Celebrating Women’s History Month & “Writing Women Back into History” - 2 Reviews

Two local Richmond, Virginia female writers, Sylvia Hoehns Wright and Connie Lapallo, have contributed to contemporary Richmond with their two works of historical interest with meaningful personal undertones. Wright wrote A Path Worn Smooth and Lapallo wrote Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky. Both are reviewed here by V reviewer Brenda Seward, owner of Simple Pleasures Books & Gifts.

A Path Worn Smooth, by Sylvia Hoehns Wright

In A Path Worn Smooth, we are given the history and heritage of the path this author has walked throughout her life, while at the same time she shares advice on how we can walk a similar path. Using remembrances of times past and her family’s long history in the Henrico area Wright creates guideposts that all of us can use to navigate our own life paths. Touching on subjects such as mentoring, networking, cancer, care giving, and becoming the willing or unwilling curator of your family’s possessions, Wright offers experience based advice seasoned with reflection and the wisdom of those who influenced her.

 

In writing A Path Worn Smooth, Wright shows us how important the legacy of shared experience is to all of us, but most especially women. Her sections on mentoring and care giving were especially significant. They show the enormous impact and enrichment possible in the former and rich tradition, yet evolving role of the latter. I found the sections on caretaking of places and things of particular interest since they touched on subjects dear to me. Too often, we are caught up in the need for progress to the detriment of our history- but in a civilization that is constantly looking forward, how do we best preserve our rich heritage? Wright offers some common sense advice on this score. Each sectioned is prefaced by a line of scripture and ends with a content related poem. Part self-help, part history lesson, part inspiration, A Path Worn Smooth is an inviting and engaging read.

Sylvia Hoehns Wright is a Glen Allen based consultant, lecturer, & wordsmith freelance columnist and features writer. www.TheWrightScoop.com.

Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky, by Connie Lapallo

Using the inspiration of her ancestors and the foundation of historical accounts, Lapallo crafts a story of the strength and survival of the women and children of the Jamestown Colony. Beginning in 1592, the story charts the path that led Joan Peirce to leave a nine year-old daughter behind in England as she forged across an ocean to the New World with another, younger daughter. Told from Joan’s perspective, we see how strange and terrifying it must have been to leave everything familiar behind, including one of your children, knowing you would likely never return. Not to mention, you are traveling across an ocean to a wild place where women are a rarity. Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky chronicles forty years of Joan’s life in Jamestown- from 1609 to 1649 as she approaches the age of seventy. To achieve such longevity in those days was quite something. To achieve it in the face of such primitive conditions, through the Starving Time and Indian Wars was a stunning achievement. Through Joan’s eyes and voice, Lapallo brings the past alive and helps us relive the intense strength and devotion the women of this time possessed. In fact, we feel the strength required by all the inhabitants of this young colony, but most especially those of Joan, her friend Cecily and others like them.

While the book is a fictionalized account of the time, the story stays very close to its historical base. This, in my opinion, makes the account even more riveting and inspiring. In the epilogue portion of the book, we get a glimpse into what came after for the characters you meet. She also provides a very interesting “Author’s Note” where she chronicles not only the family history- as it relates to her and others- but also a fun glimpse into some of her research for the book.

This is a wonderfully riveting story. A must read for all Virginia women - to know the well of strength from which you spring!

While Connie has a degree in finance and an MBA specializing in small business, her first loves have always been writing, teaching, and history. She was first professionally published at 16 as a youth reporter for the Richmond News Leader (now merged with the Richmond Times Dispatch). She was formerly a docent at Berkeley Plantation on the James River and now leads a children’s writing group. (From author’s bio on her website http://connielapallo.com/index.htm.)

Reviewers End Note

It is important for all of us to learn about the rich and often little known stories of the women that have helped to build and enrich our history. Please join Simple Pleasures Books & Gifts this Saturday as we celebrate Women’s History Month with our own “Write Women Back Into History” Event: An afternoon with Connie Lapallo & Sylvia Wright. From 1-4 pm: Ashland Coffee & Tea-100 N. Railroad Ave. Ashland, Va. 804-798-1702 http://ashlandcoffeeandtea.com/.

For more information about this & other events sponsored by Simple Pleasures Books & Gift, go to www.simplepleasuresbooksandgifts.com.