Winter Reading

Some of St. John's (many) stories are retold, rediscovered and reborn

by Kelly O'Brien

On bookshelves across St. John, there are a few near-universal titles to be found. One would certainly be Gerald Singer's guidebook, St. John Off the Beaten Track. You'd also run across Don't Stop the Carnival, Herman Wouk's insightful little novel, more often than not. But almost certainly, Me and My Beloved Virgin - Guy Benjamin's collection of stories, amassed over nearly a century of living on St. John - would top any list of local must-reads.

Told with wit and an irresistible sincerity, Benjamin's recollections have been in print since the 1940s. That is, until a few years ago, when he ran out. Cid Hamling - who, in addition to running Connections, is a good friend of "Benjy" - says that Benjamin had been out of books for about a year when Caribbean Travel & Life ran a profile on him. The story unwittingly promised readers a copy of Me and My Beloved Virgin, if they would simply drop a check in the mail.

"Checks started rolling in," says Hamling, which put Benjamin in a pickle. The publisher in New York wanted $6000 to reprint the book, and $1800 just for the digital version on a disc. Neither option fit the bill, so Benjamin and Hamling put their heads together with a half-dozen friends, and a plan was hatched. First they needed a digital copy of the manuscript (which fell to Mary Pat Brown, who retyped the entire thing!). By the time that was done, word of the project had spread and volunteers started coming out of the woodwork, donating their talents for photography, graphic design, copy editing, check collecting, and all the sundry other tasks involved in putting together a book.

"It was a frantic few months, a lot of work," Hamling says, "but because of all of the wonderful people who helped us, it was really gratifying...and the proudest one was Benjy."

And that's true, for sure. "It was just work, a lot of work. And a lot of goodness," Benjamin says. "I love Cid, and all my other friends who helped us."

If you'd like a copy of the new edition of Me and My Beloved Virgin, the best thing to do is take a drive out past Skinny's and stop at Benjamin's beautiful roadside bookstand. He's sitting out there selling and signing his book, most days, and he'd be happy to see you! (Your other option, of course, is to contact Connections for a copy at: PO Box 37, St. John, VI  00831)

The rebirth of Benjamin's book is not the only exciting news on the literary scene this season. The St. John Historical Society will be publishing a book (its first!) called St. John - Life in Five Quarters later this winter. The bulk of the 200+ page book will be comprised of articles from the Historical Society's archives, but it will also include some new material, written or collected especially for the book, including a sizeable excerpt from the 19^th century diary of a St. Johnian family. Eleanor Gibney, one of the book's editors, says there's something for everyone.

"There's a huge range," she says, "from the 1600s, with the Danes trying to occupy St. John and their skirmishes with the British, up to [...] first-hand accounts of some of the first continentals coming down." Some of the pieces are more scholarly, while others are light, and the entire book is "image rich," she says, packed with historical photos, paintings, and even some postcards from the early 20^th century.

At press time, the editors (Gibney, plus Robin Swank, Elroy Sprauve, Bruce Schoonover, and David Knight) were in the last stages of the proofing process, and they expect to see the final product sometime in February. Don't wait, though! You can preorder a copy of Life in Five Quarters directly from the Historical Society. Visit www.stjohnhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

St. John, Through Different Eyes

Marshmellow Little Cloud Discovers An Island, by Lee Morris

Lee Morris' new children's book, which hit the shelves this fall, is a delightful story about a little cloud, of the puffy white variety, who's discovering all the wonderful things about St. John. With watercolor illustrations by local artist Lucy Portlock, Marshmellow Little Cloud is a great way to share St. John with your kids.

Available online at Amazon.com , locally at Sugar Birds and other retail stores, and directly from the author at leeandschatzi@gmail.com

 Coral Reef Stars, by Caroline Rogers, Ph.D.

Dr. Caroline Rogers is a marine ecologist who has made St. John her home for the last 25 years. In that time, she's developed a love and a talent for underwater photography. Her new book, Coral Reef Stars, highlights the incredibly diverse natural beauty of our coral reefs, and would make an excellent addition to any coffee table.

Available at the Friends of the VI National Park Store and directly from the author at www.seaturtle.org/coral_reef_stars

January 2010