“Today our hearts are divided between two worlds. We are strong and courageous, learning to walk in these two worlds, hanging on to the threads of our culture and traditions as we live in a predominantly non-Indian society. Our history, our culture, our heart, and our home will always be stretching our legs across the plains, singing songs in the morning light, and placing our feet down with the ever beating heart of the drum. We walk in two worlds.”

I’m sure I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, I’m not usually a nonfiction reader. I always have trouble getting hooked into the flow and most of the time I DNF after 35-50% or it takes me forever (read: months or years) to finish a book. BUT that clearly wasn’t the case with this one.

This book sucked me in from the start - big props to David Grann and his writing! I don’t know what to say about this book though. It’s... appalling and fascinating? It is a chilling and despondent portrayal of the very dark side of humanity. Reading the history of the prejudices carried out against the Indians left me feeling incredulous. I know it’s not an isolated history but I guess reading about the full extent of the injustices done and the perpetrators’ attitude of absolute right and entitlement to do so... Really brings back the time age-old question: who are really the savages here?

But this book is also a testament to the strength and perseverance of a peoples - to come through that Reign of Terror, although even generations after the time, not unscathed. I can’t even begin to imagine how it would be like to know that justice will never be seen for the family that was lost in such sickening and brutal ways. (Just finished reading the book, brain still stunned with everything I’ve read, excuse my incoherent review!)

Although I’m not in any way connected to America or this American history, it’s still sad to know that this dark period is not something that’s taught to younger generations - “lest we forget”. It’s so important to not forget this history.