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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In a cult of full of bigots, DC Stephenson was Grand Asshole. In 1920s Indiana, the KKK was infiltrating the government and its agencies under the guise of morality warriors. Charlatans are slithery, and stop at nothing, especially fear, to amass support. The heinous assault of Madge Oberholtzer, and her brave deathbed proclamations, brought this so-called moral, religious man down. A big “thanks” to my FIL for this rec!

Very good and a bit terrifying! #hauntedshelf @PuddleJumper #flerken
@TheSpineView #spookoween

For August's #2024ReadingBrackets NONFICTION I chose the tagged book by Timothy Egan. It‘s a grisly yet engrossing account of the Ku Klux Klan‘s rise to power in Indiana in the 1920s. The parallels to today are also scary and sobering. It was a fascinating read that also took down its challenger and moves to a semifinal slot. Honorable mention for a wild-card slot was “Beyond the High Blue Air” by Lu Spinney, a poignant, heartbreaking memoir.

another book I wish I could get everyone in the US to read

Grisly yet fascinating account of the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. While it happened across the country, this focuses on Indiana, which had the highest concentration of KKK members and chapters of any state. (This statistic surprised me, although I‘m not really sure why.) In 1925, a brave young woman named Madge Oberholtzer gave a deathbed testimony that brought the group down. The parallels to today are also scary and sobering.

This is an excellent book telling about the rise of the KKK in middle America. The author did a great job explaining how they rose and took over so many cities and towns. The violence and hatred of others can be extremely disturbing to read about. I gave this a 5/5

This is the story of Madge Oberholtzer who finally brought down the Klan and its powerful Grand Dragon in Indiana. Unfortunately, she had to be viciously assaulted and die to do it. Kegan does a good job explaining the background, and his book is well-researched; it‘s just difficult to listen to because of how brutal her story is. I started Malice for my #audiowalk, read The Little Liar, and we started Dead Man‘s Hand for our new road trip book.

4/5
Excellent book about the rise of the ku klux klan in the 1920s. The author gives a lot of information about the creation of the klan, how they grew, how they organized, and focused mainly on Stephenson, aka the Grand Dragon: from his rise inside the movement, to his influence in American politics, and most importantly his debauchery, which will lead to his fall.

The subtitle is somewhat misleading... But it's well worth the reäd.

Morning hot chocolate... So good...

Programme of the day:
Morning - read
Afternoon - non-fiction bookclub
Night - read

The perfect day planned!

This is the disturbing true story of the narcissistic D.C. Stephenson whose charismatic influence gave rise to the Klan in Indiana in the 1920s. The Klan dominated Indiana.

"Isn't it strange that with all our educational advantages, Indiana citizens could be induced to pay $10 for the privilege of hating their neighbors and wearing a sheet?" -Meredith Nicholson

It isn't strange that churches involved had connections to false prophets of the day.

This is exceptionally researched and exceptionally well written and all sorts of horrifying. The story of the KKK startling and speedy growth in 1920s heartlands, esp Indiana. At the centre a deeply dislikeable man whose violence and hypocrisy eventually brought him down after a savage (TW described in detail) attack on a young woman. So much to reflect on, and perhaps learn.

Holy cow. I learned so much history about my state (Indiana) that I have never, ever imagined. This book is not for everyone, it doesn't gloss over anything.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Another incredible read that I wouldn‘t have picked up if not for @sharonsaysso‘s book club. The true story of the KKK‘s Indiana stronghold in the 1920s and how it was finally brought down.
There is so much in here & what struck me the most was the wide reach of the Klan. The end reads like a courtroom drama, because it was. Be aware there is a *lot* of violence detailed in this one, but a well written, well researched, difficult read.

Booked was my favourite reading challenge for how random but achievable it was for me. When I realised it wasn‘t running this year I co-opted my husband to help me recreate the same sense of challenge. He picked 18 ‘days of the year‘ and we then found someone who shared the same day as a birthday for 12 of them creating a 24 book challenge. No. 1 - a non fiction on a subject I know nothing about for world education day is proving to be dark.

God has no children whose rights may be safely trampled on. - Frederick Douglas

“In his experience, you didn‘t have to lead a man to hate, just show him the way and he‘d do it on his own.”

This was shocking. Disturbing. The story of the rise of the KKK in Indiana in the 1920‘s, lead by a charismatic charlatan who got rich off hate.

I found it sad that some of the things the Klan said/believed are echoed in current politics. #bookclub #governerd

The most powerful man in Indiana stood next to the new governor at the Inaugural Ball, there to be thanked, applauded, and blessed for using the nation‘s oldest domestic terror group to gain control of a uniquely American state.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

Important history, but upsetting to read. Generally about the resurgence of the Klan in the 1920s in Indiana, with mentions of other parts of the U.S. More specifically about the rise to power of one of the leaders and his murder conviction following his sadistic assault and rape of a young woman.

Reading the tagged tonight while the MI game is on in the background. I‘m 9 chapters in and so far 🤯🤯😡

#goblue #IDontCareAboutFootball

Too many thoughts to fit. Egan tells a tight and compelling story here. My only critique would not be getting a fuller vision of Madge. While her actions were undoubtedly brave, her story is also defined by violent trauma (which does include more details than some may be comfortable with). Egan makes efforts to draw her fully, but she can get lost for the villain here. I just wanted to get to know this spunky Hoosier girl.

File under: things they didn‘t teach in Indiana history.

#12Booksof2023 ⭐️ Favorite Audiobooks ⭐️

This highly readable & horrifying book tells the story of the KKK's resurgence in the 1920s, & specifically in the Midwest, where Hoosiers enthusiastically paid $10 to join an organization explicitly founded to support white supremacy. Their despicable leader had his sights set on the presidency until he committed a crime too heinous to be overlooked. This malevolent current in US history has been there from the start--we ignore it at our peril.

a compelling narrative about the second rise of the KKK in the US in the 1920s. Egan‘s telling reads so much like a political/legal thriller that it makes for a propulsive reading experience. It‘s an important story that reminded me how easy it is for groups and interests to infiltrate government and legal systems, and how important it is to be aware of the subversive influences around us. This is easily one of the best books I‘ve read this year.

Horrifying, electric, and essential reading for everyone. We cannot forget the hate and fear that drove our country during the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. Egan‘s book is so wonderfully written, the nonfiction account is a page turner. I loved learning about Dale, a Muncie journalist who fought back.

“In the America of 1922 fear of others generated a lot of anxious energy, this collective unease had only to be corralled, sanctified, & monetized.”

I went into this read without any knowledge of this crime or of D.C. Stephenson. This was a difficult read, with graphic content about many horrific crimes, but Timothy Egan writes in such a compelling, informative way that I couldn't stop reading this one.

The similarities between Stephenson and some current people in our society are shocking and remind me how important it is to know history so we can see evil and stop it before it's too late.

An interesting look at the rise of the KKK and how one grand dragon, a violent misogynist, was ultimately brought to justice. I felt this was a tiny bit too long and gave too much time to this horrible man, but it‘s an interesting read. And an important one, too, given the too many parallels to our current moment.

This was a really good read. But I couldn‘t help but feel history repeating itself, every time I turned the page😕

“I am the law” This is the story of a KKK Grand Dragon in Indiana, 1920‘s; how he accumulated the power he did in 4 years and the woman who took him down. Thank goodness for women like Madge. D.C Stephenson was a horrible man, and I see similarities in another awful American figure today. This is why ALL history should be learned, not just some history. #Booked2023 ~about a monster

Excellent nonfiction about a forgotten chapter in American history. D.C. Stephenson was truly a vile human being. Unsettling to draw parallels to modern day. Audiobook was well done, narrated by the author.

I bought myself books for my birthday. 🙂 Book mail is the best mail!

Stories about the KKK are just mind blowing. Paying $10 to hate/terrorize people---whaaat?!?!? I think what's more frightening are the many parallels in beliefs to things we still see today.

5/2023

They say history doesn‘t repeat, it rhymes. But this whole thing, from the group of hate mongers selling hate so they can make money, to the leaders who are also rapists, all of it is so familiar. It feels like living in a reboot.

“I am the law”.