Toy Wooden Trains

I love toy wooden trains! They are so much fun and such a natural toy compared to all the electronic junk out there today. The ability to change and make something new with the track whenever you feel like is the best part! And there really isn't much to break on these toys. If you are unfamiliar with toy wooden trains, check out this website that has lot's of great info to get you started: Toy Wooden Train.

My Latest Site

It's been some time since I've updated this blog. Just wanted to let everyone know that I have transitioned all of my current websites to timothyyordy.com, please come and visit me there.

Eternity's End

I don't usually write posts about a "limited preview" books on Google Book Search but I decided to make an exception today. In 2001, one of my favorite authors, Jeffrey A. Carver, published Eternity's End. The book is adventurous and captivating and is one of Carver's best. Check out a limited preview of Eternity's End on Google Book Search.

If you enjoy the limited preview then head on over to Starrigger.net to purchase a copy through Carver's website.

He also has an active blog on blogger that is a joy to read. http://starrigger.blogspot.com

Johnnykin and the Goblins

After a couple of historical books I figured that it would be a good time to make a return to literature. Today's feature is Johnnykin and the Goblins, a fantasy novel from 1887 by Charles Godfrey Leland. The book is filled with wonderful illustrations and poetry.

Johnnykin and the Goblins is truly one of the great early fantasy novels that shouldn't be missed.

The Revolutionary War: Introduction

There is a large number of books and essays contemporary to the American Revolutionary War that can be found on Google Book Search. I plan to do a whole series on the subject here but for now we'll start with an introduction to the subject with "A Candid Examination of the Mutual Claims of Great Britian and the Colonies" by Joseph Galloway. The book was published in 1775, just before a declaration of independence that would change course of history for the United States of America and countless other countries around the world.

New England's Present Sufferings...

In 1675, Edward Wharton wrote "New-England's Present Sufferings Under Their Cruel Neighboring Indians." It is a gruesome tale of the atrocities committed by Native Americans against their English neighbors. One of the great things about reading historical texts written and published as a contemporary piece of the events that were taking place is that you see a more clear picture of what was actually happening. Hundreds of years later we have a version of American history that has been intentionally filled with political correctness and ignores the fact that not all of our nations bloody history lies in the hands of the "white man." But I would be naive to not consider that because this is a contemporary piece it is being written by an individual who in all likelihood viewed the Native Americans as savages and knew nothing of their culture.

Any individual with an interest in history would do themselves well to seek out books written when the events they are studying actually took place. You will a world of knowledge and perspectives not present in modern history books.

George Fox

Google Book Search is a treasure trove of old religious writings and one that I've come across is the autobiography of George Fox. Fox was the founder of the religious group the Quakers and his autobiography is really a collection of his journal writings as he traveled the country preaching the Gospel. There are many excellent truths to be learned from the wisdom contained in it's pages as well as some mildly amusing tales of declaring people to be witches in various towns. Check out George Fox: An Autobiography on Google book, you won't be dissapointed.