Customer Reviews

Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation: Writings from America's Heartland

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This series of stunning essays by one of the nation's foremost authors kept me spellbound from start to finish. I find myself constantly re-reading passages or whole essays. I never tire of this book.

When a person first moves to Oklahoma, one of the things that stands out is that, like the rest of the nation, Oklahomans don't really know where they fit into the overall picture of our country. This fact is clearly described by Michael Wallis in the beginning of this series of essays. He also describes many of the events, people, and customs that make Oklahoma what it is.

From Indian Territory to statehood, barbecue to the "cow thieves and outlaws reunion," from Route 66 to oil, the state has a breadth of history that is both large and small. But always fascinating. As a transplant himself, Wallis has tried to find what Oklahoma is, and has done a good job. This is a wonderfully informative read for both Okies and others who have no idea where Oklahoma is.

Readers who enjoy this taste of history might also enjoy some of Wallis' other books, such as Route 66: The Mother Road and Pretty Boy: The Life and Times of Charles Arthur Floyd.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Michael Wallis has a very nice writing style, and great approach to the subject matter. I think the state of Oklahoma should erect a statue in the state capitol in his honor, for writing such a nice piece of work about the state. There are some really nice rememberances, and some very tragic tales found between the covers of this book. I would reccomend it to any reader interested in knowing more about Americas heartland, and the people who built it, and live there today.

This book has interesting stories of Oklahoma, but I didn't feel it was as well written as some of his other books. He is a good author and the book is still worth reading.

This book is a real sleeper.I bought it a few years ago,and it kind of got lost;which isn't hard amongst 6 or 7 thousand in my library.Checking the Reviews,though there were only 2,they were good;but not one since 23 Jan 03. Well here's number 3!
When I started the book,I was not familiar with the author,although I had read his 'Route 66' a while ago and liked it.However; his name just didn't ring a bell with me.
Within a half hour I was really impressed with his observation storytelling and writing skills.In many ways he reminds me of one of my favorites,Larry McMurtry.
One of the themes of his book is that most people don't know much about Oklahoma and believe not much ever happened there. One is soon dispelled of that idea as you get into the book .Oklahoma is just about in the center of America and just about everything that happened as the country developed was impacted by or on Oklahoma.Wallis reminds us that it was not even a State until it became the 46th in 1907.
Oklahoma was the country of Indians,Woody Guthrie,Dust Bowl,Depression,Oil Barons,Bill Mauldin and the Fighting 45th Thunderbirds,Frontier Religion,Frontier Justice,Gangsters and Outlaws,Route 66,The Real Wild West and 101 Ranch,Illegal Booze,John Steinbeck,Football Legends, and probably the greatest Salt of the Earth people you could find anywhere.
Wallis is a Journalist and writes with a flair that holds your interest so well you don't want to put the book down and are even wanting more when you reach the end.
The book is full of facts,observations,quotes,real characters,and information you just didn't know or even thought of.
For instance,We all know about Woody Guthrie,but how many know how little he was liked in Oklahoma,where he was born and raised?And did you know he was the waterboy for the footbaall team?
There are many,many great lines throughout the book.Here's a few to demonstrate :
"A million dollar deal cemented with a handshake."
"Types who enjoy nothing more than a barbacue over a heap
of banned books set ablaze."
"Bakersfield became the third-largest city in Oklahoma after
Oklahoma City and Tulsa."
"Oklahoma is one-eight the size of Alaska and more than twice
as big as all of New England."
"More languages are spoken in Oklahoma than on the entire
European continent."
Woody Guthrie was "Just a boy from Okaloma on a an endless
one- night stand".
"We don't like cities anymore.We don't like what the've
become."
"Indian Territory (Oklahoma) became known as 'robber's
roost',and its sinister reputation spread faster than fresh
gossip at a church supper."
"I've never hanged a man who came back to have the job done
over."
Judge Parker (the Hanging Judge) :I sentence you to hang
by the neck until you are dead,dead,dead." "Farewell
forever, until the court and you and all here today shall
meet together in the general resurrection."
"Whiskey helps to kill the poison in the night air."
"As unpredictable as a cyclone,fierce as a blue norther,
and wily as a prarie wolf,Jim Jordan has been a cowboy and
trader for most of his years.He's a combination of Judge
Roy Bean and Buffalo Bill,with a generous dose of saddle
tramp mixed in for good measure."
"And the morning after a jug of that stepped-up moonshine
was drained,the poetry of 'Amazing Grace' would still make
a band of angels weep."
See what I mean,Wallis is is a super author and if you like this sort of observation,storytelling and writing; this book is a real treasure .