Mute Monday: Rolly

Tags

1900s, 20th Century, Advertising, Edwardian, Gentlemen, Mute Mondays, Photography

The original Michelin Man, 1910 courtesy of Reddit

Notes For a Civil War Hospital

Tags

., 1800s, 19th Century, American, Career, Civil War, Doctors, Friends, Gentlemen, Librarianship, Medicine, Science, Technology, Victorian, Work

The Field Hospital/The Letter Home by Eastman Johnson, 1867

One of the beautiful things about working in a public library is the lovely donations we receive from our patrons that cross my desk almost every day. I literally assess each one to see if it fits our collection, as well as meeting our collection development criteria. If so, then it is processed for our library shelves, if not, the item is given to the Friends of the Library who in turn sell it for a ridiculous low price (often $1-$2 for hardback) at their annual book sale. The money they make goes straight back to the library via support for materials, supplies, furnishings, and funding our Summer Reading Program.

Coming Uncurled

Tags

1800s, 19th Century, Biography, Crime, Criminal, Gentlemen, Outlaw, True Crime, Victorian, Western

William “Curly Bill” Brocius

Perhaps you have heard Curly Sue, but have you heard of Curly Bill? Let us just say he was not as sweet as Sue. Below is a real account, via private diaries and letters of one of Curly’s little escapades. All in good fun for a gang of outlaws. Outlaws who had a number of conflict with the famous Earp family of Tombstone, Arizona notoriety. Source listed below.*

Jonesing for January Reads

Tags

1800s, 1812, 1900s, 19th Century, 20th Century, African American, American, American West, Art, Author, Biography, Books, Christian, Edwardian, Jack the Ripper, John Singer Sargent, Literature, Mormon, Mystery, Napoleon, Novel, Pre-Reads, Regency, Romance, Science Fiction, Scottish, Steampunk, Theory of Evolution, Time-Travel, Twins, United States, Victoria, Victorian, Waterloo, Western, Women's Rights, Writer

 

Interior, 31 Morington Crescent by Spencer Frederick Gore

The first Pre-Reads of 2017 are here! With all the excitement of my new pupper and his Instagram account, I am rushing to finish this post on time. The process was made more lengthy (in a pleasant way) because the list of new 19th century books debuting this month was incredibly large; over 20 for non-fiction (almost unheard of) and almost 40 for fiction! Lots of sifting was needed. So you best believe the list below is the crème de la crème of the pile! We are talking superbly reviewed tomes to add to your To Read List. –I do wonder how much the PBS series Victoria is influencing publications, not that I am against it in any way. –More people to share the love with! 

Below are sixteen titles, eight fiction, eight non-fiction books pertaining to the 19th century in some way. They come highly reviewed with Kirkus Review, Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, Amazon, and Baker and Taylor recommendations. Summaries and reviews provided are lifted straight from these sources. Each book was released just this month (for the first time ever, there are not any reprints that I am are of! Astounding!) Likewise, because these publications are hot off the press, I have not personally read any of them, but some are making their way on to my own To Read List. What books are you adding to your list? I would love to hear your preference in the comment section below as well as any reviews after reading them.

Worth the Wait

Tags

2017, Beaux, Dogs, Personal, Pet

I am very excited to announce as of this past Sunday my house is now filled with the pitter patter of little feet. –No, I was never pregnant (Dear Readers, you would be one of the first to know!). I have adopted! . . . . A puppy! Huzzah! And by puppy, I mean an adult dog. (I call every canine a puppy whether they are three weeks old or 21 years).

This dog is a huge step forward and clearly a new chapter in my life. Waaaaay back when I was attending my undergraduate degree, I declared I was going to adopt a pair of parti-colored cocker spaniels; a cute set like salt and pepper shakers. By the time I matriculated and was off to another town to begin my graduate degree, I, indeed adopted a special needs cocker spaniel and dubbed him Buttons. He was the light and love of my life and could have been a wonderful therapy dog, if he were not such a pansy! For those who are lifetime pet owners, we all have numerous animals we loved, but a few will stand out clear above the rest in our fond memories. My beloved Buttons was one of those dogs. As fate would have it, I entered a very trying time in my life soon after I adopted Buttons, when six people from my father’s side of the family suddenly passed away all within 18 months of each other. I was catatonic in grief, with Buttons as my only lifeline. After landing in the hospital four times in three months, my family pulled me back home along with Buttons. I took a semester off to get my bearings and then returned to complete my Masters Degree. Since my parents already had a dog, I did not feel compelled to adopt another and so my goal for Buttons’ brother never materialized. Buttons passed away February 4, 2013, Super Bowl Sunday in the United States (not that anyone in my house was watching football). I moved to Casa Grande later that year and was waiting to get settled prior to adopting another cocker spaniel when suddenly I was engaged after a five year courtship; an engagement which did not end in a wedding nor a marriage . . . so I put off adopting a dog until after what was to be my honeymoon, now known as my Closure-Trip.

Ten years later from the idea of a pair of cockers, four years after Buttons’ death and after almost a solid year of seriously searching for a pup worthy enough to honor my Beloved, finally his brother enters the picture. I am so excited to announce the realization of my long held dream . . . I present to you Dear Readers, my boy . . .  Beaux! The irony does not escape me that Beaux’s adoption day is January 22nd, my former wedding date. After the tears of the last few years . . . I could not be happier. . . Karma has reset itself.  After all the gut-wrenching loss, this baby was worth the wait.