bookshelves: currently-reading
This is officially a must read. ]]>
bookshelves: to-read
A book rep from Wiley is good about sending me review books regarding social media and online revenue streams. This one seems to combine both. Can't wait to read it. I've got a couple titles ahead of it in line, but will get to is ASAP and let you know what's up. ]]>
Note: This review was originally written for CLTBlog.com and is available here: http://cltblog.com/4007
Do you ever look around the Queen City and wonder what came before? How did College Street get its name? Did the various neighborhoods always battle for attention? What “nation” does Nations Ford Road refer to? What’s a “ford”? (Hint: It doesn’t have anything to do with cars.) Why do some NoDa houses have such big back yards? And, what’s up with all of the references to hornets?
Local author and historian Mary Kratt knows the answers to all of those questions and more. She should. She’s the author of more than a dozen books about our region’s history.
Her most recent book, Charlotte North Carolina: A Brief History will open your eyes to Charlotte’s amazing past.
For instance: The frequent reference to hornets dates back to pre-Revolutionary War days when the citizens of our fair town were compared to a hornet’s nest.
That shouldn’t be a surprise since the city is credited with being the first to give England the finger by way of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Until about a hundred years ago, the date that document was signed garnered more fanfare than the 4th of July. It’s still embroidered on our state flag today.
Did you know the first female doctor in the South lived and worked in Charlotte? She sure did.
How about this: NoDa was a mill village. The backyards are big so they can accommodate a pig pen, chickens and a garden.
Ever wonder about Charlotte’s thick red mud? It may be what saved the city from being burned by General Sherman during the Civil War. He didn’t want to deal with it.
How did Charlotte handle the Civil Right’s Movement? Relatively well, all considered. You’ll have to read the book to find how how well, though.
Mrs. Kratt’s latest book is a quick, delightful read full of black and white photos to help you visualize life in one of the South’s oldest cities.
Published this year, it even includes Bank of America’s purchase of Merrill Lynch and Wachovia’s sale to Wells Fargo. Though, it doesn’t delve into the crisis that led up to it.
That’s how the book works: It gives you enough information to spark your interest and encourage you to seek more knowledge about this place we call home. So, don’t expect a boring walk through every second of the city’s history. There’s simply not enough room in the 180 pages for that much detail.
In my opinion, Charlotte North Carolina: A Brief History is a must read for newcomers and natives alike.
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The difference between writers who say such things and successful writers? Successful writers write. That's it. They sit down and write. Why is that difficult to do? Because writing isn't about filling a page with letters, it involves introspection, critical thinking, solitude and the ability to swallow criticism gracefully ... among other things, like interviewing and research skills, imagination and more. Some people don't feel comfortable or practiced with one, or more, of those concepts or activities and, as soon as they sit down and stare the blank screen with it's blinking cursor, they realize it. That doesn't mean those skills can't be honed through time and practice, but where to start?
In their book, Write Free: Attracting the Creative Life, Rebecca Lawton and Jordan E. Rosenfeld help writers bridge the gap between wanting to be a writer and becoming a successful, fulfilled -- and, as importantly, published -- author.
Though the book is only 163 pages, it isn't a quick read. Think of this book as a guidebook, leading you along the trails of your unique journey toward your goals and ambitions. The pages ask you to clear a space for creativity to blossom, look into your soul and history for story ideas, be positive and allow yourself the freedom and opportunity to grow into the writer you always dreamed you could become. They also offer exercises, both written and physical (don't be surprised when you're instructed to get up and boogie), to help you unleash your muse.
Read the rest of this review here: http://rhibowman.wordpress.com/2009/04/1... ]]>
bookshelves: currently-reading
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"Reading this one for review at TheWordTrade.com."
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I've read a lot of books on writing and I've been forced to read a bunch of textbooks thanks to my perpetual student status. This is one of the best from both categories. Instead of selling this one back at the end of the semester, I plan to keep it-- if only for the Pulitzer Prize winning articles that are included in most chapters. ]]>
Of course the book is informative... but it's boring as hell. ]]>