"Sometimes in the middle of the night, I wake up and remember that I am going to have to die and it scares me so bad that I break out in a cold sweat and I go get in the bed with Momma and Daddy. Maybe by the time I grow up, they will find a cure for dying and I won't have to worry."
-Daisy Fay Harper, age 11, from the novel
You may already know I am a fan of Fannie Flagg (pun intended) and I discovered recently this, her debut novel, which I had not read. I enjoyed it very much although I would admit it is not as polished as her later work. Narrator Daisy Fay begins her story in 1952 when she is 11 years old and, in her words, "not doing much except sitting around waiting for the sixth grade." I taught 5th grade for 20 years so I know kids of that age quite well. Daisy is quite a character, a sassy but loveable girl. The author uses a diary format in this novel giving the reader a pretty intimate look into Daisy's psyche. She continues her story for 7+ years, to high school graduation and just beyond.
Since my own formative years coincided with Daisy's I found her references to pop culture interesting---mentions of Davy Crockett, Nancy Drew, "Beat the Clock," "This Is Your Life" and the Burma Shave road signs we got such a hoot out of when we were traveling back in the day. I was also reminded of the polio scare, the Communist phobia and problems with ringworm in the schools which might be the equivalent of head lice in more recent times.
There was hardly a page without some humor. A fishing contest which was pretty "fishy," a contrived "miracle" and Daisy feeling she is being stalked by a murderer. Her malapropisms are hilarious. When she calls her most-hated peer, Kay Bob Benson, an "incinerator child" after learning her mother may have had artificial insemination, it cracked me up! I will rate this one a 5 for sheer entertainment value!
Friday, August 25, 2017
Thursday, August 17, 2017
The Two Henrys, Henry Plant and Henry Flagler and Their Railroads by Sandra Wallus Sammons
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| Henry Bradley Plant |
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| Tampa Bay Hotel |
"I regard work as on [of] the essential principles of my success---my personal supervision of every detail of my business. I believe in never leaving to others what I can do myself."
-Henry Bradley Plant
I read this duel biography for the same reason I mentioned in the post about Henry Ford. Another juvenile biography, it gave me a "down and dirty" summary of two Henrys who were so significant in opening up the Florida peninsula and contributing greatly to tourism, just as Ford did with his
Model T automobile.
Here are some fascinating parallels between the two:
Both were born in the North.
Both dropped out of school after 8th grade.
Each one experienced Florida for the first time due to wives who were ill and needed a warmer climate (and interestingly both wives died young).
Both became very wealthy in their lifetimes.
They knew each other and were "friendly competitors."
From the title of the book, you realize both Plant and Flagler were railroad magnates but you might not know Plant built railroads and then the elaborate Tampa Bay Hotel (now housing a part of Tampa University and the Henry Bradley Plant Museum) for people who arrived in Tampa by train. Flagler, on the other hand, began the magnificent Ponce de Leon Hotel (now part of Flagler College) in St. Augustine only to discover he needed railroads to get required building materials.
Flagler was a member of the Plant Investment Company established by Henry Plant in 1882, as was the 4th Henry, Henry Sanford. Plant was already building railroads in north, central and southwest Florida before Flagler began his work along the east coast but Flagler made up for lost time by extending rail service all the way to Key West, eventually, and by building several beautiful hotels.
"I have however, one ailment (old age) which is incurable, and that I am submitting to as gracefully as possible. I am quite sure, however, that I possess as much vitality and can do as much work as the average man of forty-five."
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Henry Morrison Flagler
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| Ponce de Leon Hotel |
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Three Biographies of Henry Ford
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
-Henry Ford
Driven, A Photobiography of Henry Ford by Don Mitchell
Who Was Henry Ford by Michael Burgan
Wheels of Time, A Biography of Henry Ford by Catherine Gourley
I often read juvenile biographies or nonfictions for quick knowledge about a person or place. In this case I am planning an adult class called Florida's Four Henrys. Of course Henry Ford is one of the four.
I learned a great deal about Ford by the time I read all three books:
-Henry Ford
Driven, A Photobiography of Henry Ford by Don Mitchell
Who Was Henry Ford by Michael Burgan
Wheels of Time, A Biography of Henry Ford by Catherine Gourley
I often read juvenile biographies or nonfictions for quick knowledge about a person or place. In this case I am planning an adult class called Florida's Four Henrys. Of course Henry Ford is one of the four.
I learned a great deal about Ford by the time I read all three books:
- He worked for Edison for a while and Edison became his mentor and friend.
- His first car was a buggy called the Quadricyle.
- He was involved in racing cars early in his career.
- The Model T, 1908, became the most popular car in the world. and made tourism more affordable.
- His mass production assembly line was called an "industrial marvel."
- Ford was not really in it for the money.
- " To do more for the world than the world does for you---that is success."
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
"Once I was a wide-eyed captive of those times and there was no twelve-point program to wean me off the addiction to drivel I succumbed to during that dreary era of the Vietnam War. The greatest tragedy of that war was not the senseless death of young men on strangely named battlefields, but that it turned the whole country stupid overnight. It also made enemies of the closest group of friends I had ever known."
-Jack McCall, from the novel
At 700+ pages, I thought I would never finish this one but I was determined to get to the end! I believe it actually could have been about 3 novels. I am a huge fan of Conroy and this one did not disappoint. It definitely rates a 5 from me.
The protagonist is Jack McCall, a young father, who suffers the tragic loss of his wife to suicide and takes his daughter to Rome to live. He feels he is justified in leaving his home of Waterford, South Carolina, and the rest of his family behind. He seems to be trying to escape from the pain and hide from the past. When he receives word that his mother is dying of leukemia, he makes his way home where he must come to grips with many emotions he has tried to stifle.
Conroy is a storyteller extraordinaire and captivates with horrifying narratives of the Holocaust told by secondary characters of his parents' generation and descriptions of the 1960s and how the Vietnam War affected him and his peers. (See quote above) Even the flashback story of a fishing trip with his high school buddies---a trip gone very wrong---is quite intense.
Conroy is a gifted writer. I am in awe of his sometimes poetic descriptions of the Low Country that is so familiar to him personally. The chapters were long which I don't always like but it was a true page-turner, just the same. The abusive fathers of this story are reminiscent of characters in other Conroy novels and touch on autobiographical details of his own father (The Great Santini). Also the main character, Jack McCall, is a food critic and cookbook author and loves to cook. Conroy has also written a cookbook, The Pat Conroy Cookbook, and in South of Broad, protagonist Leo enjoys being chef for his friends just as Jack does in this novel.
I have yet to read all Conroy's work but I am getting there!
-Jack McCall, from the novel
At 700+ pages, I thought I would never finish this one but I was determined to get to the end! I believe it actually could have been about 3 novels. I am a huge fan of Conroy and this one did not disappoint. It definitely rates a 5 from me.
The protagonist is Jack McCall, a young father, who suffers the tragic loss of his wife to suicide and takes his daughter to Rome to live. He feels he is justified in leaving his home of Waterford, South Carolina, and the rest of his family behind. He seems to be trying to escape from the pain and hide from the past. When he receives word that his mother is dying of leukemia, he makes his way home where he must come to grips with many emotions he has tried to stifle.
Conroy is a storyteller extraordinaire and captivates with horrifying narratives of the Holocaust told by secondary characters of his parents' generation and descriptions of the 1960s and how the Vietnam War affected him and his peers. (See quote above) Even the flashback story of a fishing trip with his high school buddies---a trip gone very wrong---is quite intense.
Conroy is a gifted writer. I am in awe of his sometimes poetic descriptions of the Low Country that is so familiar to him personally. The chapters were long which I don't always like but it was a true page-turner, just the same. The abusive fathers of this story are reminiscent of characters in other Conroy novels and touch on autobiographical details of his own father (The Great Santini). Also the main character, Jack McCall, is a food critic and cookbook author and loves to cook. Conroy has also written a cookbook, The Pat Conroy Cookbook, and in South of Broad, protagonist Leo enjoys being chef for his friends just as Jack does in this novel.
I have yet to read all Conroy's work but I am getting there!
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
"Oh honey, it does no good to hate. It'll do nothing but turn your heart into a bitter root. People can't help being what they are any more than a skunk can help being a skunk. Don't you think if they had their choice they would rather be something else?"
-Mrs. Threadgoode's advice to Evelyn
I am rating this one 5+---loved, loved, loved it! In chatting with a few book club members, we agreed we like Fannie Flagg and should read another of her novels. Some of us fondly remembered the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" but couldn't recall if we'd read the book. That's how it came to be our August selection.
The novel centers on 2 sets of women and their relationships. In 1985 Evelyn Couch is a woman in full-fledged mid-life crisis when she meets Virginia "Ninny" Threadgoode in a Birmingham nursing home. Eighty-six-year-old Mrs. Threadgoode saves Evelyn's sanity, perhaps even her life, with her beautiful philosophy of life and her stories of Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison in Whistle Stop, Alabama, dating back to 1929. With a primary themes of friendship and personal growth, the novel also touches on racism, wars, domestic violence, Lesbianism (?) and even a murder. Of course there is much humor to relieve the intensity. Towanda the Avenger, Evelyn's alter-ego, is especially amusing.
I have found myself comparing Fried Green...to Stealing Lumby which I read right before it. Both are set mostly in small towns, with colorful characters, inserted newspaper articles---The Lumby Lines and The Weems Weekly, and recipes included at the end along with interviews with the authors. I especially enjoyed the interview with Fannie Flagg, known as a Southern writer. As a GRITS (Girl Raised in the South) I am partial to settings in the South. Flagg even notes Marjorie Rawlings as an inspiration. You may or may not know I am a big fan of Rawlings. I am also reminded of Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns, an old favorite of mine.
I read the book in three days---sort of inhaled it---and the meeting of our book club is in a few weeks. I hope I don't forget too much of the plot. Look for an update then...
----------------------------
The Page Turners liked this one voting a rating of 4.1. We snacked on yummy southern fare---pimiento cheese, homemade sweets and country ham with Sipsey's biscuits from the recipe at the end of the book. Oh, and sweet tea, of course. All provided by our creative members. We had 26 questions from the publisher to consider and didn't get through them all but touched on most.
We agreed the format, with alternating past and present and different points of view, was easier to follow because each chapter was labeled with the setting. One former English teacher said she thought the book would just be "fluff" but changed her mind while reading. She noted that there was much food for thought and some emotional intensity along the lines of racial relations, domestic abuse, self-esteem and aging issues, among others. We were all curious about how Ninnie became a part of the Threadgoode family since she doesn't include herself in the stories she tells to Evelyn. I believe we all found characters to love, whether the 2 sets of women friends or others of the Whistle Stop community, both white and black.
Those who had seen the movie discussed a few of the differences but noted the film follows the book closely. One member mentioned that Fannie Flagg co-wrote the screenplay so that is explanation enough. I mentioned that the episode of Frank's disappearance reminded me of the Dixie Chicks' tune of several years ago, "Good Bye, Earl." If you're interested, here's the link.
https://youtu.be/Gw7gNf_9njs
-Mrs. Threadgoode's advice to Evelyn
I am rating this one 5+---loved, loved, loved it! In chatting with a few book club members, we agreed we like Fannie Flagg and should read another of her novels. Some of us fondly remembered the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" but couldn't recall if we'd read the book. That's how it came to be our August selection.
The novel centers on 2 sets of women and their relationships. In 1985 Evelyn Couch is a woman in full-fledged mid-life crisis when she meets Virginia "Ninny" Threadgoode in a Birmingham nursing home. Eighty-six-year-old Mrs. Threadgoode saves Evelyn's sanity, perhaps even her life, with her beautiful philosophy of life and her stories of Idgie Threadgoode and Ruth Jamison in Whistle Stop, Alabama, dating back to 1929. With a primary themes of friendship and personal growth, the novel also touches on racism, wars, domestic violence, Lesbianism (?) and even a murder. Of course there is much humor to relieve the intensity. Towanda the Avenger, Evelyn's alter-ego, is especially amusing.
I have found myself comparing Fried Green...to Stealing Lumby which I read right before it. Both are set mostly in small towns, with colorful characters, inserted newspaper articles---The Lumby Lines and The Weems Weekly, and recipes included at the end along with interviews with the authors. I especially enjoyed the interview with Fannie Flagg, known as a Southern writer. As a GRITS (Girl Raised in the South) I am partial to settings in the South. Flagg even notes Marjorie Rawlings as an inspiration. You may or may not know I am a big fan of Rawlings. I am also reminded of Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns, an old favorite of mine.
I read the book in three days---sort of inhaled it---and the meeting of our book club is in a few weeks. I hope I don't forget too much of the plot. Look for an update then...
----------------------------
The Page Turners liked this one voting a rating of 4.1. We snacked on yummy southern fare---pimiento cheese, homemade sweets and country ham with Sipsey's biscuits from the recipe at the end of the book. Oh, and sweet tea, of course. All provided by our creative members. We had 26 questions from the publisher to consider and didn't get through them all but touched on most.
We agreed the format, with alternating past and present and different points of view, was easier to follow because each chapter was labeled with the setting. One former English teacher said she thought the book would just be "fluff" but changed her mind while reading. She noted that there was much food for thought and some emotional intensity along the lines of racial relations, domestic abuse, self-esteem and aging issues, among others. We were all curious about how Ninnie became a part of the Threadgoode family since she doesn't include herself in the stories she tells to Evelyn. I believe we all found characters to love, whether the 2 sets of women friends or others of the Whistle Stop community, both white and black.
Those who had seen the movie discussed a few of the differences but noted the film follows the book closely. One member mentioned that Fannie Flagg co-wrote the screenplay so that is explanation enough. I mentioned that the episode of Frank's disappearance reminded me of the Dixie Chicks' tune of several years ago, "Good Bye, Earl." If you're interested, here's the link.
https://youtu.be/Gw7gNf_9njs
More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Florida Women by E. Lynne Wright
"I hope this book will help to bring at least a few of the remarkable Florida women out of the shadows, into public consciousness and perhaps the history books, where they belong. We thank them for allowing us to stand on their shoulders."
-E. Lynne Wright, from the book's introduction
Wow! This one was more enlightening and enjoyable than I ever thought. I first saw the book in the gift shop at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando. I made a note of it and later tried to order it on Amazon but was informed it was out of stock. The public library came through with a copy which arrived by mail. I hadn't wanted to spend much on the book without knowing if it was worthwhile. After finishing it, I'll definitely be purchasing it next time I'm at the History Center. And do I have a plan for it! More on that later....
Ms. Wright has written short biographies of 14 women who made significant impacts on Florida. In her subtitle she describes them as remarkable. Let me just add more adjectives: courageous, smart, compassionate, strong---physically and otherwise, visionary and inspiring. A few of the women I was quite familiar with----Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Zora Neale Hurston, and to a lesser degree in my studies of Florida history---Mary McLeod Bethune, Julia Tuttle and Ruth Bryan Owen. The other 8 I had never even heard of---women who helped the natives, promoted education and care of the environment, provided medical care and broke gender barriers---all women ahead of their times!
Wright (an appropriate name for an author!) has a very readable style and keeps her bios concise while adding human interest quotes and anecdotes from her subjects.
I am so impressed by the stories of these women I am determined to develop a new class for the Rollins College Lifelong Learning program, in which I have participated for 3 years as an instructor. I will title it something similar to the book's title and teach it in March, Women's History Month. Great idea, huh? With 4 classes I may have to narrow the focus to 3 women per week but I will hate having to choose two to omit.
This one gets a 5 rating from me and I'd recommend it to history buffs and Florida lovers!
------------------------
I have now purchased the copy of the book I originally noticed. Lo and behold, there are now 15 women featured! And the title and subtitle are reversed. Obviously a newer edition. Can't wait to reread AND be able to highlight to my heart's content!
-E. Lynne Wright, from the book's introduction
Wow! This one was more enlightening and enjoyable than I ever thought. I first saw the book in the gift shop at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando. I made a note of it and later tried to order it on Amazon but was informed it was out of stock. The public library came through with a copy which arrived by mail. I hadn't wanted to spend much on the book without knowing if it was worthwhile. After finishing it, I'll definitely be purchasing it next time I'm at the History Center. And do I have a plan for it! More on that later....
Ms. Wright has written short biographies of 14 women who made significant impacts on Florida. In her subtitle she describes them as remarkable. Let me just add more adjectives: courageous, smart, compassionate, strong---physically and otherwise, visionary and inspiring. A few of the women I was quite familiar with----Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Zora Neale Hurston, and to a lesser degree in my studies of Florida history---Mary McLeod Bethune, Julia Tuttle and Ruth Bryan Owen. The other 8 I had never even heard of---women who helped the natives, promoted education and care of the environment, provided medical care and broke gender barriers---all women ahead of their times!
Wright (an appropriate name for an author!) has a very readable style and keeps her bios concise while adding human interest quotes and anecdotes from her subjects.
I am so impressed by the stories of these women I am determined to develop a new class for the Rollins College Lifelong Learning program, in which I have participated for 3 years as an instructor. I will title it something similar to the book's title and teach it in March, Women's History Month. Great idea, huh? With 4 classes I may have to narrow the focus to 3 women per week but I will hate having to choose two to omit.
This one gets a 5 rating from me and I'd recommend it to history buffs and Florida lovers!
------------------------
I have now purchased the copy of the book I originally noticed. Lo and behold, there are now 15 women featured! And the title and subtitle are reversed. Obviously a newer edition. Can't wait to reread AND be able to highlight to my heart's content!
Stealing Lumby by Gail Fraser
"Our country needs [art]---we're such a torn nation, and art is one of the few things that unites us despite our politics or religion or race."
-Charlotte Ross, from the novel
This novel was recommended and loaned by a friend. At first I didn't like it much---just too slow developing after the page-turners I've read recently. Also there were so many characters to keep up with, complicated by the fact that I had not read The Lumby Lines, the first book in the series. As I got familiar with the primary characters I enjoyed it more.
The story is set in a small town---somewhat hard for a city girl like me to identify with. As in most small towns, everybody seems to know and accept everybody. When a priceless painting, The Barns of Lumby, goes missing, not only is the New York artist, Dana Porter, upset but the townfolk of Lumby are up in arms, especially town pillar Charlotte Ross who has a personal connection to the artist and Katie Banks who owns the property with the famous barns. Later one of the actual barns is stolen and the plot thickens.
When Journalist Adam Massey arrives in Lumby from New York to do research for a biography of Dana Porter, residents are suspicious but there are hints of a possible romance. Humor is added frequently with the interspersing of issues of The Lumby Lines, the town newspaper. The description of the Moo Doo Iditarod is particularly amusing.
I found About the Author interesting as it provided insight into the author's personal background used in the novel---her own farm life and friends at a nearby monastery.
Fraser even includes recipes, supplied by the fictional inn, café and abbey in Lumby. There's also a conversation with the author and several of her primary characters which I found unique and clever.
I will rate Stealing Lumby 3.5 and I might read another Lumby episode one of these days.
-Charlotte Ross, from the novel
This novel was recommended and loaned by a friend. At first I didn't like it much---just too slow developing after the page-turners I've read recently. Also there were so many characters to keep up with, complicated by the fact that I had not read The Lumby Lines, the first book in the series. As I got familiar with the primary characters I enjoyed it more.
The story is set in a small town---somewhat hard for a city girl like me to identify with. As in most small towns, everybody seems to know and accept everybody. When a priceless painting, The Barns of Lumby, goes missing, not only is the New York artist, Dana Porter, upset but the townfolk of Lumby are up in arms, especially town pillar Charlotte Ross who has a personal connection to the artist and Katie Banks who owns the property with the famous barns. Later one of the actual barns is stolen and the plot thickens.
When Journalist Adam Massey arrives in Lumby from New York to do research for a biography of Dana Porter, residents are suspicious but there are hints of a possible romance. Humor is added frequently with the interspersing of issues of The Lumby Lines, the town newspaper. The description of the Moo Doo Iditarod is particularly amusing.
I found About the Author interesting as it provided insight into the author's personal background used in the novel---her own farm life and friends at a nearby monastery.
Fraser even includes recipes, supplied by the fictional inn, café and abbey in Lumby. There's also a conversation with the author and several of her primary characters which I found unique and clever.
I will rate Stealing Lumby 3.5 and I might read another Lumby episode one of these days.
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