Florida Books

Motherless Eddie Brown (actually Evangeline) candidly tells of her friendship with the new boy in school, Farrell. Both feel themselves to be outsiders and closely guard their family secrets. Their fathers are drinking buddies and their alcoholism overshadows the whole story. The bullying by the other kids pulls the two youngsters together and Farrel teaches Eddie to defend herself.
Young readers will relate to their experiences in coping with hurtful teasing, having to wear glasses, adjusting to a new teacher, and feeling embarrassed about their homes and families. The two of them have an up-and-down relationship as they take their insecurities and frustrations out on each other.
When disaster looms, they hatch a plot together to cope with it. Farrel fears that the new teacher's home visits will result in Eddie and him being sent to foster homes. He says they should run away and travel to his grandmother's.
Eddie must make a difficult choice between her loyalty to her father who has disappointed her over and over or on taking a risk with this new friend. The book ends on a hopeful note.

I don't usually read children's books, but bought this one for my grandchildren, read it myself, and was delighted. Perhaps the strongest feature is the way Ms. Davis captures the voice of 10-year-old Eddie Brown (Evangeline) the sassy little protagonist through whose eyes the story is told.

Eddie's problem is that she lives with her dad, the village drunk, in a run-down Florida motel--one of those places that rents rooms by the hour. The most notable feature of the motel, other than its broken neon sign and shady clientele, is the rear end of a pink Cadillac protruding from one of the rooms. Eddie's dad is the manager.

Eddie is street smart enough to realize that all is not well with all the comings and goings, and finds friendship with Farrell, another kid with problems. His dad runs a greasy mechanic shop and is the drinking buddy of Eddie's dad. The dads aren't bad guys, just a couple of negligent drunks.

Eddie and Farrell play basketball together, fend off bullies, and talk about their miserable lives. As bad as things are, they turn worse when a new teacher comes to town and announces she's going to visit each child at home, have a chat with their parents. No way, says Eddie and Farrell. Not only will they become the laughing stock of the school, but they could wind up as wards of the state. This sets the stage for an elaborate escape, a run-away-from-home with the intention of moving in with Eddies aunt.

I won't spoil the ending for those who haven't read the book, but will add that things go from bad to worse to disastrous when they encounter the really bad guys in a bus station, the sort that preys on little kids.

This book has everything for a delightful read--a loveable protagonist, a BIG problem, a determination to do something about the problem, bad guys and a satisfactory ending. It also has a message for kids contemplating escape from their parents: things could be much much worse. In short, it's a great read for both kids and adults.

In this novel, which won the coveted Ann Durrell Fiction Contest (Dutton Children's Books' contest for new writers of middle-grade fiction), Evangeline "Eddie" Brown lives in poverty with her beer-sodden father. Their home is the rarely frequented Cadillac Motel, decorated with the butt-end of a pink Cadillac. Eddie has lived in Paradise since she was born. The motel is in sad shape and so is Eddie's Pa, who has never recovered from her mother's death when Eddie was five. Ruby, the motel maid, functions somewhat as a mom substitute. Eddie is friendless and teased unmercifully at school.

Eddie meets Farrell, the son of one of Pa's drinking buddies. The two connect through their mutual love of basketball. Eddie is troubled by Farrell's secrets. Why is he afraid of enclosed spaces? Where is the place he lived when his mother died? When school starts, they strike a deal: Eddie will help Farrell with his schoolwork in exchange for fighting lessons. Farrell and Eddie combine their talents to solve problems. Their solutions sometimes result in triumph but also lead them into danger.

Along with her new friend, Eddie also has a new teacher. Instead of cranky old Mrs. Thornton, the class has pretty, sweet Miss Rose. Her new teacher drops a bombshell: she plans to visit each student's home. Eddie is awash in shame and fear at the thought of her lovely teacher in the trashed-out motel meeting her drunken father. She is desperate to prevent that scenario.

This is a poignant book with fresh, surprising characters (I love Eddie's attitude!) and a lively but thoughtful plot. It's both heartbreaking and heartwarming but never slips into sentimentality. Although I thought that perhaps the situation with Eddie's father was resolved just a bit too easily, this is a minor quibble with such a wonderful novel. Indeed, I simply cannot wait to read many more books by talented newcomer Michele Ivy Davis.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (...)

This is a wonderful story that made me laugh and cry. I really loved the main character. The author does such a wonderful job that you really feel part of the story. I am an adult and I plan on sharing this one with both my 8 year old and 11 year old. A great book to curl up with!

What a delightful book! I enjoyed the engaging story and the spunk of the main character. Eddie is a no nonsense tomboy on the outside and a vulnerable young girl within. The author lends a remarkable insight into the life of a young girl of difficult circumstances. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to enjoy its simple lessons. I truly do believe that this book shouldn't be limited to kids!

I had read an earlier printing of this classic book, and I knew that it was an invaluable resource of information and a well-written narrative. The 50th anniversary edition has excellent updates about developments in the Everglades and the maps are much more readable than my earlier version. I was very pleased.

That's how most of us in Florida referred to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Long honored by the state and then by the nation a few years before she died in 1998, she was a living legend in the South Florida environmental movement. Within a few miles of where I live there's a school, a park, a long section of highway and the Biscayne Nature Center, all of which are named after this grand old lady.

And grand and old she was. One of the most amazing facts about her life is the way it seems to have paralleled the recent history of the Everglades itself. Consider this. The first real encroachment of the Everglades began in 1890 when settlers started draining the area around the Kissimmee river. This was just 10 years before Douglas was born. When she wrote THE EVERGLADES: RIVER OF GRASS in 1947 she was 57 years old. The book played a huge part in creating public awareness about the vital importance of the area and was the prime impetus for the creation of the Everglades National Park. Douglas was in fact there when Harry Truman officially opened the park in late 1947. She was still around to receive an honor from president Clinton in 1993. Most incredibly she lived to see the publishing of this - the Fiftieth Anniversary edition of her best known book - dying shortly after at the age of 108! One of the salient points to note about this edition is that it offers an added chapter by another writer titled "Coming Together" which highlights some of the recent progress being made in reversing the damage done to the Everglades watershed area. Progress which can trace it's origins back decades ago to the constant cajoling and inspiration of one Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Never has the saying "Life imitates Nature" been any truer.

Douglas's original book is in keeping with the times it was written in. A natural history of the Everglades with a heavy emphasis on wildlife and the local culture, written in a simple straightforward style. This "just-the-facts" approach is used when recounting the early history of the area, giving names and dates of conquerors and explorers. The writing style occasionally feels a bit dry but these moments quickly pass as we get so caught up in reading about history by someone who was themselves a bit of living history.

What a readable and fascinating history of the wonderful State of Florida! I enjoyed every minute of the story of the struggle to conquer the environment and mold it to the white man's idea of a civilized place. Sadly, I am not convinced the developers will allow the Everglades to exist much longer. I am grateful to have lived in a time when its wonders are still available to me.

Everglades National Park is one of the country's mostfascinating wilderness areas, and is quite possibly the best place forviewing wildlife on the entire North American continent. It's amazing that such a park can exist right next to one of our biggest and fastest-growing urban areas, and in a region that draws millions of visitors every year. The fact that it exists at all in the face of so much human pressure is a testament to the efforts of Marjory Stoneman Douglas and others, and to the influence of this book.

Still, for the most part, this book is a conventional dates-and-events human history of South Florida rather than an argument for environmental protection. The environmental theme doesn't really get going until after the Civil War, well past the middle of the book, when draining the Everglades was first proposed, and it isn't until "The Eleventh Hour," the final chapter of the original edition, that the book becomes an impassioned plea for saving the wilderness. A final chapter added in 1987 brings the story into our era, continues the catalog of degradation, and makes the key point that most of the forces that threaten the Everglades flourish outside the boundaries of the National Park.

I confess that I found the historical narrative a bit dull in places, though it's hard to imagine a more colorful cast of characters than the conquistadors, pirates, hardy Native Americans, escaped slaves, adventurers, poachers, speculators and old-time politicians who all play a part in the story. Nevertheless, "River of Grass" is still the best history of South Florida, and should be on the reading list of anyone who wants something a little more substantial than the tourist guides and coffee-table fluff that dominate the shelf of books about the region.

Last winter, I purchased River of Grass at the National Park Service's store at Shark Valley in the Everglades. It was recommended by the tour guide. I visit Miami about once a year and always hope to have the opportunity to visit the Everglades. I have known that they are a very special, spiritual place on the edge of a huge city.

However, River of Grass has helped me better understand the unique place that this wilderness holds. It is an ancient area that was the sight of much fighting, greed, and sorrow. It is one of the very few places left where the Native American people fought and, to some degree, won. This, in and of itself, is fascinating. There is a deep and ancient culture that Ms. Douglas discusses and explains with great beauty and respect.

And then there is the River itself. The Everglades have been the sight of some of the most contentious environmental battles in North America. Ms. Douglas identifies the warring parties and comes down firmly in the camp of the environmentalists. This adds a great deal of power and conviction to the book.

I strongly recommend this book if you have an interest in South Florida beyond the beaches and the tourist sights.

Although she agreed to work with the visiting porn star, Venus Lovemotion, Tiffany's Gentleman Club headliner Sierra Lavotini expected a pain in the butt. However, she never anticipated that the ache would come from a bullet that killed Venus as it passed through her body and penetrated one of Sierra's covered cheeks.

A second homicide of a visiting superstar of the velvet circuit occurs. Panama City homicide detective John Nailor uncovers evidence that points towards Sierra's local rival, Marla as the killer. Although she cannot stand Marla, who is a bigger pain to her butt than a bullet, Sierra decides her peer is too stupid to have pulled off the two murders. Sierra decides to assist John, hoping to also land him in her bed, during the intermission of solving the case.

The third Lavotini mystery (see MIRACLE STRIP and DRAG STRIP) is a very humorous, satirical work that strips bare the essence of the amateur sleuth sub-genre. The story line starts off with an amusing shot in the dark and continues its funny plot until the tale is finished. However, don't be fooled by the droll plot, the murder investigation is well written and the support cast (especially Sierra's investigative aides) brings the Florida resort town to life. John is a wonderful cop, but when this tale is stripped to the bone, like the previous two novels, the headliner remains Sierra.

Harriet Klausner

Sierra Lavotini is back and the story is even better than ever. Someone is targeting the dancers at the Tiffany Gentlemen's Club in Panama City. At first the police think that Sierra's nemesis, Marla, is trying to stop the competition by killing Venus Lovemotion and Frosty Licks. Sierra is not convinced that even though she hates Marla's guts she does not think that she is responsible and will do her best to find out.

This book is even more fun and the author provides more information about Sierra mainly why she moved from Philadelphia to work at Panama City. In DRAG STRIP we met one of Sierra's four brothers and here we meet another brother. He helps Sierra work the case by pretending to be Little Moose Lavotini, a well-known mobster. As far as Sierra knows she has no relation to Moose Lavotini but she uses this `familial' connection to help her control her boss, Vincent Gambuzzo, and to put fear at the person she believes to be the killer. She provides a unique touch to her investigation and at the same time helps her police boyfriend, Detective John Nailor. The book is filled with many laugh out loud moments and provides a nice twist at the end of this book. STRIP POKER is going to be a lot of fun.

In FILM STRIP, Nancy Bartholomew continues a winning streak with exotic dancer, Sierra Lavotini's amateur murder investigation. And this latest venture is a real pain. Literally. Poor Sierra. All she wants is for the Tiffany club to rake in the cash in order to stay afloat, thereby ensuring her financial security. Doesn't look like it's going to happen, though, as one by one the invited guest dancers are picked off. Much to Sierra's chagrin, the shooter's aim on one occasion is a bit off and Sierra ends up with a huge pain in the ----- well, you'll have to read the book. Sierra's brother, Francis, arrives to help his sister stay out harm's way and ends up in a position he'd never even dreamed of.

The author brings in all the characters we've come to know and love: Raydean and Pat, Marla and Vincent, and of course, hunky police detective John Nailor. And we finally get a verbal 'glimpse' of the infamous Big Moose Lavotini.

The dialogue is fast and witty, the characters quirky and interesting, and the love scenes are--whoa!--hot!! What more could one ask for? I'm eagerly awaiting the next in the series, STRIP POKER.

...Since I'm writing this review, you know I believe Nancy Bartholomew's FILM STRIP works. It is another fun novel about those adult entertainers at the Tiffany in Panama City, Florida. Venus Lovemotion and Frosty Licks are two big name porn stars brought in to boost the gentlemen's club's profits. Both end up dead, and we know who finds herself struggling to solve the murder. Yes, Sierra Lavotini is on the case, and this case is loaded with fun. There is even a little fun for Sierra to share with her detective friend John Nailor. FILM STRIP is a fun read and sassy read, if you are looking for a fun and sassy read. Even Fluffy has a good time.

Nancy Bartholomew has done it again. In this third book of the Sierra Lavotini series, the action and intrigue is non-stop.

Sierra, who claims to have "family" ties, is the classy, headlining exotic dancer at The Tiffany. When a pair of visiting stippers get gunned down and her co-worker, Marla the Bomber, is arrested as the primary suspect, Sierra must spring into action to get to the bottom of the crime.

All of the regulars are back, including the crazy, yet irreplaceable, scene-stealing Raydean. Sierra's love interest with top cop John Nailor also heats up in this book, so watch out for the sparks. Bartholomew does a fantastic job of meshing all of these diverse characters together into one intersting mystery. The dialogue and scenarios are quite funny, and this humor peppers the already excellent, cohesive writing.

This is a very entertaining book, and is sure to make you laugh out loud several times, let alone, flipping the pages in a rapid motion. FILM STRIP is another excellent effort.

The lens through which we see the world is different for everybody and according to what appears to me, there are three kinds of books that exist. First category consists of books that once they are finished, end up gathering dust on the bookshelf. Only occasionally they will be remembered. Books such as these are usually heavily marketed, so everyone will buy it, and only stay afloat for a short period of time. Second, there are those books that should be read to gain a better understanding of yourself and this world. True gems of literature that shine brightly on the pages of history. These are the classics, which take concepts to higher levels. Finally, there are those books that seem to appear quietly, but steadily gain acclaim and credibility. These are the books that get tested and tried, making them prove their worth. With time, these books either gain a solid footing, or slowly fade into the background. I find myself paying close attention to such books, because these are the ones that have the potential to become timeless.

Richard Barone's "Frontman" falls into the last category. While going through its pages, I could not help but to gain a deeper understanding of what love for music is all about. Starting from Richard's early years as being "the littlest DJ" all the way to his latest accomplishments of producing countless projects that are all backed up by nothing more but his love for what he does. As I was reading about Richard's "frontman" experience, it helped me realize how much work it took to be him. The pressure that is placed upon the leader's shoulders and how tough it can get. For anyone wishing to see what the world of music producing is all about will not be disappointed either. One will find a lot of technical information about equipment, record deals, and advice to those who are just starting out in this field. I started appreciating music a lot more than before and learned the true meaning of self-expression. I mean, who can forget that SEX flag? It is cleverly written and will make you laugh more than once, at times even cry, as well as pass on countless advice from the wise to anyone who chooses to listen. I find myself going back to the book and rereading what I've highlighted once in a while to make sure I don't forget what it conveys.

It was once said that if you want to become better at one thing, study something else. The broader your viewpoint on the world, the better you can understand it. Regardless if you are a music fan, in a band, a finance major, or someone who is looking for answers about themselves and their existence, this book has what it takes to open your eyes at least a little bit wider.

Thank you Richard for how much of yourself you've invested into this book.

Frontman: Surviving the Rock Star Myth

"Frontman" is a uniquely honest and refreshing story that works on several levels at the same time. What makes a frontman? Why do they do it? Few books, if any, have explored the phenomenon from the point of view of the subject so brilliantly. B-52's Frontman Fred Schneider says it best on the back cover: "BUY THIS BOOK"!!!

Richard's book is an extremely enjoyable, involving look at a business that eats its own without blinking, but he's come out of everything he's encountered with an amazingly uncynical, positive view. I can't recommend Frontman highly enough... a wonderful way to spend your weekend!

With 'Frontman' Richard Barone adds another remarkable achievement to his already impressive portfolio. Most books I've read by or about musicians have disappointed and/or caused me to like a performer less. 'Frontman' only helps me further appreciate one of my favorite artists! Richard offers a fascinating "travelogue" of his career and music. As in his songs, his writing is eloquent but never pretentious or cloying, and honest but never self-indulgent or gossipy. And as intended, his stories of the music biz are enlightening, engaging and educational for any aspiring frontmen. Richard has truly experienced the wild rollercoaster ride of the entertainment industry and still remains modest, upbeat, and astonishingly un-jaded. Whether or not you're already a fan of Richard's work, this is a great read... and if you're not, you will be by the time you finish this book!

What a surprise to find that the frontman, Richard Barone, is a poet, a musician and singer, a philosopher and mystic. I was skeptical when a friend gave me the book exclaiming, "you'll love it." I love music, but wasn't interested in knowing the ins and outs of the music business (which is accomplished with humor, intelligence and punches). So, I read the first page and was convinced he could write, and then read the last two pages, which reeled me into the reality that this book was much more than black and white words. I've thanked my friend for turning me on to The Frontman. I've given copies to several of my friends, who have thanked me. And, so it goes, there are numerous ways to be inspired, appreciate creativity, notice serendipity, and be compelled to consider the grand unanswerable questions of life. Thank you Richard Barone!

If you're a fan of nature or outdoors writing, especially the sort that provides a good deal of local color, you'll probably enjoy this book. It reminded me of William W. Warner's wonderful little book, Beautiful Swimmers, which was about the blue crab and other fisherman of the Chesapeake Bay. (By the way, I can highly recommend Warner's book as it is not as well known as it should be, but it is a much loved classic among those who do. Try reading the reviews here on it and you'll see what I mean. They're practically all rave reviews).

But getting back to White's book, White recounts the life of a Georgia small boat builder and waterman from his earliest childhood to his more mature years. White was practically born building small boats, and it shows, as his knowledge of small boat building and craftsmanship is as broad and deep as the waters he has plied for decades in his homemade canoes.

But the book isn't all about boat building, as White is a first-rate raconteur and tells many funny stories and anecdotes along the way, in addition to giving you his down-home philosophy about people, boats, and life in general. Overall an enjoyable read and if you follow other authors in the genre, like Randy Wayne White, you'll probably want to try Robb White (no relation as far as I know) too.

Robb White's descriptions of growing up along the Florida Panhandle sets the stage for one of the funniest, most entertaining books I have read in years. Beginning with a gang of kids, toddlers in diapers to gawky teenagers, who wandered shallow bays and sandy beaches from dawn to dark, White moves on to his Navy years in Puerto Rico, where he spent his off hours (and there were a lot of off them) watching local boat builders, and finally beginning his own boat building business. Stateside, he followed the boat-building trade as best he could, struggling to earn a bare living, with long periods of cash-money work such as crewing aboard tugboats which pushed oil-laden barges around the Gulf Coast and up tiny tidal waterways. I practically rolled on the floor laughing at his accounts of life aboard the tugs, which included ritual trading of tattered "porn" magazines and a crewmate who literally "gutted" an annoying tug captain. Interspersed through lively, often hysterical, accounts of his travels and travails, are delightful chapters about small boats and boating: jury rigging ancient outboard motors, building classic fishing skiffs and featherweight sailing canoes, capturing and cooking the sealife of the Gulf. I couldn't put the "Tin Canoe" down, read it through without stopping and loved every page!

In this slim but tugid volume, Robb White, heretofor known only to a narrow audience of small-boat nuts, introduces the wide world to his native waters, the Florida Gulf Coast, just like Mark Twain did for his, the Mississippi. This is no idle comparison: Like Twain, he has played with and piloted all kinds of boats upon his waters, met all life's characters there, and kept his eyes wide open all the time. If you think his language can't be as pungent, his characers as rich, his stories as deceptively simple -- well, don't judge till you read him. Then you might agree, Huck Finn ain't got nuthin' on ol' Robb White.

I got this from the library as I am a canoe nut. Turned out more of a continuing "autobiography"(?) in the McManus tradition (THEY SHOOT CANOES. DON'T THEY?)only this is all in the deep south. It is funny, informative and best of all highly irreverant. This guy was corrupted by some of the same forces that did me six decades ago. I am ordering it now for a keeper.

Robb White writes of his wild childhood and wild boating life. And he gets away with it because he's so good! This is candid, uproarious writing of the best sort. It's specific. And you know he knows what he's talking about because he's been there. What a tonic! His work reminds me of Jack Saunders. : ) --A fellow folk writer who hasn't gotten his break yet. Robb's is rough'n'tumble family storytelling, yet it's gentle. It's personal...and it's general. Just the right stuff. More! ...OK, I have to let the cat out of the bag: if you want more, subscribe to the thrifty, friendly little magazine "Messing About In Boats" right now. Robb has been writing biweekly columns for it for years now. What great good times! And fiesty, helpful boating (and living) info, too. (Did you know that Robb is the world's best bass fisherman? He'll tell you why sometime...)

Having consumed My Brother Michael in one sitting, I was looking forward to Myra Sims with great anticipation and was not disappointed. The author has an amazing way of drawing you into the world her characters live in with charm and skill. She carries you through her books like you're riding a tube down a lazy river on a sunny, summer afternoon; easy and seamless. You keep reading to see what's around the next bend. The voices of her characters ring true and their stories leave you thinking about them for days. I have read and re-read all of Janis' books and each time I see a deeper story emerge. She did a great job of re-telling the story without being boring or redundant. Instead the stories get richer, like many facets of a jewel; deeper colors and hues emerge as you move from book to book.

Myra Sims is a girl we think we know and really don't know as well as we thought. Gabe spins out the love of his life, his brother, family members, and himself in My Brother Michael as clearly as can be. But, we find that just maybe he didn't tell it all. Myra returns the favor in her own version of the story in Myra Sims. By reading both books you are able to get closer to the bottom of what might be closer to the truth. Janis Owens can sure tell a story and what's even better is that she can tell a story twice. Readers will devour both books and after doing so might just become confused about which version to believe. One thing is sure, both books move you right next door to a real Southern family. Before you know it you'll have a cravin' for biscuits, grits, fried pork, fresh coffee, and a big helpin' of anything that Janis Owens decides to put on paper.

Having read the first novel,My Brother Michael, I could hardly wait for the follow-up! It was well worth the wait. Myra Sims with her intriguing combination of strength and vulnerability is a character well worth the closer look we get in this book. Told from Myra's point of view, this novel fills in all of the blanks left by Gabriel Catts. I was thoroughly impressed by the skill with which Janis Owens accomplished this without even a hint of redundancy. I was moved by this story of tragedy and victory set in a rural south so familiar I felt like it was home. If you read and enjoyed My Brother Michael, I dare to say that you will enjoy Myra Sims even more. If you haven't then I suggest you add both to your reading list today.

This book is a fabulous look into the lives of rural Floridians. You'll feel like a guest in the home of Myra and Michael when you read this, so palpable are the situations depicted here. You'll cry when you read about Myra's childhood, scarred by the abuse of a tyrannical father. You'll share Myra's pain when she is torn between two brothers, Gabe and Michael, who love her perhaps too much. And you'll rejoice when Myra finds the strength to love herself in the end. Be sure to buy "My Brother Michael," a companion piece to this novel, to gain insight into the fascinating characters depicted here. I hope to see more from this fascinating author.

After waiting two years for this book to come out I can say I wasn't disappointed. Myra Sims is a story of sadness and victory that only Myra can tell. It takes the reader to live with the Catts family and you don't want to leave. Janis Owens has a way of bringing small town USA to everyone.

There are many books that have been written on the subject: from Bill Sammon's book "At Any Cost" on the right to Alan Dershowitz' "Supreme Injustice" on the left. Sabato's is a rare thing, a book that tries to be impartial, and succeeds.

It has chapters by legal advisors to both Gore's and Bush's sides in the legal wrangles that followed the election, as well as journalists and academics. If you want to know what happened, as seen by all sides, this is about the only book that will tell you that.

The only negative point I can make is a printing job that is somewhat careless; missing apostrophes abound, and my copy has two of one page and is missing another. But that does not bear on the book's merit itself.

Will only political junkies or long-ago residents of Florida (I plead partly guilty of the first and fully guilty of the second), appreciate this book? I think not, but it does help to have given up excessive idealism ("Politics is so corrupt!") and excessive cynicism ("People are so corrupt!") in favor of an occasional visit to realism.

With the media giving us mainly--and often only--sensation, and seeing law as a struggle by imperfect human beings to create some justice in the world, I liked best the stories told by the attorneys for both sides.

Not long before the chads stopped swinging in the last presidential election, pundits and pollsters were sharpening their wits and dusting off their finger pointing apparatus. Their goal was to isolate the who, what, where, why, and how of the controverial election results in Florida. That election brought everybody who was anybody, including the Supreme Court, to the edge of their seats for days. The indefatigable Sultan of Soundbites, UVA Professor Larry J. Sabato, had seen enough and done enough in politics to realize this was history, and deserved to be given a thorough investigation. So he collected a group of insiders and commentators to take their best shot at turning over stones and writing about what crawled out. The result was Overtime! The Election 2000 Thriller. No casual or serious student of US history should be without a copy. Congratulations to Dr. Sabato and Joshua Scott, his coauthor and editorial assistant from the UVA Center for Governmental Studies on a job exceptionally well done. Buy this book for yourself, and at the reasonable price, grab a couple copies for friends as well. It's guaranteed to reveal facts that even the media savvy US public has not to this point realized. Alyson L. Taylor-White, Editor, Virginia Review

Overtime is a great look back it this election. For me, it was interesting to go back and put the whole campaign/election in perspective from start to finish. It's also nice to read a book like this that seems to be written from a non-partisan viewpoint. Sabato presents both sides of all the issues and is equally critical of both campaigns. In about 12 years when my son is taking his high school civics class and needs a topic for a book report or paper - I will dust off this book and hand it to him. On a side note, I recently saw Mr. Sabato speak at a conference I attended. If you ever get the chance, go see him! He is very informative and quite humorous.

Ever since Theodore White died, I've been searching for a political author who can communicate the excitement of a campaign while grounding his or her work in facts. I've found him: Larry Sabato. I've read several of his books such as Feeding Frenzy, and I've been impressed. But OVERTIME is his best yet. He's put together an all-star team to tell the truth about the incredible election of 2000. Unlike a lot of the other books on 2000, he leaves out the spin and bias, and he focuses on reality. Who needs spin when you have the most dramatic election in modern American history? OVERTIME helped me to really understand the most historic election of my lifetime. It's the best book out there on 2000---BY FAR.

Insightful reading for every Gator fan to appreciate the players and coaches who left their mark and influences on the Gator football program. Even some of the unflattering moments in history makes you appreciate where the program is today. The Wilbur Marshall chapter is a must read.

As a UF Alumni, I have kept track of Peter Kerasotis columns in the FL Today paper over the years. Now he has written a great book that is full of wonderful Gator stories and tradition.

It is a great book for any Gator Fan--young or old!

As a co-worker of Kerasotis for many years, I have long admired Pete's eloquent prose in Florida Today's sports section. He has a gift for spotting stories others miss and presenting them simply and surely.

When I first heard that Pete was writing this book, I told him I wanted to get a copy as soon as it was released, even though I have no connection to UF and am in fact an bigtime Ohio State fan. Having enjoyed Pete's writing for years, I was sure that I would enjoy the book even though I have never set foot in the Swamp.

I wasn't disappointed. Pete's substantial knowledge of Gator football was evident on every page. And one needn't be a Gator fan to enjoy the stories here. The tale of Mr. Two-Bits will resonate with the reader who feels that the fan loyalty and pageantry of the college game make it so much better than the NFL product. And the look at UF legend Wilber Marshall is one of the best profiles I've ever read of an athlete.

I highly recommend this book to anybody who loves college football. It is a must-have for any Gator fan's bookshelf.

I have had the honor and privilege of knowing Pete for many years and the pleasure of being able to ready his columns in Florida TODAY for many years.
His wit and writing style make for an easy and fun read and this collection provides anecdotes and inside Gator tales many of us have never read before.
Pete's book offers the insight of a beat reporter, which he has been, and the prose of a seasoned author, which he is.
It's a wonderful read for Gator fans everywhere! Thanks, Pete!

This is a great book for all Gators - easy to read and full of information about our football program.

My favorite chapters were on Steve Spurrier the player and Mr. Two Bits. Peter spells out why and how we got onto probation in the 1980s which I found very informative.

I found it to be a book I didn't want to put down. I would highly recommend all Florida Gators read this book!

Go Gators!

After reading Before Women had Wings, I hungered for more from Connie May Fowler. I found Sugar Cage to be a deeply satisfying follow-up. The novel, told in many different voices, takes us on the unforgettable journeys of a diverse cast of characters, all of whom reel the reader into an intricate tapestry woven by Fowler. Startling descriptions of Hatian voodoo rituals were among the most vivid scenes from the book, whose magical conclusion leaves the reader spellbound. A mesmerizing novel, Sugar Cage, like Fowler's other work, has left me hungry for more!

SUGAR CAGE weaves the story of such disparate people as Inez Temple, black maid to rich folks, Patrick Lackley, finicky mortician, and Charlie Loonie, front-man schmoozer for a local band. The women in this book will steal your heart -- especially the dear-hearted Inez, Charlie's loyal wife, Rose, and the magical Soleil Marie Beauvoir. The story is often dark and sad, but the mystical ending will inspire and uplift you.

For a first novel, I found the writing astonishing. Anyone who can make you care about so many contrasting characters (and make it easy to follow the thread) is a born writer. I adore a novel that pulls you in from the very first sentence . . . SUGAR CAGE does that.

This was the type of book that you can never put down. I read it all in one night. The best part about the book is the way the author displayed each character individually. It then ended up showing how each of the characters were uniquely linked togeather. It's a book that I will always love to read again and again. I would most definitly reccomend it.

Inez Temple is working as a maid in a cheap tourist hotel on the South Florida coast when she meets Rose Looney. A Haitian woman with an ability to "see' the outlines of peoples lives, Inez sees in the sugar crystals in the bottom of a glass Rose has drunk from the outlines of a cage and knows early on that Rose and her new husband, Charlie, and their friends Junior and Eudora, and their children, are destined to be trapped in many ways in the years to come.

15 years later, Rose knows this as well. How she struggles to find her way through her broken marriage and try to save her only son from the same fate in the midst of all the "bars of the cages" society and life confine her within--poverty, racism, sexism, cultural snobbery and so on, is at the core of this unusual tale of life in the melting pot that is South Florida.

The mysticism gets a bit out of hand at times-and stretches credulity it the process, but this is a minor flaw in an otherwise excellent novel.

Connie May Fowler creates intimacy for the reader and all of the books characters. By bringing first person to all the characters we get to know more about how people choose the decisions they made and what motivates each one towards the life they choose. I really enjoyed the way she was able to keep the story progressing thorugh time but also using other's perspective on what occured or is occuring at the moment. Also the influences of Haitian voo-doo help add new depth to Florida southern culture. And gives new information to the reader about pagean religion and the intellegence and beauty it brings to the characters of this book. I felt her pride or her willingness to explore and place in a positive light Haitian voo-doo. I think the main essence of the book for me was that everyone needed to listen to thier own voice. And once they steered away from that is when thier lives turned towards unhappiness. The realness of coming to terms with our demons and releasing ourselves into our own strengths was what I felt Fowler was trying to get across. The beauty of how she used everyones perspective instead of one main character and narrator is what I enjoyed the most. I enjoyed being able to be sypathetic to everyone's life and the way they had/have chosen to live it.

Great historical book on Florida. The characters are all very likeable. I highly recommend it. GREAT WORK! I am anticipating the next novel by this talented author.

Much has been said about Mr. Rainey's gift for capturing the African American experience on paper. These statements narrow Mr. Rainey's gift. He gives voice to all the rural south. Reading his book, hearing his characters speak, I heard the voices of my childhood in central Florida back when folks remembered hard times, cattle country, and dirt farmers. I heard my own granddaddy's stories in Mr. Rainey's stories and heard the stories of my aunts and grandmothers, all told on the back porch while shelling peas. I suspect if they still lived, they'd hear the voices of their own aunts and grandparents in these pages. Mr. Rainey's words, his characters, their stories, are timeless. The things boys do to make mischief are the things boys do to make mischief, whether in Florida or Georgia, whether nowadays or back then. And "back then" can be a long way back. I wish my father was still alive to read this book. North Georgia in the 1920's, running barefoot across his uncle's fields with his cousins, and Florida in the 90's are just not that different when Mr. Rainey does the telling. Not unlike Mark Twain and Zora Neale Hurston, Mr. Rainey's characters and their stories are timeless.

'The Thang That Ate My Grandaddy's Dog' is the most engaging book I've ever read. It's hysterically funny and heart-breakingly sad in just the right dose. In my opinion, John Calvin Rainey gets everything right. This is what good storytelling is all about!

I don't think I've ever "lived in a novel" as much as I have with this book. When you're reading it, you can almost feel yourself experiencing the same thoughts and actions as young Johnny, a boy who moves with his family to a rural Florida town. This is one of the few books I've read that depicts the life of rural blacks in Florida, a truly underrepresented population in American fiction. Only Zora Neale Hurston expresses this unique culture as well as Rainey, and that's saying a lot! Buy this book now!

I read this book three years ago and recently ordered a copy as a gift for my mother. Despite the fact that it's been three years, I still remember the characters, especially Grandma Gert, and the humor that they evoked. John Calvin Rainey did a spectacular job in capturing the true essence of African Americans in the South. It doesn't matter whether it's Florida or Arkansas, the warmth and wit knows no boundaries.