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A review by nattycran
Chasing American Monsters: Over 250 Creatures, Cryptids & Hairy Beasts by Jason Offutt
3.0
While interesting and certainly entertaining, Chasing American Monsters is more of a reference book than anything else. Organized by state, some passages are as little as one paragraph while others are closer to two pages. Some states have many legends, some only a handful. And some monsters like Big Foot, Wendigo, and Thunderbird and referenced under multiple states.
I appreciated that everything was cited and that Native American cultures were given credit for their origin stories. What I really wanted was more analysis and connection with immigrant stories and influences. What happens when Scottish Loch dwellers move into an area populated with Native Americans who have lake legends? What about an Italian immigrant in Alaska where there are less terrain similarities--how does that change and shape these oral traditions and reports?
TLDR: Great for reference, not enough details to be more.
I appreciated that everything was cited and that Native American cultures were given credit for their origin stories. What I really wanted was more analysis and connection with immigrant stories and influences. What happens when Scottish Loch dwellers move into an area populated with Native Americans who have lake legends? What about an Italian immigrant in Alaska where there are less terrain similarities--how does that change and shape these oral traditions and reports?
TLDR: Great for reference, not enough details to be more.