Book Review by John Davis
Whispered Secrets of the South, by Shelly Van Meter Miller; Amazon; $9.99 paperback
Seldom does life offer a cornucopia of charm, both natural and man-made, intriguing mystery, rampant ghosts, and overwhelming wonder all in one place. You’ll find it all in Shelly Van Meter Miller’s Whispered Secrets of the South.
Miller’s story tells of Montevallo, a fascinating, quaint and mysterious college town nestled quite literally in the heart of Alabama. Herself a Murray State University educated Speech Communications specialist, Miller deployed her skills first to a US Senator’s public affairs campaign. Now she lives her dream as author, master of her beloved personal garden, and a physical trainer, proud of having raised three home-schooled girls.
And so to Montevallo. We follow an unusual metaphor of ‘finding a star’. A bronze star is located at the disputed geographical center of Alabama at the campus’s Main Hall. From there Miller takes metaphorical leaps of imagination to times past. In these reveries she speculates upon events and discussions which explain the strange goings-on of Montevallo today. And plenty such oddments there are!
‘Condie’ the burning ghost no longer howls through the residence halls, thank heavens. Although she only manifests today by benign touches, flushing toilets, and odd movements of coffee cups, no one and nothing can expunge her most unnerving presence. Even today they can’t efface a blazing image of her face from the door of her 1908 dorm room. Four separate doors were tried. Each produced an image of a flaming face which scared students enough the doors are now finally locked away. Ghosts also lurk where Captain Reynolds, first president of the university, once guarded wounded Civil War soldiers in his like-named hall. Oh, and his portrait moves around, too. And did you know Montevallo’s Quad Park was designed by the same man who laid out Central Park in New York City, and even the grounds of Biltmore Mansion in North Carolina?
Also, nearby Montevallo’s Orr Park is characterized by weird faces, masterfully carved into some 30 trees throughout its wandering pathways. Then there’s the Eclipse Cafe with its now departed, beloved Willie the Cat. The annual Purple and Gold College Night, where you might meet a real lion and…purple cow, is the oldest such event in the country. Above and through all of this you’ll smell a dominant waft of wisteria, a mellowing, purple beflowered vine which covers most buildings, the better to produce dream-like musings. The past was not always moonlight and magnolia, however. A plantation and railroad magnate named Edmund King brought pulsing commerce to the city. His ghost too appears with an icy touch to those who visit his campus home. Or perhaps you’ll be there when the telephone box (yes, it still exists) near his house rings…and no one is there!
There’s so much more to discover. Red brick roads and university buildings throughout the campus evoke memories of self sufficient days gone by. You can search for a gallows tree, where a dread lynching occurred. Montevallo has a charming town center, arts facilities, and even favorite student hang outs are mentioned..quite literally for hammocks! Best of all though, Shelly Van Meter Miller has left us a scavenger hunt in her book, the better to see for yourself the locations of the magnificent Southern Secrets she recounts. Not only are the stories cleverly told, the writing is crisp and joyful. You can tell she enjoyed writing as much as you’ll enjoy reading.
~Article written by John Davis
Read More from John
John William Davis is a retired US Army counterintelligence officer and linguist. As a linguist, Mr. Davis learned five languages, the better to serve in his counterintelligence jobs during some 14 years overseas. He served in West Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands during the Cold War. There he was active in investigations directed against the Communist espionage services of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. His mission was also to investigate terrorists such as the Red Army Faction in Germany, the Red Brigades in Italy, and the Combatant Communist Cells (in Belgium) among a host of others.
His work during the Cold War and the bitter aftermath led him to write Rainy Street Stories, ‘Reflections on Secret Wars, Terrorism, and Espionage’ . He wanted to talk about not only the events themselves, but also the moral and human aspects of the secret world as well.
And now recently published in 2018, John continued his writing with Around the Corner: Reflections on American Wars, Violence, Terrorism, and Hope.
Two powerful books worth reading.
Read more about them in the following Six Questions:
Six Questions with John Davis: Author of Rainy Street Stories
Six Questions with John Davis: Author of Around the Corner