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Hoop of the Nation
The tribes of the Sioux nation band together in defiance of the white settlers, as General George Armstrong Custer prepares to ride to Little Big Horn
380 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1986
About the author
John Byrne Cooke
19 books9 followersJohn Byrne Cooke was an American author of five books, road manager to Janis Joplin from late 1967 until her untimely death in 1970, a musician, a photographer, and a documentary film maker. He was the son of Alistair Cooke, and the great-grandnephew of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 12, 2017
Read this series in my early 20s. I was going through my indian stage. Really enjoyed them
August 2, 2015
Well, I should be glad to have finished these books, but there was so much potential unrealized that I feel grieved. In the end, I am utterly unsatisfied...I almost said I would rather have not read them at all, but for their saving grace of Lakota wisdom (real or imagined?!).
As a white (English, Welsh & French) w/Lakota (& Blackfoot) heritage, my many-great grandmother was named Snow (probably shortened from her true name) & my mother being an honored elder invited to the Sun Dances of 2005, I did enjoy the times with "the people" & marked many passages to read to my son.
I dislike stories that are over-dramatized - & this certainly fit the bill. I was particularly disgusted with the drama between Tatum & Amanda; it was confusing & seemed to serve no purpose other than to motivate a few characters & kill off others...certainly didn't need the whole chase scene to accomplish that! Additionally, for an author who loves excessive detail...he chooses odd times to completely abandon it! The facial markings after the fight should have alerted people to the conflict during Tatum's "personal appearance."
Overall, I struggled to determine if it was better than the 2nd book...but, for me the wrap up did not pull the story together as it focused only on the Native gathering...my answer is barely with a question mark.
As a white (English, Welsh & French) w/Lakota (& Blackfoot) heritage, my many-great grandmother was named Snow (probably shortened from her true name) & my mother being an honored elder invited to the Sun Dances of 2005, I did enjoy the times with "the people" & marked many passages to read to my son.
I dislike stories that are over-dramatized - & this certainly fit the bill. I was particularly disgusted with the drama between Tatum & Amanda; it was confusing & seemed to serve no purpose other than to motivate a few characters & kill off others...certainly didn't need the whole chase scene to accomplish that! Additionally, for an author who loves excessive detail...he chooses odd times to completely abandon it! The facial markings after the fight should have alerted people to the conflict during Tatum's "personal appearance."
Overall, I struggled to determine if it was better than the 2nd book...but, for me the wrap up did not pull the story together as it focused only on the Native gathering...my answer is barely with a question mark.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews