“Coal Country Connections”:
“…beautifully written and fascinating…The author takes you on a historic journey filled with information as well as photographs of the life and times of the signers of Mary Boyd’s album. It is obvious that this author took a great amount of time and devotion to her research…engaging and easy to read.”
“…very impressive book….thoroughly researched and cited…[it] takes you on a journey [into] the lives and times of the individuals who filled the pages of the autograph album…easy to read…filled with images…there are maps…photographs of towns…[and] monuments…every album page is photographed….a deeply researched treasure trove of information, humanizing the history of the life and times of the anthracite coal region of the 1800s.”
“Akren-Dickson has captured the essence of personal history and crafted it into a fantastic read…well-crafted with pictures to illustrate historical marks of then and now…It gives Mary Boyd’s album a sense of being priceless, and the reader is left at the end of each chapter wanting to know more…a valuable resource for any collection…”
“You Dream Every Night That I am Home“:
“…This well-penned and poignant narrative is based on actual letters discovered in family records, recounting the tragic tale of a young Civil War soldier, John Williamson, from Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal fields… The inclusion of photographs and maps adds depth to the narrative, offering a visual connection to the places John experienced. The pacing, presentation, and craftsmanship involved in making this into a book is not just a portrayal of historical events, but a tribute to the resilience and sacrifices of individuals like John Williamson and the profound impact of their lives on subsequent generations. Overall, You Dream Every Night That I Am Home is a highly recommended read for history fans, but also those looking to connect deeply with the human experiences of past generations.”
“…a profoundly personal, meticulously researched, and documented record of a simple Civil War soldier called to duty in the conflict that split the fledgling nation of the United States… The letters John would write home to his beloved Hester right up until the moment of his death…form the core of this beautiful book…beautifully presented, full of clear and informative photos, from then and now, showing sights that John Williamson will have seen or passed on his journey, as well as a fantastic collection of maps, war memorial sites, plaques, and headstones relating to people John had met during his sojourn to war… The depth of detail in this work is staggering and is of academic quality… This is an engrossing, enlightening read that I can highly recommend.”
“…This book takes you on the journey of a young man who died too early in a terrible war that took so many lives. But instead of presenting facts that simply keep the reader at a distance…. It allows you to use your senses to smell the smoke, sink into the mud during the rain, and feel the chill of winter where the soldiers had to live… You Dream Every Night That I am Home by Melanie Akren-Dickson captures the breadth of some of the Civil War battles on a landscape scale and the personal hardships, dreams, and hopes of a Union soldier doomed to die. Highly recommended.”
ChessieWriter 