Montana Matters Available in March from the University of Nebraska Press, award-winning author Mary Clearman Blew’s belated-coming-of-age novel Jackalope Dreams tells the story of Montana-born-and-bred Corey Henry, a spinsterish teacher who finds her world turned upside-down in the wake of professional scandal and personal loss. One of the most striking elements of the story is the setting in beautiful Montana. In Jackalope Dreams, the state—with its rich history and modern landscape—acts as a character in the plot, shaping the narrative as a pseudo-protagonist/antagonist. In light of this, today’s Tuesday Trivia features questions on the great state of Montana. Let’s see … Continue reading Tuesday Trivia: February 19, 2008

Native Americans and the Environment: Perspectives on the Ecological Indian edited and with an introduction by Michael E. Harkin and David Rich Lewis “This excellent anthology features 12 articles originally presented at the 2002 conference ‘Re-figuring the Ecological Indian.’ Of uniformly high quality, the essays respond to Shepard Krech’s The Ecological Indian . . . while furthering discussion of historical and contemporary ideas about Native people as ecologists and conservationists. . . . Harkin and Lewis provide an erudite introduction elucidating the complex issues involved in the discussion. . . . This volume provides an important contribution to a critical, … Continue reading Praise for Native Americans and the Environment

In the Shadow of the Moon: A Challenging Journey to Tranquility, 1965-1969 by Francis French and Colin Burgess “French and Burgess present a first-rate, detailed, and very personal account of the space race to the moon . . . . [S]trongly recommended both as a study of the social interactions among this unique group of people and as a gripping series of anecdotes that describe the exciting, dangerous steps behind the successful moon landing.”—CHOICE To read earlier praise for In the Shadow of the Moon, please visit http://nebraskapress.typepad.com/university_of_nebraska_pr/2007/07/praise-for-in-t.html. Continue reading More Praise for In the Shadow of the Moon

Buffalo Nation: American Indian Efforts to Restore the Bison by Ken Zontek “Highly recommended. A very good book.”—CHOICE View previous praise for Buffalo Nation at http://nebraskapress.typepad.com/university_of_nebraska_pr/2007/05/praise_for_buff.html Continue reading More Praise for Buffalo Nation

The Enders Hotel by Brandon R. Schrand “For a young child, the hotel exerted a certain kind of magic, which Schrand effectively captures in his reminiscences. . . . An evocative account of a man coming to terms with his youth.”—Kirkus Reviews “Schrand’s deeply textured memoir of life in a small Idaho town boasts a rich palette of glittering iridescent hues, somber earth tones, and delicate, evocative washes. . . . Schrand’s memoir sings, stirring the senses as much as the soul.”—Whitney Scott, Booklist (***starred review***) Continue reading Praise for The Enders Hotel

Nebraska Moments, New Edition by Donald R. Hickey, Susan A. Wunder, and John A. Wunder “This new edition of a 1992 classic book is a must addition to the library of any fan of Nebraska history.”—Francis Moul, Lincoln Journal Star Continue reading Praise for Nebraska Moments

From the Treaty of Paris to Dick Cheney’s lousy shot, this certainly was an interesting week in history. Who knew that Oregon was inducted into the Union on Valentine’s Day? How fitting that my lovely fiancé hails from “The Beaver State.” You learn something new every day. So, in this spirit of erudition, let’s take a look at what happened… This Week in History February 10, 1763: Under the Treaty of Paris, France ceded Canada to England, ending the French and Indian War.Read of the dramatic events that took place prior to the Treaty of Paris around the colonial fortified … Continue reading This Week in History: February 10-15, 2008

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, This Post is our Valentine’s Day Gift to You Who needs heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, long-stemmed red roses, and cuddly stuffed teddy bears? Our gift to you this Valentine’s Day is much more creative! For your viewing pleasure, we offer you a selection of movie clips featuring Ted Kooser reading selections from his new poetry book, Valentines. Forward the link to this posting to your sweetheart as a truly poetic way to say "I love you" this Valentine’s Day. Download for_you_friend.mov Download pocket_poem.mov Download song_of_the_ironing_board.mov Continue reading Happy Valentine’s Day, Bloggers!