Local Fiction for Book Clubs

As most of you know, the Beaufort District Collection concentrates on the facts of past events. In other words, we do not do any fiction based programs, though we do have a core collection of books that serve as a literary history of Beaufort District that includes fictional titles.

A customer called a few months ago to ask for suggestions for a Book Club. The parameters the customer provided were: no Pat Conroy titles (they had already covered those); no non-fiction; the title needed to be currently in print and available; and, preferably under 300 pages in length.

Here's the list I suggested: 

A Sea Island Lady by Francis Griswold (1939) This is arguably high on many of our locals's "best book eveh" list. One tends to either love it or hate it. It's a sweeping antebellum to 1920s historical novel based on some of the key people and events in Beaufort's past. However, it is quite a tome weighing in at almost 1000 pages.

Due East by Valerie Sayers

Famous All Over Town by Bernie Schein

Haint Blue by Carl Linke

Hilton Head by Josephine Pinckney

Little Glory by Roger Pinckney

Lowcountry Boil by Carl Smith

Minnow by James McTeer

Reefer Moon by Roger Pinckney

Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill


Swift Currents by David Grimm

The Yemassee by William Gilmore Simms

Even though High Sheriff, Lowcountry Witch Doctor by Sheriff Ed McTeer and Coffin Point: The Strange Cases of Ed McTeer, Witchdoctor Sheriff are non-fiction, the content reads like fanciful fiction. I added these to the list of recommendations as well. Both are quick and entertaining reads and give the dish on some unusual shenanigans.

You can hear local native author Valerie Sayers speak about another of her novels Who Do You Love? on Monday, March 12th at the 2018 Books Sandwiched In series sponsored by the Friends of the Beaufort Library. The group meets at the USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret Street at Noon. 

Are You Interested in Joining a Local History Book Club?

We had unexpected and tremendous success with the Beaufort History Museum / Beaufort County Library local history pilot series. So much so that we're hosting a Season 2 and while the lecture series is obviously going well and is highly popular, some folks want to dig deeper into local history topics. Several people have suggested the idea of a BDC book club as a way to encourage long term residents and newcomers alike to explore the depth and scope of Beaufort District's long and storied history.

Now that the BDC has a staff of 2.5 people, it is within the realm of do-ability to begin a local history book club provided that there is sufficient interest to justify the staff time necessary to make it a successful venture.

Lots of public libraries host book clubs and some of my colleagues here have been conducting book clubs for years. Occasionally they include a non-fiction local history title or two and they've even asked me to go to their club with special collection materials on their topic of the day. Sometimes a community group has asked for information about a particular local history book. In these ways, I've got packages for Tombee: Portrait of a Cotton Planter edited by Theodore Rosengarten, Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names by Claude and Irene Neuffer, The Great Sea Island Hurricane by Bill and Fran Marscher and Sea Island Lady by Francis Griswold (which is a historical novel rather than straight history).

Through the years, I've had plenty of authors come talk about their work. Here are just some of the titles and authors that have been highlighted in a BDC@ The Branches program within the past 7 - 10 years are:

• Battle of Port Royal by Mike Coker
• Be Free or Die by Cate Lineberry
• Bridging the Sea Islands's Past and Present by Larry Rowland & Stephen Wise
• Coffin Point by Baynard Woods
• Court-Martial at Parris Island by John Stevens
• I Walked in Santa's Boots by Jack  Gannon
• Jackpot by Jason Ryan
• Last Ferry to Beaufort by Charles Wersler 
• Lowcountry Voodoo A to Z by Carole Longmeyer
• Northern Money, Southern Land edited by Stephen Hoffius and Robert Cuthbert
  
• The Other Mother by Teresa Bruce
• A Place Called Home by Sonny Bishop
• Rebellion, Reconstruction and Redemption by Larry Rowland & Stephen Wise
• Stinking Stones and Rocks of Gold by Shep McKinley
• Yankee Scholar edited by James Hester

Any of these titles would make for an interesting topic of discussion. The range is from drug running to phosphate mining, to voodoo after all. Of course, we would not be limited to just the above titles. There are certainly plenty of potential local history related titles to discuss. There are sufficient biographies, recipe books, personal memoirs, etc. All one need do is stroll by the Local History section in any of our Branch Libraries to get ideas for fruitful reading and thoughtful examination. In fact, if you'd like to suggest a title or two, send the titles to bdc@bcgov.net.

I think that once a month or perhaps even once every other month might work best for a group discussion. There's nothing to say that we'd even have to hold the Book Club outside the BDC Research Room on the 2nd floor of the Library building in Beaufort - or even that we couldn't go all out and do a live session on this Facebook page. If there's enough interest, perhaps we could hold a session at other library locations. There's no reason for anyone - BDC staff or book club participants -- to knock ourselves out and get all stressed. This supposed to be an educational - but fun - program series.  

Before I get too deep into learning how to start a book club since I've never led one, I'd like to know if there are 6 to 12 people in Beaufort County, SC who would be interested in joining a local history book club to start in September. Please send me an e-mail to bdc@bcgov.net if you'd like to be involved.  

Local History Titles at Book Breaks and Books Sandwiched In

The Beaufort County Library is fortunate to have three Friends of the Library groups. Two of our FOLs sponsor Winter book review series.

The Friends of the Hilton Head Library host the Book Break series. This year they have expanded the Book Break series from six to eight weeks. The Book Break series begins today, Wednesday, January 18th with light refreshments at 11:30 am. The review begins at Noon in the Community Room of the Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road. Several sessions are sure to be of particular interest to anyone who loves local history:

Wednesday, January 28 
Elizabeth Millen presents The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. Millen is the editor of Pink Magazine.

Wednesday, February 8
Beaufort District Collection manager, Grace Cordial, reviews Correct Mispronunciations of Some South Carolina Names by Claude and Irene Neuffer. Learn to say some local family and place names the way that native South Carolinians do while picking up some local history tidbits.

Wednesday, March 1
Don Peterson shares his insights into Hilton Head's most influential developer while reviewing My Life with Charles Fraser by Charlie Ryan.

Wednesday, March 8
Lou Benfante reviews Hilton Head Island in the Civil War: Department of the South by Robert Carse.

The Books Sandwiched In (BSI) series, sponsored by the Friends of the Beaufort Library (FOL), returns to the USCB Center for Performing Arts, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort on Monday, January 30, 2017. All BSI sessions are free and open to the general public. Doors open at 11:30 am; the programs start at Noon. Cookies and donations are greatly appreciated. Three sessions are particularly of interest to anyone who loves local history: 

Monday, January 30

Maxine Lutz presents Northern Money, Southern Land: The Lowcountry Plantation Sketches by Chlotilde R. Martin. Lutz is the Executive Director of the Historic Beaufort Foundation.

Monday, February 6

Queen Quet presents her book Gullah/Geechee: Africa's Seeds in the Winds of the Diaspora. Queen Quet is head of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and a prolific local author of a series of titles promoting awareness of the Africanisms still present here in Beaufort County.

Monday March 13

Lynn Markovich Bryant presents her self-published autobiography "I'm Black and I'm Proud," wished the white girl. Bryant returned to teach writing at the predominantly black St. Helena Island Elementary School that she attended as a child in the 1960s and 1970s. 

Other books and presenters on the 2017 Book Break and 2017 Books Sandwiched In series list of programs are:

Wednesday, January 18 - Book Break
Richard Geraghty presents 41: A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush.

Wednesday, February 1 - Book Break
Cindy Johnson presents Eat Fat to Get Thin by Dr. Mark Hyman


Monday, February 13 - Books Sandwiched In

Andy Beall presents Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Wednesday, February 15 - Book Break
Marc Frey presents Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine

Monday, February 20 - Books Sandwiched In

Jim Jordan presents his book Penny Savannah:  A Tale of Civil War Georgia

Wednesday, February 22 - Book Break
Author Christopher Williams shares his book, Black Blue Bloods, a true story about his African-American ancestors who owned a 575 acre plantation in the Laurens County South Carolina area.  

Monday, February 27 - Books Sandwiched In

Beaufort County Library Director Ray McBride presents The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero by Timothy Egan

Monday, March 6 - Books Sandwiched In

Beverley Porter presents When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanthi

Monday, March 20 - Books Sandwiched In

Gene Rugala presents United States of Jihad: Investigating America's Homegrown Terrorists by Peter Bergen

For more information about the 2017 Books Sandwiched In series, please contact Lolita Huckaby Watson, 843-812-6490, bftbay@gmail.com.

Tonight!

Join us! It's Free!

Teresa Bruce: Author Book Talk (with archives Show-and-Tell)

Beaufort Branch Book Club: The Other Mother

Teresa Bruce, author of The Other Mother, mined the journals and images of the Byrne Miller Collection of the Beaufort District Collection as both source and inspiration to provide context to the relationship she had with this extraordinary woman. Bruce and Cordial discuss the book and how special collection materials and archives can support writers. There will be show-and-tell.  

Join us Thursday, September 18, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm in the Beaufort District Collection, 2^nd floor, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC, 29902. The book club is free and open to anyone over age 12 interested in the topic. Contact info: 843-255-6468, gracec@bcgov.net  

Make Plans To Attend These BDC@ The Branches Programs

Throughout the year, the Beaufort District Collection brings in authors and speakers who address local history, archaeology, Gullah culture, genealogy, natural history and preservation issues. Some programs are held on evenings and/or weekends at various locations within the library system to accommodate working families and middle and high school students. 

Next week, the evening of Thursday, August 28th, be sure to come to the presentation about the worst natural disaster to ever strike Beaufort County. 

 We tackle the topic of digital preservation on Thursday, September 4^th:

•  Do you keep family pictures on your cell phone, Instagram, or digital camera? 
• Are you taking steps now to preserve those images for the future?  
•  Join the Digital Preservation Hobbyist Group to learn about how to preserve digital family heirlooms. 
• This free BDC@ St. Helena Branch Library program is open to anyone over age 12 interested in making sure that digital graduation image survives to 2020.
• The Group meets at 2 pm. 
• Special focus: Creating useful metadata for your images - so you can easily find them! 

We are delighted to be involved in the Beaufort Book Club on Thursday, September 18^th. Teresa Bruce, author of The Other Mother, mined the journals and images of the Byrne Miller Collection of the Beaufort District Collection as both source and inspiration to provide context to the relationship she had with this extraordinary woman. I will bring along selected items from the Byrne Miller Collection to display. Together we will discuss the book and how special collection materials and archives can support writers during the Beaufort Branch Book Club meeting at 5:30 pm. Please note: The group will gather in the 2nd floor lobby just outside our Research Room.

Reminder: The Research Room is closed for lunch, Aug. 19 through Aug. 25th.  Visit us 10 am - Noon and 1 pm - 5pm during this period. Regular hours resume Tues., Aug. 26th. 

2014 Books Sandwiched In Series Begins January 6th

The Books Sandwiched In series, sponsored by the Friends of the Beaufort County Library (FOL), will begin in January 2014 and is one of the “Friends” most popular projects. Local authors, well-known community leaders, celebrities, educators and world-travelers have appeared as presenters on the Books Sandwiched In stage at this free event.


With a book selection from a wide-range of books and subject matter, including those by local authors, bestsellers, and fascinating prizewinners, the series has attracted large audiences for many years.  There is plenty of time after each presentation for audience Q and A.

Event Co-chairs Lloyd and Jane Sidwell are excited about this year’s lineup of books and presenters. “Over the course of this BSI series we are privileged to have two authors speaking about their own books including Memoirs of the Prodigal Son: The Road to Redemption by Reverend John Dortch,” said Jane Sidwell.  “Also our first book in the series, Catherine’s Cross by Millie West, is set in right here in Beaufort and we’ll have Sheriff Tanner presenting, so that should make for an especially intriguing talk,” she added. 

There will be a light lunch for sale on site, or bring your own bag lunch.  Coffee and cookies are complimentary and donations are very much appreciated.  It is also a great time to become a “Friend” of the Beaufort County Library or renew your yearly membership.

This year the FOL is again offering several opportunities for patrons to support the FOL and our public libraries through drawings for items such as current best sellers, gift certificates to local boutiques and restaurants, rounds of golf including two rounds of golf for four at Dataw Island Club and a night’s stay at the spectacular Palmetto Bluff Resort.  The Inn at Palmetto Bluff was recently named the number one resort and hotel in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards 2013.

“The Friends of the Library is very appreciative to all its sponsors for helping underwrite the BSI Series,” added the Sidwells. “Without our friends at Palmetto Bluff, Lowcountry Produce, Hargray, Dataw Island Club, Hand & Tanner, BI-LO, Murr Printing, Kinghorn Insurance, Laura and Michael Eggers, and Kole Construction, we may not be able to put on an event like Books Sandwiched In free-of-charge to our community. We are very grateful.”

The Series kicks off Monday, January at noon, and continues every Monday (except January 21st) through March 3rd when the final presentation by local chef and cookbook author, Debbi Covington, will be held in the evening starting at 5:30 pm. Following that presentation, a “Closing Reception,” featuring Debbi’s appetizers and a glass of wine, will be available to all BSI attendees making a donation! All BSI events take place at the USCB Center for Performing Arts, 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort, SC  29902.

Books Sandwiched In 2014 Calendar:

• Monday, January 6^th,, 12 Noon Sheriff P.J. Tanner presents Catherine’s Cross by Millie West
• Monday, January 13^th, 12 Noon Dr. Tom Downs presents The House of God by Samuel Shem
• Monday, January 27^th, 12 Noon Eileen Williams presents The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bojahlian
• Monday February 3^rd, 12 Noon Patricia Turk presents Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• Monday, February 10^th, 12 Noon John Dortch presents Memoirs of the Prodigal Son: The Road to Redemption: Fifteen years in Prison and Beyond. by Rev. Dr. John C. Dortch
• Monday, February 17^th, 12 Noon Steve Murray presents Freedom’s Forge by Arthur Herman
• Monday February 24^th, 12 Noon Alice Moss presents Serena by Ron Rash
• Monday, March 3^rd, 5:30 PM Debbi Covington presents Celebrate Everything! by Debbi Covington

Contact: Betsy Hinderliter, 912-660-9171; bthinderliter@yahoo.com OR                                                                              
Lloyd & Jane Sidwell, 843-694-2864; sidwellweb@gmail.com

About The Friends of the Beaufort Library: The Friends of the Beaufort Library: Beaufort, Lobeco and St. Helena Branches (FOL) is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization founded in 1979.  It is a volunteer organization providing financial support to northern Beaufort County libraries (Beaufort, Lobeco and St. Helena branches) with services to the community through additional funding of programs and projects that enhance learning, leisure and life. Events include two annual book sales and the popular and FREE Books Sandwiched In series. To become a member of FOL contact Lee Martin at 843-838-7438 or to volunteer contact Lynn Kittson at 843 379-7040.