Napa Valley Chronicles

From the extraordinary front cover photograph of Napa a century ago as farmland and orchards to the shimmering painting on the back cover, Napa Valley Chronicles is a delightful book. California historian Lauren Coodley has woven a rich and varied tapestry of stories and photographs from the 19th century to the present. Although I lived in Napa for 17 years and many of the names in this book are familiar, I never knew most of this history, including that Napa had a Chinatown, a Little Italy, and a neighborhood where descendants of the Mexican land grantees lived on streets bearing their names. (Full disclosure: my description of Terrace Drive, where I lived, is included in the book). I loved learning about pioneer women who farmed and raised livestock, Japanese laborers, a nurse at the Asylum (as Napa State Hospital was called), tannery workers, feminist leaders, and the many other ordinary people who are given a voice. This is people's history at its broadest and best.

What a great book! I was born and raised in Napa and it was definitely a trip to the past for me. So many things I remember and people I knew. Whether you are a native of Napa, a new current resident or a visitor to the valley, Napa Valley Chronicles gives you a reminder or a glimpse of the Real Napa; the way things use to be and the people who made the town of Napa what it is today. Reading Lauren's book made me long for those days past; when life was simpler, we all looked out after each other and everybody in town knew every body else. We will never have the opportunity to relive that life but, thank you, Lauren, for giving us the means for remembering how it was and reminding us to be thankful for what we once had. It's a great read for anyone interested in the Napa Valley, history in general and the 'good ol' days'.

I love this book! I loved to see my mother Phyllis King (a Napa Register reporter in the 1950s) brought to life in the book, but I'm fascinated by every chapter. It's so interesting to see history told through the eyes of some less usual sources... women, minorities and ordinary people. You get a real feeling for the changes that occurred throughout the years in Napa, and how they affected everyone. Some stories are told from Lauren Coodley's personal point of view (since she's a long-time member of the Napa community), and this makes them very engaging. When she expresses nostalgia or regret for changes and transformations that occurred over time, it adds a real depth of feeling to the book. It's definitely a good read.

I loved this book. I grew up in Napa so it is close to my heart.