Finding Thalhimers
by Kate Willoughby Hall
If you’re a native Richmonder, Finding Thalhimers will warm your heart and resurrect memories from days of giant department stores towering in downtown Richmond, most notably the namesake of this new book by Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt.
But if you're not from Richmond, you'll love it too--I did. Turning the pages of this beautiful hard-cover book I learned so much about Richmond's past and the Thalhimer family who worked tirelessly in their family business through economic downturns, race riots, and new technology to keep their brand alive as long as possible. In doing so, they created thousands of memories for Richmond children like their famous Snow Bear, acted as heroes to African American Richmonders in a time when such heroism was not-at-all popular, and gave back to the Richmond community both monetarily and in ways that are immeasurable.
Elizabeth writes: By being the first major retailer in Richmond to integrate his entire store, he risked his business and his reputation to do what was right. He not only integrated, but he made a point of including blacks in the store’s hiring and promotion practices . . .
That passage, and several additionals pots in this heart-felt book made me pause and reflect on an era long-gone. The book took Elizabeth, a bright, young Richmond mom of one, twelve years to research and write. In it, historical significance and personal snapshots collide to create a book that is a historical treasure. If you’re lucky enough to receive this beautiful book, or smart enough to purchase it for yourself, you’ll never think about Richmond in the same way:
Dad said he could never go back to the downtown Thalhimer building after it closed because he didn’t want to see it without customers. When I see the clock sitting there on the street corner, I understand what he means. Sometimes it’s best to remember things at the peak of their glory.
Events and signings may be found at her site, FindingThalhimers.com.
The Rock People
The Rock People first struck me as a very different children’s book written by Sue Valiquett with illustrations by Kate Lazuka.
The photographs offered fun insight into little Nae-Nae’s world in the city, and her long-desired trip to the family beach house. The black-and-white pictorial brought me back to childhood trips to the ocean, collecting all the treasures the sea coughed up. When she happens upon The Rock People her mother shared the Legend of the Rock People. Nae Nae listened intently as her mother told the story of an earth that was once pristine, now littered and thick with smog, and learned how the Rock People planned to change all of that. A fun way to help children learn about the environment, The Rock People website also offers educational tools for kids.
This book received a Mom’s Choice Recipient Award on Amazon.com.
Review: A Year of Good Manners
When artist Jan Polk sent me a copy of this beautiful book with an equally gorgeous set of her notecards, I was intrigued, and to be quite honest—felt immediately guilty. I, who was always the child who sent a thoughtful, hand-written thank you note without being prompted by my parents has become an email-driven queen who rarely puts pen to paper to write a personal note. This hard-cover keepsake is entitled, A Year of Good Manners, “A perpetual, daily calendar to record birthdays, anniversaries, and help you remember good manners every day, all year long.”
Sifting through the pages, cleverly-lined with calendar dates on the right (to be used as a datebook for aforementioned special dates) and a tip for each day to remind us of just what good manners are, far beyond hand-written notes:
February 19: Good posture when standing shows respect and interest in other people. Keep your thumbs even with the side seams of your pants or skirt, and your shoulders will be straight. Keep your chin parallel with the floor to avoid looking droopy or haughty.
August 13: If you bring a bottle of wine as a hostess gift, understand that it might not be opened that evening. Probably a wine has already been chosen for that dinner. Yours will be appreciated at a different meal.
one of my favorites:
December 23: Replace “but” with “and” in your conversations. If you say “You are doing a great job, but. . .” they only remember the second half of your sentence. For a more positive effect try, “I love you, and I wish you had better table manners.”
This charming book, written by Margery Sinclair with artist Jan Polk, would be a great gift and reminder to our e-society to step back into manners who know no time boundaries. The book and notecards are available online at Jan Polk’s site.
The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors
by Kate Willoughby Hall, Richmondmom.com Founder
May 16, 2010
Every once in a while you read a book that’s so damn good you need to tell everyone about it. The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors is one such book. Intriguing characters Buckley and Becca, both survivors of lightning strikes from two different worlds, grow up with dysfunctional, partial, interesting families that drew me into their worlds and left me wanting to reach out and hug them. Their yearning to find love from their parents—and from anyone—left me yearning to finish the page in the hopes that these affectionate, lightning-strike-fearing oddballs would find the normalcy they so desperately sought. Along the way, fabulous, outlandish characters swoop into their lives like Padraig John and Clementine glitter the story’s landscape like the fish scales adorning Becca’s paintings.
Watching these two characters grow up, sharing their struggles, successes, loves, pains, and lightning strikes was a small glimpse into a world in which I could have stayed. I was a bot disappointed when the story ended, only because it left me wanting to follow these characters for the rest of their lives.
The icing on the cake? The author, Michele Young-Stone is a Richmond mom and native, and having met her I felt quite honored to know such a creative and gifted author. No wonder the reviews are rocking.
Richmond’s Casey Quinlan publishes Cancer For Christmas
“Whoopee – cancer!”
That’s not your average reaction to a cancer diagnosis, and Richmond’s Casey Quinlan isn’t your average patient. When, after her 15th mammogram, she won the booby prize – breast cancer – her first reaction, after downing a stiff drink, was to cover her own cancer story with the same relentless inquiry she brought to her career in network television news, and that informs her work as a “business storyteller” and branding consultant.
Casey’s approach to her treatment: be an active participant, not a passive consumer. Her metaphor for managing medical treatment? “It’s like a car wash. When you go to a car wash, do you want to be inside the car, or strapped to the hood? Ask questions, make sure you understand the answers - you get to stay inside the car. Otherwise, you get lots of soap and wax up your nose!”
In Cancer for Christmas: Making the Most of a Daunting Gift, Casey shares the questions she asked her doctors, what she did with the answers, and how she navigated surgery, chemo, and radiation treatment with determination, ferocity, and a large dose of humor. Fierce and funny, thought-provoking and inspiring, Casey’s story of her journey to cancer-free is full of insight into how to survive, and thrive, after getting life-changing medical news.
Casey’s book is available NOW on Amazon and will be at Richmond book signings soon!
Skippyjon Jones
OK, I gotta admit. . . .even I love these books as much as my kids. The entire Skippyjon Jones series is just a hoot. The hero, and ultimately the master troublemaker—is a little Siamese chat who thinks he is a chihuahua. He speaks in a Spanish accent, causes all kinds of scenes and gives his Mama Junebug Jones a fit. Reading aloud is a MUST and many hardback copies of these books come with a read-along CD. Perfect for kids 4-8 and even women aged 35 and older 
The Middle Place: A Richmond Mom’s fave author wins big
by Stepanie McNamara
As I sat in Shockoe Slip on Saturday afternoon, the anticipation of meeting my writing idol was killing me! Kelly Corrigan, author of #1 bestselling memoir The Middle Place, made Richmond part of her tour, much to my delight. Hearing her speak and read two chapters from her book was captivating. There are several themes to the Middle Place all revolving around the core of one’s place in their family. Anyone who reads this book (now available in paperback) will tangibly feel Kelly’s love of family as a daughter and sister, wife and mother. It’s a must read and hope you find Corrigan’s voice as compelling as I have.
The Shack: a Richmond mom is in awe of this point of view
by Kate Willoughby Hall
After hearing so much buzz about The Shack, I had to snag it at the bookstore. A few short days later (this is a quick timeframe for me to finish a book!) I had devoured all the words but couldn’t quite digest ‘em. . .I was savoring the immense delight of each chapter over and over again—it was a delight to read, even with a tragic subject. A father’s loss of his daughter drives him to the very place he lost her, and his life is forever changed as he looks, literally into the eyes of God. Regardless of religious beliefs, this could change the way anyone thinks about faith, hope, and forgiveness.
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