South Carolina Books

As an avid outdoors enthusiast, I have had the privilege of perusing many fine guides to our country's natural treasures. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to read, then reread, this expertly written adventure guide by a newcomer to the field of outdoor writing. Being a native of South Carolina, I find that Mr. Giffen's descriptions of hiking trails on the western side of the state are remarkably accurate and informative even to those who have had firsthand experience enjoying them. He made me privy to many less traveled paths that I had previoulsy been unaware of. Indeed, the true value of this book lies in its fresh perspective and youthful attitude towards outdoor activities, which continue to gain popularity these days. As a family man, I especially appreciated the mentioning of various lake recreation ares that provide a range of activities for whomever you choose to share South Carolina's beauty with. In addition, "extreme" sports are highlighted in particular sections which advise the reader where one can rock climb or whitewater raft, for example. I presume that the author's hopes are in sync with my own, in that this text will provide an excuse for many to leave the confines of the office and fluorescent lights and enjoy the natural wonders our state has to offer. Kudos to Mr. Giffen on a job well done. - Chris Lawrence

The book is a little out of date, but this collection of essays by Southern educators and other authors provides an excellent introduction into what makes the South tick. The article on defining the South was both entertaining and informative. The authors candidly address racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, and good-ole-boy politics. I recommend this book to any "Yankee" contemplating a move to the Southland.

Catherine Bishir's collection of essays is a pleasure to read in its entirety. The work is enriched by the experiences of a distinguished career, yet the essays are charming and accessible. Standout essays include "Jacob W. Holt: An American Builder", "A Strong Force of Ladies: Women, Politics, and Confederate Memorial Associations in Nineteenth-Century Raleigh", and "The 'Unpainted Aristocracy': The Beach Cottages of Old Nags Head." Bishir's work comes across as well-researched and honest, and is accompanied by generous, well-selected photographs and illustrations.

As noted on the back cover, Bishir recognizes the diverse contributions of individuals to regional building concepts, particularly in the essay "Black Builders in Antebellum North Carolina." After finishing the collection of essays, I could not help but covet the sighting of a Thomas Day stair, or plan a drive through Warrenton so that I might spot the skillfully-crafted and customer-centric houses of Jacob Holt.

I recommend this graceful, yet lively collection to anyone with an interest in Southern architecture - the writing is lovely and informed. Enjoy!

Ms. Moss' knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject is apparent throughout this work. As a total lay person, I found it an enjoyable read.

Her scholarship is unique in that she has relied solely on Southern manuscript sources, thereby, confining her work to only those cures and remedies having a documented history in the colonial and ante-bellum south.

She has accompanied the remedies with a history of the medical theories prevalent at the time along with anecdotes and appendices that both amuse and inform.

A most needed addition to the history of folk medicine.

Yvone Lehman is an excellent writer and I am really enjoying her books (I just recently discovered her). This book has a different theme and storyline from most. Good interaction between characters. Not boring at all.

A friend of mine gave me this book as a gift. Looking at it, I thought, the civil war? It's not a subject I have any great interest in. However, I found Southern Homefront to be extremely interesting, especially the role of women on the homefront: how they made do with few supplies, what kind of war work they did, and how many took charge when their husbands were away. Highly amusing were the "scadalous" things that went on among Charleston's young people--some were actually waltzing, allowing their bodies to touch, instead of square dancing!

Also in Charleston, some ladies were apparently shocked that free black women would dare to take their carriages out during the day. I find such stories funny now, but imagine what it must have been like then.

Especially interesting is the first chapter of the book, which is mostly diary entries and letters of people on the homefront. It is difficult to imagine today what those people must have gone through. What was incredibly fascinating to me, and carries on as a theme throughout the book, was the suggestion that the apathy of the southerners was, in part, why the war was lost. It seems from the information presented that southerners started off the war gung-ho, but quickly lost their enthusiasm and their will to fight. Desertion, the exemption that if you owned 20 slaves you didn't have to fight, and the habit of buying substitutes were rampant problems.

From what I've written, Southern Homefront sounds like a history lesson, but it was really very readable and quite interesting. I encourage anyone, especially people like me who don't really care much about the war, to read this book. Fascinating.

Originally published in 1879, this one qualifies as an original source document, and is, indeed, a gem. Prior to the Civil War, it was considered "improper" for a woman to walk inside a hospital, much less work in one. War creates need, and need creates change....The Confederacy passed the "Matron Law" in 1862 as an attempt to free Doctors to treat patients. It worked. Many of the ladies the Confederacy was able to hire were free blacks, or even slaves. Phoebe Pember was a rich, high society, Jewish lady from Charleston, SC, who wanted to help in the war effort. She took a job as Head Matron of Division #2 at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, the largest Hospital of the war. [The site on East Broad St. now holds the Confederate Medical Museum, though no original buildings still stand] This short account of day to day life in Hell is always inspiring, usually charming, and sometimes even funny. [the infamous whiskey barrell]. Through it all, the patients ate, the Doctors had enough supplies to get by, and the Hospital still had resources at the end. President Davis said that the Medical Department was the only part of the Confederacy that wasn't demoralized by the end; ladies like Phoebe Pember made it happen. She made Dr. McCaw and his staff better doctors. Mrs. Pember was a successful magazine writer for many years after the war; we can all be thankful that she wrote of her wartime experiences. Read this one, and be inspired....

Having reviewed this wonderful book, I shall now digress into one of my pet theories: Why were the best hospitals, both government and private, run by rich society ladies like Mrs. Pember and Capt. Sally Tompkins? [and there were others]. What is it about a high level lady that makes her the best boss? Answer: ladies like them won't tolerate dirt, inefficiency, stupidity, or insolence. From the time they are little girls, they are raised to command. They are accustomed to deference, and we to giving it to them; further, they recognize merit in others, and aren't afraid to reward it. In the specific context of wartime Richmond, Mrs. Pember and Captain Sally had financial resourses of their own AND they could knock on the doors of others like themselves without getting the doors slammed in their faces.

Perhaps elsewhere I can discuss why preference in Surgical residencies should be given to girls. Why should [almost] all Surgeons be female? Maybe later....

In their book SOUTHERN WRITERS essayist William W. Starr and photographer David G. Spielman have achieved what few people are able to do in that the biographies of the writers and their photographs are of equal importance. Mr. Starr for each of the 72 Southern authors, if I counted correctly, usually tells us, in one page, how each writer goes about working on his or her craft-- it is surprising how many of them still either write in longhand or plug away on an old typewriter-- and then discusses some of their works and sometimes includes a quotation from the writer. Some of the lions of course are included: Eudora Welty, Reynolds Price, William Styron. At least four have died since this book was published in 1997-- Ms. Welty, Mr. Styron, Larry Brown and Shelby Foote; and there may be others I do not know about. While most of the authors write literary fiction, there are also essayists, poets, writers of nonfiction, history writers, mystery writers and humorists included as well. I was pleased to see Mickey Spillane listed. My father, a blue-collar worker, loved his detective stories.

Mr. Spielman says in his "Photographer's Note" that he shot most of the photographs within a period of 210 days and that he wanted to catch his models showing their "natural expression-- the writers, their spaces and not the photographer's idea of these." He admirably accomplished his goal. With the exception of one or two writers, whose names shall remain anonymous, these writers-- Billy Baldwin, Jill McCorkle, Lee Smith, Ernest J. Gaines, Gail Godwin, Wendell Berry, Pat Conroy et al.-- make you want to sit on a front porch with them, drink a coffee or iced tea and listen to them spin a yarn. What many of them seem to have in common is that they inhabit spaces filled with delightful clutter.

One thing is certain: there will not be a shortage of fine writers from the Southern United States in the foreseeable future.

Item as described, arrived in good shape in a timely fashion. Would do business with again.

North Carolina (of which I am a native, so please forgive the bias) likes to advertise itself as the "Variety Vacationland" and after reading the "State Parks of North Carolina" it's not hard to see why. Eastern North Carolina features hundreds of miles of beaches, lighthouses, coastal villages, swamps, Civil War forts, and the two largest landlocked sounds in the United States. The central section of the state (the Piedmont) features rolling, forested hills ocassionally broken by isolated, jagged peaks (usually called "knobs" locally) with excellent rock climbing and superb views, and swift rivers and large, manmade lakes. And in western North Carolina there are the Appalachian mountains, featuring the highest peaks east of the Mississippi river. This outstanding book, written by two biology professors from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, covers all 41 of North Carolina's state parks. These two men traveled to each of the state parks and thoroughly explored them (they traveled over 9,000 miles in researching this book). Although naturally concerned with the plant and animal life in the parks, the book is still designed with the camper, hiker, or even casual visitor in mind. The authors divide the parks into three geographic sections - coastal plain, Piedmont, and mountains, and they also include seperate sections on the state's nature preserves and recreation areas (all located on the shores of its' largest manmade lakes). The chapters on each park feature a map with roads, hiking trails, campgrounds, etc., contact information for the park, the park's main attractions, a section on the history of the park, a section on the plant and animal life to be found in the park, a section on hiking and (if relevant) climbing trails, a section on campgrounds or other facilities (and park activities, if any), and a section on nearby historic and/or natural attractions. There aren't many photographs, but I suppose that's to encourage the reader to see the parks for themselves. If you're interested in visiting North Carolina, or you're a native Tar Heel who's looking to explore your state, then this book is a great place to start! I've used it on a number of trips, and it has proven its' value time and again.