Images

This doesn't give anything away in the book, but just a few imagines I found online that I thought put a nice mental picture to what we are reading about.


The Connecticut River Valley

Church in Massachusetts

Hanging tabacco leaves (1940)


Working the fields (late 1930's)


Tobacco farm in the Connecticut River Valley

The Lorelei- and her song

This is the Lorelei- its mentioned about half way through the book- if you've gotten to that part you'll know it, but I thought I'd post some pictures of it it. I've seen it in person while on the Rhine River in Germany 7 years ago. The story is exactly like Elise says from what I remember. I thought it was interesting enought to put up here because of the story of the Lorelei and how it might / does/ could blend into the story line- opinions?

A little blurb about the Lorelei for you who like that kinda thing ( I do):


The Lorelei (also written as Loreley) is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, which soars some 120 meters above the water line. It marks the narrowest part of the river between Switzerland and the North Sea. A very strong current and rocks below the waterline have caused many boat accidents there.

Lorelei is also the name of one of the beautiful Rhine Maidens who lured navigators of this river to their dooms with their alluring singing, much as the ancient Greek Sirens did.

The name comes from the old German words "lureln" (Rhine dialect for "murmuring") and the Celtic term "ley" (rock). The translation of the name would therefore be: "murmur rock" or "murmuring rock". The heavy currents, and a small waterfall in the area (still visible in the early 19th century) created a murmuring sound, and this combined with the special echo the rock produces which acted as a sort of amplifier, then gave name to the rock itself. The murmuring is hard to hear today due to the urbanization of the area. Other theories attribute the name to the many accidents, by combining the word "luren" (lurk) with the same "ley" ending, with the translation "lurking rock".

In folklore and poetry

The rock is associated with several legendary tales originating in German folklore. It appears in many forms. One of the legends is that Lorelei, a beautiful young maiden, committed suicide because of an unfaithful lover. She jumped from the steep rock into the Rhine River, thus killing herself. She then became a siren, luring shipmen to their fates with her hypnotizing voice. The echoing heard today is said to be Lorelei.

Something HUGE at our next meeting!

Oh My Ladies! Do I have a surprise for you?! I didn't want to say anything until it was confirmed but last night I received an email from....Marie Bostwick! She has go graciously accepted to do a conference call with us at our Book Club meeting! Can you believe it?! I am ecstatic, giddy and like a little kid who just got the approving nod from mom that ordering a triple scoop of chocolate ice cream before dinner was okay! Are you with me here?!

So...needless to say, do not miss this one! And...if you have other friends who are interested, please feel free to invite them to join us, by no means is this a closed club!

The only thing different will be that we'll meet a little earlier since Ms. Bostwick will be calling us from the east coast. The call will be at 6pm, so I'll open my house to come over at 5ish. Perhaps a pot luck kinda dinner before the call? What do you all think?

Ms. Bostwick also gave me a little hint on the book, its basically out of print now, so if you have yet to get your copy she offered me this site from her local book store they should have new and signed copies available!

So..really now...order...get to reading...and see you soon!

* I thought I'd post the email from her so you all could see for yourselves:

Hi Lyn,

Forgive me for taking so long to get back to you. I've been crashing a deadline and am way behind on just about everything.

Yes, I'd love to talk to your group. And I think the 8th of June could work. If if could be a little earlier, that would help - by 7 your time I'd be a mess. Any chance we could do it at 6?

Also, I am absolutely TERRIBLE about remembering things, so I highly recommend that, after we agree on a date and time, you send me a reminder email a couple of days before. Maybe on Sunday.

I haven't discussed RIVER'S EDGE in a while, so this will be fun for me. I'm sure we can work something out.

Blessings,

Marie Bostwick

Oh, also, I checked out your blog and saw the trouble you're having getting hold of the book. I wasn't surprised, its pretty much out of print now. However, if you contact my local bookstore, www.hickorystickbookshop.com, I think they still have new copies. They would be full price however but chances are they'd have signed copies available. Just thought I'd let you know.

*****
Yay! Can't wait!