The Poet of Tolstoy Park by Sonny Brewer
"After the heyoka ceremony I came to live here where I am now between Wounded Knee Creek and Grass Creek. Others came too and we made these little gray houses of logs that you see, and they are square. it is a bad way to live, for there can be no power in a square. You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle. And that is because the Power of the World always works in a circle, and everything tries to be round . . . . --Black Elk
This passage is at the beginning of this novel. During the Summer of '97 or '98, I read Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth, a fascinating look at how cultures across all time periods and all around the world have the same set of myths or stories. The circle is a powerful symbol of life. I became obsessed with circles for a while. I saw so many incorporated into the architecture in Paris and Madrid during Spring Break of '99. After The Da Vinci Code popularized the idea of symbology, and more people started noticing circles in nature, etc. It's interesting to think that we build square and rectangular houses.
I knew I would enjoy this book as soon as I read this passage. The main character moves to Fairhope in 1925 and builds a circular house in the woods. The story is true. I look forward to learning more about Henry Stuart.
I am also looking forward to meeting Mr. Brewer in August.
