Courteous S.C. crowd greets Carter at library

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.charleston.net/stories/112503/sta_25carter.shtml

COLUMBIA--The line snaked in and out of bookcases, around checkout counters and right through the front door. There was no pushing, no shoving. No one was rude or impatient. For two straight hours, they simply waited, books in hand, for the chance to meet the slight, white-haired man at the front of the room. It was quite a turnout for an author of historical fiction. The genre doesn't typically light a fire under the average reader. But then it's not every day the author is a former president of the United States. More than 1,000 people waited in line at the Richland County Public Library on Monday for the chance to leave with a signed copy of former President Jimmy Carter's new book, "The Hornet's Nest," a novel about Southern fighting during the Revolutionary War. The book, which people were buying by the armfuls Monday, tells the story of Ethan Pratt, a shoemaker from Philadelphia who moves to North Carolina and becomes entangled in the violence of the times. It marks a departure for Carter, 79, whose rather prodigious literary career up to this point focused solely on nonfiction. Some of his other books are: "Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President," "Talking Peace: A Vision for the Next Generation," and "A Government as Good as Its People." Carter said it took him seven years to complete the research for "The Hornet's Nest," and he is quite proud of the end result. "A lot of attention has been given to the Civil War and not enough really, to the South's role in this war, which I think was much more important to us as a nation," he said.
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[styersc]

1. I went to this yesterday and got a copy of the book for my folks-

the turnout was phenomenal and the president was gracious and "presidential". If "character counts" James Earl Carter would be named President for Life. He has done more for this country and globe in one week of post-presidency then the current 'resident has done in his entire term.

[Dhalgren]

2. I always loved Jimmy.

I proudly voted for him twice, and to be honest, I'd vote for him again tomorrow and never look back.

[silverchair]

3. that's my old

home town. i lived in columbia and went to college there. i would have definitely waited in line to see carter.