My library grows

[Paul Sylvain]

A funny thing happened to me when I stopped in at Barnes & Nobles yesterday.

My intent was to pick up a book on Apple's Snow Leopard Operating System. I haven't been to a B&N since moving from New Hampshire to Texas early last year, so I had no idea what treasures I would find at the Southlake store. Well, I found what I was looking for (*sort of) but a big sign screaming "Texas" caught my attention. That, of course, led me also to the "History" section.

Well, I left the computer books in the store and walked out instead with two Alamo books and one Custer book.

The Alamo volumes are not new, but they are new to my collection. I know the gold standard, in many ways, remains "A Time To Stand", but I also remember reading Lon Tinkle's "13 Days to Glory" as a 7th grader not long after it was first published. "13 Days to Glory" along with Fess and John's shows/movies about the Alamo were my biggest influences in hooking me forever on the Alamo's story. At $12.95, how could I turn down a chance not to grab this book for my collection?

For anyone who might be interested, the book was originally published by McGraw-Hill in 1958. This edition was reprinted by Texas A&M University Press, College Station. I certainly accept the fact that a lot of new information has been learned since the book was first written and published, but I am looking forward to a wicked-good read. It's always great visiting with an old friend.

The second Alamo book -- "Eyewitness to the Alamo" by Bill Groneman -- is another book that has been out a little while (since around 2001, I think), and one I have seen mentioned here. The cover claims it to be a "revised Edition", but never having read the book before, I couldn't say what might be revised (or when).

I will be in San Antonio for about 4 1/2 days next week starting June 27. Grabbing these books will probably point to some new things to seek out when I visit the Alamo, which I do every time I'm in town.

The third book is one that has generated lots of discussion elsewhere on this site: "A Terrible Glory; Custer and the Little Bighorn" by James Donovan.

Is it any wonder I left the computer books in the store? This is good stuff!

Paul

[Bill Yowell]

" A Time To Stand", remains my favorite Alamo book of all times. Walter Lord did a very thorough job of digging up any and all information available at the time. His "A Night to Remember", (Titanic) is also an excellent read. IMO, The Alamo story and the story of the Titanic share a lot of common threads.
I have a considerable collection of Alamo related books, and many of editions have been revised since my original purchases. I'm wondering, does the new information in the revised editions warrant or justify purchase?
Welcome to Texas Paul. I enjoy your post and your enthusiasm for all things Alamo.

[Paul Sylvain]

Thanks so much, Bill. Ironically, my work may take me to S.A. permanently in the coming months. It's a long shot (often-times people are already tagged for certain jobs at places), but I do have a decent shot of transferring to the Alamo City from Dallas. We'll see.

I agree about Lord's writing. I've read both books you mention and, of course, own "A Time to Stand". Like with yoy, it remains my favorite narrative of the Alamo and it continues to stand the test of time.

"13 Days to Glory" was first published in '58 and Wayne's "Alamo" moving was released a year later, when I was 10 years old. Obviously the Disney/Crockett TV series was on some time before that, and I saw Wayne's movie as soon as it hit the local theaters. I didn't discover Tinkles book until three years after Wayne's movie, and remember stumbling on it in my Jr. High School's library. I read the book in one non-stop sitting, I think. Talk about feeding the imagination of a kid who was already hooked on the Alamo! Powerful stuff.

I'm sure as I re-read it, in light of newer, maybe more accurate books like "A Time to Stand" and others that have been published since, I will see some holes in Tinkle's story. But, so what? Wayne's movie and the 2004 Alamo flick have holes, too, but they still have a lot of merit. It's a story I never tire of. Well, mostly. I wish I could say the same about the film version of "134 Days ..." Gawd, that was bad.

One book I passed on at B&N was "Exodus". I don't often yield to the reviewers, but nothing I've seen or heard about this book has been positive. I wasn't about to drop $35 for something that seems more fitting for the garbage heap. I already know -- as does everyone familiar with the Alamo's story -- that there were break-outs. By all accounts, the writing of that book is terribly unbalanced and grossly biased to some personal agenda. The research apparently is shoddy and the "evidence" presented is contradictory. I did find two copies of it on a table in the general history section, among new releases, at B&N. It was not in the Texas section. Maybe when this volume makes its next stop, like, in the $9.99 discount section, I'll be tempted to buy it and read it for a laugh.

Paul

[Bill Yowell]

I too read 13 Days my seventh grade year. It must have been fairly new at the time. I believe it was the first book I ever read from cover to cover that did't have Dick, Jane, and a dog named Spot in it. Disney and Fess developed an interest in me for the Alamo. Lon Tinkle lit a fire. Yes there are a few holes, but aren't the holes what give us cause to investigate and communicate. Enjoy your visit to San Antonio. I'll be there the last of July for a Band Directors' Convention. I've long since lost count of my many trips to the Alamo, but it never fails to stir my old heart.

[Rich Curilla]

My childhood order of stepping stone Alamo events was:

1. Walt Disney's Davy Crockett at the Alamo.
2. Visiting the Alamo (thanks to big brother).
3. Frederick Ray's The Story of the Alamo (illustrated childrens book).
4. Lon Tinkle's 13 Days to Glory (first book since Dick and Jane and Spot).
5. John Wayne's The Alamo.
6. Visiting the Alamo and Alamo Village (thanks Mom and Dad).
7. Walter Lord's A Time to Stand.

Then everything else.

My first semi-Alamo model was after Ybarra and built of Playdough.

[Rich Curilla]

Jun 20, 2010 7:34:04 GMT -5 Paul Sylvain said:

I haven't been to a B&N since moving from New Hampshire to Texas early last year, so I had no idea what treasures I would find at the Southlake store. Well, I found what I was looking for (*sort of) but a big sign screaming "Texas" caught my attention. That, of course, led me also to the "History" section.

Paul

Well, being a Pennsylvanian living in Texas for the last 28 years, I have a definite problem when I go Christmas shopping in State College, PA, and hit the Barnes & Noble -- NO TEXANA SECTION!!!

[Allen Wiener]

Jun 20, 2010 12:57:38 GMT -5 Rich Curilla said:

My childhood order of stepping stone Alamo events was:

1. Walt Disney's Davy Crockett at the Alamo.
2. Visiting the Alamo (thanks to big brother).
3. Frederick Ray's The Story of the Alamo (illustrated childrens book).
4. Lon Tinkle's 13 Days to Glory (first book since Dick and Jane and Spot).
5. John Wayne's The Alamo.
6. Visiting the Alamo and Alamo Village (thanks Mom and Dad).
7. Walter Lord's A Time to Stand.

Then everything else.

My first semi-Alamo model was after Ybarra and built of Playdough.

Rich, I followed the same steps, except my first model was balsa wood.

[Paul Sylvain]

Mine, in order ...

1. Disney's "Davy Crockett at the Alamo'
2. Wayne's "Alamo"
3. "13 Days to Glory" - Tinkle
4. "A Time to Stand" - Lord
5. First visit to the Alamo in SA - Sept. 1967 during Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB

[garyzaboly]

Seems we've all pretty much followed the same Alamo footsteps.

My first Alamo books (aside from the much "younger" childrens' and Disney-associated books):

1.) THE ALAMO: SHRINE OF LIBERTY, Olga Hall-Quest
2.) REMEMBER THE ALAMO! Robert Penn Warren
3.) THE BIRTH OF TEXAS, William Weber Johnson
4.) A TIME TO STAND, Walter Lord
5.) THE ALAMO, John Myers Myers
6.) 13 DAYS TO GLORY, Lon Tinkle

Read the first one circa age 7; the second age 9; the third at 10; the 4th at 12; the 5th around age 13; and the 6th at 17. Have read each many times since!

[Allen Wiener]

I'd forgotten about Penn Warren and Myers Myers; those were very early arrivals on my shelf too. Earliest were probably the mid-school level Crockett bios, "We Were There at the Battle of the Alamo," and similar stuff.

[Rich Curilla]

Jun 20, 2010 19:06:16 GMT -5 Allen Wiener said:

I'd forgotten about Penn Warren and Myers Myers; those were very early arrivals on my shelf too. Earliest were probably the mid-school level Crockett bios, "We Were There at the Battle of the Alamo," and similar stuff.

Me too, but those were not the landmarks in my Alamo. Well, Myers Myers sorta was. But interestingly, I've never had the impulse to go back and read it again. It's drier than Tinkle (oops, sorry), and not authoritative like Lord.

[garyzaboly]

I LOVED the illustrations in Penn Warren's book---some of the best ever done, in terms of capturing character and action, of the Alamo and its players, even when I look back now.

[Kevin Young]

Sounds like we all had the same Alamo kids books.

My first attempt at building a Moe was sugar cubes then covered with plaster...interesting results...

[gtj222]

Don't forget 'We were there at the battle of the Alamo'. Also full of great Alamo art.

[marklemon]

Jun 21, 2010 17:05:36 GMT -5 gtj222 said:

Don't forget 'We were there at the battle of the Alamo'. Also full of great Alamo art.

Yep, those are among the very best illustrations by far, Tom. Eggenhofer had an eye for not only detail, but dynamic composition....they're just great.