Goodreads Of September 2021

I won’t say, September was a busy month, but I could manage to read just 2 books. Quantity is not important, quality matters.

This month my read list included Mexican Gothic – a Goodreads choice award winner for the Horror genre and I Am a Man – a non-fiction novel about the struggles of Native Indians with the U.S. government.

Mexican Gothic is a mystery novel about the secrets of a family whose daughter-in-law feels haunted and trapped in their house after just a few months of marriage. She contacts her family and to access the situation, the protagonist of the story, her cousin visits her and decides to stay in the house for some time. What she finds about the family who is very peculiar and would she be able to save her sister is all about this story. The story is written in a way that you remain glued to it, always curious to know what will happen next. I really liked the climax and blend of science and logic with it. Still, I found the story a bit average, somehow it couldn’t match my expectation. Definitely, a one-time read though.

S. No.	Title	Author	Format	Genre	Rating
1	Mexican Gothic	Moreno-Garcia, Silvia *	Book	Mystery	3/5
2	“I Am a Man”: Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice	Starita, Joe	Book	Non-Fiction	5/5

I Am a Man”: Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice is a painful non-fiction novel about the plight and struggles of native Indians especially the Ponca tribe during their resettlement and unfair treatment by the U.S. government. Being a traveler and living in Omaha, I have visited many places in Nebraska and South Dakota like Kearney, Ponca State Park, Standing Bear Lake, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial to name a few. I heard various stories about Indians in all those places but never felt as connected as I am now after reading this awesome novel.

It’s the story about Standing Bear, leader of the Ponca tribe, who despite all the hardship fights against the U.S. government in District court and becomes the first Native American to win the case for civil rights. The story covers each and every point of the journey from Lewis and Clark famous expedition to the legendary Louisiana purchase in president Jefferson period and then forced mass movement of native Indians from their lands, government’s neglect for them, not fulfilling the promises given during various treaties, poor condition of tribes, local public and media sympathy towards the original occupants of the lands and at last famous court case in which some great sympathetic white people from media, army, and law help Standing bear to win the case.

It’s the typical story of how people in their own country can become worthless and lose their identity easily if bureaucracy is in play. It’s like a person spending his whole life just to prove his identity and seeking respect and equal treatment from society. The story is so sad that it’s hard to control your emotions. Highly recommended especially if you like non-fiction or historical books. Without a doubt, this would be my First pick for the month.

Have you read any of these two? Are they in your to-read list or will be?

Happy Reading! Keep Traveling !!!