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Dakota Circle is a book about the Plains community, written by a Plains member. The book is based off of a newspaper column, Plains Folks, that were compiled together. I think the book starts off rather interesting talking about what the title ‘really’ means. When Dr. Isern discusses the circle that forms at any social get together I cracked up laughing out loud while riding in a plane, I knew what he was talking about, and throughout the book, I could relate or at least imagine the stories that are told. As many have noted, the chapter about the horrible ability for Plains folk to build absurdly large monuments for things that are just ridiculous. Like the fight for the worlds largest ball of twine, or the biggest buffalo around. I thought of this chapter as I was driving home from Park Rapids and was told the story about the statue that is there of Saint Urho, the Saint that drove the grasshoppers (locust) out of Finland. This obscene love that people from the Plains have for large statues is ridiculous, but it’s who we are. Dakota Circle is a book that describes who we are, and as much as someone from the Great Plains wants to deny their actions as anything of what this book describes, you can’t.

I really enjoyed reading Dakota Circle. This book was way more interesting than the other two, not to be judgmental or anything. I think being able to relate to the stories, even though I am from MN some of these still ring true, allowed me to enjoy the book way more. So in the end, I say good job for keeping my attention.