How cool is that? I used to just love historical novels, especially pre-historical ones. And just when I’m hankering for a good story, I find a book, one of a series, on the pre-history of the peoples of this part of the world – from the Mississippi to the Great Lakes and Niagara Falls, with Serpent Mound and other mound areas thrown in for good measure.
People of the Lakes is written by Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, and has lots of the detail about daily lives that I really love. It also has several love / relationship stories and much information on the spiritual beliefs of these early people. They ranged, by the way, not just geographically, but in belief systems and life styles, from the generous and laid back to the hard working and serious and then to the cruel and warlike.
Green Spider, a spiritual Contrary, says and does the opposite of what he means – acting in many ways like the Heyoka/Sacred Clowns of the present day Hopi, and like the crazy truthteller of the Tibetan Buddhists.
Otter, Pearl, Star Shell, Black Skull, Silver Water, Green Spider, Tall Man were heroes of their various clans, people of integrity and heart – and good people to live through a story with – especially one that travels back through time.