Looking into the case on Jack the Ripper as well as into the mind of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes

Written by a father and son team of doctors, this isn't your usual look at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.  This is a look Doyle and his fascination - possibly obsession - with Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders.

In the spring of 1905, Doyle was one of a group that was taken on a tour of the Jack the Ripper murder sites guided by the chief police surgeon for London, Doctor Frederick Gordon Brown.  This book recreates this tour, but instead of Doctor Brown, the guide is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, adding his observations and opinions to the tour, all of which are based on the actual historical accounts.

In addition to being a very detailed look into the murders committed by Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel District as it was between 1888 - 1910, there is also a great deal you learn about the youth and upbringing of Doyle.  Part true crime examination, part historical guide to the Whitechapel District and part biography, the book unearths quite a lot of information that has not all been gathered in one volume before.  Most intriguing is the possible identity of Jack the Ripper himself as put forward as a theory to consider by the authors.

New Knit and Crochet Projects

We have recently received some very nice knitting and crocheting books here at the library. They involve projects such as hats, socks, cowls, shawls, and pillows. Now, I'm no knitter, but I do like to crochet a little bit and these books provide easy projects that are small enough not to be daunting and large enough to give you all the practice you want.

The first book is One + One Wraps, Cowls & Capelets by Iris Schreier. This book features twenty-nine knitting projects that use just two skeins of yarn. These versatile wardrobe staples range in yarns and techniques. The fifteen selected designers showcase projects for warm and cold weather, classic and trendy styles. The patterns included here range from the feminine 'Lacy Cape' which is worked in the round to make it completely seamless; to the 'Textured Reversible Cowl' that is sure to keep you toasty in winter. Each project lists the materials, tools, gauge and finished measurements, as well as, the skill level needed to complete it. So, if you are a beginner, you may want to try the 'Triangle Lace Shawl' or the 'Star Stitch Shoulder Wrap.'

The next book is entitled, happyfeet: unique knits to knock your socks off by Cathy Carron. The author offers her own twists on socks, slippers, legwarmers, knee-highs, and much more in this collection of more than forty designs. There are socks with pom poms; socks with pockets; petite slipper socks; and creative holiday-themed socks. Want a retro look? Try one of several styles of leg warmers. There is even a pattern for fuzzy slippers that uses flip flop soles to add structure. You may even want to tackle the snuggly sack to keep your feet and legs cozy while you're lounging around on a cold day. Cathy Carron includes supply lists and detailed instructions for each of her projects as well as rating how difficult each one may be. She also illustrates the stitches used in this book in a section in the back.

Crocheted animal hats is by Vanessa Mooncie and it is subtitled "15 Patterns to Hook and Show Off." These fifteen projects are the leopard, frog, raccoon, deer, sheep, parrot, zebra, duck, tiger, husky, bear, pig, giraffe, owl, and rabbit. My personal favorites are the husky, giraffe, and the owl. These are cute projects for you to crochet for yourself or perhaps a child--the author gives instructions for both sizes. Each cozy hat has the same basic shape, including ear flaps to keep you nice and toasty on a cold day. The author gives detailed stitching instructions for each hat as well as explaining how to line each one with fabric. She also goes over the basic crocheting techniques you will need to complete your projects.

The final book I'll cover here is Crocheted Pillows by Susie Johns. This books covers projects that the beginning crocheter will probably find a bit less daunting than the more intricate hats of the

above book. To begin, this book describes the materials you will need, demonstrates the techniques that will be used, and how to add seams, fastenings, and buttons. The author covers round pillows, square pillows, bolsters, chair cushions, a pincushion, and even a pillow shaped like a chicken! Each pattern is detailed and includes a vibrant photograph to show the finished project. Also included in this slim book is a reference page with hook and yarn conversions along with a key for the abbreviations used in the book. There is also a template for the Ball-shaped pillow found on pages 30-33.
These four lovely books are just what you need to improve your skills in yarn-craft and to create unique gifts for family and friends. Check out these, and other fiber craft books, here at the library. They can all be found in the non-fiction section under the Dewey Decimal number 746.

A Look Back at the Stories Behind Classic Hollywood Tabloid News

An interesting new addition to our Large Type collection is 'Scandals of Classic Hollywood : Sex, Deviance, and Drama from the Golden Age of American Cinema' by Anne Helen Petersen.

The book has fourteen chapters, each devoted to a different celebrity or scandal. Stars of the silent screen such as Rudolph Valentino and Clara Bow (The 'It' Girl), early talking film stars and stars like Marlon Brando that started in black and white films and survived the transition to color.

Not just a collection of clippings from gossip columns, the stories include what was happening in politics, history and Hollywood, informing about the time and place as well as the events - some not so scandalous by today's standards, but shocking and, in some cases, career ending in their day.

Two Beautiful & Atmospheric Movies on DVD

I've had some time off recently and I've been able to watch some of our newest movies--two of which stand out more than the others. Calvary from Fox Searchlight Pictures and The Calling from Sony Entertainment Networks. Both of these haunting films have the element of mystery to them, but they are very much character driven stories.

Calvary begins with Father James--played by Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter Series)--listening to confession of the congregants of his small Irish town. Father James is a widower and former alcoholic who joined the priesthood after the death of his beloved wife. A man enters the confessional and tells Father James that in a week's time, he is going to kill the priest. The mysterious man gives the Father one week to get his affairs in order and tells him that the reason he is to die is because the would-be murderer was sexually abused by a priest when he was a boy. The murderer goes on to say that no one cares if a bad priest is killed, so he has chosen Father James precisely because he is a good man and priest. Even with this threat over his head, the priest must take care of his congregation as well as his emotionally fragile daughter who has come from London for a visit. Father James deduces who this man is, but the audience doesn't get to know until the next-to-last scene of the movie. Will the murderer go through with his plan? Will Father James flee or will he stay to take care of his flock? Some of the scenes and characters in this movie are hard to watch, but if you can stand a bit of cursing, some grit and gore (not too much), then you may just enjoy this darkly comedic tale of religion and faith and what it means to face your own Calvary.

The Calling stars Susan Sarandon as Hazel Micallef. She is a detective in a small Canadian town who has a drug and alcohol problem stemming from an accident that left her with severe back pain. The same accident took the life of her unborn baby, so, understandably, she is not the most religious or faithful person. When she goes to check on an elderly citizen, she finds the woman murdered in an unusual fashion. Soon, another murder takes place; this one looks like suicide, but there are a few similarities. Micallef's long suffering partner--played by Gil Bellows--and a rookie cop (Topher Grace), who has transferred from the city, are finding victims of a serial killer who is crossing Canada and whose modus operandi includes elements of a Christian mystical prayer that is supposed to raise the dead. The audience learns who the killer is about halfway through, but the reasons for the killings remains a mystery. This movie is beautifully rendered. The bleak landscape of the Canadian winter is an apropos backdrop for this atmospheric mystery/thriller.

If you are a fan of atmospheric mysteries, then you may enjoy both of these movies as much as I did.

New Books on World Wars I and II

Recent additions to our Adult Nonfiction collection cover stories behind the scenes of two different World Wars.

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The conflict that would eventually be come to known as World War I was entering its tenth month when the luxury ocean liner Lusitania departed from New York on the way to Liverpool, England.  On board were nearly 2,000 people, including crew and 1,265 passengers.  The passenger list included an unusually large number of children (95) and infants (39) due to a number of English families wanting to return to their homes as quickly as possible with England's possible entry into the conflict looming.  The fastest ship that was still civilian, the speed and size of the Lusitania made the passengers feel they would be safe.

In Dead Wake : The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, author Erik Larson opens a window up back to the past, putting people and names in the place of the numbers in the history books as well as showing how spectacularly Germany's intent to end the war only served to draw both England and the United States into it - with a vengeance

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While many people have heard the story of how King Edward VIII gave up the throne and became the Duke of Windsor in order to marry a twice-divorced American woman named Wallis Simpson, fewer have heard the story about the relationship between Edward and Hitler.

17 Carnations, by Andrew Morton, takes a look at a part of history that has largely been either ignored or covered up - Hitler's hopes to conquer England and restore Edward to the English throne as a puppet ruler under his direction.

Following Edward from his days as the prince who was the handsome darling of the British Empire to the aftermath following the end of World War II, it is an intriguing look into the life of a man who was born into a position that seemed to put him constantly at odds with himself and his family.

Could You Live in a Tiny House?

Recently, I have read a lot of material about the "Tiny House Movement." Basically, people either build or buy tiny houses--usually movable on a trailer of some kind--to reduce their bills as well as their footprint on the planet. Most are quite small, less than 700 square feet and people can get mighty creative with their tiny spaces! There is usually a loft with a ladder or perhaps some stairs with storage underneath, a tiny kitchen, and most, but not all, have a bathroom with a composting toilet. I've even seen a tiny house with a hot tub attached! These little cabins can be heated and cooled cheaply and families find themselves in very close quarters; which makes for lots of family time!
I have often wondered why someone would want to move into such a small space and give up the creature comforts that a larger home can afford. The truth is that those reasons vary as much as the people who build tiny houses. While reducing costs and impact on the planet seem to be common reasons, a sense of adventure and being able to take your home all over the country with you seem to be pretty popular reasons, too. Another reason is a sense of accomplishment. How many of us in today's world can say that we built our own home with our own hands?

In The Big Tiny: a Build-It-Myself Memoir, author Dee Williams tells the story of how she went from a money-pit of a house with a mortgage to building her own tiny house that she can park in her friends back yard. Dee's life changed in a moment when she had a near death experience at a local grocery store. She was only forty-two at the time and the doctors diagnosed her with a heart condition. Her major health scare made her take stock of her life and how she wanted to live it. She was reminded that life is short and time is precious, and she wanted to spend hers with the people and things she truly loved.
Even though she had painstakingly restored a sprawling house in the Pacific Northwest, Dee realized that the mortgage payments, constant repairs, top notch appliances, and extra rooms could not compare with the financial freedom and the ultimate luxury of time that you get when you downsize. She decided to build her own house from the ground up. Building this eighty-four-square-foot house own her own was just the beginning of her new life. Dee can now list everything she owns on a single sheet of paper, her monthly upkeep is about eight dollars, and it only takes her ten minutes to clean the entire house. She now has the time to spend with her friends and family, she has the freedom to take off on an adventure at a moment's notice, or she can simply drink a beer and watch the sunset on her tiny front porch.

This book is more memoir and less how-to when it comes to tiny house-building. The library only has the Large Print version of this book and there are only a very few black-and-white photographs, but they give you a good idea of how small Dee Williams lives. If, however, you enjoy books about how life-changing moments send people down new paths, then this is certainly a book you would enjoy.
If you would like to find out about building your own tiny house, there are several blogs that do a good job: thesmallhousecatalog.com, www.tinyhousedesign.com, and tinyhouseblog.com. The library also has small house plans as well as books on building houses, plumbing, wiring, and other DIY projects that may inspire you to build your own tiny house.

Remembering When the Local Stores were the Center of the Community

A recent addition to our collection is Country Stores of Mississippi by June Davis Davidson, a resident of Mississippi for over 50 years.

Inside is a collection of images, stories and, in some cases, addresses to the country stores that are still open.  Some have become antique stores, restaurants, and even museums but still show signs of their past lives from when they were the cornerstones of their communities.  The stores are grouped by county.  Both entries for Warren County are located in Bovina : Buck's General Store and The Old Store.

Looking through the book, the photographs and stories of the local stores  that have been gathered by Davidson are enjoyable reading as well as an interesting lesson in local history.

Two New Woodworking Titles

Vicksburg is considered a retirement community and we get a lot of retirees visiting our library. Many are looking for hobby books to keep their minds sharp and their hands busy. From time to time, I get a retired gentleman (and sometimes a lady) who would like to learn more about crafting their own furniture. It just so happens that we have recently received two books on the subject from the editors of Fine Woodworking Magazine.

The first of these is titled: Fine Woodworking: Tables and Chairs. While most of these projects seem to require quite a bit of knowledge of woodworking, the editors believe that even beginners will find a project to help increase their skill as well as be able to build a piece of furniture to pass down to future generations. One of the first projects in this book is a sleek Mahogany coffee table with beautifully curved legs. Other projects include a Bow-front hall table, classic Shaker dining room table, 18th-century corner chair, and a simple and elegant bench. Designed by some of America's best woodworkers, these projects cover a broad range of styles and ensure that you will find something for your taste.

The second title we have is Fine Woodworking: Chests and Cabinets. This collection of chests, cabinets, and other storage projects takes you through the process of building beautiful pieces of furniture using clear instructions and comprehensive photos and drawings. Whether you love the classic Shaker style or lean more toward a modern look, you will certainly find something to inspire you. Some of the projects in this book are: an Arts and Crafts display cabinet, a cherry and fir bookcase, a Victorian-inspired vanity cabinet, and a Shaker chest of drawers. I think my favorite project is the Pennsylvania Spice Box. This adorable chest would be perfect to pass down to future generations.

 

Both books index their projects and offer a brief bit of information on the various contributors. They both also give information about connecting with Fine Woodworking Magazine online. If you would like to check out these or other books on woodworking projects, please come to the library and look in the non-fiction section using the number 684 to find other ideas to inspire your hobby.

Jamaica - The Real Location That Spawned a Fictional Legend

Ian Fleming first set foot on Jamaican soil in 1943 during World War II as Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence, sent to assist in the problem of German U-boats sinking shipping vessels in the Carribean.



After the war had ended, he returned and, for eighteen years from 1946 until his death, Ian Fleming spent two months each year at Goldeneye - his home built overlooking a small white sand beach on Jamaica's north coast.  It was during these months that all of the James Bond novels and stories were written.



While quite a few of the Bond stories had Jamaica as the setting, the influence of the area - the music, the people, his circle of friends - can be felt throughout the series including the creation of the character of Bond himself.



Matthew Parker mixes Jamaican history and culture with the times and circumstances that shaped Ian Fleming's viewpoints.  He not only covers the life of Mr. Fleming following the war, but the decline of the British Empire and the effects that had on Jamaica as one of the remaining outposts of that Empire.  He also covers not only the Bond stories but also the films that were made from them.  Both Sean Connery and Roger Moore took their first turns as Bond on Jamaica, with Roger Moore actually visiting Fleming's Goldeneye while on Jamaica to film 'Live and Let Die'.



Part Fleming biography, part study of the genesis of James Bond and part Jamaican tour guide of days past, Parker's book appeals on many fronts, but will likely be most interesting to fans of 007 lore.

Two Beautiful Photography Collections

We don't get a great many photography collections here at the library, but two new collections we have just received are Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences by Matthew Christopher and American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart edited by Katherine E. Delmez for the First Center for the Visual Arts Vanderbilt University Press. Both of these books contain beautiful photos and brief explanations of the history of the pictures.

In, Abandoned America, the author gives us a glimpse of what happens when man-made structures are left to weather the ravages of time without humans to keep them in top shape. These beautiful and eerie photographs include old schools, hospitals, theaters, factories, and churches. Slowly, everything returns to the Earth. Plaster walls crumble and tumble to the floor. Ceilings cave in and allow the wind and rain to wear down the interior of buildings. Machinery, too, rusts and falls victim to the ravages of weather and time. All manner of creatures come in and make themselves at home in the ruins of once-splendid architecture. As you can see below, these haunted photos give a a glimpse at what a post-human world would look like.

The other book of photographs, American Ballads, is a collection from country music legend, Marty Stuart.

This collection is introduced by Stuart himself. After a brief history of Stuart, his career in music and his love of photography, readers are given three distinct sections of photographs to ogle. The first section is entitled "The Masters" and includes photographs and portraits of some of the most famous names in music; especially Country Music. There are portraits of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Bill Monroe, George Jones, and Jerry Lee Lewis to name a few.

The next section is called "Blue Line Hotshots" and includes photos of every day folks from all over small-town America. These are the unsung heroes of the truck stops, county fairs, and everyday life in what some call the "fly-over states."

The final section is named "Badlands" and it contains photographs from the native peoples of South Dakota. These photos were taken over many years and many trips to visit the Pine Ridge Reservation and the Lakota.

These photos are sometimes whimsical, sometimes pensive, but all of them evoke the emotion of the subjects being photographed.