Another one of my passions besides graphic design, gardening, and other things is reading! I always had my nose in a book growing up and nothing is different now besides my lack of time to read. But with my husband working all sorts of funky hours at his new job I have found ample time catch up.
I chose to read the Red Heart based on Carol from May Dream's Garden blog suggestion. I had posted about the assortment of arrowheads I have collect over the years and how it is so intriguing to think back about those times and the people who used the tools I had found and she mentioned the book I might enjoy in her comment - and it was great! Thank you, Carol!
I didn't quite know what to expect from the book at first, but let me tell you, I was captivated. It has been a long time since a book has kept me up past midnight or traveled with me to work to read during my lunch hour. I couldn't keep myself from diving into the next page. Such an enthralling tale based upon the true story of Frances Slocum, a pioneer girl who was abducted from her Quaker family at the age of 5 and grew up with the Miami and Lenape Indians. The book has particular interest because a portion of it takes place in Indiana (not very far from where I found all those arrowheads). Her family kept trying to find her over the years but she always disappeared with the displaced tribes. She did end up connecting with her Quaker birth family just before she died 59 years after she was first taken - but she never went back - she choose to live out her remaining years with her Indian family. Very amazing story. A must read!
The story inspired me to learn more, of course:
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE MIAMI NATION OF INDIANS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA
Frances Slocum Ancestry Website
4 comments:
I'm glad you liked the book. It is one of my favorites. I've also read "Follow the River" by Thom. It's another story of an abduction by the Indians and how two women walk back to their families in the east by following the Ohio River. But make sure you have time to read the book before you get started!
Watch the papers, too. Sometimes Thom, who I think lives somewhere near Bloomington, shows up at a bookstore or library to give a talk.
This sounds like the kind of book I would like to read but I am always too tired at the end of the day! I am reading two right now and have been for about one year. How pitiful is that??
Carol - thank you for the tip - I will have to keep an eye out for his next talk (I should set up a Google Alert). I saw that he wrote all kinds of Native American stories - I will definitely have to read more. He is married to a woman named Dark Rain - a Shawnee descendant - I found that very interesting.
Tina - you should definitely read it! Yes, I have the same problem sometimes with books - but I find if the book can't keep me up at night to read it - then it usually isn't the best book.
I love his books! He has been here in Lafayette, and I have several signed copies of his work.
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