The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.1 Sheila’s Task - My Hometown, Rock Island, Illinois

I decided to dedicate this task to the town where I was born and grew up, namely Rock Island, Illinois. In history Rock Island is famous for being the place where the first railroad bridge was built across the Mighty Mississippi River thus linking the east to the west completely by rail.
*See post #2 in Task 30.1 Help Thread for more information on Rock Island, Illinois, the railroad and Abraham Lincoln's interesting connection to Rock Island's history.

This is a 2 book task. Read 1 book from the Book A options and 1 book from the Book B options. Regular book lengths apply. Series titles are EXCLUDED
Required: Please state which options you chose and for the book cover option please link that cover when you post.

For Book A: Rock Island was immortalized in song by Johnny Cash’s huge hit song, ”The Rock Island Lines” honoring the rich railroading history in my home town please read:

For Book A:

Option 1: A book that has the word "rock" or "island" or "lines" in the title/subtitle. Adding letters to any of these words is fine as long as the original word remains intact, so words like rocky, islands, or outlines would work. Examples: The Rocky Road to Romance or Plum Island

OR

Option 2: Read a book that has a train on the cover. This could be a toy train running around a Christmas tree or a real train or a subway train or even a San Francisco street car but if using this option please link the cover so we can see the picture.

AND

For Book B: Rock Island was also famous or rather infamous during the Civil War for being the location of the Union POW camp that was considered the “Andersonville of the North” because conditions were so appalling. This prison was immortalized in literature by Margaret Mitchell in what I personally consider one of the greatest novels ever written, namely “Gone With the Wind” In GWTW Rock Island was the POW camp where Ashley Wilkes was held captive during the Civil War. So for Book B:

For Book B:

Option 1: Read a book with the word "gone", "with" or "wind" in the title/subtitle. As with Book A: you can add letters to the word of choice as long as the word itself remains intact. Examples: Dead and Gone or Windy City Blues.

OR

Option 2: Read a book whose author’s first or last name exactly matches either the first or last name of a Civil War general. For example if you choose General Robert E. Lee you could read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee or a book by Lee Child or Robert B. Parker. Here are links to the generals names:

Union Generals

Confederate Generals

Required If using this option please tell which general you chose for this option and which side he fought for when posting.

I hope you enjoy this task.

Interesting Rock Island, IL lore:

What I think is an interesting bit of history was that the first train crossed on this bridge on April 21, 1856 and less than 3 weeks later the bridge was struck by what was then considered the fastest sidewheel steamboat on the Mississippi, namely the Effie Afton. This accident generated a lawsuit (of course) brought by the owner of the Effie Afton against The Rock Island Railroad Company stating that the bridge wasn’t high enough above the river for the steamboats to safely run underneath it.. What I thought was the really interesting part of this history lesson was that the lawyer that was hired by The Rock Island Railroad in 1856 to represent them in this lawsuit was a young lawyer from Springfield named Abraham Lincoln. Who could have forseen what the next 10 years in this great man’s life would bring.

FAST FORWARD 100 YEARS: On a more personal note regarding The Rock Island Lines, my mom worked for them for 30 years back in the era when most mom’s didn’t work. I am sure she did it to ensure that her (in general) ungrateful kids would get a good college education. THANKS MOM!! Back in those days (the 1950’s and 1960’s) one of the perks for working for the railroad was that the employee could ride for free and their family could ride for half price. Some of my fondest growing up memories are of trips we took by rail to exotic locales like California and New York or the big city (Chicago). I may be looking back on this time in my life with rose colored glasses but I am sure it was a better experience than the last time I flew anywhere!

OK, enough of a history lesson – On with the task!

reserved

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This task help thread is open!

Will this one work for book a? The Line I wanted to make sure it is not too young.

Sorry Jenn Renee the word LINES has to be intact. The book you mention doesn't have the S

Sheila wrote: "Sorry Jenn Renee the word LINES has to be intact. The book you mention doesn't have the S"

duh I missed the s. thanks, back to the drawing board.

What do you think about this one?



It's a railroad car that was converted into a diner. Is that train enough?

Thanks. :)

Absolutely Beth.

Great, thanks!

Would Chronicler of the winds be okay for Book B?

Certainly Tineke

Just found this on my library website list of "recently arrived books" :Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind: A Bestseller's Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood

What could be more perfect for Book B?

Will you accept this one as a train on the cover? It's actually the inside of a subway car in NYC:

Yes I will accept that Joanna. That sounds like an interesting book

Hello. Will Bloodlines work for Book A?

sure will Sandy - enjoy!

Thanks, Sheila! And, thanks for the fast response! :-)

Would James Lee Burke work for Book B option 2?

I'm thinking no as the task specifically said first or last name but I thought I'd ask just in case ;)

Hi Kazza,

It won't work for Robert E. Lee if that is what you are referring to but there are a lot of generals on both sides with the first name of James that WOULD work. So yes just pick one with first name of James and enjoy your book. James Lee Burke and his daughter Alafair are two of MY favorite authors.

Thanks, Sheila. I didn't even think of that! I'm just goint to blame it on my cold - I seem to be getting a few of those this year :p