Book Reviews
Thunder in the Valley, Jeff O'Connor -- This is a 225th Anniversary commemorative publication (1777-2002) by Jeff O'Connor, written by Jeff O'Connor, a Schoharie local and history buff. For those Eckersons and Gras(s) family members looking for a quick read about that particular window in our lives, this might be the book(let) for you. It's a short read with O'Connor's interpretations, assumptions and speculations of the time leading up to and fully involving the American Revolution and the impact it had on the valley and, in part, on our family. There were enough "could haves", "may haves" "possibly(s)" and "mights" in the publication to consistently remind the reader to consider how situations, events, actions may have transpired. It gives the reader permission to consider the sources and citations, agree with O'Connor's translations, or make one's own assumptions and interpretations. You can pick this up at the Stone Fort when you visit.
History of Schoharie County, and Border Wars of New York, Jeptha Simms, 1845. I loved this read. His penchant for detail and dialogue are brilliant. The fact that he's writing this in 1845, often pointing to characters a single generation away from the early legends of Schoharie, reminds me how fresh the experiences were. I so loved his dialogue and found it so completely entertaining, that I've quoted some of it by clicking here, for your entertainment on separate page. It reminds me how writing has become a lost art.
The Island of the Center of the World, Russell Shorto -- I *loved* this book. It's rich and compelling read and changes the historical perception of the Dutch and their contributions to the early development of the New World. This is a fantastic read and gives us a window to how our earliest Eckersons lived and progressed in a raw and often difficult place. There are great cultural adaptations and it's fascinating to see where we came from.
Smokefires in Schoharie, D.C. Shafer-- This is an absolutely delightful read. My grandmother recommended it first and it dumps you right into the 18th century experience of the western front as they knew it. Life was never easy.