Distant Thunder

Thunder Over the Ochoco #2

by Gale Ontko

4th printing, unread, orig. owner, pages clean. binding and spine tight

Genres: History

378 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tyler Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn’t as captivating as the first but very interesting nonetheless. Hearing about the wars that were fought between Native tribes and the US government on the ground that I grew up adventuring (sisters, bend, etc) makes me look at these wonders with a different lens. The trees that stand today have seen the fall of these ancient people. It’s eerie hearing about one of the most powerful tribes in American history (Snake Shoshoni) roaming Eastern Oregon and giving everything for their land. There war with America is yet to come. The story concludes bitter surrender of the Wasco and Walla Walla tribes as they were put on the Warm Springs Reservation that there descendants live to this day.

[Susan Conklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is part of a series anyone interested in the history of the West should read. Blunt and filled with fascinating history, Volume II begins the heartbreaking saga of the arrival of the settlers into Shoshone territory of East Oregon. This is a history not even the locals know and without this series, who knows what facts would survive.

[KennyO · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this volume the invading settlers, when not scratching for their own survival, work to establish towns and "civilization" and to marginalize the native population of the Oregon Territory. It's not the view of history I learned in my school days. Amazing!

[Val Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I have read volumes 1, 2 and 3. Can't wait to get my hands on 4 and 5.
History at its finest.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seond volume in a five volume set on the history of the Shoshoni tribe in eastern Oregon (thus the title). The author has a writing style that is easy to follow and makes history come alive. This volume covers the establishment of the Oregon Trail and other routes for wagon trains through Shoshoni country along with the events occuring during the years the trail was used the heaviest. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

I have also posted my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page.

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As my first dip into non-fiction in a while and as an Oregonian this was a great start. Well researched and written. Unfortunately the historical story of western colonization is much what one would expect- arrogance, entitlement, broken promises and lots of blood, repeated again and again. Still, I think this book (and others in the series im sure I'll pick up in the future) have expanded my appreciation of pacific north western history. I especially appreciated the attention to the Native perspective and how the tribal dynamics were shifting and reacting to settler conflict.

[Joyce Reynolds-Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accessible history writing that takes a broader overview than most popular works. Recommended.

[Mike Thoennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book covering the history of the Snake Indians fight to survive. This covers the time of several fur company's invasion of the Northwest territory. Read and learn how many of the names of rivers towns came to get their names. The fight continues.

[Jennifer]

This series is an amazing series. Though for these types of books are something that I read at intervals. I have been very impressed. A good read for those that live in Oregon.