Category Archives: historical

Review The Broken Violin By M.B. Tosi

Review The Broken Violin – Book One The Early Path Series The Revolutionary War  by M.B. Tosi

Westbow Press 2017

 

My sleep was invaded, peace gone. I wrestled with the blankets and couldn’t find comfort. I rose to a state of semi-consciousness in a tangle of blankets. A hint of the scent of straw lingered. When I became fully awake I realized, it was not my struggle, the book The Broken Violin and the character Abigail Bosworth had me so captivated that I was living her struggle in my sleep.  It has been a long time since a book so captured my interest that leaving the character in a tough position because I had to sleep only left my mind to wrestle with it on its own. Morning was upon me, but so was work and the book and Abigail would have to wait.

What better recommendation can I give a book than to share my story of how it caught me by surprise. The historical fiction tale was well written and placed in a not so often discussed part of the American Revolution. The story highlights the Native American desire to protect their homeland and the subsequent allegiance with the British in the Rev War. The main characters are well defined and realistic. The scenes as the story moves from Philadelphia to rural New York and on to Ottawa are descriptive. My only question of the content is the travel timelines of the story. As part of an equestrian family my knowledge is probably more tuned in to that than most readers. These moments caused me brief pause for thought but were not a detraction from the epic telling of a very human story of greed and giving, struggle, self-inspection, life as an outsider and finding one’s place.

I highly recommend this book. High school history teachers will find this a good read to inform students of the human condition during the war. The book will provide ample discussion of varied perspectives and points of history for classrooms. As this is first in a series I look forward to further reading when the next books in the Early Path Series are released.

 

Review of Pirates; The Pursuit and Captivity of Captain Jack Scarfield

It has been a long time since I read this kind of story, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was surprised at the outcome and stayed up late reading to see the characters through their battles. There was no attempt to hide the gruesome nature of the time in history when pirates were the scourge of… Continue Reading

3 Reasons to Attend Connecticut Storytelling Festival

Only three reasons? It is hard for me to choose three reasons to attend the Connecticut Storytelling Festival, but here I go. http://www.connstorycenter.org/festival.htm 1.) 2016 Festival Headliner Tim Lowry; is funny, interesting, educational, and a general character, a historical speaker bringing history to life! http://www.storytellertimlowry.com/ Well that is a mouthful, but you will see Tim… Continue Reading

Prompt July 4 Family Stories

 July 4th and you are planning a picnic. Nothing newsworthy just some family and friends coming over. This year make it special,  collect a few memories from your guests. Ask ahead for a couple of favorite recipes to prepare and share. Be sure everyone gets a copy of the recipe to take home. Then ask for the story behind… Continue Reading

50 Objects 50 Stories, Connecticut Historical Society

  Connecticut Historical Society had a great idea! They have a new exhibit that highlights 50 varied objects from Connecticut, along with the story of the object. The objects themselves are a varied lot, they range from a Space Suit to a Revolutionary period diary of State Hero Nathan Hale and on to a Pepe’s… Continue Reading

Ancestors at Sea

Did your ancestors work  the sea? What immigrant ship did your ancestors arrive on?  Tell family stories with accuracy to detail, with a visit to a nautical museum or website. Here are some places to begin your voyage of discovery, the family stories from the sea. The whale boat above, is an image from Mystic Seaport,… Continue Reading

What Does Your Family Sound Like?

Every family has a certain playlist. That constant background music or noise that is seldom acknowledged. When I was a teen I babysat for a family, it was a no TV house, the constant background there was classical music piped softly to every room. It was a serene household, but I always had to fight… Continue Reading

Ties to a Shipyard Story

Allen, that is a family name, my Paternal Grandmother was Pauline Allen Marshall. She was from Port Greville, Nova Scotia Canada.  Here she is as a young woman in Rye New Hampshire.   She came to the United States as a young teen to work in the Amoskeag Mills in Manchester, NH. Allen is an… Continue Reading

Revolutionary Family Stories

From “The British are coming , the British are coming”, to  “We the people”, the time of the American Revolution spun a great many family stories. Some of the names, faces and characters are well known from our history lessons. Many are unknown and buried in  a couple of centuries of dust.      To unearth… Continue Reading

The Patriot Gave Everything – Focus on Family Stories

Are you aware of the thousands who died for the cause of America, not in battles of our Revolution, but as prisoners of war held by the British under the most horrific of conditions. Their story is mostly forgotten, their lives given to the new nation undervalued by history, unserved by classroom text. The stories of… Continue Reading