Book Review: Ballad of Tom Dooley

The Ballad of Tom Dooley
By Sharyn McCrumb

Library copy


This is the story of a murder, that takes place in Wilkes County, N.C. in 1866. The murder of Laura Foster was made into a ballad by the Kingston Trio. This is what intrigued me at first to read this.

The Ballad of Tom Dooley was recommended by a event that I went to in November, hosted by Litchfield Books, in Litchfield SC, The Moveable Feast.

The other reason, I chose to read this book, was I was getting bored, reading the same thing. I wanted a change. The Ballad of Tom Dooley, was totally out of my comfort zone. At my age, you are set in your tastes of reading.  Quess What, folks!! I was wrong.  I enjoyed reading The Ballad of Tom Dooley.

Y'all think you know the story of Tom Dooley, I thought I did. But, after reading Sharyn McCrumb's version, the Kingston Trio's version falls apart at the seams.  Sharyn McCrumb did her own research, with the help of many people, including college professors, map experts, war veterans, etc.  The only reason this is not non-fiction and is considered fiction because, there was not any documentation of facts and dialog written anywhere.

Tom Dooley, know actually as Tom Dula, and his lover Anna were accused of the murder of Laura Foster.

He was a Confederate soldier, returning from the Civil war.

 Laura, and Tom were childhood sweethearts, she was a raving beauty, but she was very self centered.  Anna married James, after Tom went off to fight in the Civil War, she knew he was not a good provider.

 James Melton, was too busy working as a homesteader, he did not notice his wife fooling around with Tom, or he just turned a blinds eye, but the Appalachian Community noticed that she was fooling around.

 To add to the story, you had the narrative of two voices, Pauline was the cousin of Anna and Laua, she was a conniving, tongue wagging trouble maker, that instigated the trouble between Laura and Anna.  She moved in with Anna, while she was getting treatment for Syphillis,  and stayed for exchange for her house work.

The other narrator was the lawyer defending Tom Dula, he eventually after the trial became the NC governor.

  Both of the young ladies, if you want to call them ladies, did not have any dignity, or ethics of what was right or wrong. I think that was the way they were brought up. As well, as Tom he was a good for nothing, he did not work, and was extremely lazy, and laid on the fat of the land, and slept around.  Everyone seemed to know what was going on, but it was accepted.

 It seemed, that both parents knew that their adult 22 year old children were sleeping around, but they did not care.  But, when the horse was stolen that is when Laura's father was upset, and wanted her to be found.

 Pauline knew that Laura and Tom were not eloping, instead she knew that Laura had a beau, and she was planning on eloping the next day. Pauline asked Laura how was she going to elope. . Pauline suggested steal her father's horse. That actually was death, if you stole a horse at that time, and in that community. Her Beau was a black man by the name of Jackson, but for some reason, Pauline kept quiet.

This ultimately was the demise of Tom. Tom ultimately told his attorney that he was the only one that stabbed Laura, that Anna had nothing to do with the killing and the murder.

I am excited, as a book lover, and a book blogger that I discovered a new author. It does not  happen often. Finding someone that you would like to read again. Too bad, I discovered her too early, this year to put in my challenge.because I wanted to use this author on my challenge that I entered, Where Are You Challenge. Oh, well.

 Her writing, I did not expect to appreciate as much as I did. I had heard that she writes mysteries.  But, I found that the stories she writes are adapted from a true crime event.

From a Yankee's perspective, I did not appreciate the Appalachian mountain culture, history, and the care these people had of their land.. After I read this novel, it changed my view point of the community of that area. The only thing I knew of the Applaccian mountains, was when I was a young girl, going to Florida, we passed the mountain side of Ky, and Tn. and saw the houses on the side of the mountains. Also watching the show, The Waltons. I never had any other exposure to their culture, and have never been there.

Most of the character's I did not care for.  Because all of the characters, did not have any morals, or ethics and were not educated, knowing the difference of right or wrong.

What I liked, at the end of the book is the author's note. She told all the different perspectives and scenerios that were possible and not possible and why. The people that helped her with the research. The author's note explained the holes I did not understand.

It seems, that I am reading alot of Southern fiction lately, and I hope to find other books that capture me. I am so happy that I read this. Happy to discover a new author at the end of 2011. I am happy to say this is probably one of my favorite books of the year. I plan on posting in a few day a recap of my reading experience of 2011, with my favorite books. This is probably the fist time, that I can say, I discovered some author's that I loved, some I hated. Which I never explored before.

Happy Holidays To All My Readers, hope your reading experience this year was as good as mine. Thank you for following, and reading my blog this year. I hope you continue reading, as I do...

Very Valentine, Book Club Read

Very Valentine
By Adrianna Trigianni



Very Valentine opens with Valentine Roncalli, a 33 year old living in New York City. is a member of a large Italian- American family.
Valentine, is a shoe apprentice, she lives and works with her grandmother,Teodora, a master shoe maker in Greenwich Village in New York City, called Angelina Shoes, founded in 1903.

Valentine is spyed on by a neighbor, on the roof of ther tenement, Roman.  Valentine and Roman meet each other by her grandmother.  They eventually become romantically involved with each other. Roman owned a busy restaurant, in town. Between her romance of Roman, and her shoe business she tries to juggle both.

During their courtship, Valentine learns that their family owned business, Angelina Shoes, is about to go into financial collapse. Angelina Shoes, are custom made bridal shoes that was started by her grandmother, and her grandfather since 1903.

 But, of course Valentine wants no part of this. She is going to fight tooth and nail to save the business from ruin. Her brother, Albert wants their 80 year old grandmother to retire.

Valentine is invited to participate in a shoe contest. This is not just, any contest. Many of the major custom shoe factories are participating, but Valentine is not aware of the competition.

In the meantime, Valentine and her grandmother go on a business trip to Italy. During the trip Roman is unable to go to Italy immediately. Instead he will meet her in Capri for her birthday.

Her grandmother, while in Italy meets a old flame, and his son. She learns about her grandmother's love interest, and why it was hidden from her family. The father, and Valentine's grandmother become romantically involved again, after so many year.

 While this is happening, the son takes Valentine under his wing and teaches her the art of shoe making.  He teaches Valentine all that he knows about shoe making. She learns, to look at shoe making in a new way. As a art, and an expression of her love of shoes.  She takes her shoe design at a new level.

I am not going to tell you any more of the story, you will just have to read it for yourself.

My Review: We read this book for our book club. I don't think I would have picked it up, for any other reason.   I have read the Stone Gap books, the first one and I was not impressed. I could not connect to the characters. But, what a 360 turn around, I loved this book. I connected with the characters immediately.  The story, just flowed for me. 

Valentine's family was a bit quirky, but you fell in love with them. Her mother was something else, and Valentine's grandmother was a gutsy lady.  You felt like you were one of them.
The story was full of warmth, and you could feel the love that was pouring out by the author.

The book, reminded me of Greek Fat Wedding, with the entire family getting in everybody's business. Everyone meddling, which was none of their adult daughter's affair.

I was given a copy of Brava Valentine, before reading Very Valentine. I was not thinking about reading it. Well, now that I have read, Very Valentine I am enchanted by the author's work. Maybe, not so much by Stone Gap, but her other works. I am going to pick up Brava Valentine, which is the next one in the series. 


I recommend it highly, and give it 5 thumbs up!!!

Jewish Southern Experience: Home in the Morning

Home in the Morning
By Mary Glickman
Courtesy of Open Road Media


Home in the Morning takes place in the turbulant years of the 1950's and 60's, in Guilford, Mississippi.  The Sassaport's, are a well to do Jewish southern family living in Mississippi.
Jackson, is the eldest son, and is overly protected by his mother, a genteel southern lady.

Living in the south during the 1960's was horrible enough, but in this story the divide of White, Black, Christian or Jewish was worse. There were hazing, beatings, civil rights movement, and anything to cause the divide of White and Black.  He becomes friends with a Afro-American boy, named Lil Bo'key.

In the house is Katherine Marie, a Afro American housekeeper. They become close friends. He's friend Lil Bo'key and Katherine Marie become boyfriend and girlfriend.

Jackson, a reform Jew eventually does leave Mississippi, to go to college at Yale University. He meets Stella Godwin a Orthodox Jew. They eventual marry and move back to the south. Where he rebuilds his friendships with Katherine Marie.

Jackson, has a younger brother that is coddled by his mother. He is troubled, lazy, and is often in trouble for one thing or another. But, he's mother always seems to help him out of the trouble he gets out of by paying someone off.

My Review: I read this novel, because the author is from Charleston, SC. Not too far from my house.

I picked up the novel, Home in the Morning because I liked the synopsis of the Jewish Southern experience during the 1960's. Has to be a great read, right. Sorry to say it was a let down.

Anyway, it took me about 100 pages in to finally connect with the characters, and finally understand what was going on.

Finally after the 100 pages, I was captivated by the story. I kept wanting to flip the pages, it was getting intense. But, by the end of the book, what a let down. I am not going to tell you, just in case you may want to give it a try. I did not like the ending it ended abruptly.

I think the author had a good story, but it just did not go anywhere. I really enjoyed one part of the story when the cousin, Lil Mo and Jackson ganged up and threatened his brother. I wish the author had done more about this part of the book.  Also if she wrote about the Jewish Southern experience during the 60's, and  Jewish-black divide. This would have enriched the novel, she did snipets but nothing more.

I really wanted to like this book, because of the reasons stated above.  I really cared though for the characters except for Jackson's brother. There are many other readers that did enjoy reading this.  I would still give it three stars.