Iowa Books

A superbly written book. Here in Omaha, our many neighborhoods were like a dozen Ames, Iowa towns. It's history now, but at least we can re-experience some of the pleasant memories by reading this story.

This is the most interesting book I have ever read about growing up in the Nifty Fifties. Nothing can compare to that era, even though I am younger. Times since then have been terribly stressful in this nation. It's a joy to re-read the book, and drift back to peacefulness. Gosh, the author is age 60 this year of 2000 ! Time flies by too fast. Ames, Iowa has been blessed to remain a smaller city, and has a great past.

Once I began reading this great book, it was hard to take a break for even mealtimes. When I was growing up here in Ohio during the 1950s, it was quite a bit like in the author's story. Not perfect, but a very good life!

It's a refreshing Step Back In Time reading. Difficult to believe such an era ever existed. Today's readers will learn a lot about how to live a simpler, equally enjoyable life.

Susan Allen Toth first appeared on my radar screen with her three volumes of travel essays on England (My Love Affair with England: A Traveler's Memoir, England for All Seasons, England as You Like It). She's a soul mate. In BLOOMING, penned in the late 70s, Ms. Toth shares coming-of-age memories as delightful as those from another of my favorite authors, Laura Shaine Cunningham (Sleeping Arrangements, A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY).

Susan was born in 1940, and BLOOMING is her account of life in Ames, Iowa until she went East to college in 1957. The ability to relate will increase to the degree that the reader's background shares commonality with the following: maturing in the late 40s and 50s, living in a Midwest plains state, being female. I can only claim identity with the first, but that limited coincidence didn't affect my ability to thoroughly enjoy this volume.

Toth's remarkable memory of her childhood and teenage years could serve as the source for Norman Rockwell paintings as she remembers swimming pools, boyfriends, girlfriends, science classes, the public library, parties, summer jobs, the traditional holidays, and yearly trips to the Minnesota lake where relatives owned a cabin. She was unusually reticent about her immediate family. We learn only that her father died when she was in the third grade, and she and her sister were raised by their mother, a teacher. This absence of familial information is somewhat disappointing as it's perhaps a gold mine of stories not told. For instance, Susan writes about her sister, one year older:

"My sister and I, who fought most of the time, declared an unspoken truce on Christmas morning and hugged awkwardly as we exchanged gifts. For those brief moments, we really wanted to please each other." So, what did they fight over? Boys? Clothes? Maternal attention?

The realist might point out that most of the world's children, and many in America, didn't live formative years as idyllic as depicted in BLOOMING. True enough. But I lived the male version in Southern California, and Toth's was sufficiently similar in rhythm to remind me of those Good Ol' Days when I didn't know how good I had it. Thank you, Susan.

...

Ever since I saw the movie "It's a wonderful life" 9 years ago, I have been captivated by this truly amazing woman! Since then I have purchase many items about Donna Reed Mullenger, her biography (In seach of Donna Reed, which was truly a work of art, and I sure can relate to the feeling Mr.Fultz has for her!) also many movies staring this wonderful creature. I only wish I would have known her personnally...
Anyway, I sure would like to see more DVD movies available to the public, staring the beautiful Miss Reed.

Not a typical Hollywood "tell all", this book is really geared towards fans of Donna Reed. Though very informational, the writing lacks professional polish that perhaps a more experienced biographer would've been able to use to spark it up a little.

I rediscovered Donna Reed less than a month ago. I had forgotten just how good she was in It's a Wonderful Life. The more I saw, the more I looked. The more I looked, the more I realized just how far the public perception of her is from reality. I found a copy of Jay Fultz's "In Search Of Donna Reed" online and ordered it. By the time it arrived I had become immersed in IAWL facts and all I could find out about this woman who had seemed to appear and shine so brilliantly for a moment and then disappear. My only memory of her show was that it seemed loved and hated-I never saw it, so you can guess where my dad stood. Soon I would learn that, for some strange reason she was, and still is, the undeserving victim of a very determined slander campaign. I picked up the book and met Miss Mullenger. She was the sweetest little girl who just seemed to get better with age. Her performance in It's a Wonderful Life is so much like the Donnabelle Mullenger I met in this book-bringing the sense of quality that, I think is one of the reasons it endures. She is the reason Mr. Stewart's anguish is real, because I can see it reflected on the very real face of Donna's Mary. The hurt she felt at his hands two years later was one answer I was seeking, they had such perfect "chemistry" in IAWL, why is this the only film they both star in? According to Jay, she would say to "ask Miss Allyson."

Two days after I met her, I felt as if a near and dear relative was at death's door. Even though I KNEW that twenty years had passed, reading (at work) Mr. Fultz's account of the death of this remarkable woman awakened in me a sense of loss so powerful that I had to finish reading it in my car...

While looking for a way to contact Mr. Fultz, I came across what was called a review of this book in a popular magazine (I won't say it's name, but it covers the movie and TV industry) . The hate in it for Donna and for anyone who would praise her was simply appalling. They didn't even try to discredit the research, but rather selected biased facts from her life and even lied in a subtle way to attempt to trivialize her contributions. I now realize that those who don't like Donna Reed are almost always those who don't know her. They mock her TV show as "bland" but never say how many thousands of troubled children must have found refuge in her "home" each week, as evident by the letters she received from a tiny fraction of the 35 million plus viewers at her peak. We see a Donna Reed who fought studio and sponsor desires to maintain the stereotype she fought against in the movie industry, and that her fight for women's rights cost her more than many who have gotten better press at far less personal cost. In Search of Donna Reed is backed by over twenty five pages of detailed notes of sources: interviews, documents, letters, an amazing amount of material that show Mr. Fultz to be a dedicated researcher fully capable of producing an honest account that is worthy of the memory of Donna Reed, even if it is a labor of love-or perhaps because it is.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading along as Jay Fultz sought out Donna Reed. Did it answer all my questions about her? No. But that was part of the guilty-pleasure appeal of this book. I learned things about Donna herself and her life and career than I previously knew, and it was a pleasing experience to just sit back and enjoy the ride without becoming a backseat driver. Fultz's respectful excitement in the process of "discovery" comes across in every chapter. A charming, intelligent retrospective worthy of Miss Reed's memory.

A biography of a truly beautiful woman! Some celebrities went trough life with everything handed to them on a silver plate, not Donna Reed, she realy had to work for everything she stood for back then and today, not only has a superstar but also as a human being. From her early years in Denison Iowa to her movie and televison career to her activist days to being a devoted mother and wife, get to know about some of her life struggules and pleasures in Jay Fultz's A-1 bio of a wonderfully private person that didn't let fame get the best of her. Under that star image is a down-to-earth extremely intoxicating person with a very charitable heart and giving nature.

In my heart she definataly was one of the greatest woman that ever walked God's green earth and is the closest thing to human perfection!.....Rob J.

this was good book.you can learn a lot.some of it is hard to remember,such as which type bonnet etc.but it was good.she could have even went into more detail of the mistreatment she felt she received from her family,but its the amish way not to offend.nadia rehmani -authoor of sharper than a two edged sword-one woman's walk into Islam and out.thats my story

This is the true story of how one woman made the change and left the Amish lifestyle. It tells of the personal struggles of leaving family and lifetime friends all behind to adventure into a new life and follow one's own convictions. Very well written and informative. You can almost feel the pain this lady went through to start her new way of life!
I feel that all books are over-priced and for that reason I give this book only four stars!

It was so enlighting. It really was interesting to me to actually read about the Amish communitity.

Timely shipment and in great condition. I was very pleased with order.

This was an interesting book. However, the content was, in my opinion, limited. It was more like an outline with a few details. Information was interesting; but seemed to skim the surface of everyday Amish life.

I first became aware of Dr. Gastel's book when she was quoted in an e book on medical writing written by one of her former students who has done quite well in the profession. As a disabled physician interested in developing my writing skills I felt that this might just be the information source I needed. I couldn't have been more correct. Her writing style is easy to follow and understand and the topics chosen for this book fully encompass the various areas that even a seasoned writer might find useful. She has also included numerous helpful websites. There aren't a lot of books available on this subject but there doesn't need to be when one such as this has been written. Thanks Dr. Gastel!!

Gives you lots of relevant contact info that you could choose from depending on the type of article you plan to write. Good for beginners but I see it as useful for advanced writers as well. Makes excellent points on what goes into writing a riveting and relevant article. Overall, I recommend it.

Barbara Gastel's Health Writer's Handbook is one of the most useful guides I have ever owned. It is well written and to the point. Although I am a seasoned professional writer, I am relatively new to the health beat. This book saved me hours of investigational research. Thank you Barbara Gastel.

Gastel covers all the basics and not-so-basics of health writing. I got this book as an introduction to health writing, but I find that the advice Gastel offers applies to all good writing. She includes a very in-depth chapter about how to find information (research, research, research!). There are also chapters on Preparing the Piece, Exploring Areas and Issues, and Pursuing a Career. All of the chapters are broken down into logical, easy-to-follow sub-headings such as Ethical Issues, Sensitivity and Style, Professional Organizations, Genres of Health Writing, etc.

I think the greatest thing about this book is Gastel's writing style. The writing is fluid and concise without being condescending (sorry to say that the same isn't true of many other "how-to" books on writing). Great cartoons illustrate the text but do not overwhelm or distract. This is, quite simply, a great little book that has provided me with so much valuable information. Bravo!

Although targeted toward the writing professional, Health Writer's Handbook is a good source for the non-writer in this age of one scientific study telling you not to eat fiber and another saying you must eat forty bowls of it. The book is arranged in order of how one would go about researching and writing an article or book in the health field. The first section, "Finding Topics and Information," identifies where to locate information to help you formulate a piece. One particular helpful category is "Tips on Interviewing." Some of the more useful ones include, remember to be prepared before the interview, but do not appear to be a know-it-all on the subject, review notes immediately after an interview and double check with the source on any material on which you may be unclear. E-mail communication is a great way to do this.

One of the best sections of the book is "Evaluating Information" found under Part II, "Preparing the Piece." There are ten key items to evaluate, such as the source, study design, averages, etc. Gastel, also, presents an overview of good writing techniques, which might be rudimentary for someone with experience, but she adds specific examples of health-writing style which would probably not be found in regular style books. The last section has information on career options, professional organizations, and educational opportunities. While these are easily found elsewhere, it is convenient to have them in one source.

As I read this remarkable volume I felt I was being transported back to those Civil War days, telling me how it was both in the war zone and back home in Iowa. Jacob Ritner is a remarkable figure, inspiring admiration and eminently worthy of emulation. His accounts of the battles he was in are vivid and immediate, and the editor of this volume has performed a most worthwhile service in resurrecting from the buried past this correspondence to inspire all who value patriotism and fidelity to duty and to one's marriage vow. One cannot but be enriched by following Captain Ritner and his wife thru those perilous years from 1861 thru 1865.

What a splendid work of Civil War history! Hats off to Charles F.Larimer. I couldn't have imagined there was so much historical data in intimate letters. The details are all here. What trials and tribulations our forefathers and mothers went through to perserve our nation. I now find myself becoming a Civil War buff after reading this book, and it only took me three days! As I read on, I found myself in my great-great grandfather's shoes fighting along the side of Cpt.Jacob Ritner and the boys from the 25th. How involved you become. I enjoyed the little jousting that Jacob and Crane had. Buy it today and enjoy a sentimental piece of Civil War history..........

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!. Some times, historical correspondance can be dry. However, these letter are not! They are very readable, offering a interesting insight into the real lives of people during the turbulent era of the Civil War. Charles Larimer has done excellent research and his annotations add to the context of when the letters were written. Highly recommended. I look forward to reading his Scottish Stories from Loch Ness.

I am not a reader of books nor a student of the civil war. However, I found this book to be fascinating. The horrors of war and the loneliness of soldiers are universal, and the insights into this particular war and historical era are compelling. It is very easy to read, and is both educational and entertaining. Please give me more by this writer!

As an amateur war historian, I find that all too rarely do we see the war on both sides. The hardships of everyday Americans during the Civil War were not only occurring on the battlefield, but in the homes left behind in the cornfields of Iowa. This unique perspective is presented in the heartfelt correspondence between Jacob and Emeline. A rare opportunity to behold the searching meditations of a man gripped by both love, and patriotism.

Make way for Mark Brazaitis, a new voice, a new awareness in American letters. Not that he pushes his way onto stage center, understand. On the contrary this diffident artist masks his considerable art and talent in gentleness. His collection of stories, "The River of Lost Voices," taps deeply into the experience and sensitivity of Guatemala, and, through this country into a larger Latin American landscape. In literary terms, the vein is known as magic realism, a well-spring of Latin reality. But he does so as an U.S. American, and because of this serves us all as guide into its mysteries. His understanding of female psychology is wonderful to behold. In contrast, García Márquez and Vargas Llosa, the reigning gods of magic realism, approach their women with characteristic macho bravado. Not so Brazaitis. His insight here is uncanny. Here's a man after woman's heart.

This is a beautiful collection of stories. The writing is vivid, the character portrayal rich with detail and emotional depth. I remain haunted by what I read in this book: the unsettling images, the keen insight into a town on the other side of the globe, the energy of the characters. This ranks among the best-written books of short stories that I have read, and I heartily recommend it.

Mark Brazaitis has done a wonderful job of capturing the human experience in this terrific collection. I found myself being drawn into each of the stories and falling in love with the characters. His use of magical realism captures the spirit of Latin American literature perfectly. I highly recommend this collection and look forward to reading future works by this extremely talented new writer.

This is an extraordinary look at what may seem like an ordinary town. The stories here vary from the horrific ("Jose Del Rio") to the mournful ("The Whale") to the humorous ("How They Healed") to the epic ("Bathwater"). Throughout the collection, the author shows immense compassion for his characters.

Although, I enjoyed some of the short stories, and they provided some insight on situation faced by the people of Guatemala, I was disappointed in this book for 2 reasons. First, I understood, that the book was a voice of a Guatemalan writer. It turns out, however, that the author is a native of Washington D.C., who spent 4 years in Guatemala with the Peace Corps. He does not write of the experience of an expatriate in Guatemala, but rather writes from a first person psychological perspective of the Guatemalans themselves, especially the indigenous people. While an outsider often can have penetrating insight into a culture, especially one's own, they remain an outsider with an outsider perspectives and values. My second grounds for disappointment, and I believe related to the first, is that a predominant theme in most of the stories concerned the sexual experience of the principle characters. While human sexuality is no doubt a riveting part of human experience, and much written about in contemporary serious literature, I was disappointed that other themes more central to the people of Guatemala were not more deeply explored.

I found this book at the local library and picked it up on a whim. It's very good, and I highly recommend it if you can find a copy. Like another reviewers said, it doesn't include details about how air traffic control is done, but instead paints a picture about what it's like to BE a controller, particularly in the 80s before and after PATCO's strike. There are some great near-miss stories and tales about eccentric controllers that are some of my favorite parts of the book.

Actually 3 1/2 stars...I was a little disappointed in this because I was expecting more technical explanation of ATC practices versus a kind of memoir on Brenlove's life in ATC. There were some definite interesting parts and this book isn't bad at all, just know what you'll be reading when you get it. That being said, I'd probably still buy this book because, as I mentioned before, there is some value here and makes for entertaining reading, just don't expect to gain any real insight into ATC processes.

This book is very insightful in the fact that it gives the reader a good idea of the types of people air traffic controllers are. Furthermore, it has real life examples of airplane "conflicts" and definately shows why this job has been rated as the most stressful in the world.

This book is so down-to-earth filled with hair-raising and hilarious tales. He explains technical things in layman's terms.

Excellent!

It's like sitting around in his living room, as he recounts story after story about personalities and the ups and downs of being an air traffic controller. While giving some very interesting information about how air traffic is controlled, the book is more about people; the people that succeed and fail as air traffic controllers. Of particular interest are the sections devoted to the 1981 PATCO strike, and the acrimony leading up to it. Of less interest appeared to be the stories about what a great guy X was, or what a jerk Y was, but in retrospect, these stories serve as useful pieces in the overall picture of what it is like to work as a controller.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining an understanding of a very special job and the people that do it. If you are interested in learning the nitty gritty of how controllers do their work, or in riveting prose, then you had best look elsewhere.

I truly enjoyed this book. I heartly recommend it to anyone interested in the prarie.

I honestly think this is one of the best books I've ever read. The anecdotal style, combined with Madson's love and respect for the prairie, make it a very informative and entertaining read. I've read other books by Madson, and it all came together for him in this one. I hitch-hiked from Wisconsin to the far edge of South Dakota in my 20's, sleeping under the stars on the prairie, and this book helped explain the connection I felt.

The late John Madson was the equivalent of a later day Aldo Leopold. He was gifted in writing about the natural world and drawing a connection to mankind. This book does that for man and the tallgrass prairie. In this book, Madson examines man's relationship with the prairie and the creatures that call the prairie home. Madson presents a narative that is both insightful and entertaining and makes a strong case for why the tallgrass prairie should be preserved and restored.

I once got lost with John Madson in the Great Batchtown Swamp, but I never got stuck in any of his books -- he is a great outdoorsman and writer, who always takes your imagination somewhere interesting (and often useful). He wrote the best book ever on The Pheasant, a wee paperback that he dashed off in a couple of weeks but which has never been bettered. It must be natural talent, but as Lee Trevino said, I had to hit a million practice balls before my natural talent began to show through. Willy Newlands (Scotland)

As a kid growing up in post-war Chicago suburbia, I got to see farmlands give way to housing tracts. The question I asked was "What was here before the farms?" Madson has the answer--prairie. Practically a million square miles of prairie and the first European settlers never had an idea that a vast expanse of grassland stretched roughly from the eastern border of Illinois to the Rocky Mountains.

Madson takes you to the prairie from an historical, personal, anecdotal, and geological perspective. You can practically see the prairie flora, feel the prairie air on your face, hear the prairie fauna calling you in this excellently written and touching book. Enjoy!

This book is your classic fish-out-of-water story. Thanks to a little career desperation and a religious experience, a classical music diva from Manhattan accepts a one-time, one-semester job as a college voice professor in Iowa. Things get worse when she arrives to find she'll be living in the attic of an old house on a pig farm. Oh, and did I mention it's filled with kids? And that her daily chauffeur is an opinionated country music fan? Not exactly what she had in mind when her agent arranged this gig. What ensues is a delightful tale and a journey of discovering what's really most important.

While this type of story has been done a thousand times, Ms. Stuart fills her novel with fresh, sassy characters and authentic details. A love of high society, fashion and cuisine meets practicality and downhome families in a plucky collision of real life in different cultures. It's fantastic. In fact, it's the most enjoyable book I've read all month! I highly recommend it. This Midwestern farmgirl turned NYC suburbanite has already mailed a copy to her Kentucky mama, sure it's going to be a hit with her too.

Rarely does this singer get to read a novel which lilts along in my own language. Okay. So I don't sing opera(!) but I do love music. So, reading this novel in first person (even though the heroine was a bit snobbish--hey, that only makes her transformation more fun to observe--) was a delight! But even if you aren't a singer or musician, you'll still love this story. And first-person? Bring it on. Not an easy choice in POV, but Kimberly makes it work. I laughed out loud too many times to count. If you're looking for a quirky and quick read, a fun and yet poignant story, don't miss this one!

Sweetly sarcastic and fun, Act Two, delivers a snappy story about a fading opera star who's forced to spend time in a culture so foreign to New York City that the world as she knew it grinds to a halt. Kimberly Stuart handles prose with a delightful touch and the charm of small town Iowa was fabulously depicted. One glaring oversight jumped out at me, but didn't do more than cause a few moments of puzzlement. Act Two leaned more toward Chick-lit than romance though there were some great romantic moments. Act Two is a perfect escapist read and it would be a charming romantic comedy if Sandra Bullock is available. Does she sing? Hugh Grant as Mac, though I don't know if Hugh could pull off a two-step dance champion, country music loving, pig-pulling Iowan veterinarian. I'm going to snap up Kimberly Stuart books when I see them. Charming.

This is a great book for summer reading. It moves along quickly with a lot of humor and comical situations. I really enjoyed it!

Classical soprano superstar Sadie Maddox is a diva in every connotation of the word; she lives in Manhattan and thinks her ex husband lives among the barbarians, somewhere on Long Island. However, her CD sales are drooping and her agent Avi "the Shark" Feldman tells her she has no gigs as no one wants a forty years old except Moravia College in Maplewood, Iowa. Desperate she accepts the visiting teaching position in the Corn Belt knowing that she will spend time in a designer shoe store desert.

In farm country, Sadie realizes her peers like voice teacher Kent Johansen loses his voice when she is near him or like conductor Gunther Rienhart flirty and her student assistant Mallory Knight is snippy when she is being kind. However the worst is living on a pig farm with Cal and Jayne Hartley and their three kids. Finally there is the veterinarian Mac who shockingly has her reconsidering her countdown back to the real world of culture even though she is appalled that even though it is not country western, he has never heard her sing.

ACT TWO is a delightful contemporary romance between two opposites as the fish out of water diva and the local vet fall in love in his pond. The story line is owned by Sadie, who finds Iowa to live down to her expectations only somehow she makes caring friends and realizes mentoring Mallory actually makes her feel great. Mac is her perfect contrary as the city slicker and the country animal doctor prove love has no artificial boundaries except the individual's construct that can destruct.

Harriet Klausner

I found Mr. Ellis' book in a local bookstore shortly after starting my private pilot training, based on my eventual desire to buy my own plane. The book reads quickly and combines a perfect blend of hard facts and anecdotal material to really define the issues a prospected buyer needs to focus on.

I pretty much devoured the book in a few days and referred back to it -- especially for the invaluable aircraft model summaries -- until I concluded that a Cardinal RG was the right plane for me. Using the "Selecting Your Airplane" chapter, I found my perfect bird after using Mr. Ellis' expertise to eliminate many contenders.

The book is AWESOME and, having read most of what is out there on this subject, the best I have found.

For those that are thinking of buying their own airplane, this book provides valuable information on what to look for in a plane, hidden costs of ownership, Government red tape, recommendations on aircraft for beginners, and advise on determining the real condition of the aircraft before it is purchased.

this book is a great guide for anyone playing with the thought of owning a small airplane. the prices may not be totally up to date, but the aircraft are still the same

This book goes into graet detail on the the pros and cons of differetn years and models. It really helped me in selecting a plane for purchase.

I've looked at all the books I can find to learn about high performance singles that can carry 4 people plus lots of stuff for adventure flying. This book shows performance specifications, and summarizes the other considerations of each model, including durability, flying & landing characteristics, and maintenence issues. I liked that it covered all the major Cessnas, Pipers (including the 6 & Saratoga) and also some Grummans, Beechcrafts, Mooney's, Maules, a taildragger section & more (over 50 models in all).

Also good summary of Partnership issues, Home field selection, defining the airplane's mission, Insurance & Maintenence.

If you're looking for your first airplane to own, I'd recommend this book!