Because @ndlessjoie asked for it, I have some quick book recommendations. As requested, the following books are neither romance centric, nor follow the antics of a serial killer or two. Though I must say that this caveat to the plea for a good book gave me pause as that’s pretty much what I’ve been reading lately. But no worries, my book well is deep, and I can push aside the kissers and killers in order tell you about other very worthy novels.

First we have People of the Whale by Linda Hogan. Because I’m writing this quickly, I find myself struggling to describe this novel succinctly and clearly. In one sense it’s a story of a man conflicted with his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam war, and with his Native Pacific Coast heritage and spirituality. But it also a novel of the ravages of colonialism on culture, people, animals, and the land itself. It’s a book about identity, connections, what and who is our family, and where is that place we call home. I’m not doing it justice here, but this beautifully written work is particularly poignant as we witness the collapse of ecosystems as climate change is wreaking havoc all over the world. Though the main character I have named here is a man, this a not a masculine centered novel.

Next, another work by a Native American author, I recommend Antelope Woman by Louise Erdrich. This novel also blend the supernatural and spiritual traditions with the tragic and brutal effects of war. The novel begins with a raid on an Ojibwe village, an inadvertent kidnapping of a baby, and the resulting continued intertwining of the lives of the descendants of a US soldier and a bereaved mother. While my description here sounds wholly tragic, Erdrich’s writing doesn’t wallow in tragedy. Instead, much as we do in real life, she finds the threads of humor in the everyday, and in the real connections that people have as they live and love each other. There are grandmas who maintain the language and traditions of the past, but also embrace the conveniences of modern life. There is a foul mouthed dog who tells dirty jokes (It makes sense. I promise). But mostly, it’s yet another work that illustrates the complex connections we have with each other and with the land itself. One thing to note: I highly suggest reading the revised 2016 edition. Erdrich was able to return the book nearly 20 years after it was first published and make changes that make for a much more cohesive and richer reader experience.

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