So I'm reading a new book I picked up today at B & N ~ titled above. (I could spend hours in there browsing, reading and relaxing - thanks Mom for adding me to your club membership which equates to great discounts - the smell of the books is relaxing to me.) I'm only into the first few chapters so far and it's great view of a very different world we live in. You've heard of those "can't put it down" books? This is one of those. Occasionally I find one of these even though I read non-fiction. So far, this is a humorous and informational no-nonsense look at the deep south and how America can't get enough of the Civil War. Some southerners say the war isn't over, it's "half-time." One thing I've learned with my limited reading of other Civil War books, is that more confederate soldiers died per capita than the the Northern soldiers. Southern men and boys came to fight, not because they owned slaves - they didn't- it was the principle of it. They believed in their cause. A large percentage of southerners are direct decedents of civil war soldiers. A few family bibles once kept by a soldier remain with that descendant's family. Mementos of the war between the states as they refer to it in the south, is very common. Not a common memento is a piece of shin bone kept in a mason jar, brought home by someones great-great-great grand daddy when a musket ball took out a piece of his leg as he hid in a tree. And Carol thinks my old license plate collection is weird. A collected quote says it all. The South is a place. East, west and north are nothing but directions. In retrospect, I see how true this is. I spent 18 months in Alabama after Vietnam. It was like stepping back in time, both good and bad. I even bought a small Confederate flag, not having any association of slavery, it was merely history to me. I enjoy history. (Does living in Southern Nevada and Southern Utah count ?)
3 comments:
Just to clarify--I don't think your license plate collection is weird. I just don't like multiple old, rusty plates hanging on my walls. I don't like reading non-fiction books normally, but you seem to find some intereting ones. I like that you give short reviews on the books so I don't have to read them.
History has interested me since I had a teacher who made it come to life in her lectures. Nevada joined the Union(1864)at a time its silver would help the war effort. Remember the "old fort" that was off Boulder Hiway years ago? (with bonfires, and "Union soldier" greeters) I went with your dad a few times and it was like a step back in time!
Sounds like an interesting book. I became somewhat intrigued with South vs. North during my missionary sojourn southeast Texas. I served in very rural areas and a large percentage of homes donned a confederate flag in their front yard. I brought home a confederate flag belt buckle. Like you, for history and for memories.
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