Summer Reading

I hope you are reading this summer.  I have been reading some of my old favorites and history books and articles as I travel.  I like to read all about an area before visiting, then use my phone or tablet to get more information while traveling and sometimes read a book set in the area to see if I can recognize the places the author describes..  (In fact, I loved using the QR codes at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to learn more about items in their museum.)
I just returned from a trip in the American South (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia), so I read one of my old favorites  Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.  For, any readers that are not familiar with this book it begins in pre-civil war Georgia and follows Scarlett O'Hara through three marriages and the postwar south and reconstruction in Georgia.
So, we visited New Orleans and Atlanta as part of this trip and these locations are described in the book.  I recognized some of the places.  One of the best descriptions in this book, was Sherman's initially failed attempts to get into Atlanta to begin his infamous "March to the Sea" campaign through Georgia.  (Incidentally, he did succeed.)  I visited the Kennesaw Battlfield where the confederate troops  defeated Sherman's army.  You can definitely see the advantage of being on high ground.  The Confederate troops were outnumbered but drove Sherman's army back because they had used tactics of trenches so they could fire down on the Union army.
In the book Scarlett meets up with Big Sam one of Tara's slaves who is being sent to dig trenches for the army around Atlanta.  Margaret Mitchell doesn't say that Big Sam was at Kennesaw, but there were extensive trenches dug around Atlanta, some of which you can still see.
I love Scarlett O'Hara, she is imperfect.  She constantly questions the confines of her culture upon women.  Unfortunately, she doesn't understand that some of her desires are constantly at odds.  Like her desire to be thought of as a "lady", but then doing things that are not done by "ladies".  She believes herself to be in love in Ashley Wilkes, but doesn't realize that they will never be able to work together because they are too different.
Like Ms. Mitchell authors use many of the classic themes in this book.  You may be familiar with some titles that have some themes in common, like "The love triangle" or a frustrated suitor.  (Remind you of Hunger Games, perhaps Twilight)
For some of you, you may be intimidated by the size of this book if you want to read it.  If you are not interested, find another  historical fiction book that interests you.  (Remember you can search for historical fiction in our library catalog.)  If you are traveling this summer, read the history of that area.  There is probably even a book set in the community you are visiting.  As always e-mail me if you want reading suggestions.