ScurvyProtectedOct 19

I just finished the book "38 Nooses: Lincoln, Little Crow, and the Beginning of the Frontier's End" by Scott W. Berg. I've been wanting to learn more about Native history in the US, especially the history of the Dakota.

Overall, I think it was a good book, especially if you're interested in the USAmerican settlement of Minnesota and the period that ended the armed Dakota resistance to it. It does a pretty good job of weaving personal stories of influential/notable figures in the history. It keeps things focused on the Dakota, but then zooms into relevant parts of other things going on within the context - especially Lincoln during the civil war. (1/3)

#BookReview #bookstodon #nativeamericanhistory #history #nonfiction

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I have some criticisms of it though:
- Its analysis of things is mostly limited to the individual scale, though it does talk a bit about the Indian System, settler encroachment, and treaty violations and how they caused problems.
- The book, other than the first part, doesn't seem to focus on the Dakota themselves very often. It makes their side understandable of course, but things are mostly told from the different perspectives of white people - even when it's focused on events with the Dakota
- The narrator in the audiobook version is also pretty monotone, which makes sense because it's a sort of dry book. Not bad, but could have been better for me with a narrator that's a less monotone. The worst thing though is that they do the stereotypical Native American voice when speaking as one of them in quotes. There isn't really an excuse for that

(2/3)

Oct 19 at 2:05amWeb
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I'd still recommend it, but I'd hoped for things from the perspectives of the Dakota more. Maybe I'll read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee next? I know it's not specifically focused on them, but it is told from the point of Native Americans. I'd love to read things about the Dakota and/or Anishinaabe in modern-day though. Kind of a specific topic, so I don't know what's been written.

If anyone has recommendations for that, or just for general recommendations you think I'd be interested in, feel free to give them! I'd like to learn about native peoples everywhere across the Americas

(3/3)