Minnesota Books

Great book about the history of Minnesota sports and its heroes. If you're like me, you've probably forgotten many of the great memories Bernstein brings back to life. He covers the Vikings, Twins, Gophers, North Stars, State High School Tournaments and much more. Everyone who has made Minnesota proud in the sports arena seems to be in this book: From Tarkenton, Puckett, Killebrew and Cris Carter to Willie Burton, Chuck Foreman, Sandy Stephens, Elgin Baylor and Patty Berg. The author not only documents the history, but includes entertaining quotes from the athletes and their teammates. This is a really fun book to read and own. The book is hard cover and loaded with photographs. I have mine displayed on my coffee table. I strongly recommend it.

I bought Fifty Years, Fifty Heroes for my husband as a Christmas present. He hasn't stopped thanking me. The book is loaded with memorable stories about great moments in Minnesota sports history. Bernstein interviewed everybody who's anybody in Minnesota sports. There are lots of stories told by Minnesota sports legends themselves. For example Jack Morris tells about how his memory of Fran Tarkenton provided the motivation he needed to pitch a nearly flawless game 7 of the 1991 World Series. He was determined not to go down in history as a guy who couldn't win the big one. My husband enjoys reliving memorable moments as seen through the eyes of the athletes, from their unique perspective.

FIRESTORM by Jan Schultz was a very real experience. About a little known event in history, in a little known part of the U.S., Hinckley, Minnesota, the "ugly, dry,dusty" area where Maggie had to move is a perfect setting for the raging fire that took the little town almost off the map.
Jan Shultz knows the value of detail, almost too much to absorb, and from the pictures she portrays one is present from the train ride to the burial of all the dead people along a treacherous way. An exciting, alarming ride.

Many kids can will indentify with Maggie when she has to leave the home and friends she loves and move to a new community. The problems of making new friends and settling in, however, fade quickly when a huge forest fire takes over the town, forcing everyone to evacuate. The frightening train ride through the fire, written with gripping intensity and vivid detail is sure to hook readers of all ages.

Throughout the book, the author shows Maggie's growth from a rather self-centered girl to a more mature and responsible person.

A good read for everyone.

I love the insights in this book and the way that they are arranged by days and months so that you can follow them by season. I don't live in the same climate that Laura Erickson does, but I enjoy reading the changing of the seasons along with her.

Her attitude is both scientific and humane, with enough playfulness thrown in to relieve the sometimes grim stories of the struggles of our feathered friends against the environmental challenges we put in their way.

Well written, even entertaining most of the time. The format is excellent

My great grandfather was one of the Famine Irish who immigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century. He came from County Cork with his parents and little brother to the Port of New York. After living in Pennsylvania for several years they found their way to the rich farmlands of southern Minnesota. To learn more about his life and times, I recently began doing some family research. During the course of that work I came across Bridget Connelly's wonderful book.

Not only did I find Forgetting Ireland well written and fascinating, it also helped me to unravel my own family's story. While reading her book I found myself spending time in county courthouses, small town libraries, church graveyards, and at the Minnesota Historical Society. I poured over old township maps, land patents, census records, death certificates, and tombstones in order to piece together my great grandfather's life in Minnesota. Reading Bridget Connelly's book while doing my research was like taking two parallel journeys through Minnesota's Irish immigrant past. It was great fun; like being one of the History Detectives on PBS.

The next step for me is to contact the genealogy societies in Cork to see if they can locate the town and parish where my ancestors came from. If they're successful, then I would like to travel to Ireland like Bridget Connelly did and look for our relatives.

Anyone interested in oral histories, 19th century Irish immigration, or the development of Minnesota's prairies should read this great family story.

The book arrived Friday and I couldn't put it down. It is an absolutely fascinating account of the early settlement of Minnesota by the Irish. I grew up in Graceville but had no idea of the rich and controversial history of the area. It's a great book but difficult to categorize. It's one person's search for understanding of her family, a historical account of an controversial incident in the history of Minnesota and the Catholic Church and an example of the difficulty we face in understanding our history. Was John Ireland "worse than Jesse James"?

I bought this for my mom because her library didn't carry it. I had gotten it from my library and thought it was wonderful.

I got this book on a whim, just because I love the Betsy-Tacy books, and figured that since those are autobiographical, then this would be what "Betsy" would have written. It is a good book- it tells the story of a misguided but sweet young man from England who jouneys to America to make a new life for himself. He encounters two extremely gothic characters who give the book an interesting twist, and has a passionate love affair. Through all his mishaps and passions, he finally discovers himself- and happiness- in a transported world of foxhunts, balls, and estates that must soon conform to new customs or perish. If you like the Betsy books, you will probably like this- it is an adult book, but still captures the youthful spirit and vibrance of the Betsy series. Lovelace writes with heart, taking the reader into her world.

Like another reviewer above, I also am a great great grandchild of Madison and Lizzie. This book provides an excellent collection of source material that is valuable not only from a family history standpoint, but also as a look into the daily life of the time period and how the civil war had an impact on all facets of life.

This is not an unbiased review as the letters were written by my Great-grand parents. That having been said, it is a wonderful book, very well documented and edited. The edition is easily read with quality bindings ETC.

Gone Is Gone is one of the great children's books, not only because of its prose style and the beautiful illustrations, along with the wonderful humor, but because it sends a message that reverberates in this day of women's lib and gender-neutral family roles. It SHOULD BE REISSUED in an affordable edition!

This is a timeless story of the question that has plagued every couple...who works the hardest? It is such a great story for little girls (and boys) and my daughter loved it! Now every time we get to the part where the husband asks to take over the wife's tasks for a day and says "how hard could it be?", my daughter rolls her eyes and says "Oh sure"...

You don't have to live in Minnesota -- or to have known Dave Moore -- to appreciate these clever poems. Great as a gift or to be shared out loud with friends and family

Anyone who ever lived in Mpls. loved Dave Moore, and these poems written by his son (and read on audiocassette by Dave) capture the essence of his wit and spirit. A great gift book and a great thing to have in any Twin Cities library!

I'm not a Twins fan, but I enjoyed this look at their history. Great moments, sad moments and lighter moments are all here. Brought back a lot of memories for me. It's an easy and entertaining read with lots of interesting looks from behind the scenes.

My history with the MN Twins is different from Mr. Aschburners, but I have many fond memories as well. My mother and father played the organ at all the games from the inception till 1974, and I got to see the early greats play the game OUTDOORS!

What a fun book to read - I totally went back to my childhood -

Thanks for writing this, Steve!

Sincerely

Paul Peterson

This creative book begins with a brief account of the author's experience as the famed mascot, Goldy. From that point on, Bernstein cleverly interweaves facts on important people and events in Gopher history with entertaining first-hand accounts from ex-Gopher players and coaches on numerous topics ranging from their most memorable game to freshmen initiations. This book is an excellent read for anyone, Gopher fan or not, who wants to learn about the greatest College hockey program in the country.

This creative book begins with a brief account of the author's experience as the famed mascot, Goldy. From that point on, Bernstein cleverly interweaves facts on important people and events in Gopher history with entertaining first-hand accounts from ex-Gopher players and coaches on numerous topics ranging from their most memorable game to freshmen initiations. This book is an excellent read for anyone, Gopher fan or not, who wants to learn about the greatest College hockey program in the country.