Tonto (from the Lone Ranger) was North America’s Indian. The cultural history of Indian/White relations over the years: The portrayal of the “Indian” is the “White” people’s idea of them, rather than a true reflection of who they are. I simply have difficulty with how we choose which stories become the pulse of history and which do not.Ģ.

The telling of history through art and literature: I think I will just let Thomas King speak for himself.ġ. I don’t even know where to start, there are so many things to say. It is packed with interesting, eye-opening information and stories about the relationship between “Whites” and “Indians” over the past 500 years. I have had this book on my list for some time now, but thanks to it making the Top 5 Canada Reads list I finally decided to read it (sometimes, I can be convinced), and, if I could, I would quote most of the book for you. … in consideration of those conversations and the respect that I have for history, I’ve salted my narrative with those things we call facts, even though we should know by now that facts will not save us.Īfter reading such an engaging prologue, how could I not continue? This book is made up of conversations and arguments he’s been having with himself and others for most of his adult life.

… for me, at least, writing a novel is buttering warm toast, while writing a history is herding porcupines with your elbows.ĭespite the fact that he prefers fiction, he felt strongly about writing this non-fiction account that took him 6 years to finish. I dislike the way facts try to thrust themselves upon me. Those of you who have followed my blog for a while know that I don’t read a lot of non-fiction. History is the stories we tell about the past. Most of us think that history is the past.

Book review the inconvenient indian