Cool news from Bloglines

Well, I just checked into Bloglines and there are a number of new posts. Out of all of the new posts, the one that has excited me the most has to do with Mark Twain. It seems that Mr. Twain did not want his autobiography published until he had been dead 100 years. Well, it has been 100 years and the autobiography will soon be out. I am sure you have already guessed that I will be reading that book as soon as I can put my hands on it.

I think too much has been made about the books written by this man - the banning because of slavery. But Samuel Clemens was of a different time - a different era. Why can't we remember that? Poet and philosopher George Santayana is credited with saying "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Slavery remains with us today - look at Haiti and so many other parts of the world. It hasn't disappeared so why do people get their feathers ruffled because of a book that was written so many years ago?

Ok, I got that out. Another interesting post (and these both are in the Book news, reviews and author interviews from the UK) is about ebook deals not fair to the authors. Apparently, Tom Holland who chairs the Society of Authors, has called on the authors to demand more in the way of royalties from publishers. Instead of the standard 25%, Mr. Holland believes the royalties should be split 50/50. The problem lies in the contract because it lasts the life of the copyright. The fight should begin now, says Mr. Holland, so that the present contract language does not become set in concrete. Well, like I've always heard, it's best to cut them off at the pass. Looks like this could get interesting.

Well, I'm signing off for now as there is another post I want to read. It has to do with whether the novel is or is not dead. As you already know from my past posts, I am not a fan of fiction. It's alright for those who like it. But I don't like science fiction, or hobgloblins, or vampires, or those historical fictions with the woman who simply cannot live without that man. I have read my share of fiction and there are some writers I like such as Toni Morrison, Elmer Kelton, John Jakes, Faulkner, Mark Twain, and Agatha Christie. But give me Shelby Foote (although he did write some fiction), David McCullough, along with others listed in my previous posts.

I don't think the novel is dead. My question is whether we have any real classics today.

Catching up with technology

I don't know if I'm showing my age or my lack of being absorbed by the computer or what, but I have just learned about bloglines. I have discovered that the experience is comparable to finding good websites, podcasts, or anything else to follow.

I originally selected five blogs, but narrowed down to four. The one I deleted was the Shifted Librarian as it was too busy with a good number of entries that didn't provide me with any good information. It seemed too much like a general conversation that didn't mean anything. However, I did add a podcast, The Genealogy Guys. I attempted to add a 2nd podcast, but even though I indicated to add it to my Genealogy Podcast folder, it didn't go there. I'm still working on that one.

I'm still going through Books news (guardian.co.uk), Library Stuff, Publishers Weekly and ResourceShelf and so far, I like what I'm seeing. I also like Clippings. This is, all in all, pretty cool.

I can breathe again!

I know some of you may not find that to be funny and I don't mean for it to be funny. But I have been wanting to read American history again for so long that I feel as though I am breathing again. Now, I have to confess that I did read more Elmer Kelton's westerns - even though they are fiction. But his accuracy, storylines, and writing are truly wonderful. For now, though, it's time to go back to my first love - American history.

My recent reading has included such books as The Children's Blizzard, The Long Way Home: An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War, both by David Laskin. Right now, the book of choice is The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America by Timothy Egan. I have my eye on Nathaniel Philbrick's The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Big Horn, John Barry's Rising Tide: The Mississippi Flood of 1927, and so many, many more.

Why? You know, that is a hard question to answer. I know that I enjoy learning about this country and its people. For me, it's not enough to know there was a Civil War. I want to know what those people experienced, what they thought, how they survived. It always amazes me when game show contestants cannot answer questions concerning this country's history. One of my favorite examples is Jay Leno asking a woman who lives at 1600 N. Pennsylvania Street and she doesn't know.

It's just something I love and we have some really great authors that relate these stories. And these stories were told by some pretty incredible people - the people who experienced these events. No, it's not Harry Potter or vampires, but there are mysteries, witchcraft, murder, wars, spacecraft, romance, monsters (a different kind), and ghosts. And just like fiction, you just have to find the writer that is right for you.

So long for now. I need to take another deep breath.

Cemeteries - The Outdoor Musum

Before we get into the lab assignment, let me just preface it by saying that 10 minutes is not all that long. It certainly goes by quickly. I suppose that's why writing about the lab here in the blog makes sense.

As I stated in class this past Thursday, genealogy is the #1 hobby in America. Even though so much is on the internet, there is a great deal that isn't. Genealogy researchers are found everywhere - in public libraries, courthouses, land title companies, etc. One frequented place is the state library and because I volunteer there, it was the logical place to perform the lab.

I spoke with Rachael about this project and she was thrilled with my choice - cemeteries. I told her that this would not be an advisory or display about the cemetery transcription books located in the genealogy department. It would be one, hopefully, centered on their history, sculpture, research and such, hopefully with an Indiana focus. And maybe fiction as well. Since the library has had displays in the past that included Crown Hill Cemetery, I decided to leave it out. One of my goals was to include as many of the departments in the library as possible so that patrons would learn to use more of the library. And I wanted some humor. Cemeteries are sometimes considered dark, drab, and a place not to be visited. My hope was to change that view and realize that names and dates aren’t a complete picture – you need the culture, too.

So with these goals in mind, I began searching through the online catalogue. I learned quickly to be creative in my searches so as to not bring up the transcription books. It took a number of different searches – cemetery preservation, cemetery research, epitaphs, cemetery art, etc. So I paid attention to the subject headings listed with results. I even turned to Amazon.com and WorldCat.org to get some other book ideas and see if they were in the library catalogue. Why? It was just another way to attack the issue for fiction books. If I researched from home, I input the ones worth considering in a Word document. If I was at the library, I wrote them on paper. Every item that made my lists was pulled and reviewed. Yes, I looked at a lot of books, but it was worth it. There were five items that couldn't be found, which meant 1 of 2 things - either they were misfiled or stolen. Not only was that disheartening for me, but also for the librarians.

When the review was finished and I made the final cuts, I separated the items by topic and ended up with two – epitaphs and other (research and art). After a few design changes, some recommendations, revisions, reconsiderations, we came up with the final products. There is one large flier (two-sided), one smaller flier (two-sided), and one bookmark. The bookmark is basically a repeat of the large flier. The two fliers contain some images of the books. And if there were no images, I inserted a quote from the book itself. I thought that be seeing a sample of what was inside, the patrons might be tempted to read.
I have attached them in the Forums of Oncourse. I hope you enjoy them. I have enjoyed putting them together. While the end result is for the benefit of the patrons, I have learned some things myself. It’s been an enjoyable, sometimes frustrating, but fun experience. Reader’s Advisory, anyone? Just ask me about cemeteries – I have some recommendations for you.

Reader's Advisory - You'll never guess what I did!!

April 16th and 17th found me at an Indiana Genealogical Society two-day seminar in Fort Wayne. Actually, the seminar was only one day, but there was a workshop on Friday for members of genealogical societies. FYI – librarians earn CEUs on both days. This year, the Friday workshop focus was preservation at the various levels – genealogical society, local (county) and state. And because I have a large interest in archiving, I just had to attend. Saturday offered various topics of interest to we who refer to ourselves as genealogists.

Anyway, because of the Friday seminar, Allen County Public Library remained opened for a late night genealogy research opportunity. I attended the late night with a friend of mine because I needed access to WIFI and my cheapy motel did not offer it (but what can you expect for $30/night?). Anyway, as I was working on an assignment for my other class, I noticed an older gentleman (in his 70s or so) reading a paperback called The Texan. I kept thinking about the body of work we have for this class, but also what I have taken upon myself to read on my own. You see, I have somehow read three Elmer Kelton westerns from his Texas Ranger series during this semester. And I have to admit that they are pretty darn good. So I got up from my seat and walked over to the gentleman and his wife. I introduced myself and stated I had noticed his book. I then proceeded to ask if he had read any of Kelton’s books. He had never heard of him. Bingo!!! Although unsolicited, I performed an act of Reader’s Advisory. One that I never thought I would do, but I bet neither did any of you! I wrote the author’s name on a slip of paper and handed it to the gentleman and he seemed appreciative. We talked for a little while and then I went on about my business.

Why did I do this? You know, I’m not really sure why. I didn’t know this man at all. But something inside me said to do this little act of kindness. Accidentally, I found Elmer Kelton and enjoyed his books. They are good westerns. I feel as though I am right there. Of course, having a passion for American history helps. But Kelton’s westerns aren’t sappy with romance like a good amount of historical fiction. Love is in the air with Kelton, but it is more reasonable, more down to earth, more pleasing (at least for me). Is the lack of sappy romance because the author is a man? I don’t know, but I get more landscape, more realism, less fantasy than historical fiction.

Anyway, I am proud of my unsolicited Reader’s Advisory advice performance and hope you are as well. I just had to tell someone. Well, I have to get back to my reading now. An archivist advised me to read as much history as possible since I don’t have a college history background. Sounds like a good excuse for me to continue hanging out in the non-fiction area.

The loss of libraries and access

As we all can attest, not having a library is very devastating. Here in Indiana, there are a number of communities where one cannot be found. But what about our state libraries? Are they any safer? The answer is no. In listening to The Genealogy Guys Podcast (yes, I said podcast), of March 26th (http://genealogyguys.com/index.php?post_id=598721), I have learned some disquieting news from around the country.

If you take a look at the State of Michigan website (www.michigan.gov) you will see that there is no longer a Department of History, Arts, and Libraries. The Board of Trustees of the library and the Michigan Library itself now fall under the Department of Education. The position of State Librarian has been abolished. You can access and read the Executive Order by going to the state website, type 'Library of Michigan' in the search area, and then click on Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries. You will see the link to the Order under "Michigan says farewell to the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries". For now, the collection will stay where it is, but there will be some losses of jobs and other things. And that is only the beginning.

In New Jersey, there is a possibility that the New Jersey State Library and the Thomas Edison State College will be merged under the New Jersey State Museum governed by Rutgers University beginning July 1, 2010. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg County (NC) Library system announced a closure of 13 branches. That is an awful lot of libraries in an awful lot of communities. Because of the community outcry, these branches will not be closed, but the hours will be cut as well as jobs. In Florida, the legislature is considering the elimination of more that $22 million in aid to libraries. And then in Massachusetts (this isn't about libraries but access to records) there is a senate bill recommending the closure of access to all vital records after 1841.

That is a lot to take in. And what makes it worse is that I know I am a part of the funding problem. Why? Well, I have not replaced the job I lost more than a year ago. I am working a temporary part-time job right now, but I am not paying the taxes I had been paying and I am not purchasing much of anything. And I am only one. I know it is not my fault, but it is still very difficult to read about these things. It is times like this that I wish I had millions to spend.

But what is also just as frustrating is that the government keeps telling us to volunteer. Now, I don't mind volunteering. FYI - I have been a volunteer at the Indiana State Library for a year now and truly enjoy it. But I can't make a living on volunteering. And if libraries need a lot of volunteers, what is that saying? There are a few of us SLIS students who are current volunteers in the Library Development Office of the State Library. We 'work' for a woman who is the Digital Initiatives Librarian for the entire state. Do you know the size of her staff? One. Just one person overseeing the entire state. Connie has more projects on her plate than the White House has eating utensils (and we all know how many people are invited to all those dinners). She travels the state and trains librarians on digitizing as well. I can't even do justice to all the things she has going on. I have yet to see her take a lunch break and from what I am told, she is the first one there (in that office) and the last one out the door. When I saw her Thursday, I learned she would most likely be working this weekend - a three day weekend for the state employees. And they haven't had a raise in three years!

What are we coming to? What does this say about our society? And where are we going? As Barbara Tuchman once said "Nothing sickens me more than the closed door of a library." Though nothing has happened yet with our own state library, there have been times when the hours were reduced to Monday-Friday, 8:00 - 4:30. And what makes things worse is that because it is a state library, foundations are not allowed. Yet, it is to offer services to the entire state, to every single one of us if we so choose.

Lady Bird Johnson once said, "Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest." But one of my favorite quotes is from John Bright 11/16/1811 - 3/27/1889, a British orator, Quaker, and statesman. Now before you read this, PLEASE understand that, 1) Bright was a product of his time, and 2) when he says 'men', I include women. So if you do those two things, you might like this quote: "What is a great love of books? It is something like a personal introduction to the great and good men of all past times. Books, it is true, are silent as you see them on the shelves; but, silent as they are, when I enter a library I feel as if almost the dead were present, and I know if I put questions to these books they will answer me with all the faithfulness and fullness which has been left in them by the great men who have left the books with us."

Well, I have rambled long enough about the sad news in the podcast. I suppose the question to be answered is if a library near any of us was proposed for closure, what would we be willing to do to stop it? To what lengths are we willing to travel and who we will take with us? And even if it isn't proposed for closure, what are we willing to do to make it the best? The funny thing about my volunteer experience is that I have been turned away by two libraries that keep saying they need volunteers. That is how I landed at the state library. But perhaps I need to go back and see if I can't convince them that they need me. Lord knows I haven't been able to land a library job, and trust me when I say I am better off in an Indiana Room, the state library, or the archives. Or should I say the patrons would be better off if I am in one of those places. Anyway, just food for thought.

The Attack of 1918

Out of all the reading that has been assigned, now is my opportunity to shine. Right? It is nonfiction and that is my favorite area. But I have been subdued by my choice, something I did not expect. I have been touched by this selection and if that wasn't enough, I read a second nonfiction book. That will be a separate blog.

Okay, so back to this entry. This book came into my life before I began this class. The Monday night of the first week of class, I parked myself in front of the TV at 9:00 pm to watch one of my favorite shows - "American Experience" on PBS. That night's episode was about the influenza epidemic of 1918. It was so well made I wanted to know more. So the next day, I went to the local library and found The Great Influenza by John M. Barry.


If you don't know anything about this time in our country's history, then you should read this book. If you do know, you should still read this book. Yes, it's thick - 546 pages. But if you subtract the 40 pages of notes, the 21-page bibliography, and an index of 18 pages, that makes it a little smaller. I cannot say how long it took me to read because 1) I'm a slow reader, 2) I had to reread some medical and scientific passages, and 3) there was fiction to be read. But I did manage to get back to it. I had to. It is compelling.

We start 30-35 years before the outbreak by taking a look at the medical training in America and Europe. Let's just say America is a little bit behind. To attend medical school, you don't need a college degree. You can fail a class numerous times and still earn your certificate. There are no hospital rounds, no live patients, no internships, no research, no lab work, no microscopes. Some training, don't you think? Europe required so much more. It was time for change. William Welch desired that through his efforts and a few friends, he was able to change the face of American medical schools. His efforts have given us John Hopkins Medical School and a new way of teaching the practice of medicine.

Then WWI broke out and we stayed out until April 1917. Men are drafted and sent to military camps, then sent overseas. All is well - for a while. Winter came and the so did the influenza, but it's the typical case. Some children die and some elders, but nothing that should worry anyone. The year goes by and there is talk that the war may be winding down. But we are still drafting, still training, still cramped. Parades, gatherings, shopping - all activity as usual - all feeding grounds for the flu. And then someone passes out on the street before your very eyes and is dead by nightfall.

While Barry's research is more than just thorough, it is the style that keeps calling, beckoning you. As in all historical nonfiction, the end is known. But it is how you get there that counts. A reviewer on Amazon stated that Barry includes unnecessary information, such as insight into the scientists' lives. I disagree. An epidemic affects people in many ways and it is this that Barry wants to show - at least that is my opinion. Scientists have given their lives to research - day in, day out - so we have a better life. Although they did not invent a vaccine then, their research has led to many other findings.

The pacing ebbed and flowed just like the flu epidemic. For a large part of the book, the pace kept moving rapidly accompanied with the writing style of panic and fear. I could feel every emotion, every pain, angst, fear. I was there on the streets, in the camps and hospitals, on the trains, in the labs. He plants the reader in the middle of it all. The characters? Ever heard the song "Getting to Know You" by Oscar Hammerstein from The King and I? Did I ever get to know them! It is almost like reading a biography at times. I became friends with a few of the scientists and doctors. And I learned so much about the flu, the main character, not only what it did in 1918, but how it has changed over and over. It is something that is still being studied today.

Anyone who loves American history should read this book. It reads like a horror book, a mystery, a biography, and a history book, all wrapped into one. It is good for those who want to learn what life was like for their ancestors, for those interested in science and medicine. The technical terms may make you look things up on the internet, and you may need to reread some passages, but it is well worth the time and effort. Just ask someone whose family member died from it. I have - two of them. Fascinating stuff. By the way, I am looking forward to reading another John M. Barry book very soon - Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America.

For read alikes, I went with related reads and fiction books on this topic (teens and adults). Teens may not want to read a 546 page nonfiction book, but they may need to learn about the epidemic.

Related reads (Reader's Advisory): Polio: An American Story (David Oshinsky); The Great Mortality: An Intimate History (John Kelly); Plague and Fire: Battling Black Death and the 1900 Burning of Honolulu's Chinatown (James Mohr).

Fiction reads on this topic: Adults: Kathy (Linda Sole-Adult); The Last Town on Earth: a novel (Thomas Mullen); This Time of Dying (Reina James); The Paradox Syndrome (Ken Hodgson).
Teens: Winnie’s War (Jenny Moss); The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 (Claire O’Neal; Blessings Bead (Debby Dahl Edwardson); The Goodbye Season (Marian Hale); The Flu Epidemic (JoAnn A. Grote); Fever Season (Eric Ziveig); Marvin of the Great North Woods; Kathryn Lasky.

A Mystery Recommendation from My Mother

Well, normally I post the book cover, but I can't do that and Google can't show me a photo of the author so you will have to deal with a photo of where Dorothy Simpson resides, Kent, England. But it's a lovely picture.

Anyway, my mother has just finished reading Dead by Morning and loves it. Although it is a murder mystery, the plot unfolds the unspoken truth behind the marriage between Mona and Desmond. Mom enjoys the twists and turns of Ms. Simpson's books and highly recommends them.

So, in case you aren't acquainted with this author and need a mystery, just know that her books come highly recommended by my mother, an authority on mystery books that aren't too graphic, don't involve detailed sex, but is an all around good read.

Every once in a while my mom is good for something (just kidding!).

Bonanza (in more ways than one)

The Buckskin Line
by Elmer Kelton


If you read my Secret Shopper post, you know I ended up checking out an Elmer Kelton western, The Buckskin Line, which is the first book in his Texas Ranger series. Well, I finished it a few days ago. I have already read a western for this class and have blogged about it, but I just had to let you know how it went.

First of all, it doesn't fit all of the characteristics of a western as described in our text. It takes place beginning 1840 and ends in 1863. But it's the Texas Rangers and they're fighting Indians. There are ranches and cattle and farms - danger all around in the beautiful Texas country. Rusty is kind of a loner, but not one who is riding around, rights the wrong, and then leaves for another place. He is a loner but not by choice and he leaves his home to do perform the duty he was sworn to do. Just like his 'father'. And he wants to go back home. But I still think it's a western.

Kelton's story begins with the story with the Comanche Indians on a raid, killing the parents of a toddler. The boy is taken by one of the Indians to be his son only to lose him when the Texas Rangers find them. One of the Rangers and his wife 'adopt' the boy, whom they nicknamed Rusty (for his read hair). We then advance twenty some years and find Rusty a grown man living at home. His 'mom' dies of natural causes, but his father is murdered. Although wanting revenge, Rusty is called by the Texas Rangers for service and Texas votes to leave the Union. Now that most of the men have gone to war, the few remaining Texas Rangers, including Rusty, have to keep the Indians in line. But Rusty can't let go the revenge he wants for Mike.

Did I like it? Well, let's just say that I am waiting on the 2nd book in the series to be returned to the library. At least in this book, I didn't have to read about how Rusty and the daughter of a family he meets can't do without each other or get all sappy. I am hoping to pass this writer onto my grandson in a couple years. I think he might enjoy the books. It's well written, keeps you attached to it. Well paced. Nothing gruesome, no killing details. You're told the scalps were taken, but you can use your imagination. Kelton, who just passed away last year, does not use a lot of western jargon or lingo, at least not in this book.

Yes, it's head 'em up, move 'em out for me for a while anyway. Just as long as I don't stop reading nonfiction. I have to get my fix from time to time.

My Father Loved Zane Grey

TO THE LAST MAN

by Zane Grey



When I was growing up, my mother worked nights and so my dad was responsible for the four of us kids. We grew up on westerns. Yes, my dad loved westerns. John Wayne, Jeff Chandler, Jimmy Stewart, Clint Eastwood. Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Palatin, you name it, we watched it. And that was okay because we all survived them. They weren't my mom's choice on the nights she didn't work, but it was my father's house so westerns ruled the roost.

But the one thing I remember most is the set of books that sat on a bookcase in the family
room - a Zane Grey series. My dad loved Zane Grey so much so that he was nicknamed Zane in high school. My mother bought those for my dad. There were lots of times I thought about picking one out and reading it, but they were my dad's books. I never asked if I could read one of them.

So what have I chosen to read for the landscape genre? You guessed it - a Zane Grey book. There aren't that many of Grey's books to select from at my local library and the ones they have are not in the best of conditions. I don't know if that is because they have been around so long or if they have been read a great deal or a little of both.

To the Last Man, written in 1921, is a novel based on a true story - the Pleasant Valley War. In this version, Gaston Isbel summons his son Jean in Oregon to come to Arizona and help with the cattle and horse ranch. The sheep herders have moved into Grass Valley and bad times lie ahead. Isbel needs his son now and tells him to bring guns and lots of ammunition. Jean is also warned to only listen and not talk when he arrives. Cattle are missing, which always happens, but not to this extent. Cattlemen and sheepmen don't mix. Not until Jean arrives in the valley does he learn the whole story - that the enemy is a long time foe from Gaston's earlier years in Texas, that this fight has been brewing for years. The trouble began during the Civil War. After Gaston left to fight, Lee Jorth moved in on Gaston's girl, marrying her before the soldier returned home. Gaston proved Jorth was a cattle rustler and ruined him. Now Jorth has come to make him pay. But how will Jean handle the situation now that he has fallen in love with Jorth's daughter?

There is no doubt that Zane Grey, for the most part, falls into the Western genre. First, the location is in the American west. For this book, it occurs in Arizona. Contrary to what our text states, the reader knows exactly where the story occurs. Grey reveals this information in the Foreword as well as throughout the story. It does, however, take place about twenty-five years after the War Between the States. Our hero is a loner for several years since his family moved to Arizona, living in the forests and fishing in the waters of Oregon. Not tied to anyone. He has well developed hunting and tracking capabilities, but when it comes to disagreements with other men, his guns are the last thing he uses. But it does come down to survival of the fittest in the end. Grey's storyline strategy is a developing one, where the reader may believe the plot is unknown when in fact it is just a cover for the real issue at hand. It is a story of revenge and the law is nowhere in sight. But how do you create laws to deal with jealousy?

It was a book I found difficulty in putting down and for several reasons. I wanted to know more about this man named Jean (reminded me of Johnny Cash's song), this half-breed as some would call him. Though I knew how the story would end and that the hero would get the girl, I wanted to know how it played out. And then there was Ellen Jorth, the only daughter and child of a man she never knew or understood. The only woman among a gang of thieves and killers who pawed at her and claimed her for their own, whether she was or not. She was fighting for her freedom as well - trying to find her own identity. The pacing began steadily and, just like anyone headed for trouble, it sped up more and more until the final shoot out. Yep, it was action packed! And it was just like sitting in front of the television watching the Matt Dillon try to talk the bad guy into laying down his gun before something bad happened. Reading some of the dialogue took a little getting used to. It reminded me of Festus, the old western slang and lingo.

Yes, it was a struggle of good vs. evil, with the good not always being good. But there was the internal struggle that both Jean and Ellen fought within themselves. The struggle to do what was right and forgetting that 'right' had nothing to do with family names. The struggle to put the past behind and move on. The struggle to just laying down the gun and walk away.

By the way, I picked up another western during my secret shopper investigation. It's not another Zane Grey though. This one is by Elmer Kelton, a more contemporary western genre writer who passed away just last year. It doesn't fit the usual western in that it begins in 1840 and ends in 1863. It takes place in Texas and is more of a cowboy-Indian story. So far, there hasn't been any romance (which doesn't bother me), but about the Comanches trying to take back their land. So far, so good. It is the first book in Kelton's Texas Ranger series. Perhaps I am my father's daughter after all.


Read Alikes - Authors (Fantastic Fiction): Zane's sons - Romer Zane Grey and Loren Zane Grey; Elmer Kelton; Louis L'Amour; Max Brand (outside of the Dr. Kildare series); Ralph Compton; William W. Johnstone; J. T. Edson; Ralph Cotton; Lewis B. Patten; Terry C. Johnston; Alan LeMay (Indianapolis native); Fred Grove.

Read Alikes - Books (NoveList): Dreams to Dust: a Tale of the Oklahoma Land Rush by Sheldon Russell; Last Child by Michael Spooner; Redeye: a Western by Clyde Edgerton; Not Between Brothers by D. Marion Wilkinson.

Playing I Spy

The day had finally come for me to spy on a local librarian. I knew the importance of this assignment, but ratting out a librarian? I didn't want to do that! I had already experienced librarians who couldn't help me find nonfiction readings. I had already heard some bad stories from others about their experiences. Oh, I didn't want to do this. But I did, like a good little student.

So I went out of town - not far - just up the road from my house. It wasn't one I have visited before. Well not for library services. I attended a program them several years ago so I was comfortable that no one knew me. It took me a couple minutes to figure out who I should ask. The circulation desk was right in front of me upon entering the library, and there were three librarians behind the desk. I don't think I could have looked any more like I didn't know where I wanted to go. There was one customer at the desk and even after that person left, no one asked me if I needed any help. Hmmm, wasn't going very well so far. Was this a warning sign?

I finally got my bearings - finally figured out that the adult side was to my right. On my way, I noticed the reference desk and that it was staffed by one librarian who was busy helping a patron on the phone. So I walked around until he hung up. He began walking away when he noticed me approaching the desk. He looked right at me and then asked if he could help me with anything. I conveyed that a friend said I needed to step out of the nonfiction world, that I needed to read the 'real' stuff. He chuckled, introduced himself, and shook my hand. "Well", he said, "Do you want to dip your big toe in the water or dive in?" "Good question", I replied. "I don't know yet."

At this point, Bill asked me what I like to read. So I told him I am a real David McCullough, John M. Barry, and Shelby Foote fan; that I like American history, but that I don't normally read anything after WWII. Bill's first recommendation was historical fiction. I told him perhaps, but I didn't want anything overly wrought with sex or 'I can't do without you' verbage. It tends to nauseate me. He looked in the library's catalogue and did a search under 'historical fiction'. He also looked in NoveList and Dear Reader. Finally, Bill admitted that he did not know most of the authors, but we went over the lists and we finally settled on Laura Kinsale. So we walked over to the shelves and we found two books by this author. He sensed my hesitation and because he saw another patron at the desk, Bill told me to look around and be sure to come back to the desk if I had more questions or needed more assistance. I kept looking around on those shelves and noticed a western by Elmer Kelton. So I pulled it out, leafed through it and saw that it was the 7th book in Kelton's Texas Ranger series. Starting in the middle of a series is like watching a sequel of a movie before seeing the first one. I can't stand it. Because I couldn't find a list in the book of the others in the series, I returned to Bill and asked him if he could determine the first book in the series. So he researched the internet and found the list. Then he looked it up in the library's catalogue and saw that it was available. So we walked to the shelves to get it, but it was in a different area than where I located the other one. This time, we were in the Western genre shelves. I mentioned this to Bill. So we went back to where I found the other books - in the general fiction. We found three other Kelton books - all part of the Texas Ranger series - in the general fiction and not in the western genre. We were both a little confused. So I took the western, The Buckskin Line. By this time, there was another patron waiting at the counter so Bill went left to help her. As I began to leave, Bill told me that he hoped I would enjoy my big toe dip in the water, to let him know if I enjoy it and that he would look into the cataloging as general fiction.

All in all, I was pretty happy with the experience. Bill was very friendly, helpful, resourceful, and yet cognizant of other patrons in the area. It would have been better if he had some idea of the authors as I didn't recognize them. I knew he would recommend historical fiction - the dip similar to the dip I took in selecting Poyer's book. But he made me feel important and went to some length to find me a book. I will read it; I went to the trouble of checking it out so why not? I will just have to fit it in with all my other reading.

Next read recommendations

Yesterday, I went to my local public library and came across something that struck me as odd. Let me qualify that statement. It was odd to me. You see, the library put a suggestion list for your next read. Because I don't have the capability to scan it, I will simply type it here so you can see what I saw.

WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR
YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR'S NEXT
BOOK . . . TRY THESE!

Heartless by Diana Palmer
Burn by Linda Howard
Relentless by Dean Koontz
I Can See You by Karen Rose
Medusa by Clive Cussler
Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
Intervention by Robin Cook
Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris
Hardball by Sara Paretsky

For some of you, this list may seem alright. But it struck me as odd and I will tell you why. If it wasn't for this class, I would not have the slightest idea as to who a few of these authors are. Is it typical to put a list together such as this and assume the patrons will know? Or is the library hoping patrons will ask a librarian? If that is the case, don't they know that some people simply won't ask because they don't wish to look stupid? I know we, as librarians, would never treat them as such, but they wouldn't know that. So if you would let me know your thoughts, I would appreciate it.

Books as good as TV

Evil Under the Sun

by Agatha Christie

Over the years, PBS has brought to us so many classics and one of those is the Masterpiece Mystery series. And that is how I met Agatha Christie and her detectives. Though Miss Marple has a certain charm about her, I simply love Hercule Poirot. Well, the television Poirot that is. You see, until now, I have never read any of Christie's books. So in choosing the books for this class there could never be any doubt that a Hercule Poirot mystery would be one. The question to be answered is whether I would be any better at solving the crime. I certainly couldn't do any worse. You see, out of all the mysteries I have watched on Masterpiece Mystery, I haven't solved any. Not a one!

Evil Under the Sun opens at the Jolly Roger Hotel on Smuggler's Island in Leathercombe Bay. We find Poirot, in his white duck suit and Panama hat, resting on the beach in search of a well-deserved rest. But his reputation, naturally, draws others around like flowers draw bees. And then the body of a young and very beautiful actress Arlena Stuart Marshall is found - strangled. Was it her husband who knew she loved the attention of other men? Or was it the infatuated Patrick Redfern who spent more time with Arlena than his own wife? Arlena's stepdaughter wishes to be rid of her as well, but then we can't forget about Rosamund Darnley. She's been in love with Arlena's husband most of her life. But then was it the spurned wife of Redfern? They all have alibis. So who could have possibly murdered this woman?

Don't look at me 'cause I'm not telling. The one thing I will tell you is that I could see David Suchet as Hercule. For me, he is the quintessential Hercule Poirot. Yes, I enjoyed the story. For what it's worth, Agatha Christie's work contains all the characteristics of mysteries.
Solving Arlena's murder drives the plot and I was only one step behind Poirot as he was sifting through the clues. Part of a series? Oh, yes. Including this book there are 37 Poirot mysteries. Because all of the supporting characters have reasons for wanting Arlena gone, the reader doesn't overlook any of them. This murder isn't really dark and I wouldn't call it lighthearted. It fell somewhere in between. The setting is England this time around and Poirot adds a touch a flair coming from Belgium. Her books take place all over the world. Don't tell anyone, but I had a hard time putting down the book because I wanted to know who done it.

Well, just so you know, my record of solving mysteries is still the same. Even with the clues right in front of me, I still missed them! I made assumptions instead of evaluating the details and couldn't see the forest for the trees.
Oh, well. I guess I will just have to leave the solving to Poirot.

Read-Alikes (from Readalike.org): Dorothy L. Sayers (Lord Peter Whimsey series); John Dickson Carr (Gideon Fell), Josephine Tey (The Man in the Queue), Margaret Allingham's Albert Champion series, Michael Pearce's Mamur Zapt series, Jeanne M. Dams' Dorothy Martin series, M. C. Beaton (Agatha Raison and the Quiche of Death), Carolyn G. Hart (Dead Man's Isle) although set in the United States, Kate Kingsbury's Death is in the Air, and Styx and Stones by Carola Dunn.

Fiction and the quality argument

We have had a couple discussions concerning quality vs. demand in class. They have been interesting discussions to say the least, at least from where I sit. But isn't it interesting to know that the old saying is true, "The more things change, the more they stay the same"?

I sometimes research newspaper archives in my genealogy research. My reading has led me to an article in the NY Times archive with a press date of December 20, 1902. Here we are over 100 years later, and the issue presented in this article still resonates today. You will find it at http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9802EED71E3DEE32A25753C2A9649D946397D6CF. It is titled "Public Library Problems."

Now I don't know if I will ever find myself in a position to have to make these decisions because I hope to work in a state library or an archive or a historical library. But as a patron, I feel slighted by my public library because the non-fiction section, at least the American history selection, can be very lacking. In other words, I have to do a lot of ILL (yes, I am jealous of the fiction readers). I know I might catch some flak for saying this, but if a fiction patron doesn't get every book in their library that they want, I just can't feel any sympathy. I hear Andrea's argument that libraries are not bookstores and I agree. But even if they aren't collection wise, libraries are just like bookstores in all their attractions. I am referring to the loud patrons (because being respectful of others is now taboo) and the coffee shops. I am become confused as to where I am, whether I should get out my money or my library card out of my wallet. I know - my neighbor has already told me I was born 100 years too late. But I am frustrated too and I pay taxes just like everyone else.

So pardon me while I bow out of this argument, because I have already figured out that one way or another I will find the books I want to read. My thought is that there is more than on e way to skin a cat. Perhaps it's time for fiction readers to figure that out as well.

The gentle yet strong woman

Anathema
by Colleen Coble
2008

After sneaking out of the house to meet up with her forbidden Englisch boyfriend Reece, Hannah Schwartz returns home only to find her Amish parents murdered by strychnine poisoning and her mother's beautiful quilts stolen. It is Hannah's fault. All her fault - at least according to Hannah. Convinced that God is now punishing her, Hannah runs away from her Parke County Indiana home and marries Reece. But she jumped from what she perceived to be the frying pan into the fire. Five years of marriage to Reece has been filled with verbal and physical abuse. The final straw is a fall down a flight of stairs just two weeks before the baby she carries within her is to be born. When Hannah wakes up in the hospital Reece, who never really wanted to have children, tells her the baby is dead. And so she runs again, vowing to never return to a life of abuse. But she can't go back home unless she begs forgiveness from the bishop. But it would also mean that she cannot divorce her Englisch husband.

Another five years pass and Hannah still cannot run from the past fast enough. It's lurking in the shadows. She receives a letter from Reece (sent through Hannah's aunt) stating their daughter is alive. Can it be true? The only way to know for sure is for Hannah to return to Parke County and face the very things that made her run in the first place. And forgive. And love herself.

I have had a bit of trouble determining the right genre for this book. So I have had to really look at the big three and our course book for assistance in its proper placement. Colleen Coble, an Indiana author, brings us a look into a woman who has lost her way and is trying to find her way back. Hannah is a conflicted woman because she has not yet faced the past. She's a woman who is quite good at beating on herself, making all of the sacrifices, and leaving nothing for herself. As in many novels in the women's lives and relationships genre, the big issues in Anathema are love (for oneself in this case), trust, and the importance of family. Yes, there is a mystery to be solved and the question as to whether her baby is alive or not. But she isn't the detective such as in those books that make up the mystery genre. The real story is Hannah and the issues that she, and so many other women, face. And that is why Anathema belongs in women's lives and nowhere else.

I would call this a likable book, but not great. An easy read if that is for what you are looking. I am surprised as to who committed the murders and why. And Coble does leave you wondering about Reece. The character is developed just to the point leaving the reader to decide on the part he plays in the events, his motive in all of this. It did bother me, though, that Hannah runs from her husband, the idea (I thought) to live in obscurity. But then she writes a book. And if anything catapults a person into the limelight with interviews and press releases, it's writing a book! So ....... But all in all, it's a nice little read.

Read-Alikes (Fiction Connection): Coming Home by David Lewis; Joy by Victoria Christopher Murray; Waking Samuel by Daniel Coyle

Recommended Authors (Fantastic Fiction): Lori Copeland, Lori Wick, Tracie Peterson, Wanda E. Brunstetter, Terri Blackstock, Laurine Snelling, Kim Vogel-Sawyer, Cathy Marie Hake, Karen Kingsbury, Beverly Lewis, Dee Henderson, Shelley Shepard Gray, Beth Wiseman, Tamera Alexander, Cindy Woodsmall.

Laugh 'til you drop

Garrison Keillor is at it again with another whimsical story in his Lake Wobegon series. This time lifelong resident Evelyn Peterson dies unexpectedly. But that isn't the only shock her daughter Barbara (who tries to please everyone) suffers. Evelyn's death reveals a secret life of gallivanting around (and heaven only knows what else) with her boyfriend Raoul who resides in Las Vegas. And Barbara thought she was visiting relatives all those times! Then there's Evelyn's funeral request: no church service, no singing, no prayers. Just have the body cremated, place the ashes in a hollowed out bowling ball given to Evelyn by Raoul, seal it, and then drop it into Lake Wobegon. And if things couldn't get worse, Barbara's son Kyle decides it only fitting for him to drop the bowling ball for Barbara as he parasails over the lake.

While Barbara is busy learning about her mother's secret life and making the funeral arrangements, the Detmer's strange daughter Debbie, who has made millions as an animal aroma therapist in California, returns home to Lake Wobegon to get married which involves a pontoon boot, two giant fiberglass ducks, a hot air balloon, and a flying Elvis, at the same lake and on the same day as Evelyn's funeral. And to top it off, 26 Danish Lutherans ministers stop in town as part of their U.S. tour. And guess when this is take place? You guessed it! On the same day as Evelyn's funeral!

It's a laugh-out-loud look at small town life, complete with colorful characters, the nosy neighbors and gossipers. You know. All those folks you want to get away from and when you do, you kind of miss them? We do learn a moral or two along the way, something to make us pause and reflect upon our own lives, but laugh until our sides hurt and tears pour down our faces.

Read-Alikes (NoveList Plus): Tom Bodett's End of the Road series and Phillip Gulley's Harmony Series.

Similar Authors (recommendations from libraries): Rita Mae Brown, Peter DeVries, Clyde Edgerton, Fannie Flagg, Lorna Landvik, Billie Letts, Howard Frank Mosher, Cathie Pelletier, Adriana Trigiani

Let freedom ring

Last night, on my way home from my other class, I turned the radio onto station WICR. This station is out of the University of Indianapolis. For those who are not familiar with WICR, the station plays jazz during the day, amidst some talk shows, and classical music during the rush hours and at night, unless there's a basketball game. Anyway, last night, the featured composer was Aaron Copland, one of my absolute favorite American composers. The piece playing was from "Appalachian Spring" which includes the Shaker song "Simple Gifts".

So where am I going with this? Well, this all reminded me that even with all of our faults, America is a great place to live. It is true we don't get everything right. Even I have had my moments of head shaking and disagreeing with those running our governments. I believe in freedom and I also believe there are times we have taken political correctness just a little too far. I am not naive enough to believe that our Founding Fathers were perfect. but one of the things they did get right was providing us the right to read what we want.

Oh, I know, we still have our naysayers, book burners, protesters, and who knows what all. But that is another freedom we were given. We can say what we want. Well, within limits such as libel. So we can pen what we want, and we can read what we want. Isn't it great? So read to your hearts' content!!!

Just want to say

I just want to say that I am truly enjoying this class. I enjoy listening to what everyone has to say. You all have some very important things to say. So please don't hold back. Although I am a volunteer at the state library, I really have not worked in a library. So your stories are important to me.

I just want to say thank you to all, and that includes our fearless leader, for making this such an enjoyable class. I'm learning lots!

No one beats David McCullough!

I just finished watching one of my favorite programs - American Experience on PBS. Of course, seeing I am a reader of American history, this comes as no surprise. Tonight's episode was about the Donner Party - the crossing of America from Illinois to California, but it wasn't just any crossing. About 30 people (men, women and children) break off from a large wagon train crossing on a path that is to cut off many days from the tried and true path. It takes them three weeks longer instead. Once they reach the Sierra Nevada a snowstorm hits preventing them from going through a pass, now called the Donner Pass. The snow continues and traps them there for nearly 4 months. Attempts are made to get through the pass and, unfortunately, several of the folks who die were eaten as the food was gone and so were the animals. Several rescue attempts are made to no avail until February and they are finally found.

Anyway, the episode is narrated by David McCullough, one of my top three authors. If you aren't familiar with him, he is the narrator of the movie "Seabiscuit" made in 2003 starring Jeff Bridges and Tobey Maguire. McCullough's narrations are just like his writing: smooth, clear, thorough, precise, and complete. If i had to choose just one book as a favorite, which is nearly impossible because I don't really have favorite anythings (not even color), it would be McCullough's John Adams. The reader gets an absolute complete history of the 2nd President of the United States. Adams is brought to life through his letters to his politically involved wife, Abigail, and hers to him. They seem to have spent most of their married life apart than together. We see Adams through his relationships with other Founding Fathers, specifically Jefferson and Franklin. Even though we already know that their son, John Quincy Adams, becomes a president himself as well, we come away with a complete understanding as to how and why that came about as well.

It's not the suspenseful drama that fiction readers enjoy. But it is a fast page turner for me. The book is a Nobel prize winner. And this isn't McCullough's first Nobel prize either. Librarian of Congress James Billington doesn't refer to McCullough as the "citizen chronicler" for nothing.

So if you want to read an award winning author and you don't mind reading about American history, do yourself a favor and read anything written by David McCullough. If you want to read about John Adams, you won't be able to find any better work than this.

My first read for class

The Threat by David Poyer
Published by St. Martin's Press
305 pages







AMICABLE: Anybody here?
SCHOLAST: Been logged on since 0900. Where you?
AMICABLE: Reporter in office. Gone now.
SCHOLAST: How’s your day?
AMICABLE: Totally certain this wire secure?? Security monitoring? NSA?

And the story begins.

In this ninth book of the series, Naval Commander Dan Lenson accepts a post with the White House military staff. Dan’s capture and torture by Saddam’s Mukhabarat has resulted in injuries from which he has yet to fully recover. Dan had hoped for another command, but he could not pass up the opportunity to be director of threat reduction. However, he quickly learns that instead of directing the reduction of nuclear weapons contained in the former states of the Soviet Union, he is the director of counter narcotics. After mildly objecting to this assignment, the senior director quickly informs our protagonist that the White House directs his movements and that orders change, and can change quickly.

AMICABLE: Let’s get to it. The less time we’re online the better I’ll feel.
SCHOLAST: We’ve made progress. Brought concerned citizens aboard.
HELLGOD: What’s the code name?
SCHOLAST: There is no code name for this plan…It is prepared solely in case P gets out of hand….

From the back rooms of the White House, to Air Force One, and then onto Marine One, Dan accepts a myriad of assignments. With each new assignment, Dan becomes more and more disgruntled with Washington's ways of doing business. As a result of breaking their rules on more than one occasion, Dan finds himself removed from the action of the West Wing to the lack-luster East Wing, becoming the military aide to the President carrying the briefcase that contains the secret codes for a nuclear strike. The problem with this punishment is that Dan is now at the side of the man who he suspects of having an affair with his wife.

BLUE DANUBE: The candidate is motivated and moving into position…
HELLGOD: …how do we make him move? We need a name for [this guy]…
SCHOLAST: Call him Forthright.
BLUE DANUBE: The point is, HG, not so much to make Forthright do what we want as to make it believable afterward that he did.

But what is with the emails we find placed at the beginning of each story division? Who are these people and what are they planning? Who is P and who is the candidate?

If you like the military and political maneuvering, Poyer is for you. Although I became somewhat lost with the jargon, Poyer writes a good story. His knowledge of the military and politics makes the story very believable. But it should be since Poyer is recommended reading at the U.S. Naval Academy. The pace of the book assimilates the pace of White House life, that is until Dan puts all the pieces together. And then you're in for a quick exciting ride. It's like riding a roller coaster that starts off with the smaller hills, combined with a few loops, twists and turns, then a few more hills a little larger than before, saving the best thrill for last. The reader will recognize similar real life events and perhaps identify some of the numerous characters with those in contemporary politics. This is no nail biter by any means. But because of the way Poyer writes this story, it doesn't need to be one. Its Poyer's story telling and development that keeps the reader right in the palm of his hand.

Finishing a fiction

I have just completed the first fiction book. It was little bit of a struggle, but I have managed and survived to tell about it! I am proud of myself. I have never really gone out of the box before and this class is causing me to do so. That's a good thing. I'm still playing catch-up in learning things, but am working on it.

I am watching a movie right now and the husband has left a note for his wife stating 'if you like junk, you will like the cellar.' You see, his wife had been studying archeology. To him, if the item is not being used, it's junk. But to her, it's history, his history. And that is how I feel about things from the past. Those things tell us a great deal about who we are and from where we came. When I am at an antique store and come across old pictures, I always wonder who those people were, what they were like and where their family is now. I am glad I have been given photos of some family ancestors. I hope to collect some more.

Me and what I read

My name is Cathi and I just joined the class tonight. I am one of those folks that is collecting unemployment for the past year. I am making my 3rd career change and being that genealogist/historian is where I am heading. I presently volunteer at the Indiana State Library and will be working on the Indiana Memory project beginning next week. I also review recorded books for the Indiana Talking Library so those who are visually impaired or physically unable to hold a book can 'read'.

My reading habits are in the non-fiction arena, specifically American history. It fits in with the genealogy aspect of my life. Knowing the events that have taken place provides me with a better understanding of my ancestors and the world that affected their lives. I don't read fiction and haven't since elementary school. The last fiction I read was Nancy Drew. It's not that I hate fiction; it's just that I don't care for the fantasy that goes along with the historical events in historical novels. Even though I read Nancy Drew, I would also check out biographies in elementary school. So please be patient with me.