Quotation Mark Monday: Important Presidents

Mark: Dad, there are only four important presidents.
Matt: Really?
Mark: Yeah, dad. One of them is Washington. One is Barack Obama.
Matt: Oh, who are the others?
Mark: You don't know? You tell me.
Matt: Abraham Lincoln.
Mark: He is important.
Matt: Woodrow Wilson.
Mark: He's not important.
Matt: Franklin Roosevelt?
Mark: He's not important.
Matt: Teddy Roosevelt?
Mark: He's not important.
Matt: Thomas Jefferson?
Mark: He's not important.
Matt: I don't know who it is.
Mark: You forgooooot James K. Polk.

Quotation Mark Mondays: Abe Lincoln

Mark: Where does Abraham Lincoln live?
Matt: He's not alive any more. He lived a long time ago.
Mark: Is he buried?
Matt: He's buried in Springfield, in Illinois.
Mark: Did they bury him in his hat?

Book it!

Are you struggling to find a decent coaster for your favorite drink? Do you find yourself thinking: "I wish my bathroom reading material included a little bit more about obscure Illinois murders"?
Having trouble starting your campfire?
Are you one thin book short of finally filling out that shelf on your book case?
Is one of the legs on your favorite table one-quarter inch shorter than all the others?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, and if you have $19.99 ($20.36 Canadian), then we've got just the book for you!

True Tales of Aurora, Illinois
by Matt Hanley

Hey, you know that guy!

Over the last few months, Matt has put together a book of short stories about historical events in Aurora, Illinois. All the stories are true, but their written in a narrative style. In other words, they're dramatic and have full rich characters. (At least that was the intention.)

For instance, you can read about the day that one of the most influential blues songs of all time was recorded in Aurora's tallest hotel. Or, the day the Wright Brothers amazed an Aurora crowd with their new invention. Or the season in Aurora that may have saved the career of future Hall of Famer Casey Stengel.
Also included, for no additional charge, are stories about: a tall, skinny Springfield lawyer's work on an Aurora patent case; the death of John Dillinger's best friend; some really gruesome murder mysteries; and the incredible heroism of Aurora's only Medal of Honor recipient.
In all, The Book is 37,064 words...or 53 pages...or 1,150 paragraphs...or 181,244 characters without spaces... long. That may seem like a lot, but it's a fast 37,000 words. (The last sixty four are a bit of a grind.)
Some of the stories were previously printed in the Beacon, but four are brand new. And since there is essentially zero overlap between the Beacon's readership and this blog's readership, they'll all be new to you!

Pretty soon, you'll be able to order it here.
The book is scheduled to be published in August. Not sure the exact date when it will be available , but the publisher said it will be "in the stores" by Aug. 8. What stores? Not sure.
But if you see it, consider buying eight copies, just in case the first seven get ruined.
For more information and exact dates of publication, search for "True Tales of Aurora, Illinois" on Facebook or click here.

Book review - Stealing Lincoln's Body

Here's book review number two. By the way, Matt is not counting this one toward his presidential biography series. I think you'll see why.

Book: Stealing Lincoln's Body by Thomas Craughwell, 210 pages

In 1876, an enterprising group of counterfeiters came up with an interesting plan: Why not steal the body of America's beloved president, hold it for ransom and use it to win the release of one of their buddies?
They almost pulled it off.
And their half-baked caper, kicked off a series of adventures for Lincoln's body that made this re-telling a fun, fast and fascinating read.
Growing up in Illinois, it's hard not to be captivated by Lincoln. Appropriately many of the Lincoln books cover different aspects of the same ground- his political acumen, his character, his presidency, his policies. Not this book. Stealing Lincoln's Body definitely creates it's own path.
There is nothing in the book about Lincoln's policies, accomplishments or thoughts (except about his wishes for burial). In fact, Lincoln the living man is not a character at all.
Instead, author Thomas Craughwell takes us on the strange and engaging journey of the president's corpse. It appears the turmoil that Lincoln experienced in life didn't end after he died.
The book opens across from Ford Theater in Lincoln's last moments. Although it's not as lively as other parts of the book, the prologue should give you a good feel for whether you're going to be interested in Stealing Lincoln's Body, as it goes into intricate detail about how the body was prepared for his funeral.
After that introduction, we're brought into the world of the counterfeiters who make an attempt to steal the body. Although that episode inspired the title, this caper only fills about the first quarter of the narrative. I think the book is at its best after the robbery, where the story of Lincoln's corpse is filled with great characters, wonderful anecdotes and genuine drama.
At the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield (highly recommended, by the way), they talk a lot about how Lincoln has become such an icon, it's hard to see the real man, who had weaknesses and strengths, virtues and faults. In that context, it's interesting that the body of this legend was treated so casually. It was almost stolen, practically abandoned, brazenly lied about, often argued over, frequently relocated, crudely hidden and repeatedly disturbed. Lincoln's corpse was treated more like an old coin than a sacred relic.
Thomas Craughwell's book is a readable and well-researched history of those events. And although it's a history the writing feels more like a fictional mystery, with good guys and bad guys, plots twists...and appropriate footnoting.
The research gives us a feel for the times. Craughwell helps explains the laws about grave robbing and talks about the country's mood in the years after the assassination. The way we treated Lincoln's body gave me a lot to think about, in terms of what we value and how we honor the dead.
Craughwell also has an appreciation for those wonderful historical nuggets, such as: As a young boy, which future president was among the people who came out to see Lincoln's body brought through New York? Or, who was the last living person to see Lincoln's face? (He lived until 1963!)
Now, if you believe corpses are holy, sacred things that should never be touched, you may not feel comfortable in this book. It's never gory, but it's practical about how a body ends up in a grave. If that's not going to bother you, I think you're in for a treat.
I've been to Lincoln's tomb before. But next time I go, it will look like a lot more than just a slab of marble. It'll look like the end of an adventure.

Good book for: People looking for an interesting story about Lincoln which they probably haven't read anywhere else. Lincoln buffs who want to read something very different.
Avoid this book if: You're going to be horrified by how they treat a dead body. You don't have a bit of dark humor in you. You don't like history books.

In other, non-wedding news

This is not an update on pink limos, or music selection, or flowers, or cake, or tastings, or dresses, or rings, or John Dillinger (bet you thought that would say Johnny Depp!) or Illini football.
This post is quite simply about good news.
The first piece of good news is that Lynne recently had her year-end review and to say it went well would be a massive understatement.
Quite frankly, the head of the department and the vice principal say she's a superstar. They love her style and demeanor and composure with the kids. This is no joke: they are going to videotape her and show it to new teachers as the right way to run a class. That's as big as compliments get.

Other good news, including some (very to only somewhat) belated congratulations:
Belated congratulations to Luke and Tracy, who got engaged and will be getting married this summer. Matt went to college with Luke and thinks he made a great choice. But you have to question Tracy's judgement, saying 'yes' to a Twins fan, don't you?

And very belated congratulations to Katelyn, for meeting her fantastic parents, Dave and Angela, and her brother 2-year-old Michael. Lynne and Matt finally got to meet Katelyn recently - what a fantastic little girl and great family.

And congratulations to Kevin and Angie, who are "with child," as the kids are saying. A fantastic couple who will make fantastic parents.

As long as we're talking babies, congratulations to Mark and Kate(s) who have a beautiful new baby girl, Phoebe Joanne.

And congratulations to the Mets for being so awesomely great.
As long as we're talking baseball, did you know Matt has another blog now? He's addicted. He kept it a secret because it. is. so. very. nerdy. But, if you're so inclined and love baseball cards, enjoy.

And congratulations to Lynne's sister, Laura, who got a fantastic internship at the prestigous Marco Island resort. Apparently, unlike many of her Western Illinois classmates, Laura had several offers for internships. It's not surprise a lot of people wanted to hang out with her - she's a blast. If it weren't for this pesky wedding Lynne and Matt would definitely be visiting.

More good news to share? Post it below!