Oklahoma Books

This a collection of fairly simple but fascinating myths and stories from the Mohave Indians, collected by Herman Grey (who is himself a Mohave, of the Beaver Clan). Together with the classic novel of late 19th century Mohave life, Crazy Weather, by Charles McNichols, it provides a strong sense of Mohave tradition and culture.

One of the unique features of Mohave stories (and Mohave life in general) is the central role played by dreams. As it says in the preface to this book: "The Mohave clings to his belief in dreams as a basis for everyday life. Not only all shamanistic power, but all myths, songs, bravery, fortune in battle, and good fortune in gambling derive from dreams. Every special event is dreamed. Knowledge is not a thing to be learned, a Mohave will say, but something to be acquired by each person through his dreaming.... Dreams, then, are the foundation of Mohave life. Dreams are always stated as if they had been cast in mythological modes. In no other tribes are activities so controlled by this psychic state. In no other Indian culture is daily life so completely reflected in myths and songs."

Some of the stories are legendary and illustrate the Mohave concepts of their relationship with nature, while others are based on actual historical events, such as an ill-fated raid by the Mohave and Apaches on the Pimas to the south.

If you're interested in Mohave traditions, American Indian cultures in general, or in the region of the lower Colorado River and its history and cultures, I think you'll appreciate this book.

I first read Talking to the Moon when living in Oklahoma's Osage County, only a few miles from where it was written. John Joseph Mathews, the author, was a native of that beautiful, rugged, still sparsely populated country. The scion of a locally prominent part-Osage family, he attended the University of Oklahoma and Oxford University, fought in WWI, and then came home to live alone for 10 years in a house he had built on his father's ranch. This book is the fruit of that time; it recounts his experiences and observations of the people, wildlife, and flora of that unique place. I found most of his observations to be accurate and pertinent 45 years later, except that if anything there are fewer people and better environmental conditions than there were in the 1930s and 40s, when Oklahoma's oil fever was still in full swing, and the Osage country was a hotbed of petroleum exploration and exploitation.

The book's structure is based on the Osage's concept of the moon's cycles as the basis of their year. The opening sentence of the third chapter, "Just-Doing-That Moon", says: "The Osage say that the moon is a woman and that she makes her appearance twelve times a year." Each of the moon's appearances has a name and, in the book, a corresponding chapter.

Mathews was deeply involved in Osage tribal politics, attempting to safeguard their lands and mineral rights from encroachment by state and federal government, and also attempting to preserve tribal history. He founded the Osage Tribal Museum in Pawhuska, and one chapter of the book is mostly devoted to his successful effort to have portraits painted for the museum of the leading elders of the tribe. This was in the summer of 1936, which still stands as the hottest on record in this area. His tales of dealing with the proud, recalcitrant elders and the somewhat clueless portraitist are both humorous and moving.

Mathews was a sophisticated, cosmopolitan intellectual, but he loved his people and his land, was always concerned with their welfare, and in writing this book, gave us an affectionate and clear-eyed account of the beauties and terrors to be found among the blackjacks and canyons of the land that Woody Guthrie called "the great Osage."

I really enjoyed this book. Kate Ross is a very strong character in this book. Hiram is a hoot!!! IF YOU LOVE A GOOD WESTERN YOU WILL LOVE THIS ONE.

I can not say enough good about this book.....for think of it more as what Little House on the Prairie should have been if it was interesting....and what Tom Sawyer and Hunk Finn would have been if Mark Twain was a good writer.

I consider this a fabulous work, because it is first hand history of the wife of General Custer in the year after the Civil War. It is the excitement of times on a broad scale and the narrow joy of a married couple coping with life.
It honestly is a conversation between Libby, the reader with literal colorful commentary by her black maid, Eliza.
You will read how black history really was and not what is written now.

You get to see women in all their supposed helplessness at times, but when a tragedy strikes time and again their real courage and strength comes out.

I have yet to read anything from Libby whether it is her personal letters...to the absolutely heart wrenching account of the day she found out her family was slaughtered at the Little Big Horn which did not show one of the most charming and delightful personas ever to imprint upon the written word.
So as Mrs. Dockter, my 5th grade teacher always read to us after noon recess....if you have children or grandchildren....read to them...and if you have grown children get them this book as it impressed me enough to recommend it.

This book should be required in every school as a reading assignment along with Dickens and Irving.

This book was absolutely outstanding! An interesting look at both the official and unofficial duties of the Sheriff in the 1950's. A must read for any law enforcement officer interested in history.

I knew nothing about Black Wall Street until I visited the DuSable Museum for King Day and since then, I have been on a mad search trying to find anything I can about the Tulsa, Oklahoma bombing, elite Black people, and how Blacks who were supposed to be elite because of the oil surplus are receiving profits now. Because I was looking more for fact-based material on the actual bombing and crimes committed, I wasn't so much interested in the first-hand accounts of people who were not directly involved and their bios that weren't related to the bombing/fighting/lynching. There were lots of stories about Black people who did not live in the area that was destroyed and saw it from outside neighborhoods. I was more interested in reading about the people that were taken to prisons for safe-keeping and for fighting back, the ones who stood outside of the courthouse when they were trying to lynch a young Black man inside, and so forth.

However, there was an impressive amount of information about growing up in Tulsa during the time before it was bombed. This book gave readers more knowledge in what it was like to live there and why Black people stayed around in an area so incredibly racist.

I will be honest and say that I didn't complete the read because after reading about ten antecdotes, they weren't what I was looking for. However, for those who are interested in hearing about people from Oklahoma and not so much about that actual fatal day, it was an interesting read nonetheless.

Eddie Faye Gates is a very good author. Her down to earth writing style is easy to read and enjoy.

"True-to-life" depiction of real people dealing with real situations.

Three Plays are a departure from Momaday's usual writings, not poetry or essay or fiction. They are magnificent, beautiful and unforgettable.

Based on historical accounts, The Indolent Boys tells the story of how three boys ranging from 8 to 15 ran away from boarding school, were lost and froze to death. It is a tragedy, with elements of farce but ultimately tragic and moving. Some of the characters will move the reader to anger, frustration and tears but all offer a glimpse of humanity at its best and worst.

Children of the Sun is a creation story, how the sun and moon came to earth and the old days when dogs could talk. Written for children it is lighter in tone but not dumbed down or condescending, adults will enjoy it as well. Instructions in the text also allow it to be performed with a smaller or larger cast, actors can take on more than one part.

The Moon in Two Windows is a screenplay and the text does not indicate it was filmed. A story about the historic Army-Carlisle game of 1912 with flashbacks and fast forwards, it tells the story of the first group of children taken to the Carlisle Indian School. A captivity story, some of the children manage to adapt and survive while others do not. The story follows Luther, from his boyhood to middle-age, and his relationship with Richard Pratt, the founder of Carlisle. There is humor, sadness, bravery, and treachery. Jim Thorpe and Dwight Eisenhower also appear in small roles. And yes, for once the indians win.

If, during a quiet moment, sometimes the memory of that love from long ago enters your thoughts and suddenly you begin once again to reflect on where you are and where you would like to be....if only...then you will enjoy and connect with this book.

Wherever you travel in the Mundo Maya; this study of the Zinacanten of Chiapas, offers the clearest, most "understanding" anthropological study by "friends" of the Maya that anglos are likely to have translated to them. What is truely impressive is that what Evon Vogt presented here is so understated, so much like what a dinner party is like in Chiapas, or Q-Roo, or the Peten, that we can feel what the writers of the Popul Vuh felt in their hearts! Itzam'na.