Play Book Tag discussion
May 2023: Indigenous
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Announcing the tag for May
Speaking for all of us (except maybe 1) - Whew!
Dang it, I somehow missed the poll. Guess this month is flying by for me!I don't have any recommendations at the moment, but I'll be reading Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. It's been recommended quite a bit and has some good reviews.
Oh darn! I was really hoping for mythology. I’ll read that book anyway. Lol. Off to see what I have for indigenous…
I too wanted Greek Mythology, but I have several fitting indigenous coming up - a mystery and essay collection. NP.However, there is nothing fitting on my Subdue Clerk board coming up 😅
@Robin P - whew is right!! If we have any horror fans, I think you can read any Stephen Graham Jones and it will fit the tag, but especially apt would be The Only Good Indians.
I could use a rec. There was nothing on the list for me, but I plan to comb my TBR. I am sure to find something.
I am going to read Where the Dead Sit Talking. I was also very tempted by Johnny Appleseed but my library didn't have it.A newer book is Night of the Living Rez. I quite enjoyed it while reading it, but it didn't really stick with me. It's intertwined stories - - almost more short stories than a novel, but to me, it felt like a novel despite its marketing.
Others on my TBR are Sabrina & Corina and Indian Horse.
Amy wrote: "I could use a rec. There was nothing on the list for me, but I plan to comb my TBR. I am sure to find something."Amy, I do read a fair amount of books with indigenous people and looking through, I would recommend the following for you:
After Story- about an indigenous Australia mother and daughter who take a guided literary tour of England. I loved this book and have recommended it often. I think you would like the layered relationship of the two and their relationship with literature and what they got from the tour.
Days Without End- historical fiction- Powerful, loved it.
Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese - Novel about a young man and his estranged father.
The Master Butchers Singing Club - I just loved this when I read it. Historical fiction.
To The Bright Edge of the World - historical fiction, not sure if you read this
The Sentence- I think you might appreciate it.
Stolen - about indigenous in Sweden. It is a powerful story. Somewhat of a mystery.
Recommendations for everyone (of course the ones listed for Amy included)-
Indigenous not from North America-
The Yield -Australia
Gunshot Road - mystery Australia
The Bone People -New Zealand -warning child abuse
Fiction-
The Night Watchman
Thirteen Moons
Starlight
Indian Horse
Five Little Indians
There There - not for everyone but I loved it.
Mystery-
Shutter
Never Name the Dead
Firekeeper's Daughter
White Heat
Memoir
Heart Berries
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground
nonfiction
Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman's Search for Justice in Indian Country
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBIShort Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis
I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t really understand what indigenous means. Because I’m hoping something on my TBR fits. I do have some choices that are not on it that maybe will work, but I guess I just want to really understand the concept. I understand native Americans or anybody that is native. So like we’re talking about an island with native people, the Japanese or Chinese, or really any culture can be indigenous as long as they have been there for forever, usually with cultural, norms and experiences that haven’t really matched with the current zeitgeist. So I guess we’re thinking cultural really far back. So like I have plenty of books that are set an early Mesopotamia. Like my Jewish-y pre common era stuff. Like Pilates Wife and Ruth (the story of Ruth) is on my TBR as is Judah’s Sceptor and two books about the queen of Sheba. Is that considered native or indigenous? I have Bohemian Gospel on my TBR which is 13th century Bohemia. Is that considered native? I also have Daughters of Rome, which I have been wanting to read with Hannah. That’s not just been on my TBR, that’s been on my next to read list. Like within five books away. That’s in the earliest amount of time Rome could have been, like 5000 years ago. Is that indigenous? I find myself very confused. Can anyone help me clear this up?
BnB - just saw your list, thank you. I actually read fire keepers daughter last year, and absolutely loved it. I also read to the bright edge of the world. I do have Louise Erdrich as a possibility on my list. I did read love medicine and I’m not sure, but I might have read the Roundhouse too. I might not have, but I also think there’s a possibility that it’s sitting upstairs Dusty by the side of my bed. I’m curious about 13 Moons is and Stolen.
Amy wrote: "BnB - just saw your list, thank you. I actually read fire keepers daughter last year, and absolutely loved it. I also read to the bright edge of the world. I do have Louise Erdrich as a possibility..."Here is my review of Thirteen Moons- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and Stolen _ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is a list of what I might read, no guarantees.Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
The Break
The Round House
Monkey Beach
Love Medicine
Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
Rez Life: An Indian's Journey Through Reservation Life
This Tender Land
Indian Killer
(A Yellow Raft in Blue Water) By Dorris, Michael (Author) Paperback on 05-Mar-2003
Maud's Line
Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club
I think the early books of Louise Erdrich like Love Medicine are the hardest to get into. I haven't read them all but my favorites are The Round House, The Sentence, and The Night Watchman. There There is a pretty fast read of linked stories, though rather sad. I read a very good memoir by an Aboriginal Australian woman, but I've forgotten the name, I'll look it up.
BnB - I loved loved loved Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
It is also quite short. Beautiful and uplifting too.
Daughters of Copper Woman is a collection of stories told by women in the Northwest US. I love the story of Snot Boy, how the first people are all women but when 1 woman is left alone, she cries so much it creates this globby creature, who grows up to be the first man and turns out to have a couple of uses, mostly producing a daughter.
I'm pretty happy with this month's pick - anything but theology!
Amy wrote: "I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t really understand what indigenous means. Because I’m hoping something on my TBR fits. I do have some choices that are not on it that maybe will work, but I guess..."Looking up a definition-
.
(of people) inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists.
Also Wikipedia says -
Indigenous peoples are the earliest known inhabitants of an area, especially one that has been colonized by a now-dominant group of settlers. However, usage of the term and who may qualify as being Indigenous vary depending on nationality and culture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigen...
I can recommend:The Orenda
Remember Ben Clayton
News of the World
Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West
The Moor's Account
Lost Children Archive
The Revenant
The Son
The Removes
Inland
Dalva
The Bean Trees
River Thieves
Calling for a Blanket Dance
There are so many good ones! And these are just North America.
Oh, good! Although the most broad (and not usually what I hope for), this is the one I was hoping for. Haven't checked yet, but I'm sure I'll have plenty on the tbr!Some Canadian suggestions:
Indian Horse / Richard Wagamese (very good, fiction, but based on residential schools - might be hard to read for some)
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native
People in North America / Thomas King (nonfiction)
Five Little Indians / Michelle Good (fiction)
From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way / Jesse Thistle (biography, can be tough to read, but ends well)
My favourites in this list (4 stars each): "Indian Horse" and "From the Ashes"
Anita wrote: "I am going to read Where the Dead Sit Talking. I was also very tempted by Johnny Appleseed but my library didn't have it. ..."That's too bad. "Jonny Appleseed" (oddly, GR's title has it spelled wrong - if you look at the covers, there is no h in Johnny) is well regarded here, though I wasn't a fan, personally. (That's why I didn't add it to my recommendations.) I bet there are a lot of people here who would like it, though (it's more literary than I like).
Anita, maybe recheck your library with the proper spelling!
Amy wrote: "I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t really understand what indigenous means. Because I’m hoping something on my TBR fits. I do have some choices that are not on it that maybe will work, but I guess..."The term is most frequently used to describe native people who have been displaced to a great degree by invaders or colonists, such as Native Americans, aboriginals in Australia, Māori in New Zealand, native Hawaiians.
I think you might like many of these:
Louise Erdrich - I loved the Round House and The Sentence, and I plan to read many more in May.
William Kent Krueger - most would work
Barbara Kingsolver -Bean Trees series.
God of Jade and Shadow
Elatsoe
The Exiles - Australia
Into the Wilderness
Black Sun - fantasy
News of the World
The Night Tiger- Malaysia - some magical realism
Molokai - maybe
Potiki
Solar Storms
By BooknBlues definition, I can use daughters of Rome, or really any of the books that I referenced. By Nancy’s definition I cannot. Truth is, Nancy’s rules really sound right on. I think 13 moons sounds interesting. But if I’m being honest with myself, I really only want to read off. My TBR. Here’s what I’m thinking. Under the indigenous tag. I saw an audible original that fits. It’s actually a podcast of seven episodes with some storytelling on values. It’s called Seven {Something}. I’m thinking I might try to listen to that, and the truth is, I’ve never actually once even listened to a podcast. But when I’m done with my delightful Sadie, on a plate audio, I might just try it out and see if I’m interested in this thing. That trial is going to be my attempt at the tag. And then I think I’m also going to read the daughters of Rome even though it might fit, but it doesn’t quite fit. I’m gonna leave it up to you guys to debate whether or not these Mesopotamia or early Rome or early Bohemia examples count. In the meantime, I will have an attempted to tag through the Audible podcast, and let’s let daughters of Rome be a sort of homage, if you will…..
Amy wrote: "By BooknBlues definition, I can use daughters of Rome, or really any of the books that I referenced. By Nancy’s definition I cannot. Truth is, Nancy’s rules really sound right on. I think 13 moons ..."I added more books to my list above. I think there are a few you might really like
I am thinking I might read Pigs in Heaven or The Whale Rider. Indian Horse is also a possibility, since my FTF book group is considering that for a future read.I can recommend Fools Crow by James Welch and Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. And I agree with Theresa about Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival, it is a wonderful and uplifting little book.
Nancy, thank you. I have read the exiles and the night tiger and I really liked the night tiger a lot. I’ve read a lot of William Kent, Krueger, and Louise Erdrich does seem to be on the list.
I think my list already has some previous recommendations from BNB and Joy. I plan to read
Warrior Girl Unearthed - by Angeline Boulley (author of Firekeeper's Daughter)
Braiding Sweetgrass
books by Louise Erdrich, Richard Wagamese, and Thomas King
Possibilities:
Crazy Brave
Love Medicine, Beet Queen, Plague of Doves, LaRose, Books and Islands of Ojibwe
Master Butchers Singing Club - I’m not sure if the tags are for the book or the author
Indian Horse
Absolutely true diary of a part- time Indian
Stolen
Inconvenient indians
Even as we breathe
Betty - Appalachia setting
Five little Indians
Elatsoe
The Break
The Adventures of China Iron
Waiting for the Barbarians
Islands of decolonial love
Seven Fallen Feathers
Monkey Beach
Black Sun
Solar Storm
Two Old Women
Bone People
Potiki?
I also want to read one of the books about the Dakota Access Pipeline - any recommendation?
I really loved The Sentence, The Round House, The Night Watchman
Firekeeper's Daughter
Night Tiger
Whale Rider
Nicole R wrote: "Oh darn! I was really hoping for mythology. I’ll read that book anyway. Lol. Off to see what I have for indigenous…"
Yup I will definitely be abstaining from this months reading. Will not do my mental health any good at all after the last couple of years.
I thought the Firekeeper's Daughter was entertaining, with a much greater focus on the joy of the Anishanabe culture (as opposed to focusing on trauma).
I think I might be reading Woman of Light. That definitely fits the tag and well it’s not exactly on my TV or it’s not far off. And if it’s not right or I don’t like it, I can toss it.
Lyn wrote: "I am thinking I might read Pigs in Heaven or The Whale Rider. Indian Horse is also a possibility, since my FTF book group is considering that for a future..."The Whale Rider is fantastic!
Louise Erdrich also writes a children's series (think Little House on the Prairie, but for an indigenous family) that is quite good ... Begins with The Birchbark HouseAnd Karen Hesse wrote an interesting book about an Inuit community that were forced to move from their island after a Japanese plane crashed there during WW2 ... Aleutian Sparrow.
AMY ... this one would be great for you, as it is written in verse (😉)
It would also blow out candle # 9, as 18 people have tagged it "world-war-ii"
Dealing with the indigenous peoples of Australia, I can recommend:Only Killers and Thieves
The Secret River
Here's the list of books mentioned in The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. There's bound to be some indigenous ones on there.
https://www.listchallenges.com/the-se...
I can recommend Braiding Sweetgrass, and will be reading another by the author for this tag.
https://www.listchallenges.com/the-se...
I can recommend Braiding Sweetgrass, and will be reading another by the author for this tag.
For people who would like to read about native Hawaiians, I can recommend Sharks in the Time of Saviors.
I highly recommend, from Joy's list above, The Revenant-five stars. I only picked it up because I won book # 2 in a giveaway, and being the silly purist that I am I had to read Book #1 first. So glad I did and keep hoping there is a book 3.I would love to see other's here at PBT read this book. Punke's writing and storytelling had me reaching for this book when it came time to sit down and read. Highly recommended for HF readers.
NancyJ wrote: "Amy wrote: "I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t really understand what indigenous means. Because I’m hoping something on my TBR fits. I do have some choices that are not on it that maybe will work,..."I have Black Sun and my TBR and have read this author before and like her-thanks for the reminder Nancy
Lyn wrote: "I am thinking I might read Pigs in Heaven or The Whale Rider. Indian Horse is also a possibility, since my FTF book group is considering that for a future..."I loved Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
Amy wrote: "I think I might be reading Woman of Light. That definitely fits the tag and well it’s not exactly on my TV or it’s not far off. And if it’s not right or I don’t like it, I can toss it."I have that on my TBR-maybe we try a buddy read to get through this tag Amy?
Holly R W wrote: "For people who would like to read about native Hawaiians, I can recommend Sharks in the Time of Saviors."That one looks good Holly-unfortunately, like Amy my Tag has to come from my current TBR, but I will research this one further.
Thanks, Joanne. "Sharks" is quite different. In case you're interested, here is my review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Jen wrote: "Yup I will definitely be abstaining from this months reading. Will not do my mental health any good at all after the last couple of years...."Not all indigenous stories are tragic and distressing. The children's book by Louise Erdrich are not full of tragedy, if that helps at all. And Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival is very uplifting!
JOANNE!!!!! Totally done! I already ordered it from the library. As long as if we don't love it, we can toss it. I completely credit you with inspiring me to learn the art of the DNF. Its only these last weeks of my life that I am learning to appreciate and play with the subtleties and nuances of such a concept. But I am getting slowly better at the idea. Its not exactly on my TBR, but its on secret not so secret phone list that is close to the actual TBR - so I can make that work. So I can at least attempt the tag. I would so hate to break my record. Anyone want to join us for Woman of Light?
Booknblues wrote: "Here is a list of what I might read, no guarantees.[book:Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History|764826..."
I definitely want to recommend Two Old Women! Short read packed with a terrific story of survival.
Joanne wrote: "Holly R W wrote: "For people who would like to read about native Hawaiians, I can recommend Sharks in the Time of Saviors."That one looks good Holly-unfortunately, like Amy my Tag..."
My TBR has Shark Dialogues that is about Hawaii! What is it with shark titles tied to Hawaii!? Guessing there are lots of them there. Here too, in FL on the Atlantic coast.
Amy wrote: "JOANNE!!!!! Totally done! I already ordered it from the library. As long as if we don't love it, we can toss it. I completely credit you with inspiring me to learn the art of the DNF. Its only thes..."Ok, my library has it, so it's try it out-I put it on my list of May "first to get list"
NancyJ wrote: "Amy wrote: "I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t really understand what indigenous means. Because I’m hoping something on my TBR fits. I do have some choices that are not on it that maybe will work,..."I recommend Moloka'i, William Kent Krueger, and Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival
My list grew with BnB's list but I've been trying to keep it down! On my TBR I have Love Medicine, To the Bring Edge of the World, Listening Woman (Hillerman for a quick read), and Krueger's Boundary Waters.
I also join in the recommendation for Barbara Kingsolver's
Bean Trees series.
This was my first choice, so naturally I'm as pleased as I could be given the selection. Plus I have some in my tbr.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival (other topics)The Night Watchman (other topics)
Monkey Beach (other topics)
Five Little Indians (other topics)
Indian Horse (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Louise Erdrich (other topics)Louise Erdrich (other topics)
Laura Esquivel (other topics)
Louise Erdrich (other topics)
indigenous
Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.
Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "indigenous" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.
One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.
Happy Reading!!!