Jim Barker book now available
• Roxie Faulkner Kirk has also published a book
July 10, 2019
At the Alva First Friday Art Walk last week, Patty Barker greeted me with a big smile, “I have good news.” She said she promised her husband, the late Jim Barker, that she would get his books published. The first book is now published. I found it on Amazon by searching for Jim Barker.
“Old Alva and Woods County” is a collection of Jim’s columns published in the Alva Review-Courier. Although Jim was primarily a sports reporter for the paper, his columns covered a wide range of topics including a lot of stories about the history of Alva. If you grew up in the county, live in the county or have ties here, you’d probably enjoy this publication.
Here’s how Amazon describes it: Jim Barker has created an informal, fun, and informative collection of historical stories from columns originally written for Alva’s local newspaper. In his own words, “it was not my original intent to write a collection of history articles to be edited in book form, but as I delved further and further into the early history of Alva and Woods County, I learned more and more that I had not previously known. I reasoned then that the same might be true for many people presently living in the county.” The book does not aspire to chronicle the area’s past in its entirety. Instead, Jim wonderfully recounts events as "a series of vignettes loosely arranged in chronological order" instead of as a "complete and unabridged history of Alva and Woods County." This easy-to-read book incorporates information from many written sources, some personal knowledge and experiences, interviews, and even statements from acquaintances who possessed some unique bit of knowledge that would otherwise be forever lost.
Patty said another of Jim’s books is in the works and nearly finished. Hopefully we can look forward to its publication soon. Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to the arrival of the paperback copy of Jim’s first book.
Another Author from Alva
Monday I received a note from Alva native Roxie Faulkner Kirk who will be in Enid this Saturday, July 13, to sign copies of her new book, “The Red Dirt Hymnbook.” From 1 to 3 p.m. she’ll be at the Putnam 6 Bookstore, 610 S. Cleveland, Suite 212. “This book is a thriller, a wry and funny self-discovery journey, and a commentary on faith in everyday life. But mostly, it’s a love-letter to Cedar Grove and Alva and all things Woods County,” according to Kirk.
She promises a future book signing in Alva. I haven’t read the book yet but look forward to doing so. You can connect with her at http://www.roxiefaulknerkirk.com.
Summer is for Reading
On the subject of reading, as a youngster I looked forward to summer for the chance to get out and have fun. But it was also a great time to enjoy the books I wanted to read instead of those assigned as homework. In addition to my favorite mystery category, I’ve been reading books that explore relationships among friends and families.
In case you’re looking for a interesting book, here’s a list of four I’ve found entertaining and thought-provoking recently. Three are fiction and one is a memoir.
Where the Crawdads Sing
My daughter occasionally suggests books, and she recommended this one by Delia Owens earlier this year. My granddaughter also read and enjoyed it. This is Delia Owens’ first book, and I hope she’ll continue to write.
The book is set in the salt flats of North Carolina where the “Marsh Girl” grows up with no formal schooling but with a deep knowledge of the marsh. As her family members leave, she is left to survive alone. When a man for down is found dead, locals blame her.
Here’s part of the online description: Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.
Educated: A Memoir
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live “off the grid,” this book by Tara Westover provides an unforgettable view. Westover was kept out of school by her survivalist family but overcame numerous obstacles to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.
Here’s how it’s described online: Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.
Someone Knows
Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite writers in the mystery genre. Her books are usually about some female lawyers who find themselves embroiled in cases with a twist. This book is a complete departure from the usual. It explores how a single secret can affect a group of friends and their families over the years.
Here’s the description: Allie Garvey is heading home to the funeral of a childhood friend. Allie is not only grief-stricken, she's full of dread. Because going home means seeing the other two people with whom she shares an unbearable secret.
Twenty years earlier, a horrific incident shattered the lives of five teenagers, including Allie. Drinking and partying in the woods, they played a dangerous prank that went tragically wrong, turning deadly. The teenagers kept what happened a secret, believing that getting caught would be the worst thing that could happen. But time has taught Allie otherwise. Not getting caught was far worse.
Summer of ’69
I chose this book because 1969 was quite a year. That’s when we moved to Alva as the new owners of KALV. It’s also the year of the first moon walk. The Vietnam War was in the news along with protests against it. Author Elin Hilderbrand chose the year because it’s when she and her twin brother were born, the day after the moon walk.
This historical novel by a bestselling author is the story of a family living through this time of unrest, accomplishment and change.
Here’s more about the book: Four siblings experience the drama, intrigue, and upheaval of a summer when everything changed. Welcome to the most tumultuous summer of the 20th century. It's 1969, and for the Levin family, the times they are a-changing.
Every year the children have looked forward to spending the summer at their grandmother's historic home in downtown Nantucket. But like so much else in America, nothing is the same. As the summer heats up, Ted Kennedy sinks a car in Chappaquiddick, man flies to the moon, and Jessie and her family experience their own dramatic upheavals along with the rest of the country.
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