Book of the Week (12/26/2016)

Winter by Patricia Fargnoli (Brookline, NH: Hobblebush Books, 2013).

Now that the winter season is settling in (as I write this, it is below freezing with wind gusts and snow squalls here in NH!), I'm in the mood for some books about winter to curl up with under warm blankets while sipping a hot cup of tea. Past NH poet laureate Patricia Fargnoli's latest volume of poetry, Winter, fulfills this need perfectly.

“There is a prologue to the articulate—that is the silence,” said Derek Wolcott. “When that silence arrives, it can be the beginning of art.” As a prologue to her poems, Pat Fargnoli has listened deeply to the silence of winter, and the result is a collection of poems that capture the flame of the fox, the hunger of horses, and the solitude of snow—“ the flakes settling on your parka / like the dust from just-born stars.” What is articulated through these poems stems not from reticence, but from quiet observation and wisdom. Such great attention teaches us “the natural world comes to join you / if you go out to meet it,” and so we come to understand that “truth is found in silence.”- Meg Kearney

Book of the Week (12/19/2016)

The birds of Bethlehem by Tomie dePaola (New York : Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012.)

What better way to celebrate the holiday season, than to read a Christmas themed Tomie dePaola book! Tomie is a long beloved children's book author and illustrator who has lived in the Granite State for decades. His beautiful, vibrant illustrations add to his wonderful children's stories and easily demonstrate why he is such a treasure to our state.

"This inventive and fresh Nativity story is told from a bird's-eye view. On the morning of the first Christmas, the birds of Bethlehem gather in the fields--not only to eat but to share the exciting news. People from all over have descended on Bethlehem and an angel has appeared in the night sky. Something extraordinary is coming! The birds agree that they must find this wondrous thing, and off they fly to the stable where a child has been born. In simple language and dazzling pictures, beloved author-illustrator Tomie dePaola shares the awe and anticipation of the first Christmas. His cast of brightly colored, curious birds will appeal to young children, making this a perfect introduction to the story of Christmas." --Publisher's blurb 

Book of the Week (12/12/2016)

Legendary Locals of New Hampshire's Lakes Region by Ray Carbone (Charleston, South Carolina : Arcadia Publishing, 2015.)

Local author Ray Carbone introduces us to a variety of personalities from the Lakes Region in his recent book about some of New Hampshire's finest.

"There are few places in America that have such a rich variety of landscape and scenery as the Lakes Region of New Hampshire: from the summer calm of Squam Lake to the robust white winter mountaintops of the Gunstock Mountain Resort. So it is no surprise that the people who call it home reflect the same wide palette of humankind—from the pre–Revolutionary War surveyors who first marked their initials on a rock at Weirs Beach to Bob Lawton, the current owner of the world’s largest arcade; from one of George Washington’s inner circle to Ernest Thompson, the award-winning author of On Golden Pond. The Lakes Region draws them—or grows them—all, because it has it all." -Publisher's blurb 

Ray is the editor of The Lakes Region of New Hampshire: Four Seasons. He also regularly contributes to New Hampshire Public Radio’s website, the Boston Globe, New Hampshire magazine, New England Boating, New Hampshire Union Leader, and New Hampshire Business Review.

Book of the Week (12/5/2016)

Finding Phil: Lost in War and Silence by Paul Levy (Peterborough, NH: Bauhan Publishing, 2016).

NH author Paul Levy was a recent guest on NHPR's The Exchange and will be talking about his book at The Toadstool Bookshop in Milford on Sunday, 12/11/2016 at 2 pm.

Paul Levy was a year old when his Uncle Phil was killed in World War II, and his family, like many, faced their grief with silence. Upon retirement, and seventy years after his uncle’s death, he set out to discover what might still be found about Phil. At every step, research led to unexpected turns, and ultimately revealed a vivid portrait of Phil’s life and, astoundingly, of his death. In the process, the author also gained insights into war, antisemitism, family silences, and heroism, and encountered intriguing and sometimes famous characters who had touched Phil’s life. -- Publisher's blurb.

Book of the Week (11/28/2016)

Thirty-eight : the hurricane that transformed New England by Stephen Long (New Haven : Yale University Press, 2016.)

When we think of hurricanes, we don't usually consider them to be too much of a threat to inland areas, but this was not the case with the Hurricane of 1938 in which many areas of New England, including New Hampshire were completely devastated.

"The hurricane that pummeled the northeastern United States on September 21, 1938, was New England’s most damaging weather event ever. To call it “New England’s Katrina” might be to understate its power. Without warning, the storm plowed into Long Island and New England, killing hundreds of people and destroying roads, bridges, dams, and buildings that stood in its path. Not yet spent, the hurricane then raced inland, maintaining high winds into Vermont and New Hampshire and uprooting millions of acres of forest. This book is the first to investigate how the hurricane of ’38 transformed New England, bringing about social and ecological changes that can still be observed these many decades later.

The hurricane’s impact was erratic—some swaths of forest were destroyed while others nearby remained unscathed; some stricken forests retain their prehurricane character, others have been transformed. Stephen Long explores these contradictions, drawing on survivors’ vivid memories of the storm and its aftermath and on his own familiarity with New England’s forests, where he discovers clues to the storm’s legacies even now. Thirty-Eight is a gripping story of a singularly destructive hurricane. It also provides important and insightful information on how best to prepare for the inevitable next great storm." -Publisher's blurb.

New Hampshire Public Radio interviewed author, Stephen Long about "Thirty-eight". Check out the interview here.

Book of the Week (11/21/2016)

The Smoke Hunter by Jacquelyn Benson (Grand Central Publishing, 2016).

The archeology and archives classes I took in college always sparked my imagination, so this first novel by NH author Jacquelyn Benson definitely caught my eye!

Archivist Eleanora Mallory discovers a map to a legendary city that could be the truth behind a myth. But is it the key to unravelling an ancient mystery, or a clever hoax? Compelled to find out, Ellie journeys to Central America—with a merciless enemy hot on her heels. In a deadly race to uncover the map’s secret first, Ellie is forced to partner with maverick archaeologist Adam Bates, a man she’s not sure she can trust. Together, they venture into an uncharted wilderness alive with smoke and shadows, where an even greater danger awaits them. For what lies there whispering to be unearthed has the power to bring the world to its knees. --Publisher's blurb

Book of the Week (11/14/2016)

Marty on the mountain: 38 years on Mount Washington by Martin Engstrom (Fryeburg, Me.: Martin Engstrom, 2003.)

I chose this book about local author and WMTW-TV 8 weatherman/engineer, Martin Engstrom to coincide with a new exhibit focusing on the beauty and glory of Mount Washington. Engstrom lived and worked on Mount Washington; the Northeast's highest peak, for 38 years before retiring. Living and working atop Mount Washington, Engstrom surely witnessed the beauty of this New Hampshire treasure.

"Those folks who have lived in Maine or the Mt. Washington Valley for many years know Marty as Channel 8's summit resident with the thick accent and funny smile at the end of his broadcast. Transmitter engineer and weather reporter, Marty's wit and unique storytelling both make for a fun read." -Publisher's blurb.

The exhibition is at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH entitled, "Mount Washington: The Crown of New England".  It runs from October 1, 2016- January 16, 2017.  The exhibition will feature major paintings by Hudson River School artists, including Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Cole, Jasper Francis Cropsey, John Frederick Kensett and David Johnson, as well as acclaimed painters such as Winslow Homer and George Inness.

Book of the Week (11/7/2016)

Throw Away Girls by Jennifer Vaughn (Waldorf Publishing, 2016).

Jennifer Vaughn visits Gibson's Bookstore on Saturday, November 12, at 2 pm to present her new thriller Throw Away Girls, the first in the Jaycee Wilder series.

Hard-charging, insightful, and ambitious, Jaycee Wilder wants to take her TV news career to the next level. The Los Angeles reporter is hungry for the big story. When dead girls begin to pile up at seedy nightclubs that cater to whimsical, fetish-seeking strangers, Jaycee suspects a serial killer is at work. She aligns herself with an east coast cop trying to resurrect himself- and his once stellar career- from a drunken skid. The killer lives a normal life during the day, while hunting the Throw Away Girls at night, punishing them for their dark urges. He leaves messages behind in his victims' blood, his explanation for enacting such brutal, twisted justice upon the unworthy. He watches the media coverage. He knows the wily reporter is chasing him. As Jaycee follows her gut, and the evidence, she forces him to act. But when a killer is clever and cunning, he can infiltrate anywhere. Jaycee must utilize all her skills to expose him before he gets to her first. --Publisher's blurb

Book of the Week (10/31/2016)

Twisted Tales of New Hampshire by Eric Stanway (Fitzwilliam, NH : Emu Books, 2016.)

Ghosts, murderers, haunted houses....in small-town New Hampshire?! Local author Eric Stanway once again brings to us, a mixture of spooky stories from years gone by in his latest book, Twisted Tales of New Hampshire. There are plenty of creepy tales from the Granite State within Stanway's book to shock and unnerve this Halloween!

Join us as we once again delve into the darkest aspects of the Granite State. This time, we have a haunted house in Dublin with an extremely unfriendly ghost; the bizarre tale of Frederick Small of Ossipee, who might have gotten away with murder, had he not been so cheap; the murderous rampage of Thomas Samon of Laconia, whose axe-murdering spree left three dead and one woman critically injured; and the homicidal career of Samuel Green, which ended with the noose in 1822. As these tales will readily attest, there is no shortage of twisted anecdotes in New Hampshire. -Back cover.

Book of the Week (10/24/2016)

 

New Hampshire Book of the Dead: Graveyard Legends and Lore by Roxie J. Zwicker (Charleston, SC: History Press, 2012).

I am absolutely fascinated with old cemeteries and gravestones. So when I saw this book on the shelf while searching for spooky books, I knew I had to read it! Author Roxie Zwicker provides a glimpse of the history and spooky tales surrounding the oldest burial grounds in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire's historic graveyards, from Portsmouth to North Conway, have bizarre and eerie stories to offer their visitors. Graveyards often invoke fear and superstition among the living, but the dead who rest within them may have more to communicate to the world they left behind. The sands of Pine Grove Cemetery in Hampton once concealed the tombstone of Susanna Smith, but now its message--which reads simply "Slaine with thunder"--and her story have risen from beneath the soil. The Point of Graves Cemetery in Portsmouth is home to the spirit of Elizabeth Pierce, who beckons departing guests back to her grave. Along the state's southern border in Jaffrey, tombstones at Philips-Heil Cemetery caution the living to cherish life. Author Roxie Zwicker tours the Granite State's oldest burial grounds, exploring the stones, stories and folklore of these hallowed places. -- Back cover

Book of the Week (10/17/2016)

Preserving old barns: Preventing the loss of a valuable resource by John C. Porter and Francis E. Gilman (New Hampshire : UNH Cooperative Extension, 2001.)

On October 28th, 2016, the N.H. Division of Historical Resources will host “We’re Golden: Celebrating 50 Years of the National Historic Preservation Act.” This is a daylong symposium that focuses on historic preservation in New Hampshire, and will occur in Concord.

Elizabeth Muzzey, director of the NHDHR and state historic preservation officer was stated as saying, “New Hampshire is well-known for our historic buildings, bridges, landscapes, cemeteries and archaeological sites – they are part of who we are. We’re looking forward to sharing inspiring stories about the great work that can be accomplished when people come together to preserve elements of our past that are still very much part of both our present and our future.”

I chose "Preserving old barns: Preventing the loss of a valuable resource" as the book to feature this week because of its strong connection to the goals of the National Historic Preservation Act, as well as the fact that it features the preservation of New Hampshire barns; one of the many beautiful features of the Granite State.

"Old barns are tangible evidence of our rural past and the evolution of agriculture in New Hampshire. Along with various outbuildings, barns were essential parts of the farm unit in meeting the needs of rural life. These structures are being abandoned to make way for newer structures better adapted to today's modern agricultural requirements. However, there is renewed interest in preserving these venerable structures. Barn preservation requires the owner to appreciate the aesthetic and historical value of the structure and make a commitment to maintain its structural integrity." -Amazon.com

For more information about “We’re Golden” and to register for the event, visit nh.gov/nhdhr. There is no fee to attend but seating is limited and advance registration is required.

Book of the Week (10/10/2016)

Mount Kearsarge: History, Stories, Legends and Folktales by Larry Sullivan with original artwork by Mimi Wiggin (NH: Warner Historical Society, 2015).

Not only is this book visually stunning, it is also filled with historical recollections, stories, and even some poems. A beautiful tribute to a special place, and as the inside jacket states: "you will never see it in the same old way."

Mount Kearsarge: History, Stories, Legends and Folktales is the product of research and data collection from the Kearsarge region and beyond. The book starts with an overview of Mount Kearsarge, to provide the “back story” for over 30 stories and several folktales related to the mountain. Also included are many “Recollections” of the mountain, from an early account by Henry David Thoreau about his grandmother’s visit to the Kearsarge Gore, to excerpts of writings by local people who looked up one day and saw a huge, unwelcome tower on their mountain.” --Publisher’s blurb

Book of the Week (10/3/2016)

Peregrine Spring: A Master Falconer's Extraordinary Life with Birds of Prey by Nancy Cowan (Guilford, Connecticut : Lyons Press, 2016.)

In Peregrine Spring, local author Nancy Cowan writes about her many decades of experience working with a variety of birds of prey.

"Nancy Cowan’s memoir of her thirty years living intimately with raptors, gives us a new perspective on the relationship between humans and the natural world. Cowan shares her experiences running a world-famous falconry school, and the lessons she's learned from her birds. From retrieving her falcon from the local police “lock up,” to finding her husband in bed with a gyrfalcon, to a heart-breaking race to save her young peregrine from attack by a wild hawk, Cowan’s life is a constant, ever-changing adventure. Cowan’s birds have immersed her so much into their world that she has found herself courted by a Goshawk and bossed about by a Harris’ Hawk. The book carries her readers along, so they, too, meet hawks and falcons in ways they never imagined possible." -Amazon.com

 
Nancy is a master falconer, wildlife rescue expert, sled-dog sportswriter and historian, popular speaker, and award-winning writer. She spearheaded a campaign to win legalization for falconry in the state of New Hampshire, and founded the internationally-known New Hampshire School of Falconry with her husband. Cowan has also written for DogWorld, Yankee Magazine, DOGFANCY, and Down East magazine.

Nancy will be visiting Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, NH, Thursday, October 20th, 2016 at 5:30 pm to present "Peregrine Spring".

Book of the Week (9/26/16)

Slavery and the Underground Railroad in New Hampshire by Michelle Arnosky Sherburne (Charleston, SC: History Press, 2016).

With the recent opening of the National Museum of African American History & Culture, I was curious to explore New Hampshire's African American history and discovered this recent publication by Michelle Arnosky Sherburne. The hidden history about slavery, the Underground Railroad, and the abolitionist movement in New Hampshire is revealed in this fascinating volume. The last portion covers information about commemorative sites such as The Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail and the Harriet Wilson Project's Black Heritage Trail that I have added to my "New Hampshire Must-See" list. And in timely news, a statewide New Hampshire Black Heritage Trail is in the planning stages!

New Hampshire was once a hotbed of abolitionist activity. But the state had its struggles with slavery, with Portsmouth serving as a slave-trade hub for New England. Abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison, Nathaniel Peabody Rogers and Stephen Symonds Foster helped create a statewide antislavery movement. Abolitionists and freed slaves assisted in transporting escapees to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Author Michelle Arnosky Sherburne uncovers the truth about slavery, the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement in New Hampshire. --Publisher's blurb

Book of the Week (9/19/2016)

Blood Brother: Jonathan Daniels and His Sacrifice for Civil Rights by Rich Wallace and Sandra Neil Wallace (Honesdale, Pennsylvania : Calkins Creek Books, 2016.)

Local New Hampshire authors Rich and Sandra Neil Wallace present their new YA book, "Blood Brother". This is the story of the murder of New Hampshire student Jonathan Daniels; a white freedom fighter in Alabama in the 1960's. Coming from a background in Sociology, this book appeals to me for many reasons, including the subject of the struggle for civil rights, black voter rights, as well as the story of a brave freedom fighter likely unknown to many (including myself) who lost his life for the cause. It is especially of interest to New Hampshire residents because of Daniels' New Hampshire connection.

"Jonathan Daniels, a white seminary student from New Hampshire, traveled to Selma, Alabama, in 1965 to help with voter registration of black residents. After the voting rights marches, he remained in Alabama, in the area known as “Bloody Lowndes,” an extremely dangerous area for white freedom fighters, to assist civil rights workers. Five months later, Jonathan Daniels was shot and killed while saving the life of Ruby Sales, a black teenager. Through Daniels’s poignant letters, papers, photographs, and taped interviews, authors Rich Wallace and Sandra Neil Wallace explore what led Daniels to the moment of his death, the trial of his murderer, and how these events helped reshape both the legal and political climate of Lowndes County and the nation." -Publisher's website.

Authors Rich Wallace and Sandra Neil Wallace will be visiting Cheshire Children's Museum in Keene, NH, Tuesday, September 27th, 2016 at 6:00 p.m to present "Blood Brother".
Authors Rich Wallace and Sandra Neil Wallace will also be visiting Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, NH, Thursday, September 29th, 2016 at 5:30 p.m to present "Blood Brother".
Rich and Sandra will also be making appearances in the coming months at:
Bayswater Books in Center Harbor, NH, Saturday, November 26th, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. and Toadstool Bookshop in Keene, NH, Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 at 1 p.m.

Book of the Week (9/12/2016)

Keepers of the Labyrinth by Erin E. Moulton (Philomel Books, 2015).
This book will be featured at the New Hampshire table in the Pavilion of the States at the 2016 National Books Festival on September 23 in Washington, D.C.

Lilith Bennette runs at midnight. She scales walls in the dark and climbs without a harness. She hopes that if she follows exactly in the steps of her strong air force pilot mother, she’ll somehow figure out the mystery of her mother’s death—and the reason why her necklace of Greek symbols has been missing ever since.
So when Lil is invited to Crete for a Future Leaders International conference, the same conference her mom attended years ago, she jumps at the chance to find some answers. But things in Melios Manor are not what they seem. Lil finds herself ensnared in an adventure of mythological proportions that leads her and her friends through the very labyrinth in which the real Minotaur was imprisoned. And they’re not in there alone. What secrets does the labyrinth hold, and will they help Lil find the truth about her mother? -- Publisher's blurb

Book of the Week (9/5/2016)

American Impressionist: Childe Hassam and the Isles of Shoals by Austen Barron Bailly, John W. Coffey (editors) (Salem, Massachusetts : Peabody Essex Museum, 2016.)

"Childe Hassam (1859–1935) was the foremost American impressionist of his generation. Prolific in oil paintings and watercolors, he found his native New England to be a touchstone for his art. Hassam had a fascination with Appledore, the largest island of the Isles of Shoals off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire, and he traveled there almost every summer for thirty years. This fascinating book traces Hassam’s artistic exploration of Appledore and reveals a complex portrait of the island created over time. John W. Coffey, working with the marine biologist Hal Weeks, revisits Hassam’s painting sites, identifying where, what, and how the artist painted on the island. Kathleen M. Burnside considers the range of the artist's stylistic responses to the island's nature. A photo essay by Alexandra de Steiguer reveals Appledore’s enduring beauty." --Amazon.com

This beautiful exhibition catalog of American impressionist Childe Hassam's work featuring The Isles of Shoals accompanies the exhibition of the same name at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts through November 6, 2016.

Book of the Week (8/29/2016)

Granite Steps: Stumbles, Surprises, and Successes Along the New Hampshire Primary Trail by Fergus Cullen (NH: Union Leader, 2015.)

Primary season may be over but you can still read all about the NH primary in this new book by Fergus Cullen, published in partnership with the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper.

A new history of New Hampshire's First in the Nation presidential primary focusing on the campaigns of 1992-2012: Bill Clinton's first campaign; George H.W. Bush's re-election struggle; Pat Buchanan's insurgent campaigns; George W. Bush's stumble; Al Gore and John Kerry as successful frontrunners; John McCain's two improbable victories; Mitt Romney's second chance; and the epic battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. --Publisher’s blurb