My Library

The Ozark Mountain region of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma is known for several things: its fickle weather, friendly people, beautiful scenery, good fishing and, perhaps most of all, tall tales. Sometimes separating fact, legend, superstition and joke is a work of genius. Phillip Steele presents some of the most well known Ozark legends in Ozark Tales and Superstitions. Stories like «Kingston's First Telephone» remind the reader to watch out for Ozarkers practical jokes. The story of the «Heavener Runestone» (with similar finds at Tulsa and Shawnee) will have me looking for Viking long boats on the next Illinois River float trip. The tales section has categories of : Supernatural, Indian Legends, Treasure, Outlaws, Nature Lore and a «sampler» of History, Passion and Humor. The Superstition section has lists of good-luck omens, bad-luck omens, death omens, wishes, love and marriage omens, moon signs, weather signs, miscellaneous superstitions and cures and remedies.

The Amazon reviewers included a 1-star review from an Illinois resident and a 5-star review from a local (Baxter Springs, Kansas). I found it fascinating myself, so perhaps a connection to the Ozarks is necessary to really appreciate it.