TUESDAY 2: Two Primary Resources

I never know, when I start researching a story, just what I'll find. But always, there are lovely surprises.

Like BOOK 1.
And BOOK 2.
Book 1 is supplementary, really. I'm not dealing with the starvation experiment so much as the motivation for those who participated. (Conscientious objection to war)

And Book 2? I didn't plan to write about Sergeant Alvin York. and I wasn't prepared to like him, either.

If you'd told me that one could be a conscientious objector and a sharp shooting war hero all at the same time, I'd have been more than a little cynical.

But having read his story in his own words?
Ah, York demonstrates so well the complexities of the human response to war. And for this, I love him.

TUESDAY 2: Two DVDs

I've got some magnificent resources for use in researching my new work-in-progress. Newspaper clippings, yearbooks, directories, memoirs, and movies.

2 movies -
The Good War is about Conscientious Objectors who served our country in unusual ways during WWII. Their consciences would not allow them to participate in war but that didn't stop them from putting their lives on the line.
Sergeant York is about a WWI era Conscientious Objector whose CO status was rejected. He was drafted and ultimately used his sharpshooter skills to win a crucial battle against the Germans. He is one of America's foremost WW1 heroes.

And the COs portrayed in The Good War?

They are heroes too. A different sort, to be sure. But their contribution to the common good probably affects you and me in ways we would never guess.

I REALLY MUST SEE SERGEANT YORK!

I just ordered this movie.

It's based on this book - (Sergeant York: His Own Life Story and War Diary.) Sergeant York is a fascinating character and likely the topic of much discussion by characters in the novel I'm working on. In fact, they will go see the movie because it came out in 1941 when my story takes place.

This book seems like one I might want on my shelf. Only problem? It was published in 1928. So it's probably no longer in print!

Got that right. There is a copy at Amazon. For $ 1,000.00 on my credit card, it will arrive before Christmas. Ouch!

Which is where World Cat and Interlibrary Loan become my best friends. At World Cat, I can type in any title and discover which libraries have copies of that book. Fortunately, Sergeant York is in a library thirty minutes south of me. And in several others nearby as well.

Thank goodness, the Interlibrary Loan Dept at my local library is alive and well. I will call and see if they can order it! I'll probably have to pay $ 2.50 for postage to have it sent. But that means I just saved. $ 997.50.

And that, dear reader is a bargain!