With my recent health difficulties, I realized that I missed one fantastic book I really wanted to share several weeks ago – and I also finished two great ones this week that I knew I was going to pass along – so today is regular book report day. ❤

First is the book I can’t believe I missed sharing when I read it: David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. 

While I know the film won major awards and was hugely popular, I confess I still haven’t seen it – but, oh my word, this book. It is the story of the injustices against the Osage people in Oklahoma, up to and including 20 murders, in a plot to steal the oil wealth that is rightfully theirs.

With its primary focus on Mollie Kyle Burkhart and her family, as the story unfolds, the reader is taken along as the crime is pieced together – and some of the perpetrators are shocking.

Throughout the story, the racism and abuse suffered by the Osage people are appalling – but it is so important that the story of this “Reign of Terror” be told – and also that we remember that it is relatively recent, having occurred in the 1920’s.

From the book, I am sharing a poem written by Elise Paschen called “Wi’-gi-e”.

She is a direct descendant of the Osage and wrote this poem about the murder of Anna Kyle Brown from the perspective of her sister, Mollie Kyle Burkhart. This poem inspired the title, Killers of the Flower Moon.

Wi’-gi-e
BY ELISE PASCHEN
Anna Kyle Brown. Osage.
1896-1921. Fairfax, Oklahoma.

Because she died where the ravine falls into water.

Because they dragged her down to the creek.

In death, she wore her blue broadcloth skirt.

Though frost blanketed the grass she cooled her feet in the spring.

Because I turned the log with my foot.

Her slippers floated downstream into the dam.

Because, after the thaw, the hunters discovered her body.

Because she lived without our mother.

Because she had inherited head rights for oil beneath the land.

She was carrying his offspring.

The sheriff disguised her death as whiskey poisoning.

Because, when he carved her body up, he saw the bullet hole in her skull.

Because, when she was murdered, the leg clutchers bloomed.

But then froze under the weight of frost.

During Xtha-cka Zhi-ga Tze-the, the Killer of the Flowers Moon.

I will wade across the river of the blackfish, the otter, the beaver.

I will climb the bank where the willow never dies.

published in “Bestiary” (Red Hen Press, 2009)

I recommend this book to everyone.

The next book is totally different – but one I really enjoyed: Flannery: A Life of Flannery O’ Conner by Brad Gooch.

This is an excellent – thorough – biography of Flannery, of her life, her faith, her health and sickness, her friends, and her writing.

(Of note, because I always keep a “bedtime read” – a physical book by the bed just for that purpose – and, since this has been it as of late, Flannery and I have spent some time – and many fall asleeps – together. 😉 )

If you enjoy O’Connor’s work, this is definitely one you’ll want to pick up. ❤

Finally, my third book was a surprise find last week.

Because I love all things Joan Didion, Google alerted me that the New York Times had reviewed a book by the young man who was her assistant and companion for the last decade of her life. This was the first I had even heard of this book – and I promptly paused what I was working on (sorry, Papa Hemingway and your Banned Book – I’ll be back 😉 ) and ordered this one.

In The Uptown Local, Cory Leadbeater manages to share his own story, dealing with family troubles, depression, and suicidal ideation, while also painting a wonderful picture of the last decade of Joan’s life, when he was with her almost daily, even living in her back room for four years.

He shares many stories of the books, poems, and music he and Joan shared, as well as their daily lives and the places they would go.

He writes about Joan so tenderly, especially describing her being able to hold his newborn daughter just a few months before she died – and it is clear that his place as a sort of adopted family member was precious to them both.

For anyone who loves Joan, this is an important read. While it doesn’t share anything new about her work, it is such a beautiful picture of the sunset of her life. ❤

I am now on to the next round of books for a new report – as well as our Banned Books this week – and I can’t wait to share them.

Wishing you all a great rest of your week and happy reading.

Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Grace and Blessings.