Hey all, I’ve been intending to recommend one of these books for quite awhile, and the other one I’m in the middle of at present, and it’s fascinating.
Canyon Dreams is about the Chinle HS basketball team (@fernwood, thought it might interest you). The author gets to know them, their families, and coach, and follows them on their journey to the state championships. My brother gave it to me, and it’s a beautifully written book, one of my favorites.
I realized I know way more about the history of the desert Southwest then I do my own area, so my husband recommended I read Autumn of the Black Snake. I know I must have learned a lot of this back in grade school, but I remembered practically nothing. It’s taking me a while to get through, because there’s so much history and detail in it, plus I keep putting it down and googling to see exactly where everything’s taking place. If you like digging deep into history, but still like it to be written in an engaging manner, this book is perfect.
If anybody knows any well written, interesting books about the history of the upper Great Lakes please let me know. My brother gave me a few, but they were a bit too dry, and I got bogged down and couldn’t finish them.
The second book is at times brutal and difficult to read, but still beautifully written and gripping. And I am relearning about historical figures such as Blue Jacket and Little Turtle. It culminates with the Battle of Fallen Timbers. I went there on a field trip when I was in grade school, and I’m kind of ashamed to say I haven’t been back even though I often go through that area on the way to Detroit. In fact I have to go through this Sunday; maybe I’ll be able to make time to stop. The first part of the book also talks a fair amount about your home state of VA.
It has a number of maps in it, but it uses the original names so I keep looking things up. I knew Kekionga was Ft Wayne, but I did not remember that the Maumee River, which is a few miles from us, was called the Miami of the Lake (Lake Erie). My husband is a voracious reader who will read anything and everything, and says this is one of the best historical books he’s read in a long time.
That looks interesting, especially since we have spent quite a bit of time in that area. My brother (who read about 50 books a year - since his passing we are still trying to wade through all of what he had) gave me one on the history of Tombstone that I still need to read.
Ooh, books! My other obsession, lol. Some of my books that I’ve read over the last 30 yrs or so. (I haven’t yet read Black Elk.) I have few other books by Marshall. Looking forward to seeing more posts on this thread .
Those look really interesting (I enjoy Ian Frazier’s writing also). Some of my favorite books are when travel and history intersect. I especially enjoy books that are descriptive of places; I love it when the author makes me feel the place, and then of course I have to pull out the maps. Hence my absolute love of all the Hillerman books. If I could pick another job I would want to be a travel agent
I’m curious, has anyone read any of Dr. Mark Sublette’s novels? I also like a well-witten mystery (as long as it’s not too descriptively gory).
First, Regarding Dr Sublette’s novels…every time I visit Medicine Man, I think I should buy one. I’d love to know if anyone has read one. One of us has to go first😁.
I love books and have way too many that I’m sure those on this forum would love (some already posted). Here’s a few of my favorites:
I have Appetite for America! Another gift from my brother, and it was really good. Oh no… I see I am going to eventually have to read the books on Navajo trading that @Patina and @Bmpdvm have listed. And that Ian Frazier one also. But I want to reread Willa Cather’s Death Comes For the Archbishop soon; it’s been years, although I have read some of her other classics recently. I love the way her stories kind of meander beautifully along with the character’s life.
These 3 books put me right smack in the landscape they describe. The Frazier book was one I had read long ago and lost, but of course my brother had one down in his basement And even though I don’t always see eye to eye with Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire is one of my favorites. I can almost feel the warm sandstone rock and smell the sage when I read it.
@Bmpdvm Like you, I have too many books to list. I also have the book “Edge of Taos Desert”. Here are 2 additional books on Mabel Dodge Luhan (though you probably already own them). And, in another bookcase, I located 3 more books . (And, there’s O’Keeffe & Millicent Rogers in NM…)
Totally agree @Ziacat! And @Patina, yes we have the same books! I just recently got the book on Millicent Rogers that I’m taking on our upcoming car trip to the Southwest (although not Taos😔).
You’d both like the Mable Dodge Luhan house in Taos. As I’ve previously said, multiple times in the past we stayed there and relaxed after Indian Market in Santa Fe (fabulous breakfast!)…great times!
Escalante’s Dream is another book given to me by my brother, and does a great job of weaving history and travel together. The author follows the trail of Escalante, and switches back and forth between history and his own trip. I have read John Wesley Powell’s narrative of his trip down the Grand Canyon, but actually prefer this book, and have read it several times. The book on the right is a great travel book that I bought at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site.
You all have so many great books!
I have this one by Pablita Velarde, a famous woman painter from Santa Clara Pueblo.
She used to shop in the grocery store where I worked. I asked her to sign this book for me.
She was older by this time, and couldn’t see to paint anymore, so she told me she was making dolls.
She died the following year.
I have heard of her! Looks like a beautiful book, and so lovely that you got to know her. Not sure why, but sometimes it’s strange to think of famous people shopping for groceries, but aren’t you glad she came to your grocery store!
Thanks for introducing a new-to-me Native American artist! It looks like a lovely book. How wonderful that you got to meet her. An author signed book is always a treasure.
@Ziacat She lived in the neighborhood!
She was a tiny lady, and I made it a point to speak with to her every time she came in.
She once told me that she knew RC Gorman.
@Bmpdvm oh if the painting is an original, then it’s worth $$$$$!
I believe she painted ceramic tiles, too.
@Patina I found the book on eBay, and I brought it to the store, so when she came in I could get her to sign it. She seemed happy that I asked for her signature!
@Stracci. I believe it is an original…they have a fabulous art collection. Her husband, the collector, passed away a short time ago. I’ll check with her when I get home and try to get a picture. I know they thought the world of her.
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