political debate over the war on terrorism. This is first rate scholarship in a reader friendly format. Highly recommended.

One tends to associate the dark legacy of lynching almost exclusively with the South of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but in point of fact the most extensive episode of vigilante justice in American history actually took place in the Montana territories in the 1860s. The Montana vigilantes have long been hailed as heroes in Montana (Montana Highway Patrolmen, for example, still bear a patch honoring these men and their cause), men who took upon themselves the obligation to rid their community of dangerous individuals. In this thrilling historical account, however, Frederick Allen pries open the chinks in the vigilante movement's historical armor to show that their brand of frontier justice eventually descended into something much darker and much less defensible.

In the early 1860s, Montana was a wild country overrun by thousands of men clamoring for the new-found gold in its rivers and streams. Even as gold camps began appearing overnight, there was no government of any sort to oversee justice - just miners' courts to settle disputes over claims and the like. The nearest outpost of territorial authority lay hundreds of miles west of the Montana frontier. Thus, it is easy to see how lawlessness could prevail under such conditions; it manifested itself most particularly in the form of stagecoach robberies on the paths leading away from town. A man could lose a whole season's worth of gold dust in the blink of an eye, and such hold-ups could turn deadly on occasion. What could the settlers do to secure their safety and safe passage back to the States or elsewhere? There was no legal system in place in the territory, there were no cells to hold prisoners, and there were no courts or judges to adjudicate cases. There was a sheriff, however, a fascinating man named Henry Plummer - and he really stands at the core of the entire drama. He came to be suspected of complicity in the robberies and murders in the area, and this growing sense of doubt in their sheriff served as the final impetus for the leading men of Bannack and Virginia City to take the law into their own hands. Plummer was among the 21 men hanged during the first six weeks of 1864. There will always be a level of debate as to Plummer's guilt or innocence, and Allen examines this fascinating man's life in great detail. The real question is how a man twice convicted of murder could have become a sheriff in the first place, but this speaks to the true remoteness of the Montana territory in those days.

In all, 51 men were killed by the vigilantes over a six-year period. Allen agrees with the consensus opinion that the early stage of the movement was justified, as there is evidence that all 21 of the men lynched in the first six weeks of 1864 were guilty, dangerous men - including Henry Plummer. Were the story to stop there, the Montana vigilantes would deserve nothing but admiration for bringing order and security to their local community. They did not stop, however, and their activities inevitably devolved into acts of personal vengeance and the very perversion of justice. In that first crucial period of early 1864, accused men were given trials of a sort, their fates usually decided by the entire community. Hangings took place in broad daylight, and the identities of the vigilantes were in no way kept secret. As time went on, however, men were summarily executed by individuals acting upon little more than their own authority. With no hope or manner of defending themselves, it is very likely that some innocent men were hanged - and there can be little doubt that many of the guilty had not committed crimes serious enough to warrant death.

As is always the case in history, the most fascinating aspect of this whole story is the lives of the men involved. Allen identifies the vigilantes as leading citizens of the area, an unusual amalgamation of men both for and against the battle for Southern independence being waged during that chaotic time. Politics came to play a significant role in the whole saga, as the appointed leaders of the newly-established Montana Territorial government did themselves no favors by immediately alienating the significant number of Democrats among the local populace. This new government was ineffective at best, with the executive and judicial branches nullifying each other's authority - and this provided the pretext for the vigilantes to continue their operations.

A Decent, Orderly Lynching really is a fascinating book. Allen brings to life the mining camps of gold-rush Montana, recreating all aspects of society there on the remote frontier. He offers penetrating assessments of the men at the heart of this story, those on both sides of the hanging rope, drawing a sharp distinction between the early, honorable activities of brave men determined to establish order in their lawless region and the excesses of those who continued to pursue vigilante justice after Montana's new territorial government had been established. Through it all, he maintains an objective air, making his own judgments based on the evidence in hand - and his research efforts were impressive, to say the least. The story of the Montana vigilantes is a most telling part of the history of America, and Allen has done a superb job telling that story to those of us unfamiliar with it.

This book grabbed my heart and refused to let go. I ached for Vada, wished something beautiful would happen to her. I wished her love, riches and happiness. Even though it's been a while since I read this book, it still crosses my mind. Ms Johnson has created a classic and my only wish is that she would give us another book soon.

This is a beautiful, easy to read story with a sober, yet sweet crasp of reality. The characters in the book, especially the heroine were written well enough that I could identify with them and their feelings. It is a delightful account of a young girl growing into a mature woman, how she overcomes the obstacles of life and makes the best of them. Mrs Johnson made the story more attractive for a history buff like me with some insight to life of a poor family in early Oklahoma. I definitely recommend the story.

I really liked this book. I hope there will be a sequel. Some books are hard to put down even after you get to the end. This is one of those.

I bought this book at a signing to support a local artist. After reading it, I ordered copies for Christmas for my daughters-in-law who are strong, Oklahoma women. The characters are alive - half I've been and the other half I've known!

One of the advantages of the online book review service provided by Amazon.com is that lesser known authors are provided a forum in which their works can be brought to the readers attention without having to spend large amounts of money usually only available to better known authors and those with contacts at the large publishing houses. It has been my experience that there are a large number of very good authors that are unable to generate the required reader attention due to financial restraints. Many are so-called regional or local authors that are first rate writers who can, given the opportunity, compete with the "big name" writers.This is such an author and book.
I was reminded of Fred Harris and his wonderful novels of early 20th Century Oklahoma while reading this book. The book is set in the mid 1940s to the 1970s and involves what Rilla Askew calls "...a veritable mid-20th Century Everywoman." The woman, Vada Priddy, has more than her fair share of adversity but,in a manner that ultimately will make you proud, manages to overcome life's inevitable hardships and not only survive but endure. While not a new theme for writers, what really sets this book apart is the authors ability to combine a highly readable style with believable dialogue in such a manner that the reader almost feels like they have been sitting on the porch with the author and been treated to a personal reading. It's that good. A beautiful effort by a first rate author. Highly recommended.

I am not a huge history buff, but I do enjoy learning about the past and the effects on the people of the time. After reading this book, I felt like I was the one who tracked down the facts and met the people in this book. The author did an amazing job describing not only his path to locate facts and data, but the individuals that were affected by this piece of history. It was a great read and I'd recommend anyone who is interested in either WWII, the people of the time or trying to locate a past individual involved in the military to read this book.

On a B-17, Flying Fortress, the hottest hot seat aboard was usually filled by the smallest member of the crew. That would be the ball turret Gunner. On this particular B-17, on his last mission, on February 25, 1944, was a ball turret gunner, Anthony "Tony" Korkuc, who at 27, was the oldest man in the crew of ten. His was the squadron's only plane shot down that day.

He is reported missing in action. It wasn't until 1995 he was reported to be interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

This is the story of Tony Korkuc, as seen through the eyes of his curious nephew, Bob Korkuc who went on a seven year quest to find what happened to Uncle Tony.

The book is a fine blend of World War ll combat in the air, leading up to Tony's death and the education and growth of his nephew, who learned compassion and understanding while interviewing the various survivors of the flight. Both Tony and Bob grew in stature. In a manner Bob finished Tony's last mission.

This search opens a lot of doors to anyone who has lost a service man. There are fewer veterans to interview, but the trail is still inviting, and Bob Korkuc points the way.

Richard N. Larsen
Reviewer

Few books are done this well.

This is an example of superb reporting, the painstaking attention to meticulous detail to create a great story that soars above any slips in writing or inattention in editing.

I've flown in a B-17, roaming from the nose to the waist gun positions. I didn't have the nerve to get into the ball turret or the tail gun position. On the ground, a B-17 looks huge; inside, it's as cramped as a coffin. Unlike a coffin, a B-17 has no smooth edges or soft surfaces; it's as raw an airplane as was ever made.

Crew members must have felt they were on a ducking chair at a county fair, being blasted by unseen shotgunners. There's nowhere to duck, nowhere to hide, nowhere to run for shelter or safety. Korkuc does a great job explaining the nature and nerve of those who did mission after mission.

Thus he describes the raw guts of war. But the gem of his book is his seven-year search through official records and sometimes still shaken memories of airmen and civilians in Germany and the U.S. about the fate of the specific B-17 on which his uncle served and died. This is Ken Burns style of reporting at its very best.

It's a superb story, something almost never seen in today's news reports. It's great history; we already know who won the war, this explains what it took to win. It provides a very human touch to otherwise often impersonal records.

If I were teaching journalism (or history), this book would be mandatory reading. Students would need an "A" to graduate as a reporter or history major. This is as good as it gets, for history or news reporting.

One minor point: If I were editing, I'd want to know how anyone would know a person's final thoughts just moments before death. It's a minor glitch, one I've seen even seasoned journalists make. Nonetheless, Korkuc makes it sound believable because of the detail he gathered.

To sum up, seldom has a better tribute ever been written about the victims of war.

There's a good reason it's received unanimous (as of July 4) reviews -- they are well earned and deserved.

Korkuc tells a beautiful story.

You might read the last chapter of Bob Korkuc's book, Finding a Fallen Hero, and think 'but how does he know? What gives him the right?' The right, that is, to re-create the last day and last minutes of the crew of his uncle's B-17 Flying Fortress, as it goes down in flames over Germany in 1944. But aside from his disclaimer, that this is his own "dramatic portrayal," he has done the work and he has earned the right. Years of exhaustive research, correspondence with surviving crewmembers and their relatives, government records studied, and personal interviews, have brought him as close as anyone could be to the last moments of that plane and that bomber crew. He has taken all the research, all the facts, and masterfully tempered them with poetry . . . his take-off point is a poem written after the war by one of the surviving crew members who was haunted by the deaths of his crewmates. But Korkuc generates his own poetry in his re-creation of the last day. He does it with such sensitivity, such a light touch in the chaos of the plane's final minutes, that if I were a family member of one who died, I believe my overwhelming reaction would be "thank you. . . . thank you for that gift." The research detailed in the twelve chapters that precede that last poetic chapter must have been daunting to do . . . and can sometimes be daunting to read. But Korkuc ties it all together in such a moving way that you can't help but feel the poignancy of those lost lives, and the relevancy to what's happening in the world today.

'Captivating'...'hard to put down'...'thoroughly enjoyable' - all apt descriptors of Bob Korkuc's "Finding a Fallen Hero: The Death of a Ball Turret Gunner". Clocking in a 242 pp. (inclusive of Notes), "Finding a Fallen Hero" is a real page-turner, one easily gotten through even by a slow reader like this reviewer in one sitting. Not only is the story told engagingly (we'll come back to this shortly), but Korkuc is also a talented writer who conveys his prose with an economy of words. Too many historical authors - even some of the better ones - get distracted with side stories and irrelevant facts, not so with Korkuc. It's refreshing to read a book centered on happenings of the Second World War that stays on track and is contained but still grows the reader in having read it.

The basic story told in "Finding a Fallen Hero" is that of Staff Sgt. Anthony (Tony) Joseph Korkuc's (the author's uncle) final flight as a ball turret gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress (42-37786; unnamed) in the 532nd Bomb Squadron/381st Bomb Group. Tony Korkuc was KIA near Willmandingen, Germany on 25 Feb 1944 while returning from a bombing run to Augsburg, Germany. Although initially buried in Willmandingen, his remains were later relocated to the U.S. Military Cemetery in Saint-Avold, France, and finally interned in a group plot with three other men in Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia). While the story itself is relative straightforward, the path taken by Bob Korkuc to bring his uncle's story to life was far from effortless and took several years of diligent research and some personal discomfort to accomplish. The author's trek to discover the why's and how's surrounding his uncles death and multiple internments began simple enough on a trip to Arlington National Cemetery with his father in 1995 when the latter asked: "I wonder how Tony's remains got from Germany to Arlington?" With this simple question Bob Korkuc embarked on an adventure of investigation and discovery that was to finally bring peace and closure to a long mystery, both for the Korkuc family and possibly the families of the other five men of Staff Sgt. Korkuc's flight who perished that winter day over enemy territory. Thankfully for the reader Bob Korkuc has documented this journey for us to enjoy.

"Finding a Fallen Hero" is much more than a piece of Second World War non-fiction: it's a detective story that reads like an Arthur Conan Doyle novel; a tale of strong brothers-in-arms camaraderie; a story of self- and familial discovery; and a touching account of rememberance and healing of a handful of men who gave much of their youth in defense of their country. Few books this reviewer has read in the WWII genre ever come close to touching so many facets of life then and now. "Finding a Fallen Hero" should appeal to a broad swath of readers, not just those interested in history. Moreover, Korkuc shares with the reader how he went through his process of discovery and exposition in such a way that others can take similar treks if mysteries in need of solving exist in their family histories. Thanks Bob for your insights and thoughtfulness!

In his researching and writing of "Finding a Fallen Hero" Korkuc appears to have found what he was looking for and in doing so has given us insight into his life, his family and glimpses of war in the air over Germany during the Second World War. This reviewer cannot recommend this book highly enough - 5 HUGE stars, two thumbs up.

Very complete but it doesn't make it as an Encyclopedia. Would be better to complete with a tree including how the actual breeds were formed. It's an hybrid between a manual for a new horse buyer and a tecnic book of the different breeds. It's easy to read because includes some interesting stories about mayor breeds.

Being the author of this book I am naturally biased toward it. What I can say is that I contacted the best authorities in the world for information and pictures and did not borrow from any other book.

One thing I would like to say about the reviews on this book. The book is exactly as described by Amazon and the University of Oklahoma Press and I want to debunk the few odd reviews stating that this book consists of ten yellowed pages. I have no idea why anyone would state such a thing but can assure you that it is untrue and completely ridiculous.

Thanks,
Bonnie Hendricks

This book is wonderful. Lots of information, but a little pricy. Overall, it's a good deal for you if you love horses like me. One problem I had was I didn't know how many pages were in the book. All I know is it has more than 17 pages because there are 17 sample pages. I enjoyed looking at the sample pages. Thank you.

This book is truly a complete guide to horse breeds. Unfortunately the quality of the book material was a disappointment. It was filled with photos; but only a few were color photos. The pages were not much better than the quality of a comic book, thin and yellow. I expected much more for the price. 4 stars solely on the detail and depth of it's information.

Bonnie Hendricks has gone far beyond what any other horse breed researcher has done...she has contacted every breed association she possibly could. She has written with far more detail, greater accuracy, and on many more breeds than any other horse book I have seen. Her intelligent ideas inserted into some breed descriptions are well worth noting. This is a MUST-HAVE for the serious equine enthusiast! It has definitely spoiled my appetite for any other horse book that attempts to describe the breeds. Thanks Bonnie, we needed this book!

I would not have survived my recent journey into the world of Homer's Iliad without this lexicon. With its inclusion of irregular forms and its detailed listing of examples of usage, it is my best friend in my Homeric studies and I consider it one of my best investments. Thank you, Richard John Cunliffe. You are a hero among Classicists.

I agree with every bit of the praise from other reviewers, but the criticism from one reviewer about the poor binding is valid in my experience.

I once owned the hardback version which had sewn signatures. It never wore out, but I lost it during a move. I now have the paperback, which is glued, and the pages are coming out after about 2 months' of moderate usage. Others' experience may vary depending upon how the glue sets in their particular copy, but it should be noted that this book is not bound the way a reference book should be. Buyers should limber up the spine by running their fingers down the fold in several parts of the book, but even that is no guarantee (it didn't work for me).

For all that, it beats Autenrieth even for beginners because the ability to match passages to specific definitions is decisive. This is particularly useful when you encounter what appears to be an odd use of a common word. You can simple scan the entry to find the line reference. If we are going to have a contest of praise, let me submit that as the book's best feature.

This one is good for when you're studying a particular passage closely. It also functions as a concordance! It's a bit slower to use than Autenrieth, et al., but much more authoritative and thorough.

This dictionary is a godsend for anyone who wants to have more than a passing acquaintance with the poetry of Homer. Two things make it an indispensable aid in reading Homer.

First, it gives an exhaustive listing of the various meanings and nuances of meaning that any given word has in different passages of the Iliad and Odyssey. Since there are many words, particularly verbs, that vary in meaning from context to context, the dictionary helps one gain a more 'global' understanding of Homer's words.

The second area in which it proves inidspensable is in helping the reader idenitfy obscure forms of verbs. All too often one comes across a verb in the perfect tense that looks like it could be derived from any number of different verbs. Fortunately, instead of rifling through the dictionary, bouncing from verb to verb to find the one that is being used, Cunliffe does the reader the favor of listing virtually all forms whose
1st first person present could prove difficult to identify and refers the reader to the appropriate verb.

All in all an essential reference tool in the Homerophile's library.

This is quite simply the best lexicon for use while reading Homeric (or Hesiodic, generally) Greek. The text is designed specifically with The Iliad and Odyssey in mind; each word is given, followed by information on _where_ in the Homeric corpus those words appear, allowing for line-specific correlations.

The book also has outstanding morphological information on the words themselves, and a small appendix featuring Homeric conditionals.

This book is *far* superior to Autenrieth, and is more useful than the various editions of the L-S-J in that the words are keyed specifically to Homeric usage, and there are no non-Homeric forms to add extra clutter.

Outstanding.

I could not put this book down. It is an engaging book. I read it for some background research on John Steinbeck and the Grapes of Wraths. If you have read Steinbeck's masterpiece you have to read Red Dirt. I think Roxanne's memoir completes the story of the Joads. The psyche of the "Okie" comes alive and the drive of Roxanne to break away and then come to terms with it is fascinating. I loved this book so much that I use it for the Ethnic studies classes that I teach. I believe that to understand different ethnic groups we all have to understand what makes White America tick. This book delivers a much-needed look at the class divide among white America and no matter how much the poor whites have been abused by their richer cousins they still stand by their side. Why? Because they are white. This was a great ride

if you like books about the old way of living,you will love this book. it brings back memories of my childhood...

...
The best of autobiographical works are those that convey, in the telling of one life story, larger truths than those we experience as individuals. To accomplish this feat with seeming effortlessness, as Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz has done with Red Dirt, is to create not only a valuable historical record, but a literary work that is a pleasure to read. Employing the finest storytelling skills, Dunbar-Ortiz lovingly recollects her youth in Oklahoma and the family dynamics she experienced "growing up Okie" during the mid-20th-century. In the process, she touches upon a host of social issues--among them racism, sexism, and economic disparity--that have plagued the U.S. since its earliest days. Perhaps most importantly, she offers one resounding voice from among a vast population--namely, the white underclass--that consistently has been underrepresented in historical texts, and misrepresented in popular culture. Exploding the notion of 'poor white trash,' Dunbar-Ortiz offers three-dimensional alternative as she reconstructs through her personal memoir the history and struggles of the frontier settler class and its descendants. As we move into the next century, Red Dirt is a text of vital significance to our collective humanity

I grew up in central Oklahoma and can identify with many of the themes Ms. Dunbar-Ortiz writes about in Red Dirt. I think anyone who is on a journey of self-discovery or is attempting to reconcile his or her past will enjoy this book as much as I did. I rarely read literature about Oklahoma that makes me proud to be an "Okie" - this book does just that.

This book was my introduction to Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz. I read it before I learned more about her and her career as an activist for the past 40 years. She reflects on her life from birth until her move to California. She grew up in rural Oklahoma during some of the worst years ever. These were the years that shaped her, the launching pad of her feminist, anti-family, pro-socialist, anti-war, ... efforts.

The reader can learn a good bit about the Socialist movement in Oklahoma in the early 1900's, the Green Corn Rebellion and the patriotic surge that accompanied World War I.

Roxanne's grandfather, one of the less 'disfunctional' family members was a Socialist and strongly pro-labor and imparted his views to her. She remembers him fondly. It appears that her abusive alcoholic mother influenced her ideas about the family and church. She had very little to say about her mother or father that is not negative. Considering these influences, the dire poverty of her early childhood, and her marriage 'up' the social ladder her views on things are not too surprising. Simple - yes, but undeniably true, at least in part. And that does not take away from her drive, talent and desire to make a positive change in the world.

You can learn more about Roxanne at her website, reddirt.com.

I think I will read Outlaw Woman, the next volume of her story.

This book is not for the recreational reader, indeed it is one of the most depressing and distressing documents I have ever read. Nevertheless, I urge all readers concerned with issues that impact on the survival of humanity to read it thoroughly and absorb the lessons which it so graphically presents. In terms of an indictment of our government and various vested interests, it compares favorably with J'accuse written in 1898 by Emile Zola in response to the corrupt behaivor of the French nation, government and army during the Dreyfus affair. The most horrifying event in the book, and there are many to choice from, is the description of how the Health Physics Division was subdivided after Dr. Morgan's retirement in 1972 and distributed among "other laboratory divisions where radiation protection is not a primary objective". When I read this my immediate thought was of the dismemberment of Lemuel Pitkin so brilliantly described by Nathanael West. One can only be appaled by the many destructive acts which occurred when the Angry Genie left the bottle. It is frightening that those responsible for them have, to my knowledge, never been cited for criminal irresponsibility.

This charming memoir starts in 1943, when Dr. Morgan was recruited away from his happy research on cosmic-ray physics to join the atomic-bomb project. He was one of the four or five persons assigned to figure out how to prevent bomb-workers from irradiating themselves to death. In 1943, it was barely known how to measure doses from the various types of radiation, so Dr. Morgan had to invent many a metering device. Additionally, no one knew how to store the radioactive waste which would accumulate at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where Dr. Morgan detected its escape-routes and tried to plug them. He became an internationally honored expert and author on radiation health-effects and protection measures. This is the story of a man of great integrity, who made enormous contributions to protecting health, and yet by his own standards, failed to succeed well enough. His "walk" through the nuclear age helps to illuminate the suppression of scientific dissent in the nuclear enterprises --- and presents an interesting contrast to books by Dr. Glenn Seaborg (Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission) covering many of the same years. The ninth chapter covers Dr. Morgan's expert testimony for the plaintiffs in two landmark trials (the Karen Silkwood Case 1979, and the Utah Bomb-Fallout Case 1982). The memoir provides not only an important record of moral, legal, public health, environmental, and scientific history --- but it also provides a highly engaging personal story of coping with the unexpected.

I really enjoyed this story about a good human being who descended from a long line of Lutheran ministers going back to Martin Luther. It required considerable courage for Dr. Karl Morgan to publically detail the "biggest mistake" of his life when he reluctantly agreed to censorship by his superiors. This book was clearly written from Morgan's soul and provides valuable perspective from a 91-year-old legend who started the entire field of health physics. This autobiography should be required reading for all Americans.

I was captivated by Karl Z. Morgan's 50 year battle with powerful elements in the nuclear industrial complex for common sense safety measures. I was appalled to discover the extent of the damage the government inflicted upon our citizens through the abuse of nuclear power and and careless weapons' tests. Even more disturbing is Morgan's summary of numerous radiation experiments our government secretly conducted on innocent Americans. Morgan stands out as a pillar of truth in a desert of deceit. No one can read this without thinking "I had no idea this was going on."

It is commonly understood that only the best books are made into audio tapes. On a whim my family and I put the Angry Genie to the test. We read the book aloud on our annual cross country car trip without one complaint from any family member. The surprize attraction of the Angry Genie is its real appeal to the non scientific person. By just glancing through the book one might assume that he or she could be overwhelmed with scientific material, however, by no means is that the case. In the 180 pages of story, from the amazing experiments under Chicago University Stadium to the many photos of actual players in our history, I was drawn to the personalities and inside details of the developments of a powerful scientific discovery. In fact I most recommend this book because if the surprizing revelations on several fronts. First, the power and importance of science and scientists in this centuary is no more dramatically illustrated than in this story of nuclear power. Not even the terror of 'Outbreak" or the suspence of 'Apallo 13" are equal to the reawakening we get in the Angry Genie. Second, Dr. Morgan was able to input all of the required technical information and formulas in the book without interupting the book's flow. Third, the historical, medical and sociological impact is compelling. There is the letter from Einstein to FDR about the potential of the bomb and the fascinating information about the effects of all the different types of rays on humans. I plan on telling my book club about this wonderful book as well as all my friends who love historical books.

Monte Foreman's Horse-Training Science gives you the basics for training a horse. It is well illustrated, and easy to read.

Monte Forman should be recognized as the Father of Clinics. He started it all and, along with the wisdom and knowledge of Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt, gave us the foundation today that has sprouted so many well-known clinicians. Twenty-five years ago, all I heard about was Monte Forman from my "old friend" and a true horseman, Cliff Fisher. This book is a definite addition to any serious horse person's library. It is well written with simple directions and photos to achieve many tasks one would like to successfully complete. Highly recommended for all breeds and disciplines as horse talk is horse talk.

Monte Foreman's Horse Training Science, was written by Monte Foreman and Patrick Wyse, his long time student and his first certified insrutuctor, who has also been my instructor and mentor for nearly 30 years.

To really appreciate this book, a little background is helpful. Monte Foreman pioneered the use of video analysis in the study of how and why horses and riders interact.

Back in the days when almost everybody just leaned back and jerked the bit to stop a horse, Monte Foreman started taking home movies of good riders in various situations. He taped the same horse/rider combinations stopping while roping a calf, and stopping in a reining class. The differences in the horses and riders were astounding! Because of this, Monte started developing his own method of stopping horses, based on the calf roping stop. Horses trained in this method would stop balanced and relaxed from the rider's subtle signal, instead of getting suddenly yanked into the ground, as was commonly done.

Foreman also used video analysis to develope more effective methods for lead changes, roll maneuvers, and other elements of his training system, dubbed the BASIC HANDLE.

This method has been proven with thousands of students of Foreman and co-author Patrick Wyse. They focus in the book on practical and humane training methods, that have stood the test of time. Although this book is dated, the information is and always will be relevant.

In this age of "Horse Whisperers" who all seem to have some kind of hidden secret, Foreman and Wyse teach that all the elements of horse training can be learned by any student with enough time and desire to achieve it.

Monte Foreman's passing on was a tremensous loss to the equestrian world, but co-author Patrick Wyse is still teaching and training in clinics all over the North America, and at his home in Townsend, Montana. More about Patrick Wyse can be learned from his website, www.HorseWyse.com.

I bought this book way back in 1983. I still have it today.When I bought a green horse,it was like a bible to me. I still have the same horse too, so that should tell you this book helped me immensely. I believe in the methods that they teach in it because they really work. I also believe that the methods are timeless. I'm an East-coast backyard horse owner.

I am so pleased that this classic has been resurrected. It offers instruction that is clear and logical. This book made a lasting impression on me 25 years ago, and I heartily recommend it. Its techniques helped me to achieve many blue ribbons with my horses.