Today’s prompt from Long and Short Reviews is, “Something to know before visiting my country or city”.

Well, for starters, don’t come between May and October because most of the year we endure the Great Sticky Siege. As regards Selma specifically, my ladyfriend probably started giggling because she knows exactly what I’m going to say, because I have an entire rant about it, but I’m going to surprise her and say this: people visit purely for Civil Rights history, which is valid given our role in it, but Selma has a history which is far deeper and richer than 1960s politics. Selma is one of Alabama’s few original river towns to survive into the modern day, along with Montgomery; the rest, like St. Stephens, Claiborne, and Old Cahawba, all died. This owed in part to its geographical advantage: it’s a high bluff on the Alabama river in the middle of Alabama’s richest farming soil, and until the 1920s that meant it commanded agriculture commerce. Everything came to us, and then it went elsewhere. First by rivers, then by rails. Railroads obsessed Selma’s civic and business leaders after the War. The town assumed signal importance during the Civil War, being burned in the last week of the conflict, but rebounded to become so influential that at one time, both of Alabama’s US Senators hailed from here. Then came cars and highways and — well. We missed the interstate bus, and now we’re struggling to find our way in the new world. We have an impressive architectural heritage that could rival Natchez if we received cruise lines like they do. The Alabama river is so dammed up, though, we’ll have to find another way.

WWW Wednesday

WHAT have you finished reading recently? Five Days in November, Kennedy and Nixon, and SHELLI: R-Evolution. The latter releases in a few days but I read an advance copy sent to me by the author. Review for K&N is done but I’m still in ‘edit and ponder’ mode. (Happy City was in edit-and-ponder mode for several years, but I’m fairly sure K&N will be posted tomorrow.)

WHAT are you reading now? Still Angle of Repose. One of my church members said to me Sunday, “Stephen! We need to have a Wallace Stegner chat.” He was disappointed that I hadn’t finished it yet (give me time people, do you realize how many books I want to hoover up?)

WHAT are you reading next? The Rupture, Regina Kay. Dark fantasy release from a friend. I can’t even say “dark fantasy isn’t really my thing” because I’ve literally read three and a half dark fantasy westerns by Rhett C. Bruno and Jaime Castle.