Welcome to Litsy!

Because I don‘t have a particular interest in stand-up comedy or Hollywood history, parts of this dragged for me (especially chapters about The Silver Circle clubs in Nevada). It was, however, an excellent homage to Charlie Hill, “the first Native American stand-up comedian,” whom I knew nothing about & who seemed like the real deal (funny, cool, political, generous, etc). I was also fascinated by the bits of American indigenous history…👇🏻

This is a clever look at Indigenous Turtle Island history told through the lens of Native American and First Nations stand up comedians. It‘s partially a biography of comedians/Indigenous showmen going all the way back to those forced to work traveling Wild West shows in the 1800s to modern day stand up artists, and partially a history of the atrocities committed by the US and Canada (but mostly the US).

I did really want to read this for bookclub. But I feel like the words are just bouncing off my brain, I‘m not absorbing any of it. The subject matter could be so interesting, but the delivery is dry and it‘s just not doing anything for me.

It looks like Venkman is “facepalm”ing. Lol. But he‘s just cleaning himself.

#hailthebail (saw this tag earlier today and it fits!)

Quite a few of my August #bookspin list are for bookclubs, buddyreads, or #camplitsy. Currently reading Romantic Comedy, Demon Copperhead, and The Overstory and enjoying all 3!

Photo pulled from FB, credit to Lucie Johnson. Of The Bodeian Libraries.

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs

1) I just finished the tagged book yesterday
2) I have not. Maybe someday when I finish all the books I have now 😂
3) I have a book of short stories about Christmas and Thanksgiving by Truman Capote that I plan on reading this weekend. It‘s an every year read for me.

This history of Native American comedians was so interesting. I meant to read this last year, and am so glad I finally got to it this year. This was heavier than you might expect a book about comedy to be, but so informative.

This was a recent #AudibleDeal, not what I was expecting but a pleasant surprise. This was an overview of vaudeville & comedy in regard to Native Americans. Full of interesting information about Native American history & experiences, as well as their contribution to the entertainment industry. A great companion to the book I recently read, The Night Watchman. #BorrowNotBuy

Today‘s current listen 🎧 Not what I was expecting but definitely engaging.

I‘d tell someone I‘m reading a book on Native American comedians and get shock and some form of “didn‘t know there were any”. I was in that boat too until I walked past this book. In addition to learning about NA comedians, I learned a lot about NA history, various tribal cultures, and more about the horrible things the US has done (and continues to do). However, I didn‘t like how the chapters jumped btwn present day and older comedians.

I wanted to get my May #bookreport posted tonight too before we get too much further into June.
My top book was definitely the tagged title. I loved The Wee Free Men & the Henry & Beezus re-read. The Kevin Wilson stories were delightful & weird & kept me guessing. Foster also was a nice surprise. Barely a novella at less than 100 pages; more like a long short story; a masterclass in saying everything by hardly saying anything.

@Cinfhen

The expansion of offshore drilling and fracking have meant a massive increase in pipeline and railway traffic. Increased traffic means more accidents. Oil spills jumped 17 percent between 2010 and 2012, with an average of sixteen new oil spills every day. Oil shipments by train increased 4,000 percent between 2008 and 2013, and there were more railway oil spills in 2013 than in the previous forty years combined.

Native American John Trudell.

“My people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a little real estate problem.“ --Charlie Hill, Oneida comedian and only Native Indian comedian to ever appear on the Tonight Show.

Amazing book! Starting in the 1840s it's not just about Native comics, although there is plenty on contemporary Native comedians, but a 150 years of social justice history of Indians and representation in pop culture.

Only half-way thru but 5⭐already.

Who would have thought a book about comedy would be so educational?!! My history classes in school were certainly lacking.