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Comment by Apposite on September 26, 2021 at 2:30pm

(SEPTEMBER 26 ENTRY part 3)

As per the Lincoln volume by Burlingame, I have read another 100 pages and am at page 535. I have 300 more to go. I had forgotten just how complicated a time this was and the magic that was the Abe Lincoln persona. There is a book of Lincoln's speeches edited by Roy Basler I want to read next. Reading Lincoln's words is akin to eating fine chocolate or drinking good wine for me. He is entertaining and so practical in addressing the issues that potentially could have split our country in half.

Comment by Apposite on September 26, 2021 at 1:45pm

(SEPTEMBER 26 ENTRY Cont ...) 

I should mention that during all this reading, I was applying for teaching jobs in the villages of Alaska and working at a local fruit orchard. I my reading lagged because of other responsibilities, not least of all preparing and shipping 22 totes to Wainwright, Alaska, where I am currently teaching sixth grade. Wainwright is an Inupiat Eskimo village of 550 at the very top of Alaska on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. As I write there is a half inch of snow on the frozen ground and the sun will go down in November and not come up until the third week in February. Prior to coming here much time was spent working and shipping stuff as well getting paperwork, emails, and phone calls completed which revolved around my teaching employment. I am presently ensconced in my classroom as I write this. I have completed both Mitchell's and Arnolds books and have finally been able to get back to the second volume of Michael Burlingame's "Abraham Lincoln: A Life".

Comment by Apposite on September 26, 2021 at 1:26pm

I have not been here since my last entry in March. I do appreciate those of you are keeping this page alive. I gives me an outlet other than Facebook to express my reading exploits. As per my reading, I just got done with my  college class on the Alaska Native Land Settlement Claims Act (of 1971) the first week in May. I had not finished the 541 page tome (Take My Land Take My Life by Don Mitchell, 2001)however so I kept on it despite a busy summer. Therefore I continued on despite a busy summer to finish the last 200 pages. Additionally I also read another 350 page book by another author on the subject (The Alaska Native Land Claims Act by Bob Arnold, 1976) after Mitchell's work. Mitchell weaves his story of the Claims Act through many people, various versions of the bill, and through the actions of the various committees and members of Congress. It is complicated slow reading and would bear reading twice to get a better tracking of it. This was monumental legislation in the history of Alaska, unprecedented Federal dealings with Native Americans. Prior to this time, reservations had been the means of setting land disputes. This legislation established corporations in lieu of reservations although there was also a 44 million acres and 960 million dollar settlement in addition to to dividing Alaska into 12 regional corporate entities. Each region was divided by cultures and land boundaries. The money and lands were divided by region. The land selections by Alaska Natives had to be done before the State of Alaska selected its land. Contingent on both of these two separate selections was the building of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, another landmark in Alaska's history. The oil companies and Feds were pressuring the Congress, the State, and the Native Peoples to hurry up as Oil revenues were waiting on everything. 

Comment by rapa on September 26, 2021 at 12:08pm

Haven’t read Danielle Steele in ages but recently picked up from the stacks her recent book NEIGHBORS.  It’s a really good read and will finish it tonight! What are you reading now?

Comment by rapa on June 18, 2021 at 9:14pm

Have any of you read John Grisham‘S new book SOOLEY ?.   I got about 2/3 through it last night when I got to lots of chapters dealing with nothing but action on the basketball court. Sooo,  I skimmed to the end of book and read the very poignant ending. I think a man would appreciate this book more than I did! 

Comment by rapa on May 31, 2021 at 8:59pm

RABBIT RABBIT RABBIT

Comment by Gloria Helmer / Datsunlvr on March 14, 2021 at 4:55am

Apposite, I know exactly what you mean about historical reading being pure enjoyment, especially when the subject matter is near and dear to the heart. The research I had to do to write my novel, The Master's Touch was just that, pure enjoyment. Since it covers aproximately 350 years of history, I wanted to be as historically accurate as I could get. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the preparation and writing of it. 

Comment by Apposite on March 14, 2021 at 1:19am

I only got 450 pages into the second volume of Burlingame's treatment of Lincoln; I and intend to finish it. However, what got in the way was another book which I am reading for an online class. This book is another 500+ page tome called "Take My Land Take MY Life" about the the Alaska Native Claims Settlement of 1971. Richard Nixon signed this historic act December 18, 1971. For Alaska, it was a watershed moment, contrasting with and a deviation from the standard reservation of status of working aboriginal claims to land. It is meticulously researched as his end notes tell the story of many trips to interview people and dig the National Archives. Keeping one hand on my reading page and another on the end notes makes this a page turner. By the way the author is Don Mitchell who also wrote a volume 1 to this book called "Sold American" that tells the story of Native American and  Alaska Native peoples historical relationship with the Federal Government.

Comment by rapa on March 13, 2021 at 6:01pm

Forget NOT tonight to “SPRING FORWARD” if indicated!

Finished a captivating book last night!

THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER’S DAUGHTER.. Any of you enjoyed this!  Recommend you give it a look/see!

Comment by Apposite on February 21, 2021 at 6:22pm

Studying history *is* enjoyment. Lincoln is a proven elixir as is history in general. The art is in the interpretation, from both viewpoint of the writer and the reader. 

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