Book Review

A History Lover’s Guide To Lincoln By Gretchen M. Garrison

To facilitate my review, I was provided a copy of her book: A History Lover’s Guide To Lincoln by Gretchen M. Garrison. All thoughts are 100 % honest and my own.

Lincoln, Nebraska, is Gretchen’s hometown. She has done an outstanding job of telling the history of Lincoln. I am very impressed with her book as it means the vast history of Lincoln. I could not lay the book down once I started to read it. I love reading history books and knowing what buildings used to be years ago. I love the pictures she included in her book, as you can see the great pride people took in constructing their buildings years ago.

Lincoln, Nebraska, was initially known as Lancaster. The salt flats in Lancaster elevated the village to capital status. In 1867 the first lot sold for 25 cents in Lincoln, and the next day, the lots were selling for $40.00 to $150.00 a lot. Lincoln’s population increased over the years. The people started with 30 settlers to a city of 300,000.

The History of The Buildings In Lincoln

I love the fact that a lot of the buildings in Lincoln have been re-purposed. Different businesses have gone into the buildings over the years. The second floors of a lot of the buildings are now apartments. I wouldn’t say I like it when they tear down historic buildings. Some of the buildings in Lincoln have been a family business for many years and are still operating as they were years ago. Leon’s is still in business, selling items as they have for many years. The first thing I do when I go into an old store that I am impressed with is to ask them about the history of the building over the years. Pershing Auditorium opened in 1958. Johnny Carsen and Stecher-Horowitz were duo pianists. General Pershing’s hometown was Lincoln. Charles Lindbergh went to the Nebraska Standard Flying School. Because he went to Flying School in Lincoln, he could move on to more aviation experiences. Lincoln National Bank was robbed, and the robbers took off with a sizable amount of cash and bonds, even by today’s standards. Learn more about the robbery in the book. Gene Bedient started the Bedient Pipe Organ Company in 1969. The masterpiece Bedient organs are in many Lincoln churches. I loved reading about the history of the churches and schools in Lincoln. Churches and schools help build and hold a community together.

I highly recommend reading A History Lover’s Guide To Lincoln by Gretchen M. Garrison. You can purchase A History Lover’s Guide To Lincoln on Amazon .com. Click on my link above.

The Long Way Around By Douglas Cavanaugh Book Review

Douglas Cavanaugh gave me a copy of The Long Way Around to facilitate my review. All thoughts are 100 % honest and my own.

The Long Way Around takes place in rural Iowa and can be purchased at Amazon.Com. A nice young man named Ryan is raised by his Grandfather after his parents die. His Grandfather was in World War 2 and won a purple heart. I love how the author tells about the war experiences of his Grandfather. I have read many World War 2 books in my lifetime, and the author has mastered the affairs of the young man’s Grandfather. The Long Way Around is a novel, but I consider it historical fiction at its best.

I have lived in rural Iowa all of my life, and the author grew up in Iowa. I have been to almost every town the author mentioned in the book, and how he says the villages is how I remember them. He mentions the different roads you take to the other towns in Iowa and what the towns have going for them. My parents and I traveled to these towns, and the book brings back wonderful childhood memories of each city.

The young man’s Grandfather is a master deer hunter who teaches his Grandson the art of skill. I have read Field and Stream magazines, and the deer hunting experiences are spot on. Ryan goes hunting on the grounds of one of his Grandfather’s war buddies. Ryan fell out of his tree stand, suffered terrible injuries, and had a long road to recovery. His Grandfather and friends were by his side during his recovery. Ryan’s Grandfather also teaches Ryan what he needs to know later on in life to succeed. Ryan’s Grandfather died, and Ryan missed him immensely.

Ryan travels and leaves Iowa for a while. He has adventures when he is gone and makes new friends along the way. Ryan decides to come back home and live on his Grandfather’s farm. His girlfriend he had in high school has something to tell him that he is glad to know. Ryan is going to be a Father. He marries the love of his life, and they go to college and have successful careers. They have a wonderful family and are blessed with a beautiful life.

I would highly recommend reading this well-written and thought-out book. The Long Way Around can also be purchased at goodreads.com. The towns in Iowa came to life as I read the book.