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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
In Spirit Car Diane Wilson traces her family history from the 1862 Dakota war through the first commemorative march held in 2002. This book blends memoir and intuitive fiction based on the experiences of Wilson’s relatives during and after the war. Wilson captures the nuanced and differing perspectives of her family members, and tied their experiences into the larger effects of colonialism. This book grapples with the ‘why’ of reconnecting to the past, and how these past events impact today.
This book was contemplative and well-written. I really enjoyed the way she wove the generational stories together, although it was a little confusing trying to keep the generations straight. The best part of the story for me was the personal connection. My ancestors lived just one town over from Wilson's. They probably knew each other. Her description of feeling the personal connection to history really resonated with me.
The author's story about her search for her Dakota family past and Dakota history.
This is an example to me of an important book that is not necessarily a good book. For the first 100 pages, I could lose myself in the author's family history. She created fairly vivid imagery of her ancestors and it interested me. But in the second half, when Wilson recounts her every move in finding graves and mention of various ancestors in newspapers, it starts to drag and the pace never picks up again. I can understand the positive reception for this book, because Wilson addresses some crucial elements of Minnesota history that haven't been addressed enough up until now. But taken as a book and just a book, she fails to draw in her audience for the duration and I was more than ready to say goodbye to her story by its end, which is only 200 pages in length.
This is an example to me of an important book that is not necessarily a good book. For the first 100 pages, I could lose myself in the author's family history. She created fairly vivid imagery of her ancestors and it interested me. But in the second half, when Wilson recounts her every move in finding graves and mention of various ancestors in newspapers, it starts to drag and the pace never picks up again. I can understand the positive reception for this book, because Wilson addresses some crucial elements of Minnesota history that haven't been addressed enough up until now. But taken as a book and just a book, she fails to draw in her audience for the duration and I was more than ready to say goodbye to her story by its end, which is only 200 pages in length.
I read this book after I read a more recent book, The Seed Keeper. The Spirit Car provides the seed stories for The Seed Keeper. The author, Diane Wilson, tell how she went on a long journey to recover her family story, a Dakota story. A well-researched and well-worded story it is. Diane Wilson is fast becoming a favorite author. Journey with her as she journeys through Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska to reclaim the stories of her ancestors and her own.
Very well researched and an interesting and sad part of Minnesota history I had never known about. Really more of a 3.5 star.
Beautifully written book. The author, in an effort to learn more about her mother's Dakota Indian ancestry, traces her family back to the Dakota War of 1862 in southwest Minnesota. She brings to life each generation and their struggle between claiming their Dakota heritage and assimilating into the "white" world. The book also provides insight into government policies about Indians/Native Americans over the years.
The book begins and ends with the 2002 commemorative march tracing the route the Dakotas took in 1862 to a prison camp at Fort Snelling, Minneosta before being relocated to South Dakota and Nebraska. Wilson's account of the 2002 march intersperses with imaginings of the 1862 march and is a reminder of how our family history shapes who we are as well as the power of our past.
The book begins and ends with the 2002 commemorative march tracing the route the Dakotas took in 1862 to a prison camp at Fort Snelling, Minneosta before being relocated to South Dakota and Nebraska. Wilson's account of the 2002 march intersperses with imaginings of the 1862 march and is a reminder of how our family history shapes who we are as well as the power of our past.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Diane Wilson did a superb job putting you in the shoes of women from her family tree starting with Rosalie, a Native Ameican, caught in the 1862 US-Dakota War. Wilson made her history and our shared stories come alive and feel personal.
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Part memoir, part family history, part creative nonfiction, this book will punch you in the gut and leave you crying.
In a good way?
IDK, I'm white, and though I was born in Minnesota, growing up mostly in Kap'oza, living now so so close to Mendota, it feels important - imperative, urgent even - to engage with Dakota stories in a meaningful way.
In a good way?
IDK, I'm white, and though I was born in Minnesota, growing up mostly in Kap'oza, living now so so close to Mendota, it feels important - imperative, urgent even - to engage with Dakota stories in a meaningful way.