Comments on: Forthcoming Books by Bloggers

By: Ralf Goergens

Ralf Goergens — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:51:26 +0000

Hi Sgt. Mom, interesting books and story, thanks! :)

Also thanks for the link, David.

By: Tatyana

Tatyana — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:03:32 +0000

Yes you are, and much better one than 50% of those that get published. I’d buy your book in a split-second.

By: MD

MD — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:50:31 +0000

Yikes, we posted at the same time Tatyana, yes I am pathologist (hospital based, not forensic) but I’m no writer :)

By: MD

MD — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:47:45 +0000

Oh, maybe Tatyana meant me? Yes, I am reading this and fascinated (does this have to do with our conversation of melting pots and how, as a child, I had a great fondness for books about immigrants to the Midwest, or immigrants in general, because it made me feel a part of the ‘whole thing’? I loved the melting pot idea, a lot, which I realize is very old-fashioned these days.) Something else?

By: Tatyana

Tatyana — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:28:49 +0000

Sorry, Mrs.Davis, I meant the other MD, a commenter heree, who is a clinical pathologist (right?) and also a writer.

By: Mrs. Davis

Mrs. Davis — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:15:24 +0000

Yes, Why?

By: Tatyana

Tatyana — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:08:25 +0000

MD, are you reading this?

By: John Jay

John Jay — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:01:35 +0000

O. Henry had a few stories featuring the Germans of Texas, including my favorite A Chaparral Prince.

By: Sgt. Mom

Sgt. Mom — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:40:54 +0000

Thanks for the links and the interest! It is one of those completely odd and unexpected things about Texas; this huge and very cohesive German element, where the language remained German by preference well into the 1920s. I started intending to write just one book – but discovered so many fascinating and dramatic elements that it expanded into three books, and carried the story up to and beyond the Civil War.
Frederick Law Olmstead did a sort of extended travel-book about his visit to Texas in the 1850s, with very detailed descriptions of San Antonio in 1855, being equal thirds Mexican, American and German – each element having built houses in their own style. An amazing number of the early businesses and landmark establishments in and around there were started by the first generation German immigrants – like C.H. Guenther’s Pioneer Flour Mills. And the very oldest and most exclusive social club in San Antonio – is the German Club!

By: Ginny

Ginny — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:08:16 +0000

Immigrant culture is more my husband's interest than mine, but here are some examples of that interplay: A) Schultze Gets the Blues - a wonderful German movie with an unlikely hero; a German accordian player ends up at an accordian contest in New Braunfels (the area Shannon describes). He then sets off on a tour, in which he meets a series of ethnic/accordian musicians (German, Mexican, Czech roots), moving over into Louisiana and concluding with the music he'd heard and loved on a radio station in Germany. (Zydeco and Cajun) (More) B) In the early 70's, my husband's friend married a girl from Fredericksburg. My husband sat with the groom's men, so I was seated among people all speaking in German. Finally, trying to initiate conversation, I asked when they immigrated. The guy next to be responded, Oh, in the 1850's. C) When my son-in-law's parents visit, we try to overcome the language barrier by having a party and inviting everyone we know from the hill country. They don't understand each other perfectly, but the visitors have someone to kind of talk to and the guests a chance to remember their almost forgotten language skills. D) Lyle Lovett, from Klein, (a family name) took one degree in German; he studied & toured there early in his career. A German group opened for him at his album party (his family served barbecue). (Portrait by Alec Wilkinson, who also knows how to write.)

By: Shannon Love

Shannon Love — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:36:43 +0000

The influence on Texas by Germans is enormous but not widely recognized outside of the state and plays no role in common mythos of the state. Basically the entire area of about a hundred miles to either side of a line running between Austin and San Antonio is completely German. Chicken Fried steak which ties with Chili as the state dish is a modified schnitzel. We’ve always been able to get real german beer here.