Reviews for Tex Smith's Hot Rod History Book One The Beginnings

The average rating for Tex Smith's Hot Rod History Book One The Beginnings based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-04-19 00:00:00 Bary Massey I am, perhaps, a little biased in my review, since this book was written by my great-uncle. Even so, it met my stringent book criteria in aspects such as grammar, coherence, and interest level. I was impressed with how well-written it was. My interest level in the subject matter will be greater than the average person, as it is written about my Czech ancestors and their settling of the Bohemian village that is Spillville, my dad's hometown and a town I've spent a lot of time in and am, thus, familiar with. And, despite the fact that the population of Spillville has never exceeded 400, the town has a claim to fame and is periodically mentioned on NPR, due to its connection to Czech composer Dvorak. Cyril published this book in 1983, when I was seven. While I've always been fascinated by my Czech heritage, I had little interest in reading this book when I was seven. (I would not have understood much of it anyway.) Now, though, was a perfect time for me to read it, and I enjoyed what I learned about my ancestors. Currently, Cyril is 95 years old and the last living sibling of my grandfather (there were eight siblings to begin with, my grandpa being the second oldest; Cyril, the second youngest). In fact, my parents are visiting Spillville right now, as is Cyril (who resides in the Pacific Northwest). My mom told him that I was reading his book and enjoying it; she said Cyril smiled and said, "Good." Like my grandpa did and like my dad does, Cyril has a slow, wry, contemplative manner of speaking. I can picture his smile and reply, and I'm glad he knows that I appreciate his extensive research and work. To have a historian-writer in the family who has researched and kept track of the precious history that could soon be lost to future generations is invaluable. The Czechs settled in Spillville, Iowa, in and around 1854, creating a little Bohemia much like they left but with a freedom they did not have in the old country. "For Spillville's Bohemian immigrants, 4th of July held a very special significance. Of the various ethnic groups living in the country, none appreciated the day as much as the Czechs, who were very conscious of the fact that they were living in a nation where they were now free men. Independence was something Bohemia had not experienced for 250 years. As phrased by Thomas Capek in 'Bohemia Under Hapsburg Misrule,' the Czech people had enjoyed certain liberties: '. . .they could smoke, drink and play cards without interference from the police. One enjoyment however was denied them--they were not permitted to think'"(p. 193). In Spillville, they had that freedom. In 1893, Czech composer Antonin Dvorak was in New York and, homesick for his homeland, it was suggested he go to Spillville for a respite. He did, spending that summer (of 1893) there. He composed two pieces there, played cards and mingled with the locals, and went back to New York refreshed. "Speaking to reporters in New York following his Spillville visit, Anton Dvorak summed it up thus: 'These people came to this place. . .mostly from the neighborhood of Pisek, Tabor and Budejovice. All the poorest of the poor, and after great hardship and struggle, they are very well off here'" (p. 203).

Review # 2 was written on 2015-09-10 00:00:00 Kevin Wise I think I'm getting hooked on oral history. You wouldn't think books on building the Hoover Dam or Pullman trains would be interesting but they really are. Now I have a long list of used books in that style to buy from Amazon. C'est la vie.