Welcome to Litsy!

This historical fiction is the story of Ella May Wiggins, a mill worker, labor activist, and folk singer in 1929 North Carolina. It would be a good one to read on #LaborDay. I really enjoyed learning about a lesser known part of my state‘s history.

#FallTreasures

These three books are all based on true stories. Loving Frank is about Frank Lloyd Wright, Guests on Earth is about Zelda Fitzgerald, and The Last Ballad is about Ella May Wiggins, who was involved in labor strikes in the 1920s. The latter two are both set here in my home state of North Carolina.

#3Books
#BasedonTrueStories

My last book event of the day! I really love Wiley Cash‘s work and this is a great book. He talked about his research and the real people in his book. The night also included musicians performing related songs. He‘s done these for each of his three books but this was the only one with music.

Ella May Wiggins wants a better life for herself and her 5 children, but it‘s not possible working at the textile mills for 70 hours at $9.00. Unwittingly she becomes a symbol for the organized labor movement in the 1929 mill strike in No. Carolina. Her Story will remain with you for a long time!

If #CopperCountryRead has interested you in reading more fiction about women in US labor strikes, check out these (somewhat) #ReadAlikes. The Last Ballad, named Chicago Public Library‘s Best Book of 2017, takes place in 1929 North Carolina. On my TBR. If you like Christian fiction, I enjoyed These Tangled Threads, set in 1830s Lowell, Massachusetts some years ago. This is a third in a series & unfortunately I can‘t recall if it can stand alone.

I love when books introduce me to something I‘d never known about before. This one, by one of my favorite authors, is #BasedOnATrueStory about Ella May Wiggins, a real-life labor activist in North Carolina in 1929. I live in NC and I‘d never known about this part of our history. #AuldLangReads

YOU GUYS yesterday Wiley Cash came to my library to talk about The Last Ballad and I got all of my books signed!!! I loved The Last Ballad so much-it‘s so rich with North Carolina people and history, as are his other books. And it was just so cool to hear him talk about how important it was to him to tell the story from our area that really isn‘t passed down at all, even to us in our own classrooms. A bookish life highlight for sure!!

Between a pick and a so so, I‘m giving the pick the edge because I was intrigued by the storyline and the writing is good. What I didn‘t like was that there were something like 8 POVs and I thought it would have been a more powerful story with only a couple, and so I found it hard to stay engaged. But the afterword, author interview and bonus essay were wonderful and I will read more by him. Weather cooperating, my book group is supposed to 👇

Been awake since 3:30 am (damn cold 😷). Only a little over 100 pages left. I‘ve done a load of laundry and last nights dishes. Now to finish this book! #24in48 #24B4Monday

7.5 hours down. Total of 14 hours for #24B4Monday and obviously just 7.5 for #24in48 This cold is kicking my butt so I‘m going to snooze for a bit. At this point that means I could sleep for an hour, or I could sleep for 12-one never knows. Made it to page 200/375 of the tagged book.

Still reading but also needed to make a vat of chicken noodle soup. Between the temps and my cold, it‘s just the thing. Plus, oldest has a cold too so I‘ll be sending the hub over to her place with some soup as well.

Just some books that I‘ve been working on. I‘ll be happy to get my book group book done (the tagged one). Plus I should finish the latest Hades Hangmen on my kindle. And studying for work—always studying. Ready to continue #24B4Monday and to start #24in48 but first, some sleep.

#24B4Monday I‘ve read about 6.5 hours so far today. I‘m 51% through Darkness Embraced and I read about 10 pages of The Last Ballad. Ballad is for book group on Monday but I have a feeling I‘ll finish Darkness first. I may read more tonight, but I may also just wait and start fresh tomorrow. @TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65

#snowyday reading, cup of tea, and the fospice grand-dog at my feet. Even though he stinks, due to a super bad ear infection, how can you just not love that sweet face?

It is such a beautiful day in the ‘sip today. I could not resist sitting outside for a spell!

Just a few of my planned January reads. Book group, #newyearwhodis challenge, #LitsyAtoZ, and whatever else catches my fancy. Unfortunately today hasn‘t been very productive in terms of reading. My eyes kind of hate me today so I‘ve mostly been netflixing in order to reduce squinting at the words. I really need to go to the eye doctor and pull the trigger on the bifocals. #oldeyesyoungatheart

in the late 1920‘s Ella May Wiggins, mother of 4, joined union organizers and workers in their strike for higher wages at a mill in the south. They were maligned by the press and followed by police. Ella May provided songs and inspiration to the workers & ultimately paid the price. Woody Guthrie called her the “mother of the protest ballad”. It‘s interesting that the author grew up in the town the events took place in & had never heard of her.

Just finished this. Wiley Cash writes beautifully.

This man can write! If you haven‘t read any of his, I highly recommend him. This one is based on the true story of Ella May Wiggins, a mill worker that worked to unionize them and the events that unfolded before and after.

4.5/5

Delving into this one next. I absolutely loved his two previous works and hoping this is more of the same. Any other Wiley Cash fans out there?

The Last Ballad
Attica Locke
Love, Actually
Lettuce

#ManicMonday #LetterL @JoScho

Finally getting around to reading this.

This book is both heartbreaking and radicalizing in the best ways. Beautifully written and historically based. Extremely relevant.

Enjoyed this one. It was a different read for me and a welcome change.

Out now in paperback and ready to be stacked on your TBR! This historical novel is “Ab Fab” for book clubs.

Love Wiley Cash - so excited to start this one! #tlcbooktours #thelastballad #suretowrenchmyheartout

I loved his previous books so I was saddened that the history in this one overwhelmed the personal story and the structure made it a bit of a slog. Still an important story, just not as emotionally engaging as I‘d hoped. Full review at http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2018/06/review-last-ballad-by-wiley-cash.html

I should be packing up for my summer in Michigan (or cleaning up the disasters around the house) but instead I got stuck into this one.

I really enjoyed this story of a North Carolina Mill in 1929, the fight for a fair and just system, a union that does not discriminate. The slow pace bothered me at first, but after reading a short time, the pace and flow fit perfectly, Ella Mae was so inspiring. A true story told with style. Wonderful novel!

So far, it's just as the title implies.....a ballad....slow, moving and you just know it's gonna touch your soul, and move you to pieces....
Anyone read this? I love his style!

Independent Bookstore stop #1. Going to see Chloe Benjamin later!

I love it when protagonists or people decide to start living the life they want! You go, guy! 😂😂But it‘s true....

And so concludes the weekend. ✌️ I hope this is a good read... thoughts?

For #ReadingResolutions #CoverLover some recent covers that I love. These books can definitely be judged by their covers! @Jess7

The latest Wiley Cash is currently on sale for $1.99 on Kindle and Nook! Good time to snap it up if it's been on your list. I enjoyed it - not quite as much as A Land More Kind Than Home, but that's a tough one to beat. #ebookdeals

My first finish for 2018! This book is based on the true story of the life and murder of a female mill worker who organized labor union strikes in cotton mills in North Carolina in the early 20th century. Although it seemed at times that the author wasn‘t sure which story he wanted to tell, his description of below poverty level living conditions of the mill workers was gripping. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My last book purchases for 2017 - the tagged book is a signed copy from my local #indie #ParkRoadBooks and Alias Hook is by B&N online purchase. I needed to reach a certain dollar value to qualify for $15 off when I ordered the books for the #MyBloodyValentineSwap and this one looked interesting. Happy Saturday, Littens!

In 1929, the south was home to a growing movement of protests for workers rights. Told from rotating perspectives as Wiley likes to do, the author tells the stories surrounding the Loray Mill in Gastonia, NC. I live in a former mill town so this was of particular interest to me. eARC from publisher. Published October 2017.

I was lucky enough to win a signed first edition & one of my friends who always picks great books said I‘d love it, Perfect Friday night surprise .Thanks @WilliamMorrow books💕📚

Wiley Cash writes a tragic story beautifully. Ella Mae Wiggins is a poor mill worker that tries to get unions started so that she can feed and clothe her children. There are many characters intertwined and that started out the book in a disjointed way. But Cash brings the story of injustice and class struggle together in a moving and poignant ending. #currentsituation #pagehabit

I don‘t know if I have enough to read. 😐

Wiley Cash has the story-telling gift. This novel is based on historical incidents in the early 20th century as union organizers attempted to bring better wages and working conditions to the textile mills of Appalachia. Unforgettable characters, excellent writing. #labor #poverty #appalachia

This is Wiley Cash's best book yet. It tells the story of the life and death of Ella May Wiggins, a real-life labor activist in North Carolina whose story had been largely forgotten (perhaps intentionally). Even though it's set in 1929, there is a lot that still resonates. Even the afterward ends with an anecdote from the author's family history that is just beautifully said.

@hermyknee is beyond generous!! A few surprises were in the #americanagiveaway. I 💙 everything! The blue heart is as close as my phone gets to Tardis blue 😁 Thank you!!

The endearing @hermyknee is doing a #giveaway 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻! The #AmericanGiveaway is up and running. For more info, head on over to the ☝🏻 post and ask.

I should be writing, but instead I spent the morning with the new Wiley Cash. It‘s set a few miles up the road from me and feels very local. I‘m fascinated by the subject — mill workers organizing in the 1920s.

My second try at #pagehabit and I‘m very happy with this month‘s box!