Discoveries in the Stacks: A Library Adventure

Recently I had to reorganize my bookshelf to house more beloved books. It took some time and some problem solving, but I was able to come up with a temporary solution (until I have more room and money to buy and utilize the gigantic bookcase from Ikea I so desire). This isn't even half of my book collection. There is much more in a bookshelf in my closet and stored away in boxes. Needless to say, due to the lack of funds and space, I am returning to my home-away-from-home: the library.

O, how I love the library! J'adore le library (my attempt at French—I know my Spanish though—Me encata la biblioteca!). I walk in and the smell of dusty shelves, paper, and leather bindings immediately comforts me. When I am down in the dumps I just venture to the library and spend hours in the stacks browsing. There has been many times when I find a unique treasure and I bring it home to investigate this piece of gold from cover to cover.

Now there was a recent occurrence when the rain was pounding the pavement, I just finished a long day at the school, and I was feeling a little inadequate. So I took a detour on the way home and stopped by the library. Dashing through the rain from my car to the doors, I couldn't help but feel my heart's feet skip, and as soon as I entered and pulled the hood off my head I smiled. I couldn't help it. People were in line with their friends and kids held stacks of books waiting to check out, and others were browsing the aisles. I was overjoyed to be in a place where people also treasure books (instead of what those Satanic electronic book mongers call "books") and the thrill of discovery!


On this very day I checked out Diana Gabaldon's Lord John and the Private Matter while I wait for the release of the graphic novel The Exile, as well as request another popular book that was currently checked-out (until today when I picked it up), George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.* I am excited to start reading this after a dear friend of mine recommended it to me.


So this very evening, I will be nestled in my bed, the scent of lavender in the air, and the sound of rain on the window panes as I read and smell my library-owned paper novels. O, what joy it is! (And I daresay I'm saving my eyesight from those iPad/Kindle/Nook reading folks who have a constant light dilating their pupils—disclaimer: anything I have an opinion on please know that I don't intend to intentionally hurt those who love their iPads; it's not a direct insult. I think the iPad is cool too, I am just very passionate about books and the book industry. Sentiment outweighs the conveniences of technology for me.)

*Side note: A Game of Thrones will become a HBO series in 2011. Something to look forward to.

The Smallpox Inoculation and the American Revolution

Last Sunday, the History Channel premiered the documentary, "America: The Story of Us." I was pleasantly surprised on how they told the story of America through drama reenactments and narratives from historical quotes. Having the President introduce the series and embedded statements from politicians, actors, and noteworthy historians—such as Oprah's historian friend who got arrested last year for breaking into his own home—gave the documentary much needed weight (I'm a little sarcastic here). Despite the unnecessary interjections of the famous, the series shows accuracy and depicts a picture, although brief, of what occurred prior to American democracy. Needless to say, of course the brevity left out much needed facts, such as the many trials to establish American colonies and that Paul Revere wasn't the only rider to warn the Patriots that the British were coming prior to Lexington and Concord; but the documentary also brought to light many rare facts of the colonies and the American Revolution. I was surprised that they even noted the practice of smallpox inoculations during the Revolution.

I, myself a recent history graduate, did not learn of this practice until late last fall when I was reading letters between Abigail and John Adams.
Smallpox inoculation has been practiced in China since the 10th century A.D., but the practice did not come to West until the early 18th century by Lady Mary Wotley Montagu, whose husband served as the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in 1716-17. She inoculated her children and had several people witness this new practice, including the King's physician. Soon the practice of smallpox inoculation became common amid European royalty, despite much opposition. The practice is documented in America as early as 1721, and by the time of the American Revolution smallpox inoculation had become a common practice.

In a letter from Abigail Adams to her husband, John Adams, she writes of the inoculation in Massachusetts in July of 1776.

I now date from Boston where I yesterday arrived and was with all 4 of our Little ones innoculated for the small pox...Our Little ones stood the opperation Manfully.Dr. Bulfinch is our Physician. Such a Spirit of innoculation never before took place; the Town and every House in it, are as full as they can hold...The Soldiers innoculated privately, so did many of the inhabitants.

The winter of 1777-1778 brought the soldiers to Valley Forge. Conditions were so horrendous that 2,000 soldiers died of starvation, typhoid, jaundice, dysentery, and pneumonia. Many others deserted to return home without pay or question. Witnessing the deplorable conditions, Washington knew something would have to change into improve the livelihoods and morale of his men. That spring he brought in Baron von Steuben to run the men though drills and military training, and Washington also had the men inoculated for smallpox. This act from Washington changed the tide of the war as they marched out of Valley Forge in June of 1778.

A well-done miniseries from HBO on John Adams chronicles the life of John and Abigail Adams, which includes the practice of inoculation on their children. This series changed my perspective of John Adams, played by Paul Giamatti, as well as depicted Abigail Adams as John's pillar of strength.
Currently I'm reading Diana Gabaldon's seventh book of the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone. This book focuses on the American Revolution, particularly on the battles of Saratoga, and includes such historical figures as Benedict Arnold, General John Burgoyne, General Simon Fraser, General Horatio Gates, and Colonel Daniel Morgan (to name a few).

The Bookstore Fate

About a month ago, I was searching for a new historical fiction novel to dig my nose in during a less than eventful trip with my family to Bend. Innocently, I went to one of the online bookstore wedsites (as I often do before purchasing literature) to see if there were any new novels on my favorite eras—such as the Civil War, the American Revolution, and the Tudor reign. It was almost like destiny as I briefly read a synopsis on a series called Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I had never heard of the series and was slightly intrigued.

So after a long evening at work, I ventured to the nearest bookstore. It is quiet and pleasantly peaceful in a bookstore thirty minutes before closing, surrounded by paper and hardback books filled with adventures and stories of people who have lived and died, while random stragglers pass between the aisles. The comfort of bookstores and the books themselves always bring me back to my childhood days, when I would sneak out of bed after the lights had extinguished and crouch before my nightlight with a creased old book in hand, or a notebook and pencil for the imagination of my own tales. It’s a comforting thing, when your favorite childhood memories—memories that shape you into who you are today—can envelope you in the most ordinary places, like a bookstore.

It was in this very bookstore, when I put down the Philippa Gregory novel I was debating on purchasing and picked up the book Outlander. I don’t know what compelled me—fate, or an inherent need to consume the words inside a book as though it were nourishment—but, as I headed out of the aisle to the cash register, I retraced my steps and picked up Dragonfly in Amber as well.

Since that fateful day at the bookstore, I have given into temptation to return for the next volume in the series. Now, I have realized many others have also fallen in love with Gabaldon’s tale of Jamie and Claire. So enthralled, I have even found myself buying gaelic song after gaelic song on iTunes.

I must admit that this new interest is nearly becoming one of obsession, as I find myself awake into the early morning hours still consumed in the story, spending rare moments online to view fan made videos and blog commentary on the series and the possible future film; so much so, that I have been keeping my own list of actors and actresses I could imagine playing the epic roles of Jamie, Claire, Murtagh, Dougal, and Jack Randall—even the Duke of Sandringham! Mildly pathetic, and in need to expel my literary ranting to anyone who’d listen, I result in the creation of this blog. So there you have it...a blog of an obsessive, fateful young woman whom relents into the temptation of novels.