The ramblings & obsessions of a fisherman's wife! ~ a potpourri of history, genealogy and books. Also some general ramblings if they take my fancy!
Monday 25 June 2007
Roots and All, A History of the Eaton & Hastings families by Dinah Eaton
"There are more skeletons and high dramas within Dinah Eaton’s family than most family historians could ever wish for. She has traced her own and her husband’s forebears back to the mid-eighteenth century with contributions from around the world. Family members, and lovers of family history, will find this a fascinating story. The story of the EATONS, firmly ensconced in Kent (Rochester and Gravesend), starts with George Eaton (1761) joining the West Kent Militia during the Napoleonic Wars. The MATTHEWS and MERRITT families were from Market Lavington in Wiltshire. William Merritt was an informer during the local Swing Riots in 1832. His illegitimate granddaughter was brought up by a member of the aristocratic Knollys family. The FINCHES from Aylesford and the GOODWINS from Northfleet (both in Kent) led more conventional lives and were pawnbrokers, publicans, coopers and thatchers. Generations of the HASTINGS family joined the Royal Navy. Charles (1788) was killed in Australia, son Charles was shipwrecked off Chile in 1835 and rescued by Captain FitzRoy of Beagle fame. The RAYNERS from Yorkshire had mining and medical connections. Follow the lives of six children orphaned in 1866 when both parents died. The HEATHS worked in the lace industry in Nottingham and the JONES were from Margate in Kent. Dinah’s German great great grandfather was a LOEWENSTEIN lost over-board in the North Sea in 1863. Later generations led chequered lives with intrigue and scandal which shocked the family in the early 1900s."
The author's web page is HERE
I've been asked to review this book for the Hampshire Genealogical Society, whose website is HERE
ISBN - 09552605-0-7
Here is my review:
At just under 500 pages, Roots and All, A History of the Eaton & Hastings families, is an impressive account of the author's family and that of her husband. Complete with 30 genealogical trees indicating line of descent, 340 photographs, 12 maps & original pen & ink sketches. Thoroughly researched, indexed and footnoted, this is a fascinating account of the author's family history and an ideal source of inspiration to fellow Genealogists, and not to mention a very enjoyable read!
Night by Elie Wiesel
I'm going to rate this little book a 9/10. Not because It was a good read, like isisjem, I don't feel that I can rate it with that in mind, but purely because a piece of the book remains with me.
Thursday 21 June 2007
The Dangerous Sports Euthanasia Society by Christine Coleman
This signed copy going into my permanent collection for a while.
Friday 15 June 2007
The Perfect Paragon (An Agatha Raisin Mystery) by M C Beaton
Toast: The Story of a Boy's Hunger by Nigel Slater
This was one of the Times reads for 99p range earlier this year. A delightful book, written as a series of small recollectings of past times. Funny in places with some sad bits and lots of descriptive bits about food, and his childhood.
I enjoyed this, as I read it I also took a trip down memory lane, school milk, which has a very similiar effect on me to that of the author, having suffered a similiar fate as a child at junior school. The ponderings of an artic roll, we had one for desert about three days after I read this, the first time in probably 25 years! not to mention the walnut whips I purchased and consumed as a result of memory lane!
Capability's Eden by Diana Saville
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book when I finished it a few weeks ago, and I am still not sure now.
It is the story of Robert, a landscape architect who has devoted his life to his work and the cost of his wife, well ex wife and daughter. Offered a job in the South West of England to create The Garden of Eden. Robert accepts the job and is soon caught up in the work and things spiral out of control.
Knitting by Anne Bartlett
A really gentle story of Sandra who is a widow, who helps a stranger in the street who has had an accident. She leaves her card with a fellow bystander, Martha. As time progresses the three of them meet, each wrestling with their innerselves and trying to deal with their personal issues. Martha is a very keen knitter who helps Sandra host an exhibition of women's knitting and textiles.
This is more than a story about a couple of women interested in wool. It is the story of acceptance,grief,understanding and tolerance; and most of all, friendship.