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[Understanding Cemetery Symbols: A Field Guide for Historic Graveyards] by Tui Snider, 2017

While not a scholarly publication nor a professional printing, this guide is a starting place if one is prone to roaming old cemeteries and are interested in gravestone iconography or styles of stones, monuments or tombs, and other interesting bits related to cemeteries. The author has clearly put a lot of work into the book.

However, while there is a long list of acknowledgements at the front of the book, and a list of “further reading” in the back of the book, there are no references listed and no index.* Many of the photos are disappointingly grainy, which maybe the fault of the printing process, or it’s a photo of a picture.

All that said, if one is prone to pulling off the road to roam old cemeteries, this is a decent quick reference to have on hand in the back seat of the car.

*Unless the “Further Reading” list is her References…?
… (mais)
½
 
Marcado
avaland | Feb 12, 2022 |
The Santa Claus Bank Robbery is a quick and easy read - a delightful take on what is really a true crime work of non-fiction. In the book, author Tui Snider takes an in-depth look at a bank robbery in Cisco, Texas in 1927. Her research is clearly detailed - the book abounds with images of newspaper reports and photographs that set the stage for the period as well as the event.

But what really makes this intriguing is Snider's voice. This is not a somber, dry look at the events of this robbery. Her enthusiasm, excitement, and curiosity are quite evident in her writing, which is very conversational. (It's quite clear that Tui is someone who abounds with energy.) What adds to this feeling is the fact that some of the research she carried out was in-person legwork, through conversations with locals (some welcomed, some not, interestingly enough.)

Some of the book is spent debunking another account of the Santa Claus Bank Robbery. The 1972 writing changed names of some of the players (of which, I confess, there were so many it became difficult to keep track) and which, as Snider curiously points out, also leaves out relationships between a few the parties involved. She also searches for more clues related to a mysterious blond woman that some accounts referred to but whose existence was neither previously proven or related in the first book.

As someone new(ish) to Texas, I would have guessed that bank robberies were more prevalent in a "wild west" era - an error Snider is quick to correct. The book provides an interesting glimpse into Texas history at the time, with a few details that were surprising. Did you know that banks offered a $5,000 reward for a DEAD bank robber? If you can imagine the ways this could end badly, you'd likely be right.

The Santa Claus Bank Robbery left me entertained and educated on a bit of history that I had not learned in school.

My thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy of her book. All opinions are my own.
… (mais)
 
Marcado
jenncaffeinated | outras 2 resenhas | Jul 4, 2021 |

6 Feet Under Texas is organized alphabetically by city, and each chapter focuses on a different gravesite. But more than just a book about the gravesites themselves, this book shares the stories of the people buried at each site. Many of these people have a story (previously) lost to history. Some stories are touching, some are amusing, and some are simply tragic – but with this book, all of them are remembered. (Even the not-so-nice guys.)

Additionally, each chapter includes a black-and-white photo of the respective tombstone/headstone/memorial and directions to the cemetery.

Some of my favorites (ok, given the topic, this is even weird to me to write) from the book include learning about the actual “Lost Cemetery of Infants” (Chapter 4), as I first learned of this cemetery in a recently read fiction book Home for Erring and Outcast Girls. If you’ve read my reviews here of Hays and McCall’s Bonnie and Clyde alternative history novels, you’d understand my fascination with “Why Aren’t Bonnie and Clyde Buried Together? (Chapter 15). I also learned that it’s not uncommon in older Texas cemeteries to find tombs for amputated limbs (Chapter 31). Weird, but understandable.

My ghoulish teen, on the other hand, was fascinated by the tombs of Texas’ own space alien (Chapter 6) and the tomb that is NOT a witch’s (Chapter 47). She also went right for the chapters on serial killers (Chapter 5 ), and we learned that Texas is the home of the only memorial for murder victims (Chapter 34), which is both sad (because we so often remember the names of the killers but not their victims) and inspiring in its thoughtfulness. We also were agog at the quirky Anthony Bascilli’s overly thorough planning of his casket and gravesite (Chapter 42).

6 Feet Under Texas is delightful (and I mean that in a non-creepy way). Tui Snider’s fascination with the topic shines in her wonderful storytelling of the people behind (or, technically, under) each gravestone. There are some really fascinating tales and insights into the past in these short chapter treatments.

We’re giving 6 Feet Under Texas 5 stars for all its quirky weirdness and history and research pulled together in one delightful (again, weird to write, but accurate) paperback book.
… (mais)
 
Marcado
jenncaffeinated | 1 outra resenha | Jul 4, 2021 |
Tui Snider has long since been a favorite author of non-fiction of mine. Her research when it comes to her books is impeccable. I try to never miss an opportunity to read a book by Tui Snider, so when I was presented with the opportunity to read 6 Feet Under Texas by Tui Snider, I jumped at the chance!

6 Feet Under Texas by Tui Snider is a book for those who love history as well as for those who have an appreciation for cemeteries and the people who are buried there. Snider goes all over (mostly) north Texas to talk about the history behind some of the graves famous, infamous, and the just plain interesting. As always, Tui Snider has done excellent research for her book, and it really does show the dedication behind it all. In fact, Tui Snider solved the mystery about the identity of the one legged rope walker who's buried in Corsicana. The photos included in the book aren't in color, but I enjoyed them just the same. It was nice to place the story to the photo. I also appreciated Tui Snider placing each city in alphabetical order for easy findings. She also includes the address to where each cemetery is located after each story in case you wanted to visit.

I will admit that with many books, I skip the intro. However, I know that Tui Snider never writes a dull and boring intro for her books. 6 Feet Under Texas' intro did not disappoint. Snider talks about how cemeteries are not morbid at all and how cemeteries are actually for the living. Seriously, read the intro. It is short and so very interesting!

I learned so much reading 6 Feet Under Texas. For example, did you know there was such thing as a backronym? I sure didn't until I read about Amber Hagerman, the little girl from which the AMBER Alert was invented. Tui Snider discusses about Amber's case and gives us an English lesson as well! There's also a touching story about a reverend who took in single mothers back in 1894, a time when society shunned those who weren't married. That story really warmed my heart. In Danville, a young woman by the name of Karen Silkwood is buried. She died under mysterious circumstances back in 1974. The mystery of Silkwood's death definitely left me intrigued. Her story was also very interesting. I learned that in the olden days, scraped graveyards were commonplace. Tui Snider explains that the grass from cemeteries was scraped because the lawn mower actually wasn't invented until 1830, and lawn grasses weren't a thing until the 1930s. Grass, back then, was home to all sorts of snakes and insects, and dry grass could catch on fire easily. So back then, people would get rid of all the grass growing around graves. It's pretty interesting to read about. I also read about Marlene Johnson in 6 Feet Under Texas. Marlene Johnson was the first female postmaster for Eastland, Texas. She made a huge mural out of millions of postage stamps. I loved reading about Mrs. Johnson, and I believe others will too. I was intrigued by Anthony Bascilli's grave. He went all out for his grave including having brick walls around his coffin, doors leading down to his coffin, and pipes sticking out of his coffin where keys to the door were to be dropped. Those pipes are still visible above ground if you take a trip out to the cemetery in Thurber, Texas.

It's not just humans that Tui Snider includes in her book 6 Feet Under Texas. Did you know that back in the day, it was a normal thing to have your limbs buried? For example, there are true stories of people burying amputated limbs and having grave markers made for them. What I really loved was how Tui Snider also mentions animal burials. She discusses the Alamo cats who are buried at the Alamo. (I had no idea that the Alamo had official cats!) She also writes about other animals that were special in some form, but I really loved reading about the Texas horned lizard that had been buried alive for thirty-one years and came back to life when he was exhumed.

I could go on and on about how amazing Tui Snider's newest book is, but you are better off just reading it for yourself. This was one of those books where I never wanted it to end. Luckily, Tui Snider is making a volume 2! I would definitely recommend 6 Feet Under Texas by Tui Snider to everyone that would love to go on a real life adventure without leaving wherever they're reading Snider's book from. Seriously, pick up your copy of 6 Feet Under Texas so you can understand why I gushed so much on this book!
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(A special thank you to Lone Star Literary Life for providing me with a paperback copy of 6 Feet Under Texas by Tui Snider in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
… (mais)
 
Marcado
khal_khaleesi | 1 outra resenha | Oct 29, 2020 |

Estatísticas

Obras
8
Membros
103
Popularidade
#185,855
Avaliação
½ 4.3
Resenhas
9
ISBNs
10
Idiomas
2

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