Caddie Woodlawn

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

A family lives on the Wisconsin frontier at the time of the Civil War. Caddie was allowed to do what she wanted. She ended up being a tomboy as she played with the boys. She was also friendly with the indians. At one point, there was rumor of an Indian attack. The settlers decide the will preempt the attack by attacking the Indians. The Woodlawns go to visit the Indians and find they had no intention of attacking. They warn the Indians of the settlers intentions, and the Indians are able to save themselves. At the end, the father receives a letter informing him that he has inherited British nobility, but he must renounce American citizenship and return to England. This is put to the family's vote. They narrowly decide to stay in America. The book is similar to Little House on the Prairie books, but a bit better.

Little House on the Prairie: Little House, Book 3

Little House on the Prairie: Little House, Book 3 by Laura Ingalls Wilder

A family moves out from Wisconsin to the edge of Indian country. They build up their house, even getting windows. They have challenges of the frontier with various animals, diseases and weather. There is high water river during Christmas, so the kids are afraid they will not see Santa Clause. However, a friend manages to wade through the river and bring presents. (He says he ran in to Santa in Independence and offered to bring them.)

There are various opinions of the Indians in the region. Some people want them dead or out of there. Father, however, wants them to remain friends. They learn their house is along an active Indian trail. Indians will sometimes come in and be fed or take things. The family is somewhat reluctantly friendly, even though they can't communicate. One time father sees signs of a panther and spends days trying to hate him. He meets an Indian who signs to him that he had killed the beast. 

There is a big Indian meeting. They learn that the Indians had talked about fighting the settlers, but then some Indians convinced them not to. They later learn that they are living a few miles within Indian country. The government will not defend them and would like for them to move. The family decides that they will move before being forced out.

It is an interesting look at the frontier development and the relationships involved. There is both a fascination with Indians (one girl wants an Indian baby) and a fear of them (some want them eliminated so they can settle the area.) The relationships are complicated. In spite of this, they have some rather peaceable relationships that can benefit everyone. 

Invitation to a Beheading

Invitation to a Beheading by Vladimir Nabokov

Cincinatis is in prison for a bizarre crime. He is sentenced to death. However, they cannot tell him when he will die. He tries to write about his experiences. There are various hangups and issues, such as the executioner getting sick. Finally the day comes. There are some Kafkaesque moments in here, but I had troubled sticking with it. 

The Father Brown Mysteries, Volume 1

The Father Brown Mysteries, Volume 1 by G.K. Chesterton 

This collection of 8 father brown books from the library is split into two at the library. Most of the stories come from the first Father Brown book, but a couple come from later books. Father Brown is a Catholic priest who uses logic and knowledge of human behavior to solve mysteries. In most of the cases, he uncovers details about the cases based on how the suspects acts. He will also use insights of "tricks" of human behavior to help debunk suppositions of supernatural. For instance, in "The Invisible Man", he debunks the supposition that "nobody" was there, to point out that the postman had passed by - and had the opportunity to remove the body. The stories are short and the radio productions are well done.

The stories included:

• The Blue Cross
• The Secret Garden
• The Queer Feet
• The Arrow of Heaven
• The Three Tools of Death
• The Flying Stars
• The Point of a Pin
• The Invisible Man

It Can't Happen Here

A Democrat politician builds up a base of support of a political operative and a radio pastor and his conservative organization. After assuming the presidency he uses the pastors now-militarized organization to help him assume fascist dictatorial powers. He institutes policies that appear on the surface to be beneficial to the common man. However, the prime beneficiaries tend to be the big businesses. The pastor is quickly incarcerated "for his safety" and a strict police state eventually results, with communication and transportation heavily restricted. An underground resistance movement gradually pops up.

The president has a big heart and thinks he is doing the best for the country. However, he is eventually deposed by his operative, who is later assassinated by someone else. After a string of assassinations, the country starts to return to some sense of normalcy.

The author is obviously trying to make a political statement against the gradual reduction of rights either by their outright restriction or by the granting of new rights. Even the best of intentions can lead towards the path of the downfall. Fascism can easily arise from seemingly left-leaning liberal policies. Unfortunately, the book does go a little too far over the top in the "fall" of the society, making the characters a little less believable than they could be.