Book Report 4 (In mad love and war

I did my last Book Report on In Mad Love and War by Joy Harjo. It is a fascinating collection of poems. 

Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16f2NVIgkXnfnq5IfjqrkrwmekjSBa5CJFle8r9k9qHA/edit?usp=sharing 

Book Report #3 On the Ice

I did my third book report on a movie. You might have heard of it. It is called On the Ice. I learned while researching this move that it was written and directed by Andrew Okpeaha MacLean.

Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JlbQ-T5aFAvQxZ1SfiKw_694mTwqPPil7QN4MVZvVzQ/edit?usp=sharing

Book report #2 Water Lily

My second book report is on the novel Waterlily by Ella Deloria. I heard a few friends talking about this book back in March. So, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to look into it. 

Here is the link for it. Let me know what you think
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uC1PLVR5BipSX3QV2qGDyvwLZlFxu5ayrGJAmYEjbRw/edit?usp=sharing  

There There chapter 3, 4, and 5.

Well these chapters were certainly different in their viewpoints. For all their differences these three characters did have some connection to the Native heritage. The three characters for these chapters are Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield, Edwin Black, and Bill Davis. The chapter featuring Opal takes places when she was a child. Her mother took Opal and her sister Janice to Alcatraz prison close to Thanksgiving. I could not imagine living in the cold dark cell blocks of that prison. This experience may not have been the most pleasant for Opal, but she did see a new side of her sister Janice. The older sister drinks with a group of teenagers. In this case it seems that Opal is the more responsible sister. She just stands to the side and watches her sister drink. Then she later learns that her sister is pregnant. Her mother tries to tell Opal the reason behind her name, but the girl does not really understand it. I think she will when she comes of age.

Then there is the chapter which features Edwin Black. He is a fat, 30 year old, computer addict. I think many people in the world right now can relate to him. So many people are going online now to look for details on the corona virus. Edwin on the other hand is looking for details about his father. He meets his father through his mother's Facebook account. He learns which tribes his father belongs to. One of which is the Cheyenne tribe. Then his mother comes home and tells him that she has a job lined up for him. He agrees to look at the application if she will send it to him. After this Edwin tries on his old powwow dancer clothes. I think he is on his way to finding his place in the world.

Now the third chapter deals with Bill Davis. He is Edwin's mother boyfriend. He does maintenance work for the stadium that will be hosting the powwow that the book centers around. Bill does not dislike Edwin really. He just think he is too soft. This is pretty understandable coming from a Vietnam war veteran. But I think Bill needs to accept that people live differently now. They things that make a boy into a man now are not the same as when he was a young man. He is a member of the Lakota tribe and has also gone to prison. There he read many different books. I think if I ever did end up in prison I would do the same thing.

There There: Chapters 1 and 2

The author of There There, Tommy Orange. He seems to have a very thoughtful expression on his face.
What he is thinking about?

I have heard about books that tell a story from multiple perspectives. So I find it interesting that this book follows that lay out. The first two chapters are both set in Oakland. They both are from the perspective of guys who have had difficult lives, Tony Loneman and Dene Oxendene. Tony only talked to his mother when she was in jail. While Dene grew up with his mother looking after him. Tony sells drugs and Dene smokes weed. They are both what would be termed Urban Indians. They have both lived in Oakland their entire lives. They feel a connection to their heritage.

They may not live in tepees or on the open prairie, but that does not make them any less Native. They are still aware of their past and they respect. However, they also go out and make their own lives. Tony danced at powwows when he was younger. His grandmother taught him about his heritage which I believe made him embrace it. His reason for selling drugs is a relate able one. Tony wants to help support his grandmother in any way he can. Yes he does not like doing it sometimes but he does it. I think this reflects the usual idea of Indians being loyal their families. Unlike Tony, Dene seems to have a more open minded person.   

Dene embraces his heritage in a more open and direct way. His enrolled in two tribes, indicating his is proud of his native roots. He wants to people to tell him their stories. Not traditional stories they learned but their own life stories. This sounds very therapeutic to me in a way. His intentions are good and he goes the extra mile by applying for a grant. This signifies that Dene has a noble ambition. He wants people to see how real Urban Indians live. Rather than project the downtrodden traditional stereotype so many people fine familiar.     

Tear by Linda Hogan (Chickasaw)

The author of this amazing poem, Linda Hogan. 

"Tear" by Linda Hogan was the first poem I read in #NotYourPrincess Voices of Native American Women. It really set the tone for this collection of poems. The pom is simple in structure and a quick read. But the language and tone of the poem resonates with me. The repeated lines "They walk inside me. This blood / is a map of the road between us. / I am why they survived. / The world behind them did not close. / The world before them is still open. / All around me are my ancestors, / my unborn children." made me understand the poems purpose. The culture of the speakers ancestors is kept alive through her and the child she will have. The world that her ancestors lived is gone but not forgotten. The future of her culture and her people is full of opportunity. This speaker believes firmly that Native Americans will continue to fight to be heard in the modern world. This is the first in several posts I will make about poems from this collection.

Final thoughts on Give Me Some Truth.

Give Me Some Truth was a very interesting book. I followed the two striking journeys of Maggie and Carson. Mr. Matchstick learned that he needs to stop trying to control everything. Sometimes he needs to have more faith in his bandmates. During the Battle of the Bands his group sounded great even though Carson was not leading them. Lewis finally stood up for himself and took on Jim in a fight. He got his butt whooped a bit but he proved that Jim can not push him around anymore. Carson learned that peaceful protest can work if you work at it. In spite of his father's violent action turning it into a riot. 

I am happy that Maggie did not 'give' her virginity to Jim. That man did not really care about her. He just wanted to be with someone who made him feel young. She finally sees and confronts this in the last chapter of the book. She is taking full control of her life. However, I am still hoping in the future that she and Carson might get together. As soon as they both grow up a little more. One thing that seems to really surprised Maggie is that Marvin gets a life of his own. He starts to assist the drummers at socials. 

Carson reads about the real Geranal George Armstrong Custer. The man was known as a great 'Indian Killer" in spite of being massacred by Indians at the Battle of Little Bighorn. He realizes that a man like that should be used as a mascot for a restaurant. Throughout the novel, Carson learns why his brother attempted to rob Custards Last Stand. Derek wanted to make a political statement. I think it is plausible that Carson could be a season peaceful protester in the future. 

Overall, I did enjoy this book. When I started reading this book I was not sure what it was about. But as I kept reading it the meaning and purpose of the book came through. Carson, Lewis, and Maggie were all effected by the songs of the Beatles. In the end they all wanted to seek their own kind of truth in this world. 

Thank you all for reading this post. I'll be posting about some poems written by Native Americans about Native American. Also, I will be giving out an update on what I have been up to during this pandemic.