Nevermore: Broadchurch, Sociopath, First Ladies, Appalachian Railroads, Spool of Blue Thread, 4th of July Creek

Reported by Candess and Ambrea

This week in Nevermore, members explored a variety of books, including Broadchurch by Erin Kelly and Confessions of a Sociopath by M.E. Thomas.

Broadchurch was first on the roster.  Based on the 2013 television series of the same name, Broadchurch follows the story of Ellie Miller as she investigations the murder of an eleven-year-old boy found on the beach, the son of one of her dearest friends.  Between dealing with the buried secrets of her small Dorset town and the sudden appearance of a disreputable Scottish detective, Alec Hardy, Ellie deals with her own sense of loss and struggles to discover the murder before it’s too late.  Our Nevermore reader considered it “very good,” engrossing and intriguing like the television show.

Likewise, our other Nevermore reader found Confessions of a Sociopath:  A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight to be an interesting journey.  Part memoir and part psychological exploration, M.E. Thomas’s novel details how the author deals with her disability and, more importantly, thrives despite it.  Our Nevermore reader called it, “Very interesting” - and worth reading if one is interested in uncovering the characteristics of a sociopath.

Another book our Nevermore reader read was First Ladies: Presidential Historians on the lives of 45 Iconic Women by Susan Swain (and C-SPAN).  Based on a series of episodes by C-SPAN in which preeminent historians and biographers discussed the lives of the presidential first ladies, First Ladies  dives deeper into the world of the president’s wives - their dreams, deeds, aspirations, and efforts - and exploring these “fascinating women who survived the scrutiny of the White House, sometimes at great personal cost, while supporting their families and famous husbands - and sometimes changing history.”  Nevermore readers gave it a very positive review, saying it was definitely worth reading, especially if one enjoys history.

Conquering the Appalachians by Mary Hattan Bogart followed next.  Bogart’s book chronicled the construction of the Western Maryland Railway and the Clinchfield Railroad as it went over, around, and even through the Appalachian Mountains.  Based on the journals, records, and photographs of William Cary Hattan, the civil engineer who built large portions of these railroads, Conquering the Appalachians is an up-close and personal look at the individuals who built these railroads and the impact they had on the regiion.  According to our Nevermore reader, “We should never discard these books!  Put them in the young adult section so that our young people have an idea of the history of the railroads and what it meant to our county!”

Last but not least, A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler was discussed.  According to our Nevermore reader, it was absolutely wonderful.  Following the lives of the Whitshanks, all four generations of them, A Spool of Blue Thread chronicles family life - the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, the secrets and the shared memories - at its worst and at its best.

One of our Nevermore mentioned 4th of July Creek by Smith Hendrson, in which social worker Pete Snow becomes involved in the case of an eleven-year-old boy, nearly feral from neglect, and his survivalist father, and called it an interesting read.  Although still working on reading this book, our reader received great praise from a family member who claimed, “There is an astounding, life-changing ending” to uncover.

Train: riding the rails that created the modern world : from the Trans-Siberian to the Southwest Chief by Tom Zoellner

Train, by Tom Zoellner.  New York: Viking, 2014.  346 pages.  

Reviewed by William Wade

Reading Train by Tom Zoellner has given me a fresh appreciation of our Bristol train station.   It is indeed a treasure, and we should all feel a deep sense of gratitude for those who worked to bring about its restoration some years ago.  In a spirit of whimsy I feel the only thing lacking at the station is a sign across the front door that reads “Passenger service suspended indefinitely.”

Both the train station and Zoellner’s book are nostalgic reminders of train travel that was possible in America in the early 20^th century.  And for those of you too young to remember what it was like to go by rail I feel a sense of empathetic regret.  For most of us travel today is a choice between the automobile and by air. It’s a hassle either way.  If you choose the former, you subject yourself to wrestling with the eighteen wheel behemoths of our interstates; choose the latter and you must arrive two hours early at the airport, subject yourself and baggage to scrutiny, and fit yourself into a seat that a sardine would find unacceptable.

By contrast, travel by rail was a relaxed adventure. The station was in the center of town, and tickets were purchased immediately before departure.  The train was at hand, its engine snorting steam and smoke, panting with impatience for the trip ahead.  Entering your car, you found the seats were spacious and comfortable, and your window provided a constantly changing panorama of the passing landscape.  No wonder rail fans seek a return to a more civilized and gracious form of travel.

Each chapter of Zoellner’s book provides a vintage ride in an attractive setting.  You can choose a tour of the English countryside, a trip across America from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a ride on the new Chinese rail line to the heights of Tibet, or a high speed run in Spain on the vaunted Alta Velocidad Española.  For each Zoellner is your companion, providing you with historical commentary on how these lines were built, the sites to be seen, and all kinds of interesting tidbits that add to the pleasure.

You can read just those chapters that appeal to you.  But if you are a true rail fan you’re likely to take in the whole book.  I read first the chapters that dealt with American rail and found that it brought back many happy memories of past trips that were in the deep recesses of my brain.  Whichever you choose, I suggest you get Zoellner’s book from the library, take it home and find a chair that’s good and comfortable.  Relax. Begin to read and imagine that you are taking one of the trips laid out in the book.  Happy travel times!