My santa poked me to ask my opinion on ethnographies. I had an anthropologist santa!!

I said yes indeed, in the non-fiction area, that's definitely one of my interests--books about cultures different from mine (which is city-raised white-as-hell Canadian).

And so today I got home from work to find out my curiosity satisfied about what selections would be made!

Two books. The first, "The Spirit Catches you and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman, about a tragic culture clash between an immigrant family and some American doctors as they all try to help the family's young daughter who has epilepsy. I actually knew this one, I read it once years ago for a class, back in university. It's an excellent book, frustrating and sad but interesting and insightful as well. I had to get rid of many of my university books just for space purposes, but this is one I am glad to have back (vastly moreso than overpriced textbooks lemme tell you).

The other book is totally new to me, "Maps and Dreams" by Hugh Brody, about the Beaver Indian people of the Canadian sub-arctic in British Columbia, describing his time with them and their intersection with non-native people and economies getting into their territory. The first edition of this was published in 1981. I hope I will not have unhappy discoveries waiting for me when I finish this and go back to read the 2002 edition foreword, or go look up the current situation of this group (I think pessimism is warranted, unfortunately), but for now, I'll get to learn about what was left when the author was with them.

Thank you, anthropology-book santa!! I am thrilled to have these on my shelf!

And... if my santa (or hey, anyone else) happens to have any more recommended reading in this vein... PLEASE feel free to send me a list :)