“Letters To Louise” by Carol Carruthers Lambert
Yesterday I had lunch with Carol Carruthers Lambert at the T. Urban Café (Yum!) in Astoria. Carol is a new friend with old connections to Oysterville. In 1873 her great-great grandparents built the Pacific House here, an inn which was soon known as one of the best hostelries in the northwest. Carol and I meet now and then to share information about those long-ago days – me from the Espy perspective and Carol from the Carruthers viewpoint.
We also talk about books – specifically books that we are researching and writing. We commiserate with one another about new-age publishing complexities, high tech mysteries, and our passion for preserving the bits and pieces of the past that we are so lucky to have. Yesterday, Carol presented me with a copy of her hot-off-the-press 1893 to 1904 LETTERS TO LOUISE, A Love Story. I was so surprised and pleased!
It is a lovely looking book. And it is big! At 378 pages, the 8½ x 11 format book weighs a fraction over two pounds. It is chock-full of intriguing historic photographs and bits of ephemera – invitations to balls, playbills, dance programs, menus. Best of all, the ‘action’ is centered in Astoria at the turn of the last century with ample illumination by Carol of the world at large – the world which shaped and was shaped by her grandmother Louise and grandfather Richard – recipient and writer of the letters.
So far, I’ve only had time to skim through the pages, pausing here and there to peruse a page of photographs or to check out a few of the Oysterville references (of course!). I’m itching to really get into it. It’s my kind of history – based on actual letters and documents of the period, focused on a region close to home, and written by someone with historic connections to my own ancestors – and the author is someone I am actually fortunate enough to know.
As an extra serendipity to the day, the Daily Astorian ran a front page story about Carol and her new book. When I saw it, I felt myself puff right up. “I know her!” I thought. “And I have her book!” I can’t wait to start reading.
This sounds like a lovely book and a book I would love! Thanks for the review!!