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A review by shiradest
The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter
5.0
I really loved this book.
(After finding out who the author apparently was, I feel that I should love the book far less, yet this book really moved me, so what I am to do: change my rating based on an apparently odious author, despite his ability to write moving and thought-provoking work which I did not take to represent Cherokee (and certainly not true Tsalagi culture, as in pre-contact or authentic Cherokee tradition handed down authentically...) culture?
What stays with me is the quiet sense of just being, with no need to talk or explain (explains that irritating habit of my Grandmother to just sit there and look at you in "stony silence" as Professor Yunus described the members of the Cherokee (I forget if it was Eastern Band or CNO) when he introduced MicroCredit [b:Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty|27533|Banker to the Poor Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty|Muhammad Yunus|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1284082691s/27533.jpg|1390141] ).
This book, along with the much compared-to Huckleberry Fin/Adventures of Tom Sawyer, is one that perhaps should be taught in classrooms alongside Mark Twain's work around the USA and beyond.
It's been some months since I read it, so my notes are now a bit less clear. One thing that did stay with me as a big question mark was that part about Cherokee kids being taught early on how to go out of their bodies. That seems rather like at-will Dissociation, which is... On the other hand, Lt. Timberlake was amazed at the Cherokee ability to ignore pain, during his stay as a 'guest' after the War with the Brits: [b:The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake: The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765|1056170|The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765|Duane H. King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348817672s/1056170.jpg|1042725]
P.10 value for an idea that nothing should be allowed to "burden our heads"
p. 11 I love The Way -most sensible!
P. 29 feelings vs good sense...
p. 97 taught to expect nothing from life but "their place" -I'm no longer sure what I mean by this quote.
P. 113 the last sentence, the understanding of love, having his life saved, was the most moving for me
and Wow: Willow John's Death Song...
review updated 3rd of August, 12017 HE
( the Holocene Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_calendar )
(After finding out who the author apparently was, I feel that I should love the book far less, yet this book really moved me, so what I am to do: change my rating based on an apparently odious author, despite his ability to write moving and thought-provoking work which I did not take to represent Cherokee (and certainly not true Tsalagi culture, as in pre-contact or authentic Cherokee tradition handed down authentically...) culture?
What stays with me is the quiet sense of just being, with no need to talk or explain (explains that irritating habit of my Grandmother to just sit there and look at you in "stony silence" as Professor Yunus described the members of the Cherokee (I forget if it was Eastern Band or CNO) when he introduced MicroCredit [b:Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty|27533|Banker to the Poor Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty|Muhammad Yunus|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1284082691s/27533.jpg|1390141] ).
This book, along with the much compared-to Huckleberry Fin/Adventures of Tom Sawyer, is one that perhaps should be taught in classrooms alongside Mark Twain's work around the USA and beyond.
It's been some months since I read it, so my notes are now a bit less clear. One thing that did stay with me as a big question mark was that part about Cherokee kids being taught early on how to go out of their bodies. That seems rather like at-will Dissociation, which is... On the other hand, Lt. Timberlake was amazed at the Cherokee ability to ignore pain, during his stay as a 'guest' after the War with the Brits: [b:The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake: The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765|1056170|The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765|Duane H. King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348817672s/1056170.jpg|1042725]
P.10 value for an idea that nothing should be allowed to "burden our heads"
p. 11 I love The Way -most sensible!
P. 29 feelings vs good sense...
p. 97 taught to expect nothing from life but "their place" -I'm no longer sure what I mean by this quote.
P. 113 the last sentence, the understanding of love, having his life saved, was the most moving for me
and Wow: Willow John's Death Song...
review updated 3rd of August, 12017 HE
( the Holocene Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_calendar )