All Things Bookish - with the SAG

Most Friday afternoons at 4:00pm members of the Society of Australian Genealogists gather for an informal collaborative online Discussion  via Zoom. In each session members discuss a theme suggested by the host for that week.

I am proud to have been one of the volunteer hosts for these sessions since their launch, I hosted my first Friday Hangout with the SAG in April 2020. 

Our theme yesterday was "All Things Bookish". I shared the graphic below, that listed a few discussion points, prior to the event  on social media.

Before the event I was delighted to hear from three members who had something to share. Thanks to Fleur, Jennie, Jennifer, Isaac, Sally, Heather, John, Judy and Danielle who came online with Bookish Bits to share. Thanks also to the many attendees who added to the discussion through posts in a very lively concurrent chat.

As we progressed through the session I gave up on taking notes of the books suggested and promised to share a list here on my blog. Following is a list of books recommended and details of two future events. 

Where possible I am providing a link to bibliographic records from Trove so you can see which libraries hold copies. If these are not yet in the Trove Catalogue I will link to publishers or vendors.

Books

Goodwin, Nathan  The Dover Trunk Murder (Fortress Dover Book 1) August 30 Release 

O'Farrell, Maggie Land 

Burke, Caro Claire Yesteryear

Strout, Elizabeth The Things We Never Say

Leevers, Jo The Museum of Second Chances

Scott, Victoria The Echo of Lost Stories

Holder , Geoff  Edinburgh (Bloody Scottish History)

Hepworth, David  Hope I get old before I die

Slaughter, Karin Will Trent Series

Cummings, Karen  Genealogy Methods and Techniques : a practical guide to research

Parker, Phillip The Royal Puzzle Book

Moore, Gareth  Around the World in 80 murders Puzzle Book

Leonhardt, Lynne  Step up Mrs Dugdale

Sepetys, Ruta  Salt to the Sea

Logan, T M  The Weekend

Bonhomme, Edna History of six plagues around the world

King, Turi  The Secrets of our DNA 

McGue, Julie Ryan  Twice a Daughter

Williams, Sue  The Duke's Secret

McKinty Adrian  The Cold, Cold Ground (Sean Duffy #1)

Lester, Natasha The Mademoiselle Alliance

Stockett, Kathryn  The Calamity Club

Mclean, Paula  The One Remaining

Mason, Meg  Sophie Standing There

Moore, Susan M The Psychology of Genealogy

Moore, Susan et. al. The Psychology of Family History: exploring our genealogy

Trump, Mary L Too Much and Never Enough : how my family created the world's most dangerous man

Bradford, Barbara Taylor  A Woman of Substance

Wright, Michelle Good Boy

Hannah, Kristin   Winter Garden

Simons, Paullina  The Bronze Horseman

Lautrec, Danielle  The Good Genealogist  2nd Ed. Book 1

Lautrec, Danielle The Good Genealogist Book 2 Tools  

Radden Keefe, Patrick  Say Nothing

Roach, Mary  Replaceable You

Garnsey, Heather Unravelled... : the life of Elizabeth Fulloon, superintendent of the Parramatta Female Factory, 1824-1827

Events

9 September 2026 Heather Garnsey Discussing Unravelled at Hawkesbury Family History Group - Register Online to attend via Zoom.

18-20 September 2026 Danielle Lautrec Book Launch - The Good Genealogist NSW/ACT Annual Conference Port Macquarie.

Jill's Recent Sightings

Borrott, Narelle Belonging in Thalaba: Settlers and Their Descendants

Frydenberg, Erica  Do Not Forget Me Street: remembering the Budapesti Schindlers

Purkeljc, Tony From the Mountains to the Plains: The Life of Tony Purkeljc

Metropolitan Memorial Park My Wishes Booklet

Gleeson, Damian John  John Joseph Therry : Irish landlord, merchant, and priest in colonial Australia

Dunn, Cathy  Norfolk Island Marine settlers Atlantic 1791.

NSW History Awards Shortlist

Prime Minister's Literary Awards - Shortlist

National Biography Award 2026 Winners

• Ennis, Helen  Max Dupain : A Portrait
• Sahhar, Micaela  Find me at the Jaffa Gate

Thanks again to all the SAG Members who contributed to yesterday's Hangout. I'm now off to see where I can beg, buy or borrow some of these titles. 

Please let me know of any errors in the list 😉

Genealogy Methods and Techniques: A Practical Guide to Research

 Genealogy Methods and Techniques: A Practical Guide to Research

Dr Karen Cummings
eBook ISBN: 9780719846090

I was pleased to receive an electronic copy of this book for review. In Australia, the eBook will be available through Amazon and Booktopia from 26 March, with the paperback available for pre-order from several local booksellers.

Dr Karen Cummings, an accredited professional genealogist and educator, is well known and respected in the genealogy community. She is also active on social media, where I have followed her work for many years.

In a publishing world where many genealogy texts originate in the United States, it is refreshing to encounter a contemporary guide from the United Kingdom. This book offers a thoughtful and practical approach to genealogical methodology that will appeal to both beginners and experienced researchers.

From a usability perspective, the book includes features that many information professionals value: a comprehensive index, detailed footnotes, and chapter-by-chapter references. These make it easy to navigate and to use as an ongoing reference rather than a one-time read.

One of the book’s strengths is its non-prescriptive approach. Rather than promoting a single “correct” way to conduct genealogical research, the author presents a range of options and approaches. This is particularly welcome in a field where research circumstances, record availability, and personal goals can vary widely.

Early in the book, the distinction between genealogy and family history is explored, with the reminder that “there is no correct scope for family history, and all sizes and shapes of project are equally valid.” This inclusive perspective sets the tone for what follows.

A standout chapter focuses on referencing. Instead of assuming a single national or institutional standard, the author surveys commonly used citation systems in international genealogical practice. Her practical advice—including the observation that “there are better things to do with your time than obsess over the use and position of a semi-colon!”—will resonate with many researchers.

I always learn something from a new genealogy book, and this was no exception. I discovered the Mary Hill colour-coding system, explored the use of Calmware, and picked up useful ideas for my One Place Study. The sections on timelines, mind maps, and identifying gaps in research were particularly helpful.

While the book is accessible for beginners, it also offers significant value to more experienced genealogists. It addresses methodological developments such as software, online resources, and DNA, encouraging readers to reassess and refine their practices rather than simply repeat familiar routines.

The UK focus will be especially relevant to Australian family historians, many of whom have ancestral roots in Britain. Importantly, the content is presented in a way that remains broadly applicable rather than narrowly regional.

The text is well supported by diagrams, illustrations, and reproductions of certificates, all of which enhance understanding. Case studies effectively demonstrate how the methods and resources discussed can be applied in practice.

The eleven chapters are logically structured, guiding the reader through locating, evaluating, using, recording, and sharing information. Most chapters conclude with clear summaries and practical action steps.

Overall, this is a valuable and thoughtful contribution to modern genealogical literature, combining sound methodology with practical guidance and international relevance.

Jill Ball
BA (Library Science), Grad. Dip Ed., M. Ed.

More Bargains

I followed up on  my great haul from the Narrabri Rotary Book Fair on Saturday with this smaller collection of books from the Cessnock library book sale today. 

Each of these titles is in perfect condition. As an old time librarian in who worked in a library that didn't throw anything out I find it amazing to see what is discarded today. 

This bundle of books cost me just $5. 

Booked out

Over the past 12 months I've been busy cataloging books for my local family history group. As a former librarian I am rather disappointed at the way so many groups have their Library catalogues/holdings lists locked away at their premises or online in documents that do not give much information about the books. Being able to prepare for visits to societies by perusing an online catalogue is such a boon for researchers.

When I became President of the Lake Macquarie Family History Group I decided to follow the lead of other groups such as Cooroy-Noosa and Cairns in Queensland who used the Librarything application to manage and share the resources at their societies online. Recently I have seen a number of other similar Groups join Librarything. I have been using Librarything  as my personal reading log and catalogue for fifteen years so was confident that it was a worthy solution for this task.

This project has taken way longer than I thought it would because Covid has prevented me from accessing the books in our library at a local community hall. As we can once again return to our Group's home in the hall I took Mr GeniAus and his muscles along to our last opening and we filled several boxes of books for me to bring home and catalogue. Being able to read and discover new old titles as I work has been an unexpected but delightful reward.

I'm thrilled to say that we now have over 2,000 titles catalogued on our Group's Librarything account that gives our members and other interested community members access to our collection from wherever and whenever they are. The best thing about Librarything is that it has a facility to download professionally catalogued records from a huge range of international libraries so professional cataloguing skills are not needed to create a good catalogue. One only has to add some extra information, like a category, shelf location or number, to these records for them to be relevant to the local collection. 

Lake Macquarie FHG Profile at Librarything

I spent a couple of hours this morning putting these catalogued books back into order so that they will easily slot back on the library shelves and now I am pooped but oh, so proud that I can see the finish line for this project in sight.

Our dining/book sorting table

With the assistance of our Group's Librarian, Linda, I can see the finish line in sight. It's been a marathon run but I am such a proud old librarian.

From the Archives - Between the covers

This post first appeared on the GeniAus blog on 25 August 2011. We have subsequently visited the cousin on several trips to the UK, whenever we visit he usually gives us an item or two from his Gowans collection. That's Genearosity.

Uncle Jack Charles

I finally caught up with last week's episode of Who do you think you are that featured Jack Charles. 

I thought that I recognised Jack and, as the program progressed, I realised that last year I had read a book about him. It wasn't the best book I have read and wasn't particularly well written but it certainly gives the reader an understanding of this man and his struggles. There have been many dark periods in Jack's journey.

I found the episode most touching and engaging and wonder if my interest was more intense because I knew more about Jack's personal history.

Should you wish to read "Jack Charles : born again blackfella"  you can find the details here:   https://www.penguin.com.au/books/jack-charles-9781760899158. 

A search in the Books & Libraries category on Trove indicates that there are copies available for loan in 200 Australian libraries  https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/236741439?keyword=9781760899158. It is available in paperback, audio and eBook formats.

Surprize, Surprise

 Last month I attended a free webinar, Floating Prisons: Irish Convict Hulks and Voyages to NSW,  hosted by the RAHS. 

During the webinar Anne McMahon, the author of the book Floating Prisons: Irish Convict Hulks and Voyages to New South Wales 1823-1837, discussed the history of the Irish hulks and gave details on the lives and conditions of the convicts incarcerated on them. I learnt that one of the hulks, the Surprize, was in Cork Harbour around the time my 3xGreat-Grandfather, Patrick Curry/Corry, was transported from there. Did Patrick spend time on the Surptize?

I realised that I needed to purchase the book which was published in 2017, I'm surprised that I didn't learn about it when it was published. I was hoping to purchase an eBook copy of the work but, when I asked during the webinar, if the book was available in that format the author was quite surprised, said she didn't know about those things and it would not appear in an electronic format!!

The book was available from several online sites but I opted to buy it from Amazon because it was 9.95 cheaper there than the recommended retail on other sites. 

I received a surprise when the parcel containing the book arrived. I had expected a paperback but the book is a heavy hardcover. It has all the features of a well documented work - bibliography, contents, indexes and references and contains a few illustrations and maps.I have yet to read the book, I don't think it will identify many individual convicts but I hope it provides a valuable insight into the lives of Irish Convicts in the early 19th century. Dr Perry McIntyre wrote an honest  review of the work in 2017 for Tintean Magazine, https://tintean.org.au/2017/08/06/floating-prisons/.

Playing around on Google I found this article, https://gsq-blog.gsq.org.au/irish-prison-hulks/, by Meg Carney who, after reading McMahon's book, thinks that her ancestor spent time in Cork on the Surprize. I wonder if I will come to the same conclusion for Patrick after reading the book. 

Deadmans Lane

Browsing through some snaps of one of our last overseas holidays I cam across this image of Deadmans Lane in Rye, East Sussex.

Such a pretty image for a place with such a deadly name. This post on Flickr gives an explanation for the naming of this thoroughfare.

And why was I in Deadmans Lane? I was trying to make my way to the House with two front doors in which the fictional character, Morton Farrier, from Nathan Dylan Goodwin's series of genealogy mysteries is supposed to reside.

An Irish Jig

 When genealogists find some new amazing fact relating to a family member they often break into a "Genealogy Happy Dance".

This morning I had cause to perform, as my version of a Happy Dance, an Irish Jig.

While cataloguing the books for my local Family History Group and uploading them to the Group's Librarything account I came across this title : With hearts and hands and voices : the centenary history of the Sacred Heart Parish, Hamilton 1884-1984

I knew that my Irish 3x Great-Uncle Michael Harrington Ryan had been involved with that parish in Australia but not in the years mentioned in the book's title. I still had a browse and found that there was a section on the early history of the Catholic Church in Newcastle so I consulted the index and then found mentions of Michael in the text.

With hearts and hands and voices

I have been researching this chap for quite a number of years and built up a collection of data but the only image I had of him was a fuzzy one I found on Trove in a large group of reverend gentlemen.

When I reached page 67 I realised that I needed to grab my dancing shoes for there on the page was a  photo of Michael. While the photo is fuzzy it's a close up that gives me a good idea of Michael's appearance, I'm delighted to have this at last.

The author of this book that includes many photos, has acknowledged the collections from which he gathered the photos but he does not indicate to which collection the individual images belong. I'm now inspired to search for a clearer copy of the image.

2021 #AtoZChallenge Z is for ...Zap the Grandma Gap

  I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

I picked up Zap the Grandma Gap: Connect with Your Family by Connecting Them to Their Family History  from the author, Janet Hovorka at Rootstech in 2013.

This 190 page paperback contains many ideas for adults to enthuse younger family members about their family history and also advice for the oldies on how to preserve their family history and artifacts. Although it has much good advice I found the design and presentation too busy and the lack of an index a challenge. The cover image of the Grandma superhero just doesn't gel with me.

On this important topic I much prefer Janet Few's Harnessing the Facebook generation ideas for involving young people in family history and heritage, but, this Zappy book fulfilled my requirement for a Z title. 

We all need to think about what will happen to our precious research when we turn up our toes, these two books may just provide the bait that will hook a younger family member. 

2021 #AtoZChallenge Y is for ...Your ancestors in their social context

  I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

I must admit that I haven't picked up, Your ancestors in their social context : proceedings of the 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry, Adelaide 2012, for around nine years.

This 590 page paperback contains the papers from the AFFHO Congress, the first I attended, in Adelaide in 2012. It is an example of a genre that today is often delivered as a .pdf download online or on a CD or USB drive. 

This particular publication is more useful than some similar works as it has a decent index. As many of the articles are well referenced it provides a good springboard to further reading on the topics covered. While some of the articles are dated, especially those referring to technology,  there are many that are still relevant to today's researchers. 

Highlighting this resource has reminded me that the collection of Conference Proceedings I have on my shelves or hard drive could  have answers to some of the questions for which I need answers. I must remember to refer to them occasionally!

2021 #AtoZChallenge X is for ... Xinran

I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

Xinran is a British-Chinese author and journalist who has been resident in the UK since 1997. I read her best-selling book, The Good Women of China, not long after it was published in 2002. 

My memory of the book is rather foggy but I remember that it made an impression on me. I turned to an entry in  Wikipedia to refresh my memory:

 "The Good Women of China is primarily composed of interviews Xinran conducted during her time as a radio broadcaster in China in the 1980s. However, she also details some of her own experiences as a woman in China. The interviews usually focus on the embedded cultural perceptions in China about women's rights, roles, and suffering. Many of these interviews were drawn from the call-in portion of Xinran' widely popular radio program, Words on the Night Breeze. She also interviewed other women, whom she sought out for their experiences as Chinese women or opinions about the status of Chinese women."

Although this work didn't impact on my personal geneajourney it gave me an insight into another culture and the plights and successes of women in that culture. When reading about family history it is important that we don't restrict our reading to our own culture, we need to broaden our horizons and enrich our understandings  by reading accounts of life in other cultures. 

2021 #AtoZChallenge W is for ...The White Star Line

 I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

I came across, The White Star Line : an illustrated history 1870-1934 by Paul Louden-Brown, on a visit to The Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool England where, after looking at the excellent displays, I spent some time doing research in their Archives Centre.  

The Archives Centre at the Merseyside Maritime Museum

The book contained many images of postcards of ships of the White Star Line accompanied by detailed  explanatory text, in addition there were several colour illustrations. It wasn't hard to flip through the book to find illustrations relevant to ships on which Mr GeniAus' ancestors travelled to Australia. 

As well as consulting The White Star Line : an illustrated history 1870-1934  while at the Museum I was able to grab some photos of relevant immigrant ships and dip into a few other books.

One of the other books I perused at the Merseyside Museum

I am so grateful that Mr GeniAus is happy to join me in visits to local archives and libraries when we travel around. Although he says he doesn't do family history I think he may be a closet genealogist.

2021 #AtoZChallenge V is for ...Vinnies

  I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

Students and staff at my Alma Mater, St Vincent's College, called our school Vinnies. It is now a secondary school but, in my day, students could commence in kindergarten and complete their educational journey at this institution. When we were at school we were told that the school was the oldest Catholic Girls' School in Australia and a bit about Mother Mary Aikenhead, the founder of the Sisters of Charity, but we didn't learn much more about its history.

I was delighted when with the members of the Leaving Certificate Class of 1965 I returned to the College for our 50 year reunion. We were all given a gift, St Vincent's College Potts Point 1858-2008 : 150 years of catholic education. It is a cherished gift.

Fifty years after leaving Vinnies and several years after being a staff member at that institution, this beautifully produced coffee table type book by former student, Samantha Frappell, taught me all about the history and characters of the school I loved.

Reading this book gave me a deeper understanding of the place that had such an influence on my personal history. 

I found several copies of the book available for sale at Abe Books. 

2021 #AtoZChallenge U is for ... Undecided

I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

Of all the letters in the alphabet U has given me the most grief. I thought I might write about Pip Granger's Up West: Voices from the Streets of Post-War London that has been on my "To be read pile" for several years. It has some good reviews but, as I haven't read that book yet, I rejected it. 

My next thought was Unreal Banana Peel - A Third Collection of Australian Children's Chants and Rhymes that dredged up childhood memories but I wasn't sure if this had really assisted my genealogy journey.

There were very few U titles in my reading past so for this post I reluctantly decided to give a guernsey to a Children's Book, 

An uncommonly fine day : January 26, 1788  that was published in 1987 when I was working in a primary school. No doubt the author, John Anthony King, was hoping to cash in on the interest in the Bicentenary in 1988.

The book relates the story of the First Fleet and particularly  the raising of the British flag in Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788 by Captain Arthur Phillip. I believe that the information for the text was found in the diaries of the officers of the First Fleet (https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C394529).

I remember reading and discussing this book with many youngsters as we discussed European settlement in Australia, it was a useful book to share in a school where most of the students were children of recent arrivals whose ancestry was from Europe.

It was in 1988 that I started my genealogy journey so this simple account may have added some knowledge to my understanding of local history. I can't really remember back that far. 
 

2021 #AtoZChallenge T is for ...To minister : the story of War Memorial Hospital, Waverley, 1918-1988

  I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

While this hardcover book, To minister : the story of War Memorial Hospital, Waverley, 1918-1988, would have limited appeal to most people it was a book that I hunted down through secondhand sites. Its lack of popularity is evidenced by the fact that I am the only person with it listed on a Libratything account!

The book is important to me because it is where I started my life's journey having been born at the War Memorial Hospital over 70 years ago.

Copied here is what I wrote in a blog post in 2012 when I took delivery of the book:

"I reported in my Trove Tuesday post last week that I found details of a book, To minister : the story of War Memorial Hospital, Waverley, 1918-1988, about my birthplace, War Memorial Hospital, Waverley on Trove.

I located a few copies of the book on Abe Books and ordered one from Jo's Books, Gerringong. The book, that was in excellent condition, arrived within a few days and I am thrilled with it. Written by a former Matron of the hospital, Betty Green, it tells the story of the hospital from the planning stages through to 1988. The book is illustrated with floorplans, maps, copies of documents and photos and gives an excellent overview of the Hospital's activities and history. The stories about the people associated with the hospital add warmth to the cold facts presented through the work.

Gingerly I showed my purchase to Mr Geniaus (he doesn't share my love of book buying) who spent quite a while thumbing through the book. He saw photos of quite a few local identities that reminded him of stories associated with them (he would be a good subject for oral history interviews about Waverley personalities). Mr Geniaus was quite impressed  with the book which he has picked up a few more times during the week.

What makes the book an excellent genealogical resource are the lists of names it contains that include Members of the Council/Board of the hospital, Matrons, Student Nurses, Pupil Nurse Aids and Doctors associated with the hospital.

I have yet to read the book from cover to cover but I know that I will enjoy it."

Thanks to Trove, a resource that leads one to more than newspaper articles, for directing me to this book.

2021 #AtoZChallenge S is for ...Sydney cemeteries : a field guide

I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

I know several of the fourteen other people who have Sydney cemeteries : a field guide by Sydney historian Lisa Murray listed on their Librarything accounts.

This 399 page paperback guide to resting places around Sydney published by the University of NSW is generously endowed with colour photographs. Its relatively small format makes it suitable to tuck into a bag for a cemetery tour or to take to bed for some bedtime reading!

The contents begin with an introduction followed by lists of cemeteries arranged in nine geographical regions thence by date of commencement. One nice design feature is that each geographical area has a colour code that is visible on the spine making it easy to dig into cemeteries in a particular area.

Clever coloured sections on spine

The glossary, bibliography and index all assist with access to the content and provide guidance for further reading. Each cemetery entry consists of a history and description, a list of notable burials and more information and photographs, some entries have maps and added Tips. 

I found the placing of  general cemetery related articles in between the geographical regions confusing. I think these essays would have been better placed together in their own section. 

One of the quirky features I found interesting is the Top Five lists at the end of each section were the Top 5 lists eg Top Five Churchyards, Top Five Oldest (Undisturbed) Cemeteries. 

This book appeals to me for several reasons. I am a Sydney girl and booklover with an interest in good books, my home town and cemeteries. I have many dead relatives including all my parents and grandparents who are resting in Sydney cemeteries and I'm interested in their environments. Finally, as Mr GeniAus and I have a nice plot with a view chosen in a Sydney Cemetery it was good to be able to read about our future home and neighbours. 

As a bonus I'm adding links to two other four star death related books I enjoyed.

Murder, Misadventure and Miserable Ends: Tales from a Colonial Coroner's Court

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematorium

2021 #AtoZChallenge R is for ...REMEMBER

I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

In the 20th century several of the people in my family tree and many Australian men bore arms for Australia in the Two World Wars. On ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day and other times when we individually reflect on these selfless, brave men and women we say "We Will Remember them".

Whenever I read a work of fiction or non-fiction set in or about those conflicts I remember them and the challenges they faced.

I record most of my reading in my Librarything account, for the past 15 years or so I have given a star rating to books read. I don't ever give a 5/5 rating for a book as I think there is always room for improvement. Very few works get a 4 1/2 from me while I give a 4 to those that have struck a chord.

For this post I am sharing a list of the books related to these conflicts that I have rated as 4 stars or above. This list includes, fiction, non-fiction and children's titles. Sorry this is such a long list - I didn't realise how many good books I have read.

All the Ways We Said Goodbye

The book thief

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

The dictionary of lost words

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Hope is the Last to Die

Three Hours in Paris

The Alice network : a novel

All Quiet on the Western Front

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl 

Band of sisters

Birdsong

Bridge Over the River Kwai

Charlotte Gray

Cilka'S Journey

The codebreakers

Day After Night

Erika's Story

The Great War

Hana's suitcase : a true story

In Flanders Fields: The Story of John McCrae, His Poem and the Poppy

Inheritance of Secrets

The Kommandant's girl

Last Christmas in Paris : a novel of World War I

A Liter of Soup and Sixty Grams of Bread: The Diary of Prisoner Number 109565

The Love That I Have

My Hiroshima

The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust

The Prisoner's Wife: based on an inspiring true story

The Reader 

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes 

Schindler's ark

Soldier boy : the true story of Jim Martin the youngest Anzac

Something Beautiful Happened: A Story of Survival and Courage in the Face of Evil

The Spyglass File 

The Survivors

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

White coolies

I'm adding a few non-fiction that didn't quite get 4 stars.

After this : survivors of the Holocaust speak

Anzac to Amiens

The Anzacs

From the Far West to the Western Front : Cobar and the Great War

Gallipoli : the pilgrimage guide

Our Liverpool boys

The Pictorial History of World War II

Walking with the Anzacs : the authoritative guide to the Australian battlefields of the Western front

2021 #AtoZChallenge Q is for ...Questions

  I've been researching my family history for over thirty years. Along this genealogy journey I have been supported by hundreds of books, many of which I have listed on my Librarything page. 

During the 2021 #AtoZChallenge I will be writing about two of my passions, books and family history. I'll be taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of those books that have enriched my genealogy experience.

Where do you go if you need an answer to a question?

These books from my bookshelf
have provided some answers

Do you go to Google for a quick fix or do you seek your answer in a Book? Might I humbly suggest that, when researching your ancestors, it is worth the time and effort to seek out a book that has been well-researched, properly referenced and probably written by an expert in the subject of the work.

As has been demonstrated in the previous sixteen posts in this series there are many types of book that will assist you on your geneajourney. 

A well-stocked bookshelf will be provide you with a key to find many answers but, as our funds aren't limitless, we may need to  turn to books in libraries, archives and societies for our answers.

You can use the many online catalogues on the internet to find the right book that will answer your question.

As a starter you might consider:

The Books and Libraries Category on Trove

WorldCat

The Internet Archive

If you can't locate something at these megasites then seek out the catalogues of  individual libraries.