My Love for Reading

     As many of you know, I am a voracious reader.  And when I say that, I mean that I love to read anything  of historical value about our state, our coast, our families, our history and traditions.  I have a den full of books.  I liken it to a sort of mini library. 
     The shelves in my den are full of many coastal and historical reference books.  Local and native authors by the names of Bland Simpson, Jack Dudley, Sonny Williamson, and David Cecelski litter the shelves.  Although they are not as famous in comparison to other super literary writers such as James Patterson or Nicholas Sparks, these authors have to be some of my favorites.  The reason I love these coastal historical books written by these gentlemen is because they have a passion for exposing the "real" coast of North Carolina.  It is not the spectacular homes built along the ribbons of sand or the tacky souvenir shops that dot the landscape. They reveal the best kept secrets along our shores and take us back in time to the creation of our communities that we live in today.
     Those secrets that they write about are of the people, the events and the places that make coastal North Carolina such a treasure to live in.  The picturesque voyages of Bland Simpson canoeing along the Pungo River and exposing the natural scenic landscape with photographer Scott Taylor.  David Cecelski's books  take me back to the days of slavery in Eastern North Carolina and he explaining the creation of a bridge on the Harlow Canal.  And Uncle Sonny Williamson, who was nephew to Hobucken's own Sam Williamson, has done extensive research on the old sailing schooners and sharpies that worked the Sounds.  And last but not least, Jack Dudley takes me back to the days of old with his albums of old photographs, showing me "the way things used to be".
     If you were to ask me which one is my favorite I do not believe I could say.  I love them all and they all hold a special importance in reflecting our coastal heritage. If you really want to learn about coastal North Carolina, from Currituck to Kure Beach, I have listed a few that are some of my favorites:

Carolina Preserves by William Mangum.  When Tommy bought me this book in 1999, I thought he was going to have a stroke.  He paid the whooping $110.00 and brought home my most cherished book of all time.  William Mangum is North Carolina's artist.  This book is a tribute from the mountains to the coast within his beautiful paintings.  And with each painting, he also interviewed a prominent individual who lived within that region.  From the boat building shop of James Allan Rose of Harkers Island to Ruth Graham's home in the mountains, his paintings have a way to make you feel that all is right in the world.

Into the Sound Country: A Carolinian's Coastal Plain by Bland Simpson.  A personal portrait of really rediscovering our North Carolina Coast.  Bland travels to those places that are not seen by the every day traveler.  The swamps and tar pitch pines, the fishing shanties along the sounds, the country churchyards and the people who are the true historians of our state are an inviting history of our coastal heritage.

Down East by Jack Dudley.  This book is a photographic journey of Down East from the 1900's and 1960's.  The old photos are of boats, churches, schools, post offices and people.   Photos from before the days of the paved road from Beaufort to Atlantic, this books shows the seclusion of life along Core Sound.

An Island Out of Time by Tom Horton.  Although this book is not about coastal North Carolina, it does remind me so much of our Island communities.  The setting is on Smith Island, Maryland, a secluded island out in the Chesapeake Bay.  The book is an intimate portrait of the lives of the Smith Islanders and how they adapt to the daily challenges of living on an Island 12 miles from the mainland.  It's a traditional community, much like Goose Creek Island, where its people are attuned to the life cycles of the crabs, the oysters, the wildlife and the anchor of the church that keep them grounded in their rich, coastal traditions.



      If you ever wanted to really learn about our coast, I encourage you to seek out those authors I mentioned above.  If you want really detailed information about the grand old days of sailing, try Sonny Williamson's Sailing with Grandpa.  He has collected numerous documentation of the old sailing schooners, many from  Goose Creek Island and nearby Rose Bay. 
     So there you have it.  These are just a few of my collection.  If any of you ever come visit my home on Core Sound, I will proudly show you my Carolina Preserves book.  I will guarantee you will love it!