Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

42 reviews

albernikolauras's review against another edition

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informative mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75

I think Grann did an excellent job setting up this book as a mystery from the point of view of the main Osage family it covered and the tragedies that followed them. If you lack knowledge in the subject (like me), you are left in suspense the entire time. The horrors of this book can't be overstated and I suspected a couple people, but not the entire plot. I also enjoyed Grann's wrap up in the end during modern day.
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morethanmylupus's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.0

This has been on my TBR for years and I finally prioritized this read this before the movie came out. 

This was a hard read for a number of reasons: 
1/ The treatment of the Osage was atrocious and appalling 
2/ The book centers the white narrative as both the villains and the saviors and the 
3/ Most of the book lacks context and only fills in relevant elements of centuries of genocide, land grabs, and numerous other atrocities where the author thought they made sense

For me, too much context can be annoying, but in this case it only served to further center the white narrative and I found that frustrating. The story was still interesting and compelling to read, but I will be reading native voices on this topic to understand the complete picture. 
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goldstrawberry's review against another edition

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dark informative mysterious sad medium-paced

4.25

This book tells the disturbing and convoluted tale of the Osage murders. It’s very informative but a little difficult for my short attention span. I finally switched it to an audiobook and finished it within a day. 
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ronanmcd's review against another edition

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dark informative fast-paced

4.5

I finished the book. However, I have what's likely the flu, and am doped up to the eyeballs so here are some probably incoherent notes. 
There can never really be justice on stolen land. These murders are within living memory, just about. And then they were well within living memory of manifest destiny, land grabs, the trail of tears etc. It's all a very American story, and not at all unfamiliar. But it's no less shocking or saddening.
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lindseylosers's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious sad fast-paced

5.0

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apworden's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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britt_coin's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative tense medium-paced

4.5

Phenomenally written tale of one of the darkest parts of American history. 
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nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

absolutely fantastic journalism. well-researched, and exceptionally organized and paced. the content is so difficult and chilling, not an easy read by any account
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mblanke's review against another edition

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dark informative sad medium-paced

4.25

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3littlewordz's review against another edition

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dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced

4.25

Far more riveting than I had expected! I purchased a digital copy years ago after hearing an NPR interview with the author, David Grann. The book deeply demonstrates the pure audacity and unchecked depravity of colonizers. Whenever I read about early Americans and their treatment of either the enslaved or Native Americans I'm not surprised but I'm definitely exhausted. Grann is a writer and journalist, and his skills for detailed research only enhanced his superb delivery of this terrible period of American history. My jaw dropped more than a few times at the brazenness of the crimes, and the confidence that no one would face any consequences (and many of the perpetrators did not).  This is a fantastic choice if you are looking for an American true crime story.
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