Beyond Method #12: Last Dance: Evaluation. I finished!!!
1. My favorite exercises include Smilebox and Shelfari. I'll be using those most of all. i can use them personally as well as professionally.
2. My lifelong learning goals include trying to keep up with technology changes, even though they proliferate exponentially! Even though I retired in June, after 43 years in libraries, I will continue to be involved with libraries as a volunteer, and as a member of TLA. If I want to keep myself relevant to the daily changes in information technology, I need to continue learning through webinars like this.
3. One of the take-aways I really like is Skype an Author. This has such great possibilities -- why didn't I know about it sooner!
4. Improvements for the course? I like the self paced learning and the exercises to hold myself accountable for actually doing the hands-on learning. Improve by continuing to provide this kind of tech training.
5. Yes, I would definitely participate if you have a similar program.
Join me in a discussion of current books, local history, and library technology.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Beyond Method #11: Library Technology
Beyond Method #11 concerns use of online surveys. I have participated in many surveys using several of these tools although I haven't devised such a survey myself. I can think of several ways to use these tools. I plan to use SurveyMonkey to poll visitors to the Gunter Library & Museum facebook page to see how many would be interested in forming a historical society in Gunter. PollEverywhere is a new tool to me. I can see where it could be useful in a library focus group, and perhaps could be used in some YA activity where they are game playing.
Beyond Method #10: Library Technology
Method #10 concerns tools to help conferencing or continuing education online. I have used Go-to-meeting. This was useful when a tech needed to take over my computer remotely and fix a problem we were having. I've also attended many webinars for continuing education. I used this extensively for staff training, and now that state library finances have been cut so drastically, I expect we will all be relying on this more and more.
I participated in a podcast set up by NETLS to discuss with other librarians how we liked using Discover Pods. NETLS also set up an online conference to discuss the feasability of KOHO as an online automation system. I have never organized an online meeting or training session.
I really liked the idea of using SKYPE to connect authors with children, or even with a book discussion group. I've never used SKYPE, but my laptop can use it, so I will be trying that out soon. Connecting families with soldiers overseas sounds like an excellent program, one that all libraries should have.
I participated in a podcast set up by NETLS to discuss with other librarians how we liked using Discover Pods. NETLS also set up an online conference to discuss the feasability of KOHO as an online automation system. I have never organized an online meeting or training session.
I really liked the idea of using SKYPE to connect authors with children, or even with a book discussion group. I've never used SKYPE, but my laptop can use it, so I will be trying that out soon. Connecting families with soldiers overseas sounds like an excellent program, one that all libraries should have.
Beyond Method #9: Tell a Digital Story
This photo album was created using smilebox. It was really simple to build. Libraries should be able to use similar tools to promote and present summer reading programs, YA activities, other library programs. You just need to have the photos and in a few minutes you can build a quality album, with music.
Beyond Method #8: Library Technology
Method # 8 talks about screencasting and shows the many tools available to do screencasting. Screencasting looks like a very useful tool. Libraries could use it easily to explain how to do something. On the Van Alstyne Library's webpage there needs to be an explanation of how to use e-books. The three steps involved could be explained with a screencast embedded. I used Screenr to make a screencast inviting people to join Van Alstyne Voices Toastmasters. The flyer showed up, but the audio did not. I need to use my laptop instead of my desktop because it has a better speaker.
Beyond method #7: Library Technology
I've been having fun looking at all the possibilities for presentations. There are so many! I tried slideshare and it seemed really easy. I will try to embed the Fake Presentation. Yahoo! It worked! I will have to do some presentations of my own now. This is so simple. A library could easily make a presentation for one of their programs, to advertise it, or could make one at the program and report about it, then embed it in their web page. I like it!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Beyond Method #6 Library Technology
This technology step concerns use of e-books. It's a lot more complicated than I ever thought. I haven't had an opportunity to download anything from Overdrive since the Van Alstyne Library doesn't own a subscription. I need a membership card in the McKinney Library to use their subscription. I do use my Kindle daily to download my personal book choices. But it is not possible for libraries to circulate Kindles yet, if ever. There are too many restrictions for libraries to loan out e-book readers. So the great technology that allows users of Kindle, Nook, Sony, etc to purchase books and read them instantly is closed to libraries until some future technology adjustment is made. Definitely libraries are in danger of being superceded by this technology. Fortunately there are still plenty of readers who want the book in hand, or, don't like or understand the technology.
Project Gutenberg has thousands of free downloads. All are in the public domain. I downloaded Andy Adams "Log of a Cowboy" formatted for Kindle to my PC to see if I could transfer it to my Kindle. I was also able to read it easily online at the Project Gutenburg site. Go to "Log of a Cowboy" to link to Project Gutenberg. Many of the files are for audio books also. The key is that the copyright must have expired before a book can be digitized on Project Gutenberg. Click here to try looking up one of your own old favorite books.
Project Gutenberg has thousands of free downloads. All are in the public domain. I downloaded Andy Adams "Log of a Cowboy" formatted for Kindle to my PC to see if I could transfer it to my Kindle. I was also able to read it easily online at the Project Gutenburg site. Go to "Log of a Cowboy" to link to Project Gutenberg. Many of the files are for audio books also. The key is that the copyright must have expired before a book can be digitized on Project Gutenberg. Click here to try looking up one of your own old favorite books.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Library Technology: Beyond Method #5
Method #5 in the State Library webinar "Beyond Two-Steppin'" looks at social sites for reading lists and book reviews. I was already familiar with "LibraryThing" and have an account there although a seldom used account. I am not personally a list keeper. My husband however, always a list keeper, would love some of these sites. I set up an account in "Shelfari." I like the ability to link to it from my blog and have book covers of my favorite reads show up on a shelf in my blog. it was very easy to set up the widget. I can see where this would be a useful link to have on a library website where librarians and patrons both could link to their favorite books and recommend them. "Goodreads" helped me decide if I wanted to pursue the reading of other books since there are plenty of pro and con reviews available. This is also a very useful tool for a library webpage. So far I have only rated a few books with stars and not written any reviews myself.
I tried "What Should I Read Next.com" also. Of the book titles I searched, only one showed any recommendations other than other titles in the series. I would hope this site would grow in size so it could become a useful tool for helping readers find similar books to the one they are researching. "Answerboards" is a great showcase for reference librarians. I can see a lot of potential uses for that link on a library site. "BookLamp" analyzes the structure of a book and its language, then recomends books on a similar level. Reading teachers might find this useful in prescribing reading lists for challenged readers.
I tried "What Should I Read Next.com" also. Of the book titles I searched, only one showed any recommendations other than other titles in the series. I would hope this site would grow in size so it could become a useful tool for helping readers find similar books to the one they are researching. "Answerboards" is a great showcase for reference librarians. I can see a lot of potential uses for that link on a library site. "BookLamp" analyzes the structure of a book and its language, then recomends books on a similar level. Reading teachers might find this useful in prescribing reading lists for challenged readers.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Local History: Obituary File
One of the things I'm creating as a resource at the Gunter Library & Museum is an obituary file. I will be clipping obituaries from local newspapers and placing them in a file box at the library. If anyone has any to contribute, please drop them by the Gunter Library when possible. Most libraries that have local history departments have obituary files. Family researchers use them to verify family dates and relationships. Some libraries have digitized their files and others keep them in file boxes alphabetically. Such files are sometimes the only records available for family researchers.
The Obituary Times on rootsweb.com has an index of obituaries. Go to www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~obituary/ and type in the name you are looking for. I put in a search for "Gunter" and brought up not only all those with a surname of Gunter, but names of all those who had died in Gunter, Texas. This list seems to go back only to the year 2000. However, when I searched my father's surname, it included surnames for 1998 and 1999. It did not include my mother who died in May 2010. Each citation includes name, age, place of death, name of newspaper where obituary was published and the date it was published.
The Obituary Times on rootsweb.com has an index of obituaries. Go to www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~obituary/ and type in the name you are looking for. I put in a search for "Gunter" and brought up not only all those with a surname of Gunter, but names of all those who had died in Gunter, Texas. This list seems to go back only to the year 2000. However, when I searched my father's surname, it included surnames for 1998 and 1999. It did not include my mother who died in May 2010. Each citation includes name, age, place of death, name of newspaper where obituary was published and the date it was published.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Beyond Method #4 Job searching
Technology training: Beyond Method #4 was on job searching tools. I'm a member of Linkedin which is a great networking tool. The two resume building tools, visualcv at visualcv.com and Emurse at www.emurse.com were two I wasn't familiar with. Both help you improve your resume and Emurse actually lets you job search. Other job searching tools I looked at were indeed.com, Careerbuilder.com, and Tweetmyjobs.com
All three of these brought up many library jobs when I searched them. Texas Workskills Development in Libraries http://twdl.org is a very comprehensive site that has a section where you can take short tutorials online to build computer skills. This one I have used extensively with patrons. The New Jersey State library is an excellent resource for job seekers. Go to http://getjobs.njlibraries.org/
computerresources.html. I liked the section for seniors wanting to return to the workforce or start their own businesses. Goodwill has an excellent training site on computer basics at www.gcflearnfree.org/computer basics.
Libraries should have links to all of these sources for their patrons, as well as a physical list at each patron computer. While it is true that your best job search tool is your personal network, all of these tools help you locate available jobs and improve your skills.
All three of these brought up many library jobs when I searched them. Texas Workskills Development in Libraries http://twdl.org is a very comprehensive site that has a section where you can take short tutorials online to build computer skills. This one I have used extensively with patrons. The New Jersey State library is an excellent resource for job seekers. Go to http://getjobs.njlibraries.org/
computerresources.html. I liked the section for seniors wanting to return to the workforce or start their own businesses. Goodwill has an excellent training site on computer basics at www.gcflearnfree.org/computer basics.
Libraries should have links to all of these sources for their patrons, as well as a physical list at each patron computer. While it is true that your best job search tool is your personal network, all of these tools help you locate available jobs and improve your skills.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Gunter Star newspaper 1916
Gunter History: I was checking out the possibilities in my Netvibes private experimental genealogy page this morning and found a link to Library of Congress: Chronicling America Newspaper Archive. I followed up some search terms for Gunter, but didn't find a lot useful. I did go to the list of newspapers archived and found the Gunter Star. It began publication in 1916 and has only a question mark for the end date. J.O. Nash was the first publisher of the weekly newspaper. Microfilm copies of the Gunter Star are available in two places. The Panhandle-Plains History Museum at Canyon, Texas has microfilm copies of the Gunter Star, 1940-1943, and 1945. The University of Texas at Austin has a microfilm master of the 1918 Gunter Star.
Does anyone have any copies of any issue of the Gunter Star tucked away in family keepsakes? Maybe you are re-doing an old house and find parts of an old issue used as wallpaper? Don't destroy such an historical treasure. Let someone on the staff of the Gunter Library & Museum know about it, or someone from the North Texas History Center at McKinney. Useful local history files grow from bits and pieces and one man's trash is another's treasure.
Does anyone have any copies of any issue of the Gunter Star tucked away in family keepsakes? Maybe you are re-doing an old house and find parts of an old issue used as wallpaper? Don't destroy such an historical treasure. Let someone on the staff of the Gunter Library & Museum know about it, or someone from the North Texas History Center at McKinney. Useful local history files grow from bits and pieces and one man's trash is another's treasure.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Beyond Method 3 -- mapping
Library Technology: Method 3 of Beyond Two-Step examined mapping sites and how to add a map. This is a really useful skill and one I have benefitted from often. I use it often when traveling to an unfamiliar site, or when I need travel distance information. I didn't add a map for the Gunter Library & Museum because there is already a map attached to the library website. Later when I create a netvibes page for genealogy, I will create a map to the Gunter Library.
Local history: For Census information on Gunter residents, up through 1930, go to www.tsl.state.tx.us/texshare/ and use the Genealogy sources there. Heritage Quest will give you Census information. Texas Sanborn Insurance maps will allow you to view detailed maps back to the 1900s.
I plan to create a genealogy website and link it to the Gunter Library & Museum so that I can include local history and family research as well as useful links to other research sites on the Internet. My first contribution will be to donate a couple of personal family histories to the Gunter Library, one for the Roy Hazelton family, long time residents of Gunter, and one for my own family, the James C. McCrain family, as local residents past and present. This will be the beginning of a listing of local family research present in the library/museum. Anyone who has local history or family research is urged to provide a copy for the Gunter Library & Museum. There will also be a local obituary page.
Current Reading: I completed the first book in the George R.R. Martin series "A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire." I enjoyed the fast action fantasy very much and found the writing style interesting. I may have to make a chart to keep track of all the characters. However the ones I am most interested in continue into the second book, "A Clash of Kings." This is an adult book I would recommend to all fantasy readers, with the reservation that it has explicit sexuality that may offend some.
Local history: For Census information on Gunter residents, up through 1930, go to www.tsl.state.tx.us/texshare/ and use the Genealogy sources there. Heritage Quest will give you Census information. Texas Sanborn Insurance maps will allow you to view detailed maps back to the 1900s.
I plan to create a genealogy website and link it to the Gunter Library & Museum so that I can include local history and family research as well as useful links to other research sites on the Internet. My first contribution will be to donate a couple of personal family histories to the Gunter Library, one for the Roy Hazelton family, long time residents of Gunter, and one for my own family, the James C. McCrain family, as local residents past and present. This will be the beginning of a listing of local family research present in the library/museum. Anyone who has local history or family research is urged to provide a copy for the Gunter Library & Museum. There will also be a local obituary page.
Current Reading: I completed the first book in the George R.R. Martin series "A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire." I enjoyed the fast action fantasy very much and found the writing style interesting. I may have to make a chart to keep track of all the characters. However the ones I am most interested in continue into the second book, "A Clash of Kings." This is an adult book I would recommend to all fantasy readers, with the reservation that it has explicit sexuality that may offend some.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Beyond Method #2: Library technology uses
Customizable webpages! What a concept! Taming the Internet with pageflakes, igoogle, netvibes, smartpage Library virtual reference tool!
Netvibes and pageflakes are two customizable sites that can be used by libraries to provide comprehensive web coverage for patrons. Igoogle is a personal website, not a public. I thought netvibes was too overwhelming for me, too much information clamoring for my attention at once, rather confusing - but, very well in tune with our chaotic life style. For myself, I chose igoogle as a personal home page and intend to use it for some months to see how I like it. If I chose netvibes for a library webpage, I would link it to genealogy as the best overall coverage for any number of patrons, novice to experienced researchers. A library could link to this webpage from Plinkit and open up a tremendous resource for family researchers. Smartpage library virtual reference tool is fabulous. Linking to this site, one would almost be able to find anything! No wonder there is so much concern that libraries are being superceded.
At this point in my library career -- recently retired! -- I find the field changing so rapidly that I think the only way to catch up with it would be to return to school full time and study only internet resources. Or take a catch-up webinar like Beyond Two-Step. Thanks for the introductions!
For any of my non-librarian readers, I advise spending some time with the new tools being developed: www.netvibes.com, igoogle.com, pageflakes.com
Where Web 2.0 will end up, I have no idea. Prepare yourself for an overwhelmingly wild ride.
Netvibes and pageflakes are two customizable sites that can be used by libraries to provide comprehensive web coverage for patrons. Igoogle is a personal website, not a public. I thought netvibes was too overwhelming for me, too much information clamoring for my attention at once, rather confusing - but, very well in tune with our chaotic life style. For myself, I chose igoogle as a personal home page and intend to use it for some months to see how I like it. If I chose netvibes for a library webpage, I would link it to genealogy as the best overall coverage for any number of patrons, novice to experienced researchers. A library could link to this webpage from Plinkit and open up a tremendous resource for family researchers. Smartpage library virtual reference tool is fabulous. Linking to this site, one would almost be able to find anything! No wonder there is so much concern that libraries are being superceded.
At this point in my library career -- recently retired! -- I find the field changing so rapidly that I think the only way to catch up with it would be to return to school full time and study only internet resources. Or take a catch-up webinar like Beyond Two-Step. Thanks for the introductions!
For any of my non-librarian readers, I advise spending some time with the new tools being developed: www.netvibes.com, igoogle.com, pageflakes.com
Where Web 2.0 will end up, I have no idea. Prepare yourself for an overwhelmingly wild ride.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Netvibes as "A Game of Thrones"
Local history: One of the things the Gunter Library & Museum can contribute to the community is to begin an Obituary File of Gunter residents. Some research into past issues of the Herald-Democrat is needed to begin the historical files. A local volunteer who will begin to clip the current area newspapers can soon provide valuable information.
Books I'm currently reading: "A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. This is the first book in a series of seven. The second book is "A Clash of Kings" and the third is "A Storm of Swords." The author of this immensely popular series has been called "the American Tolkien" by Time magazine.
The series is even being adapted as a graphic novel. Looking at the sketches of characters in the graphic novel on my Kindle, I have decided that I want to read the graphic format, but I think I will finish reading the series first. I have my own images of the characters. After I complete the series, then I'll see how illustrator Tommy Patterson has interpreted them.
I think author George Martin has done a fine job of delineating his characters. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and also the geography of the lands seems to escape me. I presume the book itself has a map, but my Kindle version doesn't show the map. My favorite characters so far are Jon Snow and Arrya his half-sister, and brother Bran. A lot of characters seem to be losing their lives with a swish of the sword and I wonder what will happen to my favorites before the first book is finished.
While the epic fantasy may attract teen readers, the book definitely presents adult situations. There is a lot of violence also. When Hollywood makes a movie of it, they will have plenty of scope to classify it as R rated. Still, the series, as far as I have read it, is quite readable, a grand adventure, and, I presume, a quest will appear, although its outlines are vague at this point in my reading.
Step Two of the Beyond Two-Step Technology Training: I've been experimenting with netvibes as a webpage designer. So far I'm impressed with the comprehensiveness available when one starts adding gadgets and blogs and links. It is rather overwhelming to click on links and find them taking over the page you are designing. I've decided one must proceed cautiously in order not to open up the entire Pandora's box of the Internet at once. I added one link and found I'd drowned myself in more than 4000 connections. A disciplined approach is needed to maintain a useful design of the dashboard. I'll probably go back and delete the genealogy dashboard I've started and build it again one link at a time. I can see where this dashboard approach can help one design a useful and very thorough approach to a topic. Libraries and other entities can definitely make use of this technology. But my first experience with it left me feeling a little bit like the lion tamer in the cage without his whip. Or like the reader of the bewildering details and plot twists of "Game of Thrones." Next I'll have to try out the iGoogle technology and see which one I like the best.
Books I'm currently reading: "A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. This is the first book in a series of seven. The second book is "A Clash of Kings" and the third is "A Storm of Swords." The author of this immensely popular series has been called "the American Tolkien" by Time magazine.
The series is even being adapted as a graphic novel. Looking at the sketches of characters in the graphic novel on my Kindle, I have decided that I want to read the graphic format, but I think I will finish reading the series first. I have my own images of the characters. After I complete the series, then I'll see how illustrator Tommy Patterson has interpreted them.
I think author George Martin has done a fine job of delineating his characters. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and also the geography of the lands seems to escape me. I presume the book itself has a map, but my Kindle version doesn't show the map. My favorite characters so far are Jon Snow and Arrya his half-sister, and brother Bran. A lot of characters seem to be losing their lives with a swish of the sword and I wonder what will happen to my favorites before the first book is finished.
While the epic fantasy may attract teen readers, the book definitely presents adult situations. There is a lot of violence also. When Hollywood makes a movie of it, they will have plenty of scope to classify it as R rated. Still, the series, as far as I have read it, is quite readable, a grand adventure, and, I presume, a quest will appear, although its outlines are vague at this point in my reading.
Step Two of the Beyond Two-Step Technology Training: I've been experimenting with netvibes as a webpage designer. So far I'm impressed with the comprehensiveness available when one starts adding gadgets and blogs and links. It is rather overwhelming to click on links and find them taking over the page you are designing. I've decided one must proceed cautiously in order not to open up the entire Pandora's box of the Internet at once. I added one link and found I'd drowned myself in more than 4000 connections. A disciplined approach is needed to maintain a useful design of the dashboard. I'll probably go back and delete the genealogy dashboard I've started and build it again one link at a time. I can see where this dashboard approach can help one design a useful and very thorough approach to a topic. Libraries and other entities can definitely make use of this technology. But my first experience with it left me feeling a little bit like the lion tamer in the cage without his whip. Or like the reader of the bewildering details and plot twists of "Game of Thrones." Next I'll have to try out the iGoogle technology and see which one I like the best.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Local history: Gunter, Texas and more
While researching some Gunter local history, I visited the Gee library page and found some interesting reading about the Gunter family. Go to Northeast Texas Digital Collections at http://dmc.tamu-commerce.edu/cdm/
Type in Gunter as a search term and you will find the Historic Papers of Lillian Gunter. Lilian Gunter was responsible for the Library law that eventually created Texas library systems. She was Director of the Gainesville Library for many years. Within these scanned papers, you will find information about Jot Gunter and the rest of his family, as well as a history of the town of Gunter. The history of the Gunter family is excellent reading, including much about cowboy life and the large ranches of the Texas panhandle as well as Jot Gunter's ranch south-west of Sherman.
Take some time to explore other items in the Northeast Texas Digital Collections. You will find interesting items about Van Alstyne, Gainsville, and Sherman, including photos of prominent and not so prominent citizens. Thanks to the staff of the Gee Library at Commerce for the wonderful heirlooms they have digitized!
Type in Gunter as a search term and you will find the Historic Papers of Lillian Gunter. Lilian Gunter was responsible for the Library law that eventually created Texas library systems. She was Director of the Gainesville Library for many years. Within these scanned papers, you will find information about Jot Gunter and the rest of his family, as well as a history of the town of Gunter. The history of the Gunter family is excellent reading, including much about cowboy life and the large ranches of the Texas panhandle as well as Jot Gunter's ranch south-west of Sherman.
Take some time to explore other items in the Northeast Texas Digital Collections. You will find interesting items about Van Alstyne, Gainsville, and Sherman, including photos of prominent and not so prominent citizens. Thanks to the staff of the Gee Library at Commerce for the wonderful heirlooms they have digitized!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Adventuring on to post-two step!
Ok, So I'm still learning! Who thought I would quit just because I'm no longer getting paid for thinking, planning, and learning! I'm volunteering at my local tiny all-volunteer library on Tuesdays from 4:30 - 7:30. So far, no one much has discovered we're open on Tuesday evenings now, so I need to plan some activities to make people aware that Gunter Library and Museum is waiting to serve their information needs.
Thing One: A website that contributes community value by providing information not readily available elsewhere.
Thing Two: A website that provides opportunity for dialog with community members.
Step one is to start a website using the Plinkit template. Then I want to find some freebie sites to promote around town -- connecting through our website.
Ok, so I'm dreaming, hmmm? I have some ideas ... more about that later!!!!
First I need to finish learning the post two-step dance.
Thing One: A website that contributes community value by providing information not readily available elsewhere.
Thing Two: A website that provides opportunity for dialog with community members.
Step one is to start a website using the Plinkit template. Then I want to find some freebie sites to promote around town -- connecting through our website.
Ok, so I'm dreaming, hmmm? I have some ideas ... more about that later!!!!
First I need to finish learning the post two-step dance.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Retirement!
Retirement! I finally, actually, irrevocably retired from the directorship of the Van Alstyne Library on June 10, 2011! This was my 4th retirement date. As each one approached, I found I wasn't ready to give up the best job in the world yet. But this time, I actually went through with it. Two days after my retirement date, I became 69. There were other things I wanted to do with my life -- the rest of it. There are some books I want to write. I want to learn to paint. I want to do some house remodeling. I want to visit my grandkids and spend quality time with them. I want to travel with my husband. I have some serious gardening I want to do. I need to work on some family research. I want to volunteer at the Gunter Library and Museum -- just enough to keep me part of the library scene, not enough to tie me down. I want to have time to read books and attend the book discussion group I encouraged to start but seldom had time to attend. I want to explore some of the new gadgets that are being developed, like tablets and Ipads, and phone aps. That's just for starters!
For the rest, I want to change the focus of this blog. I want to link it as a book discussion group. Anyone want to join me? I'll start by talking about two books I've just read on my Kindle: The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch and Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt. Both are about women accused of witchcraft in medieval times. The Daughters of the Witching Hill was based on actual historical accounts of trials and deaths of seven women and two men from Pendle Forest in England in 1612. Belief in familiar spirits, charms and chants from the Catholic religion outlawed by the English Reformation, folk magic, and the attitudes of people from this area and time, all are convincingly presented in the life of Elizabeth Southerns and her family in this book. I understand a lot more about a puzzling phenomenon in history because I read this story. It was well plotted and well written and held my interest throughout.
The Hangman's Daughter approaches the subject differently. The author is writing about his own ancestors. He is a descendant of the Kuisl family which plays the major part in the story. The setting is Schongau, Bavaria, shortly after the Schongau witch trials of 1589. The author reminds us the story is a novel, not a scholarly thesis, but has tried to stick to facts as much as possible. The story centers around the town hangman and his family who not only dispatches torture and death, but also healing with herbs and potions. A woman is accused of witchcraft by townspeople for dispensing similar herbs and potions, and because children who like to visit her home are dying. The hangman believes she is innocent of witchcraft, but must follow his trade of torture to make her confess before the town is visited by the authority who will open up a devastating investigation of witchcraft similar to that in 1589. The characters are well described and interesting. The "devil" in the story is depicted with almost super powers, as is the hangman. The twists in the plot maintain interest. Contrasting the attitudes of characters in both novels, it is interesting to see how the accusations of witchcraft build in intensity in two different countries and situations within 30 years. The first story ends unhappily but the second has a more encouraging ending.
A follow-up reading about the Salem witch trials would be interesting.
For the rest, I want to change the focus of this blog. I want to link it as a book discussion group. Anyone want to join me? I'll start by talking about two books I've just read on my Kindle: The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Potzsch and Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt. Both are about women accused of witchcraft in medieval times. The Daughters of the Witching Hill was based on actual historical accounts of trials and deaths of seven women and two men from Pendle Forest in England in 1612. Belief in familiar spirits, charms and chants from the Catholic religion outlawed by the English Reformation, folk magic, and the attitudes of people from this area and time, all are convincingly presented in the life of Elizabeth Southerns and her family in this book. I understand a lot more about a puzzling phenomenon in history because I read this story. It was well plotted and well written and held my interest throughout.
The Hangman's Daughter approaches the subject differently. The author is writing about his own ancestors. He is a descendant of the Kuisl family which plays the major part in the story. The setting is Schongau, Bavaria, shortly after the Schongau witch trials of 1589. The author reminds us the story is a novel, not a scholarly thesis, but has tried to stick to facts as much as possible. The story centers around the town hangman and his family who not only dispatches torture and death, but also healing with herbs and potions. A woman is accused of witchcraft by townspeople for dispensing similar herbs and potions, and because children who like to visit her home are dying. The hangman believes she is innocent of witchcraft, but must follow his trade of torture to make her confess before the town is visited by the authority who will open up a devastating investigation of witchcraft similar to that in 1589. The characters are well described and interesting. The "devil" in the story is depicted with almost super powers, as is the hangman. The twists in the plot maintain interest. Contrasting the attitudes of characters in both novels, it is interesting to see how the accusations of witchcraft build in intensity in two different countries and situations within 30 years. The first story ends unhappily but the second has a more encouraging ending.
A follow-up reading about the Salem witch trials would be interesting.
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