The Gods of Prophetstown

Tippecanoe and Tyler Too was the political slogan.

But this book tells the story before that – the almost forgotten Battle of Tippecanoe which had a great influence on the Westward expansion and on the War of 1912. It is really a story of 2 strong opposing men – William Henry Harrison, who later would become President, and the Indian Chief Tenskwatawa, who managed to use his spiritual leadership to forge a political pseudostate. Of course he had the aid of his twin brother, Tecumseh, whose name is more often recognized.

This book is about Harrison and Tenskwatawa and their Holy War for the American Frontier. Tenskantawa was a prophet, saw the future, felt the presence of witches, and had a huge following. Quite a reputation for a drunk from a family of prominent warriors who managed to blind himself in one eye.

But, on June 16, 1806, he “ put out the sun” and became a political threat to American power on the frontier. Of course, that was the day of a solar eclipse and when he came out of his tent, he restored the sun………………………….and became a force to be reckoned with. He had many names but was usually referred to as the Prophet. In opposition to him was the most powerful white man in the West, one William Henry Harrison.

This is their story,, and it is a fascinating important piece of American history. We live on the Tippecanoe River and the Battlefield is still there for you to visit at Prophetstown in nearby Lafayette. So read what really happened all those years ago and go see the places where it happened……………….You won’t be disappointed.

KLMCC

Paint and Canvas, A Life of T. C. Steele

If you don’t know the name T. C. Steele, you have probably never visited Nashville in Brown County, IN. Mr. Steele grew up in Waveland, IN. and took over the family farm and care of his family at the age of 14. His mother recognized his passion for art and supported his choice to be an artist.

Steele was known for landscapes, but also was a portrait artist who painted prominent Indiana citizens. He lived in Brown County and Indianapolis and was artist in residence and honorary professor at Indiana University.

Steele was born in 1847 in Indiana but he also studied art in Munich Germany at the Royal Academy, thanks to a group of art patrons. When the family returned to Indiana, he spent the rest of his career in the Hoosier state, with a few excursions to the East and West coasts.

Steele built a home in Brown County and headed a thriving artist colony there. This book is a well told story of his life and would be of great interest to those who grew up or attended college in the area………………I did both!

KLMCC

Ten Poems to Say Goodbye

Goodbyes are for kindness, forgiveness, for love , and for acceptance of life. They are poignant, sorrowful, sometimes a relief and sometimes joyful. Poetry can help in all of these, it captures the experience. When you hear the right poem at the right time, you recognize it. The opening lines of the Ellen Base poem “What if you knew you’d be the last to touch someone?” touched me as I remember holding my mother’s hand when she passed on. So these are poems of goodbye and the stories behind them.

KLMCC

The Moment Smith, Larry (ed) 818.6 SMI

These are short, little (about 2 pages) life changing stories from famous –and not so much – authors. They are quick, interesting, and entertaining. It’s a book you can pick up, read a few pages, and put back down. Some stories are funny, and some are sad, but all will strike a cord within you.

There are six word stories about the famous first kiss, and longer stories about tragedies, first meetings, and last goodbyes. Everyone has a “moment”. This book will make you remember yours.

KLMCC

I Used to Know That Literature

This is another quick entertaining read. It brings you stories of little know facts about famous authors, well known characters, phrases you recognize and surprise endings to books you remember. May it’s a story you HAD to read in school and probably HATED. But, if you knew the untold story or background you have a whole different idea about it. You know those “cliff hanger” endings to chapter or installments? Great idea, unless the author dies in the middle — thing Charles Dickens and The Mystery of Edwin Drood………………………..it’s still a mystery.

Some authors were influenced by a few other things rather that their own thoughts and brain power. And author’s thoughts and comments on other author’s works can be entertaining. Many of our commonly used phrases come from the works of famous authors – Shakespeare was very good for this…..example – wild goose chase is from Romeo and Juliet. Some authors were rejected – a lot – before they were published. History can become reality. And some author’s lives read better than their books.

If you read a childhood favorite as an adult, you may find it is very different from what you remember. Classics are now “banned books”.

Interesting, entertaining, and doesn’t take long to read.

KLMCC

The Ten, Make That Nine Habits of Very Organized People. Make that Ten.

Need a quick, enjoyable, fun read? Well, it is Steve Martin after all, writer, actor, musician, and performer.

The format is like Tweets, so they can be read quickly, and prepare to laugh. No great structure, just pure entertainment.

KLMCC

Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating

Sounds boring unless you love figure skating. But this book

Has a lot of information. First, it is a history going back to the Middle Ages and up to the present. Well, 2010 anyway. It’s a dictionary with explanations of all those strange skating terms with the weird names, and how to do them! Then it is a biography with short information about almost every skater you’ve ever heard of…………….or not. Of course, a fanatic like me notices a few missed, or just mentioned in the biography of another skater.

Finally, there are lists, and lists, and more lists. Lists of the metal winners for most of the major world competitions and the persons in the Hall of Fame. Probably not for reading cover to cover, but interesting to snoop thru when the Olympics are coming up again soon.

KLMCC