It’s guaranteed that we will act surprised, once again, at the change of weather, be it sleet or snow, that causes any inconvenient delay in our well-laid plans. We may take pause and recognize that we are lucky to live in such times; with ample travel choices, reliable electricity, even running water and an abundance of technical devices to give as gifts and keep us entertained.
If you’re in the mood for a dose of spirited reality in the midst of the molten glitter of the holidays, may I suggest you plug these downloads to your tech players before you head for Grandma’s house. These stories are guaranteed to give you new appreciation for how much you really have.
Half broke horses by Jeannette Walls – This true life novel was spun by the author, whose Grandmother has an adventurous life growing up on a Texas Ranch. The audio version is read by Jeannette herself, and while listening, you can almost imagine that the wild indomitable spirit of Lily Casey Smith has been channeled through her. A special highlight of the book is her description of attending the film premiere of “Gone with the Wind,” one of her favorite books. She also describes fashioning a new dress for the event out of the red velvet curtains she had purchased a few years prior with S&H Green Stamps.
A tree grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith – Originally published in 1943, Betty Smith wrote the American classic about a young girl named Francie Nolan and her coming of age in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900’s. But upon close examination, Miss Smith plainly tore this tale from her own heart. This profoundly moving and tender story of a valiant and sensitive little girl growing up in a poverty stricken family has been called "a book of the century.” Whether you upload it to your E-reader device or listen to the audio version, this endearing tale makes observations of turn of the century, big city changes in the name of progress and is sure to remind us to be thankful for family and what we have.
All over but the shoutin' by Rick Braggs - This is the first book of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rick Bragg's autobiographical trilogy (which includes Ava's Man and The Prince of Frogtown) about his family and growing up in the mill towns of northeast Alabama. Braggs writes that the most important lesson his mother taught him is that every life deserves a certain amount of dignity, no matter how poor or damaged the shell that carries it. The road to learning the lesson is bumpy and painful, but the Appalachian backdrop the author paints makes it an enjoyable ride. The southern voice rings loud and clear in the audio version by award winning narrator, Frank Muller.These are just a few of the library’s offerings of historical fiction and biographies that will take you back to a time when your grandparents had a much different view of the holidays - for some, it was merely a small break in the monotony of daily hard work. So, before heading out in the winter weather, charge up your gizmos and thank your lucky electronic stars that there are interesting stories to be shared. I wish you all safe travels!
