SIX FEET UNDER TEXAS:
Unique, Famous, & Historic Graves in the Lone Star State
(Cemetery Tales Book 1)
by
TUI SNIDER
Genre: Nonfiction / Texana / History / Texas Travel
Publisher: Castle Azle Press
Date of Publication: August 15, 2020
Number of Pages: 250 pages
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Explore the cemeteries of Texas with Tui Snider as she reveals overlooked history in these fascinating open-air museums.
Along the way, you’ll meet fascinating characters, including a whistleblower who died in suspicious circumstances, an oilman who added a phone line to his mausoleum, and the events that caused two “frenemies” to be chained together in death.
If you have not found the wonder that is Tui Snider’s books yet, you are missing out! (Check out some of my other 5 STAR reviews here, here, or here). For 6 Feet Under Texas, we have a tour around Texas of unique gravesites and cemeteries. Perfect for October reading – and maybe October road tripping. I imagine cemeteries are rather easy for social distancing!
Right from the start of the book, I agree with Ms. Snider: cemeteries are open-air museums made for the living. I’ve always enjoyed discovering interesting facts from gravestones. As Ms. Snider states:
burial grounds connect us to the past in a unique manner.
Cemeteries are a great way to learn or teach history. Here are some of the interesting Texas history facts I learned while reading 6 Feet Under Texas:
- Larry Hagman is the son of Mary Martin. And is actually from Texas!
- Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca from Star Wars) is buried in Texas.
- Bonnie and Clyde are NOT buried next to each other.
- People sometimes buried their amputated limbs.
- Lonesome Dove is based on a real person’s life. (Someone remind me later I need to read that book! It sounds like an interesting story!)
- The history behind Amber Alerts.
Sure. I could have learned these tidbits by interneting. But I don’t think I would have ever asked the questions had Ms. Snider not posed the questions first.
The book is organized alphabetical by town name, including physical addresses, driving directions and website addresses where available. I enjoyed the little maps pointing out where all the towns\cemeteries are located throughout Texas. This makes it easier to figure out if the cemeteries are within easy driving distance of your home. The accompanying pictures are enjoyable. The chapters are short, with great writing, and interesting topics making for quick reading.
Ms. Sniders books are always professionally researched. The stories in 6 Feet Under are no exception. Chapters may start from Texas tall tales and legends, but Ms. Snider provides the reader with the facts to support or dispute the stories.
Personally, I love the humorous stories. The book includes graves of famous, infamous, and regular people. And even includes some animal stories! We have Space Aliens (from 1897!), a horned toad\science experiment, a Jesus in Cowboy Boots statue, and a whole host of Alamo cats. These stories had me chuckling as I read!
The bones (#sorrynotsorry) of the story is a travel guide and reference book. It could be used while traveling to specific sites. Or for some armchair travelling if you aren’t motivated to leave home. It’s in no way morbid or scary. But rather a fascinating look into history via grave sites. Check it out!
I received 6 Feet Under Texas free in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to author Tui Snider and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity.
Tui Snider is an author, speaker, photographer, YouTuber, podcast host, and musician who researches historic cemeteries and symbolism, offbeat Texas travel, overlooked history, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction–but then I moved to Texas!”
Snider’s best-selling books include Understanding Cemetery Symbols, 100 Things to Do in Dallas-Fort Worth Before You Die, Paranormal Texas, and many more. Snider has several books in progress and enjoys connecting with readers all over the globe through social media, her weekly newsletter, and website: TuiSnider.com.
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THREE WINNERS
GRAND PRIZE (US only):
Paperback + $10 Amazon Gift Card
+ Thank You Postcard
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2ND PRIZE (US only): Paperback & Thank You Postcard
3RD PRIZE (worldwide): e-book
September 29-October 9, 2020
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Hahahahaha! “The bones of the book…” Good one — and this sounds like another good one. Entertaining & informative is what Tui does best. Thanks for the great review.
Thanks, Kristine! I never resist a good pun!