Jean M. Roberts's Blog, page 30
August 11, 2019
Historical Book Review: Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections by Susan Shalev
Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections by Susan Shalev
Self-Published December 2018
198 pages
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction
Reviewers Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections is a wonderfully written book. I was immediately pulled into the story of Tanya and her family. The year 1939, ten-year-old Tanya has no concerns other than hanging with her friends and members of a successful Jewish family. Her father makes sweets, her grandfather runs a successful bakery. Life is good, and then it’s not. War rolls through Poland, flattening everything in sight. Tanya’s father wisely decides to flee, leaving behind his company and their beautiful apartment. With little more than the clothes on their back they head east into Russian.
This is a tale of survival, and resilience under dire circumstances. Riding out the war is Siberia is no picnic as the family moves from town to town, seeking safety. Even with peace comes more challenges, as Tanya and her family struggle to regain some semblance of their former lives.
Written in first person, this narrative is fast-paced and intimate. Although fiction the author based the story is based on the real-life experiences of a young girl retold as a grown woman. The characters are well drawn and leap from the pages. Tanya was a delight, and I found myself cheering for her from start to finish.
Congratulations to Susan Shalev on this amazing novel.
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Jewish history, history of WWII, the holocaust, and historical fiction.
I would rate this book 4 ½ stars
My Ratings:
1 Star: Not good at all, do not read!
2 Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available
3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations
4 Stars: Really good, read this book!
5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend
Self-Published December 2018
198 pages
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction
Reviewers Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections is a wonderfully written book. I was immediately pulled into the story of Tanya and her family. The year 1939, ten-year-old Tanya has no concerns other than hanging with her friends and members of a successful Jewish family. Her father makes sweets, her grandfather runs a successful bakery. Life is good, and then it’s not. War rolls through Poland, flattening everything in sight. Tanya’s father wisely decides to flee, leaving behind his company and their beautiful apartment. With little more than the clothes on their back they head east into Russian.
This is a tale of survival, and resilience under dire circumstances. Riding out the war is Siberia is no picnic as the family moves from town to town, seeking safety. Even with peace comes more challenges, as Tanya and her family struggle to regain some semblance of their former lives.
Written in first person, this narrative is fast-paced and intimate. Although fiction the author based the story is based on the real-life experiences of a young girl retold as a grown woman. The characters are well drawn and leap from the pages. Tanya was a delight, and I found myself cheering for her from start to finish.
Congratulations to Susan Shalev on this amazing novel.
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Jewish history, history of WWII, the holocaust, and historical fiction.
I would rate this book 4 ½ stars
My Ratings:
1 Star: Not good at all, do not read!
2 Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available
3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations
4 Stars: Really good, read this book!
5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend
Historical Book Review: When Sally Comes Marching Home by Richard Milton Post War Thriller
When Sally Comes Marching Home by Richard MiltonPublished 2019 by Bowater BooksGenre: British Historical Fiction, Action Thriller
Plot: In 1946 Major Sally Honeychurch, finds herself demobilized and teaching in a girl’s school. Life is dull compared to her work in the war for the Special Operations Executive, where she spent two years behind enemy lines. She’s called back to action when the City of London is threatened. Sally must use all her training to save the city from destruction.
Characters: Sally Honeychurch, tall, blond and extremely smart, is a well drawn and believable character. I quickly found myself cheering her on, a spunky woman in a male-dominated world. But she is not without her flaws, which makes her human and a better hero. I appreciate that the ‘bad guys’ are also human, a mixture of good intentions and evil outcomes. The men who help and hinder her along the way, overcome their male bias against her as she races to save the day.
History: The author is well versed in English history before, during and after the war. I found the book fascinating simply from a historical standpoint. I enjoyed learning about the rise of Fascism in England in the pre-war years and some interesting tidbits concerning HRH Edward, Duke of Windsor. Woven through the story are many ‘real’ characters which added a sense of reality to the story.
Writing: Told in third person, past tense, the book zips along. It is well written, the pace is fast, the story action packed. Although there is quite a bit of historical information packed between the pages, it never bogs down the story. The last few chapters will have you on the edge of your seat. The resolution of the story does not disappoint.
Conclusion: I really enjoyed this well written action-packed story. A sharp clever main character and a page turning story make for a winning combination. I don’t give out many five stars, but this one fits the bill.
My Ratings:
1 Star: Not good at all, do not read!
2 Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available
3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations
4 Stars: Really good, read this book!
5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend
Plot: In 1946 Major Sally Honeychurch, finds herself demobilized and teaching in a girl’s school. Life is dull compared to her work in the war for the Special Operations Executive, where she spent two years behind enemy lines. She’s called back to action when the City of London is threatened. Sally must use all her training to save the city from destruction.
Characters: Sally Honeychurch, tall, blond and extremely smart, is a well drawn and believable character. I quickly found myself cheering her on, a spunky woman in a male-dominated world. But she is not without her flaws, which makes her human and a better hero. I appreciate that the ‘bad guys’ are also human, a mixture of good intentions and evil outcomes. The men who help and hinder her along the way, overcome their male bias against her as she races to save the day.
History: The author is well versed in English history before, during and after the war. I found the book fascinating simply from a historical standpoint. I enjoyed learning about the rise of Fascism in England in the pre-war years and some interesting tidbits concerning HRH Edward, Duke of Windsor. Woven through the story are many ‘real’ characters which added a sense of reality to the story.
Writing: Told in third person, past tense, the book zips along. It is well written, the pace is fast, the story action packed. Although there is quite a bit of historical information packed between the pages, it never bogs down the story. The last few chapters will have you on the edge of your seat. The resolution of the story does not disappoint.
Conclusion: I really enjoyed this well written action-packed story. A sharp clever main character and a page turning story make for a winning combination. I don’t give out many five stars, but this one fits the bill.
My Ratings:
1 Star: Not good at all, do not read!
2 Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available
3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations
4 Stars: Really good, read this book!
5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend
August 10, 2019
Historical Book Review: The Thin Gray Line by Michael Kenneth Smith: A romp through the American Civil War
The Thin Gray Line by Michael Kenneth SmithPublished: May 2019Independently PublishedGenre: Historical Fiction, American Civil WarPages: 411Price: 13.99
Reviewers note: I was given an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
Plot: Prepare to suspend all disbelief in order to enjoy this far-fetched coming of age story. This is the tale wonder-child Luke Pettigrew, a teenaged Confederate soldier, who is assigned to be a medic at the battle of Shiloh, because, as he tells us, ‘he’s good with farm animals’. As the tide turns against the Confederates on day two of the battle, Luke finds a horse and rides into the Union lines to retrieve a fallen Confederate battle standard and despite coming under heavy fire returns uninjured. Thereafter he is taken prisoner. While a POW near Columbus, Ohio, a prominent local businessman helps him to escape from prison. Luke promptly falls in love with the man’s niece, who is visiting from Tennessee. No explanation is given as to why a prominent man would risk his life and reputation to help Luke escape. Luke makes his way back to the South and the Confederate Army and is made one of Jeb Stuart’s scouts, because he is ‘good on a horse’. At some point during the three day battle at Gettysburg, Luke is shot in the thigh. Miraculously and without explanation, Luke makes his way, over 650 miles, to his hometown of Crossville, Tennessee without seeking medical treatment. How he does not die of gangrene, bacterial infection or blood loss is left to the imagination. A local drover, Clyde McCallister, picks him at some point and he and his wife amputate Luke’s leg. Whew, all that in the first few pages and the book hasn’t even started yet.
Don’t worry I’m not going to spoil the plot. Luke recovers from his amputation and learns to walk again. He leaves the McCallister’s home and begins an epic adventure which takes him to Richmond, Virginia. Along the way he works as again as a medic, meets a spy, runs a smallpox hospital, saves abandoned slaves, learns to help other amputees, and adopts a young black girl, and he’s not even twenty years old.
Besides just a story the author raises multiple ethical and moral issues which Luke wrestles with the entire book; parental love and approval, the issue of slavery, the humanity of slaves, and of course the war. This results in frequent flashbacks to earlier years which slows the momentum of the story.
The Characters: Luke is a Boy Scout kinda guy, upstanding, kind to children, protective of women. Everyone seems to know who he is, including the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. Luke is given responsibilities way above his pay grade, doctors, soldiers, businessmen have total confidence in him within minutes of meeting. Some of the characters Luke interacts with are almost caricatures or just flat out unbelievable. The spy, Cuff, is probably the most gullible spy I ever read about.
The History: The author clearly knows his Civil War history and the writing is at it’s best when he is describing battles, soldiers and strategy.
The Writing: The prose is bland and simple for the most part, but the author occasionally slips in a bit of descriptive writing that is incongruous to the rest of the text. For example: “...the hoar frost melted in a stubbornly yielding shadow that portended fair weather.”. I have no idea what that means. Thankfully, there isn’t too much of that in the book.
Conclusion: I was excited to read this book but was really disappointed in the story, which had too many ‘that would never happen moments’. I think it could have benefited from a good editor to tighten up the plot and sharpen the writing.
I give this book 3 stars (barely) hoping the finished product is better that what they sent me to review. If you want to see this book on amazon, click on the book cover and it will take you to its page.
My Ratings:
1 Star: Not good at all, do not read!
2 Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available
3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations
4 Stars: Really good, read this book!
5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend
Reviewers note: I was given an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
Plot: Prepare to suspend all disbelief in order to enjoy this far-fetched coming of age story. This is the tale wonder-child Luke Pettigrew, a teenaged Confederate soldier, who is assigned to be a medic at the battle of Shiloh, because, as he tells us, ‘he’s good with farm animals’. As the tide turns against the Confederates on day two of the battle, Luke finds a horse and rides into the Union lines to retrieve a fallen Confederate battle standard and despite coming under heavy fire returns uninjured. Thereafter he is taken prisoner. While a POW near Columbus, Ohio, a prominent local businessman helps him to escape from prison. Luke promptly falls in love with the man’s niece, who is visiting from Tennessee. No explanation is given as to why a prominent man would risk his life and reputation to help Luke escape. Luke makes his way back to the South and the Confederate Army and is made one of Jeb Stuart’s scouts, because he is ‘good on a horse’. At some point during the three day battle at Gettysburg, Luke is shot in the thigh. Miraculously and without explanation, Luke makes his way, over 650 miles, to his hometown of Crossville, Tennessee without seeking medical treatment. How he does not die of gangrene, bacterial infection or blood loss is left to the imagination. A local drover, Clyde McCallister, picks him at some point and he and his wife amputate Luke’s leg. Whew, all that in the first few pages and the book hasn’t even started yet.
Don’t worry I’m not going to spoil the plot. Luke recovers from his amputation and learns to walk again. He leaves the McCallister’s home and begins an epic adventure which takes him to Richmond, Virginia. Along the way he works as again as a medic, meets a spy, runs a smallpox hospital, saves abandoned slaves, learns to help other amputees, and adopts a young black girl, and he’s not even twenty years old.
Besides just a story the author raises multiple ethical and moral issues which Luke wrestles with the entire book; parental love and approval, the issue of slavery, the humanity of slaves, and of course the war. This results in frequent flashbacks to earlier years which slows the momentum of the story.
The Characters: Luke is a Boy Scout kinda guy, upstanding, kind to children, protective of women. Everyone seems to know who he is, including the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. Luke is given responsibilities way above his pay grade, doctors, soldiers, businessmen have total confidence in him within minutes of meeting. Some of the characters Luke interacts with are almost caricatures or just flat out unbelievable. The spy, Cuff, is probably the most gullible spy I ever read about.
The History: The author clearly knows his Civil War history and the writing is at it’s best when he is describing battles, soldiers and strategy.
The Writing: The prose is bland and simple for the most part, but the author occasionally slips in a bit of descriptive writing that is incongruous to the rest of the text. For example: “...the hoar frost melted in a stubbornly yielding shadow that portended fair weather.”. I have no idea what that means. Thankfully, there isn’t too much of that in the book.
Conclusion: I was excited to read this book but was really disappointed in the story, which had too many ‘that would never happen moments’. I think it could have benefited from a good editor to tighten up the plot and sharpen the writing.
I give this book 3 stars (barely) hoping the finished product is better that what they sent me to review. If you want to see this book on amazon, click on the book cover and it will take you to its page.
My Ratings:
1 Star: Not good at all, do not read!
2 Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available
3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations
4 Stars: Really good, read this book!
5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend
Book Review: Queen of the Flowers by Delia Cerpa
Queen of the Flowers, Memories of a Puerto Rican Girl by Delia CerpaPublished 2019 by 3L PublishingGenre: Memoir, Coming of AgePages 236Price: $19.95
Reviewers Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Plot in brief: This is the story of Delia Cerpa, known to her family as Garin, the youngest of 10 ten children. Garin’s father commits suicide when she is just a baby, leaving her mother to raise her kids and run their small family farm alone. Garin’s world is a tropical paradise, despite having no electricity or running water. Her book describes a life of subsistence farming in a close knit family, supported by their local community. Garin shares the story of her life in Puerto Rico until she and her mother immigrated to New York, when she was 13 years old, to join her siblings already living in the Bronx.
Characters: Garin shares her family with us, especially her mother, the Widow Cerpa, a strong woman, who survives in a male-dominated culture. We get to know her siblings, from the oldest, Juan, who takes over as head of the family to the second youngest Maria Mercedes, as they grow to adulthood. We also meet many relatives, neighbors and teachers along the way. Cerpa describes a unique way of life, almost unknown in our busy modern world. Despite being poor, they were rich in love and family.
The Writing: So what’s not to like about this book? In a word, the prose. The book reads as if written by the 13-year-old Delia and not a woman with a PhD. Is this intentional? I’m not entirely sure. There are numerous typos throughout the book. The storyline bounces from paragraph to paragraph. One paragraph might be about planning a party and the very next about sugarcane harvesting with no clear section break. The author repeats herself endlessly, and the grammar is atrocious. For example: Maria Mercedes looked at me with her shaven head. And: Neighbors and relatives began to arrive. Julio and Don Cruz Munoz went to get the house building materials in town. Neighbors and relatives began to arrive early in the morning with building tools and gathered around the tobacco ranch.... Students who had worms were administered medicine for worms. Okay last one: The hens and chicks kept feeding where they were already eating. Ay, Dios Mio, I wanted to poke my eye out by the end of the book.
Conclusion: If the writing style was intentional, I didn’t like it. If it wasn’t, then shame on the editor. $19.95 is a lot of money for an ill-written book. I don’t feel I can recommend this to anyone unless the price drops significantly. If I wasn’t reviewing this book, it would have been a DNF for sure.
I give this book 2 stars.
Reviewers Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Plot in brief: This is the story of Delia Cerpa, known to her family as Garin, the youngest of 10 ten children. Garin’s father commits suicide when she is just a baby, leaving her mother to raise her kids and run their small family farm alone. Garin’s world is a tropical paradise, despite having no electricity or running water. Her book describes a life of subsistence farming in a close knit family, supported by their local community. Garin shares the story of her life in Puerto Rico until she and her mother immigrated to New York, when she was 13 years old, to join her siblings already living in the Bronx.
Characters: Garin shares her family with us, especially her mother, the Widow Cerpa, a strong woman, who survives in a male-dominated culture. We get to know her siblings, from the oldest, Juan, who takes over as head of the family to the second youngest Maria Mercedes, as they grow to adulthood. We also meet many relatives, neighbors and teachers along the way. Cerpa describes a unique way of life, almost unknown in our busy modern world. Despite being poor, they were rich in love and family.
The Writing: So what’s not to like about this book? In a word, the prose. The book reads as if written by the 13-year-old Delia and not a woman with a PhD. Is this intentional? I’m not entirely sure. There are numerous typos throughout the book. The storyline bounces from paragraph to paragraph. One paragraph might be about planning a party and the very next about sugarcane harvesting with no clear section break. The author repeats herself endlessly, and the grammar is atrocious. For example: Maria Mercedes looked at me with her shaven head. And: Neighbors and relatives began to arrive. Julio and Don Cruz Munoz went to get the house building materials in town. Neighbors and relatives began to arrive early in the morning with building tools and gathered around the tobacco ranch.... Students who had worms were administered medicine for worms. Okay last one: The hens and chicks kept feeding where they were already eating. Ay, Dios Mio, I wanted to poke my eye out by the end of the book.
Conclusion: If the writing style was intentional, I didn’t like it. If it wasn’t, then shame on the editor. $19.95 is a lot of money for an ill-written book. I don’t feel I can recommend this to anyone unless the price drops significantly. If I wasn’t reviewing this book, it would have been a DNF for sure.
I give this book 2 stars.
July 20, 2019
Historical Book Review: When Sally Came Marching Home by Richard Milton
When Sally Comes Marching Home by Richard MiltonPublished 2019 by Bowater BooksGenre: British Historical Fiction, Action Thriller
Reviewers note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for honest opinion.
Plot: In 1946 Major Sally Honeychurch, finds herself demobilized and teaching in a girl’s school. Life is dull compared to her work in the war for the Special Operations Executive, where she spent two years behind enemy lines. She’s called back to action when the City of London is threatened. Sally must use all her training to save the city from destruction.
Characters: Sally Honeychurch, tall, blond and extremely smart, is a well drawn and believable character. I quickly found myself cheering her on, a spunky woman in a male-dominated world. But she is not without her flaws, which makes her human and a better hero. I appreciate that the ‘bad guys’ are also human, a mixture of good intentions and evil outcomes. The men who help and hinder her along the way, overcome their male bias against her as she races to save the day.
As with most action thrillers, the reader must suspend some belief to fully enjoy the book. But if James Bond can save the entire planet, surely Sally Honeychurch can rescue London.
History: The author is well versed in English history before, during and after the war. I found the book fascinating from a historical standpoint. I enjoyed learning about the rise of Fascism in England in the pre-war years and some interesting tidbits concerning HRH Edward, Duke of Windsor. Woven through the story are many ‘real’ characters which added a sense of reality to the story.
Writing: Told in third person, past tense, the book zips along. It is well written, the pace is fast, the story action packed. Although there is quite a bit of historical information packed between the pages, it never bogs down the story. The last few chapters will have you on the edge of your seat. The resolution of the story does not disappoint.
Conclusion: I really enjoyed this well written action-packed story. A sharp clever main character and a page turning story make for a winning combination. I don’t give out many five stars, but this one fits the bill. I recommend When Sally Comes Marching Home to anyone with an interest in pre/post war England, and action thrillers.
I give this book 5 Stars
If you are interested in this book, click on the cover and the link will take you to Amazon.
My Ratings:
1 Star: Not good at all, do not read!
2 Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available
3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations
4 Stars: Really good, read this book!
5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend
July 6, 2019
Historical Fiction Book Review: Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections by Susan Shalev
Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections by Susan ShalevSelf-Published December 2018198 pagesGenre: Biographical Historical Fiction
Reviewers Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections is a wonderfully written book. I was immediately pulled into the story of Tanya and her family. The year 1939, ten-year-old Tanya has no concerns other than hanging with her friends and members of successful Jewish family. Her father makes sweets, her grandfather runs a successful bakery. Life is good, and then it’s not. War rolls through Poland, flattening everything in sight. Tanya’s father wisely decides to flee, leaving behind his company and their beautiful apartment. With little more than the clothes on their back they head east into Russian.
This is a tale of survival, and resilience under dire circumstances. Riding out the war is Siberia is no picnic as the family moves from town to town, seeking safety. Even with peace comes more challenges, as Tanya and her family struggle to regain some semblance of their former lives.
Written in first person, this narrative is fast-paced and intimate. Although fiction the author based the story is based on the real-life experiences of a young girl retold as a grown woman. The characters are well drawn and leap from the pages. Tanya was a delight, and I found myself cheering for her from start to finish.
Congratulations to Susan Shalev on this amazing novel.
I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Jewish history, history of WWII, the holocaust, and historical fiction.
I would rate this book 4 ½ stars
You may also be interested in the following book:
Fake Papers by Aaron Rocket Another true story of a young Jewish woman who survives the holocaust.
June 15, 2019
Historical Book Review: Fake Papers Survival Lessons from Grandma's Escape by Aaron Rockett
Fake Papers Survival Lessons from Grandma's Escape by Aaron Rockett
Genre: Biography
Published: self published in May 2019
Pages: 278
Available on Amazon
Reviewer note: I was given a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions are my own. If you are interested in more information or in purchasing this book, click on the book cover which will take you to the book on Amazon.
Fake Papers, by filmmaker Aaron Rockett, is the biography of his Jewish Grandmother, Letty Schmidt. Aaron's mother died when he was a young child, his grandmother Letty tells him the story of her escape from the Nazis during World War II. Many years later, Aaron's work in Afghanistan causes him to confronts his feelings about his family and Jewish heritage; he seeks the full history from his grandmother in her waning days.
The Plot: Although technically a biography, this book reads more like a work of fiction. I had to keep reminding myself that the characters were real. This is not a criticism, in fact the book really pulled me in, unlike some dry biographies I've read.
The story of Letty Schmidt, a Polish Jew, begins in Antwerp where her family has fled. With an absent father, and an uncertain mother, Letty and her sisters, Suzy and Annie, are thrust into the role of decision makers. Staying one step ahead of the Germans, Letty and her family flee from one precarious town to another. Hungry and desperate the family ties begin to dissolve as survival becomes all consuming.
Letty's story is one of love, trust, betrayal and fear. The reader is taken on a harrowing journey as a young girl, forced to fend from herself in a cruel adult world, grows up too soon. As a dying old woman she learns to face and accept the scars that have shaped her life and relationships. She survived the war but, survival always comes with at a price.
The Characters: Letty and her sisters are well drawn, each with a distinct personality. Her mother is especially vivid, her pain and fear was palpable. The photos added to the story but I felt like they were icing on the cake.
The History: The author has a firm grasp on the history of the day and guides his readers through the events of the war that impacted Letty and her family. I found the reprehensible actions of the French Vichy Government to of particular interest. Family photos complement the story, especially of Letty in a Jewish workers camp.
The writing: The prose is simple and straightforward. There are some minor issues that might annoy grammar divas, but overall the pace and style were fine. I enjoyed the quirky chapter titles and discovering what they meant.
Conclusion and recommendations: I enjoyed reading Letty's story. I think it's very important to record the lives of our ancestors not only for posterity but for the lessons learned from them. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history, especially stories of the Jewish people in Europe during WWII. For those who have a special interest in the recording of family history, I think this book offers and excellent example.
I rate this book 4 Stars
My Ratings:
1 Star: Not good at all, do not read!
2 Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available
3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations
4 Stars: Really good, read this book!
5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend
June 9, 2019
The Wild Wild East: Native Americans and English Settlers Battle for New Hampshire and Maine
I am currently researching the violent clashes between Native Americans and the English settlers who rapidly expanded into tribal lands and threatened their very existence. Growing up in the pre-computer age, I can remember playing 'Cowboys and Indians'. John Wayne was a hero and Custer's Last Stand was bravery personified. The West, during much of the 19 century was the battlefield and the settlers the ultimate winner of the spoils of war. But what of those early days? What about the East?In 1675 the Native Americans along the North East coast banded together under the leadership of a Wampanoag man named Metacom in his native language but known as King Philip to the Colonist. This war, King Philip's War, was a full-out assault on the colonists in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Together with warriors from Nipmuck, Pocumtuck and Narraganset tribes brought death and destruction to the Colonist, their combined efforts all but drove the colonist into the sea. But this was also a war between Native Americans. The Mohegans and the Mohawks of New York, allied themselves with the English and fought against Metacom and his coalition. For the better part of 14 months, Metacom and his warriors ravaged New England. He was captured and killed in August of 1676 and the fight gradually dwindled until the signing of a peace treaty in Casco, Maine in 1678.
Peace did not last long. In 1689 King William of England declared war on France. As battles waged on the Continent, simmering tensions in the Colonies flared. Canada was, at that time, a French territory. The Governor, Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, devised a three prong plan of attack against the Colonies of New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts (Maine was part of Massachusetts). In the winter of 1690 a force attacked the town of Schenectady in New York, a second attacked Salmon Falls in New Hampshire and the third destroyed Fort Loyal in Maine. The loss of the Fort, near present day Portland, emptied the frontier. Attacks continued for the next few years. Here is a list of some of the most noteworthy attacks:
23 January 1689 Abenaki's raid Saco, Maine27 June 1689 Cocheco Falls. 23 killed 29 captured Benjamin Heard's daughter taken to Canada3 August 1689 attack on Fort Charles at Pemequid, MaineAugust 1689 attack on garrison house in Oyster River 18k5-6 Sept. 1689 Attack at New Dartmouth, Maine
9 Feb 1690 Attack at Schenectady 60k 27c, town destroyed18 March 1690 Attack at Salmon FallsMay 1690 Attack on Casco Bay, 100kMay 1690 Attack on Saco, MaineMay 1690 Attack on Fox Point4 July 1690 attack on Lamprey River Settlements 7k6 July 1690 battle at Wheelwright Pond (Colonist pursed attackers) 15k7 July 1690 attack on Amesbury, Massachusetts Philip Rowell killed
25 January 1691 Attack on York, Maine 48k 73c28 September 1691 Attack on Sandy Beach 21k John and Remembrance Ault Rand killed 9 June 1691Cape Neddick, Maine attacked9 June 1691 Wells, Maine attacked
10 June 1692 Wells, Maine attacked
18 July 1694 attack on Oyster River, 100k John Ault (father of Remembrance) killed 27 July 1694 attack on Groton, Massachusetts 22k 13c William Sanderson killed
This is the majority of the larger attacks. The numbers may not seem significant but the population of these settlements was small, and so impact of losing males of working age had a huge effect on the economy and the ability of these people to survive. That these people survived at all is testament to their tenacity. King William's War ended 1697 but flared again in 1702 with Queen Anne's War. For many Americans this is dry dusty information, naught but boring dates without meaning. But, each of the highlighted attacks is one in which one or more of my direct ancestors and or their family were killed or captured. If your family, whether they were of English descent or Native American, lived in New England in the 17th - 18th century it is almost certain that they were also affected by these wars. If nothing else the mental toll must have been enormous. In fact, Mercy Lewis, one of the Salem Witchcraft accusers fled the attack on Casco Bay in 1689, where her parents were both killed, leaving her an orphan and forced to work as a servant. It has been suggested that the psychological damaged inflicted by the war might have played a part in her role as an accuser.
Garrison House Dover, NHIn these days of political correctness and technology, I am sure that no child today plays 'Cowboys and Indians' as we did. But I can't help but think that long before there were cowboys, there were Colonists who fought, right or wrong, the Indians. For a great book on King Philip's War I highly recommend The Name of War by Jill Lepore.
For a history of the Oyster River attack from a Native American prospective see this fantastic website. Ne-Do-Ba .
May 27, 2019
Book Review: One Picture Two Journeys by Tommy Gibbs; Prepare For An Epic Ride
Book Review: One Picture Two Journeys by Tommy Gibbs
Published April 2019 by Tacky Rooster
180 pages
Available on Amazon.com
Genre: Fiction
Reviewers note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Can I say, Wow! What a fantastic book. From the first page to the last Tommy Gibbs pulls you in and takes you along for a wild ride. Part travelogue, part mystery, part journey of discovery, this book, set in 1990 follows a motorcycle loving young college student determined to find the identity of a long lost father. From the deserts of Arizona to the swamps of Louisiana we ride along, wingman to Rand Garrett. Gibbs descriptions bring to life the people and places we encounter in small towns across America and the joy that only a full tank of gas and an open road can bring. Armed with an old photo, taken before Rand’s birth, and led by an unseen force, Rand retraces the path of a father on a trek that culminates in a tiny Cajun town near the Atchafalaya Swamp. Through a dramatic series of events, Rand discovers the healing powers of friendship and forgiveness and longed for answers that unlock the past.
The characters are well drawn and spring from the pages. From the roadside clerks to bar room owners they will charm you, make you laugh, make you smile and some will break your heart. Rand is kind, observant, full of spirit, an old soul in a young body with a keen inquisitive mind.
The writing is crisp, well paced, and littered with well placed details that add to the story. When describing the landscape Gibbs waxes lyrical, almost poetic, about the amazing and diverse American countryside.
Congratulations to Tommy Gibbs on this wonderful book. I highly recommend it to both men and women, fans of Americana, the movie Easy Rider, and generally well written fiction.
My rating: 5+ stars
If you are interested in purchasing this book, click on the cover and it will take you to Amazon.
May 21, 2019
HIstorical Book Review: Julia Mistress of Longwood by Linda Metcalf
Julia Mistress of Longwood by Linda MetcalfPublished by Linda Metcalf Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction and Biographical FictionReleased March 2019286 pagesAvailable on Amazon.com in paperback and kindle ebook format
Reviewers note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book, written in the format of a journal, tells us the story of Julia Williams Nutt. Julia shares with us the highs, the lows, the good and the bad of her life in Antebellum Mississippi before, during and after the American Civil War. Like other reviewers I found the writing enchanting and although sorely tempted, I did not read it all in one go. Instead I wanted to savor each journal entry, image her in her lovely magenta gown or riding alone through Union troops to petition General U.S. Grant.
I was amazed by the incredible life she led; her pampered upbringing, the utter joy she finds in her family, and her brave reaction to all that befell her and her family. I felt like I acquired a new friend by the end of the book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in historical fiction, you will utterly lose yourself in the world of the Deep South. Although not a romance novel there is a wonderful love story at the heart of the book, so I think anyone who loves great, well written historical romances will definitely appreciate this novel.
Congratulations to Linda Metcalf on a wonderful book, meticulously researched, flawlessly written. Five Plus Stars from me!
