Indiana Books

Bodian is a scholar, that has weighed the options of the sellability of books vs. insight into history, in this well chronicled book. The difference between the two is that, history can tend to be on the dry side when sticking to facts and reality. Vs. the other which, capitalizes on hype, therefore, diminishing the overall thoroughness of the scholarship.
Bodian's insight into the phenomena of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish conditions is right on. The Spanish and Portuguese Jews ( S&P Jews) are a particular substrata of Sephardim that suffered a unrelenting persecution from the Catholic Church, otherwise known as: El Santo Oficio de la Inqusicion, The Spanish Inquisition.
Many have tried to put this phenomena, The Jewishness of Crypto-Jews into perspective. Not only is it difficult, on a scholarly level,i.e., to provide a understanding to this aberration of Judaic history. But, the very phenomena of this tragedy, is stained with frustration. On behalf of the mainstream Jewish populace, when addressing the religious status of these isolated people.( I believe that their are political power issues at hand) And the Returness themselves, who want to be accounted as fully Jewish, and rightly so!
Yes, their are provisions made in Judaism for Anusim (forced ones). However, doubt always lingers when people come out from nowhere ( so it seems), and declares...I am Jewish. When, in all sincerity, they all but diapered from the radar of Rabbinical Judaism (in the eyes of some of the Rabbis). But in fact, they have in their hearts been living under religiously oppressive realities, trying to keep the flame of their Jewish souls intact, by whatever means possible. The S&P Jews, have always had to suffer with this stigma. This stigma, lends itself to have to prove one's worthiness( being Jewish) and personhood(dignity) within Jewish circles. This happened then and it happens now. This religious radar, is not the barometer, that constitutes, who is a Jew and who is not a Jew. The barometer is the halacha which lends itself useful to all Anusim irregardless of circumstances or time.
If you follow the literature of today, in regards to this very issue, there are many examples that might sway one to believe that the S&P phenomena is a tragedy of the past. This is not to so, but, in fact the contrary is true. The provisions that are given in the halacha regarding Anusim, are there not only to prove present events, but to guarantee the future ones too, irregardless of their geographical location or time.
Although, Bodian never tampers with this volatile halachic subject, she does present the Ba'alim teshuvah (returnees to G-D's commandments) as suffering internal as well as external pressures given all the difficulties presented in separation from mainstream or rabbinic Judaism. These difficulties are expressed here in Bodain's book very well. It is presented in as, a matter of fact, manner as possible. Which lends itself ultimately, as more credible, rather than the normal patronising, that most scholars tend to gravitate too.
In all, this book is without a doubt a scholarly look at a very fragmented, but integral part of Judaism that needs to be understood rather than dismissed. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

In the last decade of the 16th and first decades of the 17th centuries, Spanish and Portuguese Conversos leave their homelands and come to Amsterdam seeking what author Miriam Bodian calls rejudaization, or what we, today, call conversion as a requirement for full participation in community life and benefits derived by being part of rabbinic Judaism. Affluent, educated, and willing to learn rabbinic Judaism, these Conversos are seeking to learn and to establish Jewish rituals and worship. For example, ex-Conversos seek religious aid from Uri Halevi, an Ashkenazi rabbi from Emden who establishs what is probably the first synagogue in Amsterdam in 1595. When Halevi starts circumcising Conversos, the Dutch authorities arrest him and charge him with circumcising adults who are presumably Conversos. However, Halevi is released and allowed to continue working with the Iberian ex-Conversos and with his help they are able to establish their own rituals by 1603. One of the early Conversos who arrives in Holland is Isaac Pinto. He is overjoyed at having been given the opportunity to practice Judaism, the religion of his Iberian ancestors. Pinto not only learns Judaism, he studies Hebrew and established a synagogue, which he finances in its entirety during his lifetime. Although few of the ex-Conversos have the financial means that Pinto had, they actively participate in the Jewish community life of Amsterdam. However, as the 17th century starts passing, a new type of Converso who views Judaism as a practical necessity begin arriving in Amsterdam. Often times, this group of Conversos wanted to participate in the life of the synagogue and receive the benefits derived from being part of the Jewish community, but had no desire to undergo circumcision. There are examples of uncircumcised Conversos who died in Amsterdam and their families wanted to bury them in the Jewish cemetery of Ouderkerk. The Mahamad (see definition) ruled that the dead Conversos had to be circumcised before they could be buried in Ouderkerk. "Denial of the right of burial [in the Jewish cemetery] was used by the Mahamad in Amsterdam, if not to encourage circumcision, to pressure a few of the émigrés to undergo formal conversion to Judaism. These were persons who unquestionably belonged to the `Nation' but, because of known female old Christian ancestors on their mother's side, were not Jewish according to rabbinical law, which held that Jewishness was transmitted through the mother". The Amsterdam Jewish community was very careful not to upset Spain or Portugal by actively promoting Judaism or openly protecting crypto-Jews on Spanish or Portuguese soil. This was because Amsterdam's ex-Conversos were heavily engaged in commerce as ship owners, diamond and spice traders, and many other activities related to commerce with the Spanish and Portuguese empires. Although the Amsterdam Jewish community probably did not openly help Crypto-Jews in Iberia, there is evidence that some of the many prayer books that were printed in Spanish and Portuguese in Amsterdam were sent to Spain and Portugal or their overseas possessions (Bodian page 199). The Amsterdam ex-Conversos strongly encouraged their friends and relatives in the Iberian Peninsula to leave before the Inquisition find them. The following exerts from letters written by the ex-Converso Abraham Idaña (Gaspar Mendez del Arroyo) to Conversos in Iberia illustrate the feelings of Amsterdam Jews in 1686: "The notion of serving God in one's heart, it is not enough. The law of Moses was given in order to be observed. It is a particularly grave sin to remain uncircumcised. One must flee to lands of freedom and be circumcised without delay. Nor should one delude oneself that good deeds can compensate for failure to observe the Law". The ex-Converso community in Amsterdam was always ready to help newly arrived Conversos who needed help to return to Judaism. If the community could not help the newly arrived Conversos in Amsterdam, the community would aid the new comers to find passage to the Ottoman empire, Italy, or even to the New World where more freedom could be found than in the Iberian Peninsula. Once the ex-Converso community established rabbinic Judaism they began observing Jewish precepts and prohibitions, developed over many centuries, which regulated and restricted relations between Jews and Gentiles. Regardless of this, there is evidence that some ex-Conversos men took lower-class gentile women, often maidservants, as mistresses. From 1600-1623, notarial records reveal instances of sexual relations between Portuguese Jews and gentile women (most of them were Dutch or Scandinavian). Even though it was illegal to have sexual relations between Jews and gentiles under Jewish and Dutch law, few of the ex-Conversos or their mistresses were prosecuted. Bodian tells us that to a degree the fathers of the illegitimate children provided for their support and that a group of fifteen Amsterdam Jewish merchants established a society called Dotar for the purpose of providing a dowry to orphans and poor girls descendants of the Portuguese Nation or Castilian Conversos. It is conceivable that many of the illegitimate daughters of ex-Conversos were eligible and obtained dowry to marry Jews. Eligibility to obtain a dowry was not only for Amsterdam's girls, but it was extended to girls who lived in the Iberian Peninsula, or other parts of Europe, the Ottoman empire, and the New World. Candidates had to prove eligibility by demonstrating that they were descendants of Conversos through either their paternal or maternal line. In order to find suitable candidates for dowries, the Amsterdam ex-Converso community established an elaborated network in many countries. It is possible that the dowry network extended its activity beyond determining eligibility for dowry. The Amsterdam ex-Converso community gained knowledge of rabbinic Judaism rapidly and by the 1630s they had produced their own rabbis and scholars, such as Menasseh ben Israel and Isaac Aboab da Fonseca. The community not only produced brilliant Jewish scholars but as a whole was very active in religious activity and its knowledge of Jewish traditions was adequate, if not brilliant (Bodian page 110). The ex-Converso community learned because of its perseverance to acieve rejudaization.

A Missing Link Discovered

Certainly, any true history such as that written by Miriam Bodian is worthy of much more than five stars. . Professor Bodian chooses not the former when she describes and clearly illustrates the fact that the Ashkenazim (German “Jewry”) were not accepted by The Nation…the “Hebrew Nation”…Iberian Jewry. .... This book is highly recommended for all those of the Hebrew Nation, and for the Ashkenazim, or for anyone interested in Jewry. I also highly recommend it for Christians who would like to establish a sound base insofar as understanding what REALLY went on just before and during the periods when “Jews” started coming to the Americas. Few understand that the first synagogue in New Amsterdam (NYC) was of the Iberian peoples’, the Ashkenazim not arriving till wayyyy late in the game. Professor Bodian’s book, within my Hebrew National Community is about the best thing since apple pie…or shall I say, “empanadas de manzana.” It’s highly recommended for ALL.

Sincerely,

Daniel Enriquez David

This book received the National Jewish Book Award (ceremony was in March 1999) from the Jewish Book Council for best achievement in Jewish History, as well as the Koret Foundation's $10,000 Koret Jewish Book Award for achievement in History (awarded April 1999)

This is a highly academic work of Miriam Bodian, Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies at Pennsylvania State University. With in-depth research, the author analyses a unique chapter in the history of Judaism: the return of Iberian "conversos" to rabbinical religion and the establishment of the Jewish community in Amsterdam. A remarkable account of the strength and perseverance of a "nation" which clings to its roots despite all adversities. This is cultural "Darwinism..."

Buy this book - you will not be disappointed. It is a work to look at again and again whether you are a railfan, traveler, or an artist. Some of Rose's paintings are romantic evocations of times and places that were found throughout the country not so long ago. Other pictures in the book have an edgier quality to them. In either case he captures the mood, light, and geographical setting of the never-ending drama of the American railroad. Rose was a painter who had a technical grasp of the nuts and bolts aspects of his subjects. He also had good artistic technique - I have found myself coming back to this book repeatedly and asking "how did he do that?" The quality of printing and binding is excellent and the introductory essay helps to place the paintings in the context of Ted Rose's life. I have bought several copies of this work as gifts for people and they have all been pleased with it.

This is a wonderful book you can read straight through. The life of the author and his relationship to the railroads of the USA is fascinating and the text about the evolution of his art is appealing. The photography is exceptional. This book is a must buy for fanciers of railroads and art. Highly recommended.

I'm not typically a fan of watercolor paintings, but I have to admit that Ted Rose is a master at his craft. His depictions of railroad scenes capture the very mood of this vanishing scene in American life. "In The Traces" presents 61 of Ted Rose's watercolors with commentary by the artist. Some of the paintings, like "Springtime in New Jersey," are absolutely stunning in their presentation of mood and setting. Print quality, paper and binding are first rate. If you've never experienced Mr. Rose's work, and are a fan of railroad art, this book will be a joy to own. Highly recommended!

A terrific selection of paintings by marvelous railroad artist. Many of Rose's paintings are not on public view, having been done for private commission. So far he markets no prints or lithographs, so either you buy an original or you buy this book. Typical fine job of printing and binding. High value book, likely to be worth lots more when out of print.

My son is an avid train fan. Ted Rose is an exceptional watercolor artist and in this volume has compiled an excellent collection of watercolors depicting trains from the history of railroading. He has coupled these wonderful watercolors with an anthology of trains over a period of 50 years based on his own personal experiences. The blending of the stories with his paintings makes you feel like you can step into the picture and relive the moment. You may be familiar with his art through a recent issue of postage stamps depicting five locomotives from different era. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that likes railroads and also has an appreciation for fine art. This will be a timeless volume that you and future generations will enjoy.

Very satisfied. Thanks for the excellent service. Cheers!
- Steve B., Librarian

What a great book! This book compiles a list of all of the great Hoosiers. I was even suprised to discover Indiana natives that I never knew about. The book is informative and has a great looking cover. I'm going to give several for gifts this holiday season.

I was thoroughly entertained and captured by this book. Furthermore, I was thrilled to receive such a large and handsome hardcover book. Everyone should give a copy to every Hoosier they know!

This book is the most exhaustive study of Indiana natives available today. Written in the same conversation style that he uses in his newspaper column, Nelson Price relates the "rise to fame and fortune" stories of many familiar personalities. And to receive such a terrific hardcover book for this price is almost criminal. Everyone should buy a copy today!

Alas, the book 'Indiana Legends: Famous Hoosiers from Johnny Appleseed to David Letterman' does not offer a definitive answer to this article's title question: What is the definition of a Hoosier? Kevin Kline's recent film 'In and Out', set in the not-so-mythical Greenleaf, Indiana, had a scene near the conclusion where the teacher of the year was trying to deliver a speech with the same title, only to get interrupted before giving the answer. Perhaps the answer contained in this book is not so much a dictionary-style answer, but rather the collective experience of people such as those represented in this book.

The author, Nelson Price, has been a reporter for the Indianapolis Star and News newspapers, the state's largest papers, for over 15 years. Born in Indianapolis, educated at Indiana University, he is a fifth generation Hoosier; his great-great-grandfather arrived in the state just about the time of Indiana achieving statehood. Thus, if anyone has background qualification for producing such a text as this, it would be Price.

Indiana is well represented in the history of the American nation. Three presidents: William Henry Harrison, his grandson Benjamin Harrison were Hoosiers, and Abraham Lincoln claimed substantial Hoosier influence in his backgrounds. Other historical figures in the country's political and historical development include John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), George Rogers Clark, Tecumseh, Frances Slocum, Robert Owen, Eugene V. Debs, Wendell Willkie, and Dan Quayle (eek!). Indiana has in fact had five vice presidents, including Schuyler Colfax and Thomas Marshall.

Little known fact: Reggie Miller and Jane Pauley were both diagnosed with ailments in their childhoods that would have ruled out most any productive role in adult life, Pauley with nervous disorders, and Miller with a crippling childhood disease.

Hoosiers in Hollywood and the performing arts include Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, James Dean, Steve McQueen, Anne Baxter, Karl Malden, Clifton Webb, Red Skelton, Carole Lombard, John Mellencamp, Florence Henderson, David Letterman, Michael Jackson, Crystal Gayle, Shelley Long, Joshua Bell and Twyla Tharp. Writers and artists include Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Robert Indiana (could have guessed that, right?), Jim Davis (of Garfield fame), T.C. Steele, James Whitcomb Riley, Booth Tarkington, and Theodore Dreiser.

Famous business people have included Madame Walker (the first self-made black millionaire), Eli Lilly, the Studebaker family (yes, the cars), the Ball brothers, and J. Irwin Miller, all known not only for their entrepreneurial spirit, but also their philanthropic drive. The Lilly Endowment is one of the largest in the world today.

Little known fact: `Go West, Young Man!' is a phrase coined by an Indiana newspaper reporter.

Indiana is also the state of Ryan White, the child AIDS activist whose name became familiar all over the world. It is home Sandi Patty, the gospel singer, and Jane Pauley, the television journalist. It is the birthplace of the fashion designer Bill Blass and the childhood home of Halston. It is the home of sex research Alfred Kinsey and the gangster John Dillinger. It is the home of journalist Ernie Pyle and publisher Eugene Pulliam. It is the birthplace of high flyers Orville and Wilbur Wright (now, there aren't too many states in the nation where a family would have both an Orville and a Wilbur, don't you know...)

Indiana wouldn't be Indiana without sports, particularly basketball, and boasts such legends as Larry Bird, Bob Knight, Oscar Robertson, George McGinnis, and Bobby Plump. Racing goes without saying, too, in Indiana, and the names such as Bettenhausen, Andretti, and Gordon are legendary in the sport. Mark Spitz, Kurt Thomas, Doc Counsilman, Jaycie Phelps, Don Mattingly, and Knute Rockne are other well-known names in the sporting world.

Little known fact: Carl Fisher, the founder of the Indianapolis 500, took his fortune to found Miami Beach, Florida, where he died penniless.

So, you now have a perhaps overblown sense of who comes from Indiana. So what?

Perhaps the best thing about this book is to give a sense of pride of place to native Hoosiers. I am a firm believer that knowing one's personal history is very important, and this includes a sense of the place where one is born and raised. There is, among my acquaintances who have come from elsewhere in the world to live here, a decided reluctance to admit the term `Hoosier' applies to themselves. For the longest time, I thought that no one actually comes from Indiana, or that perhaps Indiana is a good place to be from, but not a quality to be valued. Nelson Price's book is somewhat of a revelation in that sense, in that it shows the great diversity of persons in a wide range of human endeavours who were born in or had significant residence in Indiana. Once, Steve Martin made a comment describing a place as `nowhere, USA', and he picked a town in Indiana. Perhaps Indiana is somewhat distant from the `centre of all things', be that New York, Los Angeles, London, wherever one might choose. However, perhaps its critics are a bit too harsh on the state, and the history of this relatively small place needs to be re-examined, not least by those who reside here.

Little known fact: William Henry Harrison built a plantation as a Governor's Residence in Indiana, and called it Grouseland.

The Hoosier state is richer in history than might at first meet the eye. Nelson Price's book puts in small, journalistic-style stories, accessible narratives of the people who make up this history, past and present. This would make a great gift to anyone who lives in Indiana, who is moving to Indiana, or has a significant Indiana experience in the past.

Little known fact: A large number of astronauts have come from Indiana, and those who were not Hoosier natives often have a Hoosier connection - education from Purdue University, renowned for engineering.

This is a coffee-table book. Wonderful pictures of people past and present, good print production and nice formatting make this a pleasant volume to read.

This book is part of a series that looks at cities all over the country. While this book would most likely be of limited interest to non-Hoosiers, I found this book to be riveting. I've lived in Indy for 15 years now and I often visited the city as a child.

The format of the book is side by side photos of an Indianapolis address in the past (from 60 - 150 years ago) and a current (2004) photo of the same building. Sometimes the same buildings and landmarks are still in places, other times there are whole new buildings and landscapes.

Most striking is the changes in the area around Indy's much lauded canal walk, White River State Park and IUPUI. I was also surprised that the Indianapolis Star building is actually quite old - two beautiful buildings with character were merged into one building and then covered with one of the most boring brick facades I have ever seen on any buiding anywhere. Too bad.

Strongly recommended for residents of Indianapolis as a unique gift.

Side by side format of old pictures with the new. My husband saw this at a bookstore during Christmas break, and I made a mental note to order it for his birthday. The RCA/Hoosier Dome/whatever it's called now has a modern color picture side by side with what used to be on the site. The whole book is set up like this: old picture/what it looks like today.

We love Nelson Price, the author, who used to be with the local paper, The Indianapolis Star. If you like local history with pictures, this is a great gift book. I think I'll order it for my school beause my 4th grade studies Indiana history.

I gave this book to my Mother this year (2005) on her 85th birthday. She was born and raised in Indy, but moved away in the 1950's. Mother is enthralled with the "then" and "now" photos of the places she knew. It has brought back memories of "home and family" for her to share with her sisters as they go down memory lane together. The book has wonderful photos and descriptions of the landmarks. We are very pleased with the book!

Indianapolis: Then and Now is filled with wonderful photos accompanied by enchanting narration. It does not matter if you have never visited Indianapolis or are a native (as am I), this book will lead one through neighborhoods, down streets, and capture the allure of "Indy." Highly recommended for either a gift to yourself or others. The quality of the printing, photos, and binding give the impression of a much more expensive book than this.

I have lived in Indianapolis for 3 years now and this book was great. I can see it being boring if you have never visited Indy. But if you know Indy this is a book. You just have to get it. It would also make a GREAT gift for that Indianapolis Friend you might have. I am buying them up for Christmas gifts.

As the Executive Vice President of Bookman Publishing, author Brien Jones draws on his experience in the industry for parodying the world of publishing in "The Manuscript." Through his coruscating wit and wry observations, he takes off on subsidy publishers, aspiring writers, poetry, thrillers, and romance novels, as well as Indiana town. Jones also sheds new light on America's history from 1941 onwards.

Lee Goodwin is an author consultant at an Indiana-based print-on-demand publisher, [...], where by paying [...] aspiring authors can make their dreams come true and get their manuscripts turned into books. To be published by this company, a book has to conform to three rigid standards - it cannot be [...], dangerous, or racially prejudiced. But this applies for just the first three pages, since they are the only ones read by the publisher during the supposedly stringent screening process! Even though Lee has to sometimes contend with eccentric writers, insufferable poets ("I am not a big fan of poetry. I figure life is tough enough, why rhyme about it?"), and strange conversations (like when an author claims, "My dog is possessed by [...] ghost."), it is a job the forty-one-year-old divorcee enjoys.

However, one fateful day, on the arrival of an unsolicited manuscript from Lee's favorite author Don Taylor, events spin out of control and his life changes completely. The manuscript is a treasure trove of information on America's earth-shattering mysteries, and highly secret government and military material. The plot thickens when Don suddenly dies and his manuscript mysteriously disappears. With some strangers relentlessly hounding him for the manuscript, Lee's life is in peril and he needs to devise a plan to escape. Help comes from his close-knit family as well as an unexpected quarter.

The author has penned an entertaining narrative by skillfully interweaving satire and page-turning suspense. Coupled with a charming protagonist, intrigue, exciting car chases and spelunking, this is a compelling read.

Lee Goodwin works for a busy print-on-demand publisher. Daily he works with wannabe authors, trying to convince them that a check must accompany the manuscript. Lee is disenchanted with his job, the publishing industry as a whole and with Indiana in general. The only bright spots in his humdrum existence are visits with his Grandmother.
Then a manuscript from his phone-friend Don crosses his desk and his life is changed forever. Don dies and suddenly everyone, especially people who threaten Lee's life, seeks this manuscript, which claims to solve several of America's past mysteries and reveal unbelievable secrets. However, the manuscript is not in Lee's discard box, it is not on his desk or in his house; the manuscript has disappeared.
With this premise, Brien Jones has penned an edge-of-your-chair adventure while giving readers insight into the darker side of publishing. The author's delightful imagination and droll sense of humor will surely propel him to the top of the bestseller list.
If you're searching for an entertaining, can't-put-down, great read, THE MANUSCRIPT by talented author Brien Jones is a perfect choice.
Beverly J Scott author of RIGHTEOUS REVENGE, RUTH FEVER and JENA'S CHOICE

I really liked this book. The only bad thing about it was that it left me wanting more. Simple as that.

"Never judge a book by its cover"

Never judge a book by its cover, or in the case of "The Manuscript" at least not by its first chapter. At first glance, "The Manuscript" by Brien Jones screams BORING. It could easily be mistaken for book on writing for high school students. However, once you open the book and read past the first chapter; you'll find yourself lost in the moment, trapped on a wild ride, jumping from genre to genre. In fact, with each new sub-plot comes still a different genre, leaving the reader confused and dazed, yet hopelessly hooked.

Author Brien Jones has reanimated old, tired, overused plots and thrown in conspiracy theories, all with remarkable creativity and ingenuity. "The Manuscript" is a book within a book of government cover-ups and visitors from outer space. It comes complete with an antisocial protagonist, and a mysterious, disgruntled ex- government operative, turned whistle blower with a tell-all Manuscript; hence the title.

If you're looking for a clear storyline or suspenseful, nail-biting plot full of loveable characters on noble quests, then you are going to be disappointed. The only consistent themes throughout "The Manuscript" is the shady, deep throat whistle blower on the run and the main character with his irreverent attitude about life in general.

The pages are filled with the protagonists hatred of the publishing industry, authors, poetry, Indiana and Indiana's law enforcement agencies. What has Indiana ever done to him? It seems rather ironic that this author happens to be Vice President of Bookman Marketing and Publishing in Martinsville, Indiana. Is he trying to tell us something? [Hmmm] Readers will find solace in the parts of the book devoted to the conspiracy theories, just to escape the constant barrage of complaints and insults.

Does all this mean the book isn't worth reading or the author doesn't know how to write? Absolutely not! It means the author, with his uncanny sense of humor has stepped out of the box, challenged the norm and dared to be his own individual and use his `own word's.' If only every writer or author would take that chance.

The Manuscript is a tongue-in-cheek funny novel that blends the publishing industry, small town life, and high-stakes political intrigue. When Lee Goodwin, a sales rep at a print-on-demand publisher receives a manuscript in the mail, he reads it and discovers that it is beyond extraordinary - it explains the machinations of "The Club" and how their grip of power transformed the world. Mysteries and secrets ranging from JFK's assassination to what happened to Amelia Earheart are explained. Now the FBI and "The Club" are both hot on Lee's tail, placing his life in danger. Can Lee expose the secrets of "The Club", and will anyone believe him if he does? A roller coaster adventure ride from cover to cover, dotted with fascinating true anecdotes of American history throughout.

I have read all the Elsie Dinsmore books, and have enjoied every one of them! I have grown spiritually closer to God, and almost feel like Elsie and Millie are friends! I would call them a wonderful series to read!

I really thought this book is not only good reading but educational for young girls who wish to be witnesses of the Christain faith through their actions and words, while also dealing with the struggles almost every girl in a new situation goes through.

I thought this was an amazing book. If I wanted Bible verses for the day all I had to do was look in the book. My personal favorite is Proverbs 3;5-6 Trust In the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowlrdge him in all your ways and he will set your paths straight.
I recomend this book to any christian girl or urging to get closer to God or a non christain who wants to know Him.

age 13

I LOVED this book !!! Only Problem is it has a clifhanger endding os you have to go out and buy the 2nd one!!! Any on who likes the Elsie Dinsmore books or the Dear America series will fall in love with this book!!!

My 9-yr old daughter and I fell in love with Millie and her family from the first chapter. This is a story of a strong family whose faith carries them through a number of life changing experiences. But more importantly, it is a story of an adolescent girl who relies heavily on her faith to guide her in her decision making regarding friends and family. It is set in the late 1800's where a well-heeled family must move to a rural setting out west without many of the amenities they have become accustomed to. Charity, understanding, and standing up for one's beliefs are all stressed in this charming story that leaves you looking forward to the next book. I rank this with our other favorites: Anne of Green Gables, The Little Princess, Heidi, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and Pollyanna. I only wish there were more series like it. However, it is definitely a book for children who either know, or want to know, that they are children of God.

Mosaic's style of church is not just an "L.A. thing" but all across the country as leaders of churches from almost all denominations and hundreds of younger adults starting new churches look to the ministry of pastor Erwin McManus and Mosaic as their North Star. The church grew while experimenting with new structures for congregational ministry and engaging diversity, pluralism, and urbanization.

Other books covering related topics include: Hollywood Faith: Holiness, Prosperity, and Ambition in a Los Angeles Church about a vibrant church meeting in a converted movie theater in the center of Hollywood. A new, practical book on megachurches based on good scholarship is Beyond Megachurch Myths: What We Can Learn from America's Largest Churches (J-B Leadership Network Series). And, an in-depth look at the influence of evangelical megachurches on mainline denominations is The Megachurch and the Mainline: Remaking Religious Tradition in the Twenty-first Century.

This book is an artform. The work is an in-depth glimpse of the inner-workings of the emerging church that many philosophize and prophesize about, yet never have the opportunity to live within. The care and balance that Marti brought to the project as a pastor and scholar was obvious and reassuring. I am confident that Gerardo's work will provide a methodological basis that provides others with the courage to do the same. This book is timely as the denominational form of Christianity continues to slide into oblivion in the U.S. However, it is a refreshing testament to the fact that God has something more in mind. He's not done with Christianity in the U.S. just yet. He is the God of MORE...much more. Marti's book is a refreshing, uplifting testament to the fact that He is alive and working diligently in our world...He just needs some disciples to hear Him and "Follow Me." Clearly, the finished work spawns more questions and opportunities for additional research, as any substantial research endeavor should.

Looking under the conventional labels used to depict religious believers, ethnographers and cultural historians are uncovering some unexpected findings. We know, for example, that religious conservatives are likely to vote Republican, but what, exactly, does it mean to be a religious conservative? If the scholarship of historians like R. Marie Griffith or sociologists like Gerardo Marti is any indication, it does not necessarily mean turning one's back on the modern world. [...] Marti's 'A Mosaic of Believers: Diversity and Innovation in a Multiethnic Church,' to be published next month, offers a case study of a Los Angeles-based church that is at one and the same time Southern Baptist in affiliation and conservative theologically and attractive to a young, primarily single Hollywood clientele working at cutting-edge cultural jobs in the entertainment industry. As such books illustrate, the ethnographic trend overlaps with interest in the complexities of religion and American culture and their intersection. While religion has certainly done its share to shape American culture, it is also the case that American culture shapes religion, and in very powerful ways.

-- From Alan Wolfe, "Scholars Infuse Religion With Cultural Light," The Chronicle of Higher Education

Detailed Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
   Mosaic Havens: Dual Movement of Escape and Refuge
   Max Weber and the Dynamic Nature of Ethnicity
   Overview

Chapter 1: Multi-Ethnic Churches, Mosaic, and Social Change
   Significance of Multi-ethnic Churches
   Significance of Mosaic
   A Glimpse Into the Future

Chapter 2: Describing Mosaic
   An Oral History
   Unique Aspects of This Congregation

Chapter 3: History, Agency, and the Evangelical Faith: A Reconstruction of Ideology
   Exploring Mosaic's Theological Haven
   Catalytic Preaching and the Shaping of a Congregation
   A Theology of Mission
   The Apostolic Community and the Movement of History

Chapter 4: The Hollywood Connection and the Management of Artistic Talent: A Reconstruction of Involvement
   Exploring Mosaic's Artistic Haven
   Parallels between Mosaic and the Entertainment Industry
   Mobilization as the Core Activity at Mosaic

Chapter 5: Innovation and the Cultivation of Catalytic Leaders: A Reconstruction of Imperative
   Exploring Mosaic's Innovator Haven
   Discovery, Development, and Deployment of Leaders
   Diversification and Innovation through Catalytic Leaders

Chapter 6: Mosaic and the Emerging American Culture: A Reconstruction of an Institution
   Exploring Mosaic's Age Haven
   Reversing the Age Hierarchy
   Cultural Appeal to the Coming Century

Chapter 7: Becoming Mosaic: A Reconstruction of Identity
   Exploring Mosaic's Ethnic Haven
   Charismatic Authority and the Strategic Management of Ethnic Identity
   Charismatic Re-orientation of Ethnic Identity

Conclusion
   Innovation and Diversification in Pursuit of Mission
   Popular Culture, Younger Generations, and the Rejection of Modernity
   Capturing a Movement in Action

Bibliography

Appendix: Methodological Considerations from a Religious Insider
   Qualitative Research and the Dilemma of Researcher Involvement
   Seeking Validity for This Researcher in Studying This Congregation
   Guidelines Offered in Hindsight

Appendix: Women and Leadership at Mosaic

-- Quoted from CHOICE Reviews by K. D. Lyon (Jones County Junior College), January 2006.

"Through careful ethnography and masterful application of sociological theory, Marti (sociology, Davidson College) provides a rewarding and insightful study of one of the nation's largest multiethnic churches, Los Angeles's Mosaic."

"Principally, Marti attributes Mosaic's remarkable success to five "havens" of inclusion/involvement within the church that allow transcendence of ethnic separateness in favor of spiritual commonalty. The "theological" haven offers a purposeful ideology of evangelical mission that animates other havens, while the haven of "artistic creativity" harnesses a wealth of Hollywood talent and integrates myriad artistic forms into worship. Analyzing the "innovator" haven, Marti explains how congregants viewed as deviant in organizationally conservative churches frequently become "catalytic leadership" within Mosaic. The "age" haven attracts and empowers young people, especially those fleeing "entrapment" in their parents' monoethnic subcultures."

"A superb chapter explores "ethnic" haven in terms of the fluidity, subjectivity, and situational construction of ethnic identity, allowing emphasis, reconfiguration or muting of ethnicity within Mosaic's context and missiology. Engagingly and accessibly written, this excellent book deserves wide readership among everyone interested in US religion, ethnicity, organizations and urban culture."

"Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries."

-- Quoted from Journal for Scientific Study of Religion by Elaine Howard Ecklund (University of Buffalo, SUNY, and Rice University), September 2006 (Vol 45/No 3), pp. 467-468.

"Mosaic of Believers is a highly readable volume, following in the footsteps of other congregational ethnographies within the sociology of religion (e.g. works by Nancy Ammerman, Brenda Brasher, and R. Stephen Warner)."

"He shows that Mosaic retains its unique mission, in part, by rewarding change-agents, providing a haven for self-starters and leaders."

"Carefully walking the line between overindulgent navel-gazing and unquestioned objectivism, Marti writes an engaging methodological appendix.... Throughout the volume, he implicitly pushes forward a dialogue on the different roles that insiders and outsiders to a religious community have in ethnographic accounts of such settings."

"Overall, this is a strong volume and I look forward to reading Marti's future work."

-- Quoted from "Multiethnic Mix: A Model of Congregational Diversity?" by R. Stephen Warner (University of Illinois at Chicago), The Christian Century, July 26, 2005 (Vol 122/No 15), pp. 26-29.

"As Marti sees it, the key to building a congregation of people from diverse, often alienated ethnic backgrounds is to appeal to them in ways that trump their differences."

"Marti stresses the malleability of identities and the way that being a follower of Jesus Christ at Mosaic "transcends" ethnicity. In so doing he offers an appealing vision of a church that builds on the dynamism of demography and popular culture to overcome the scandal of religious segregation (as well as the specter of civic balkanization)."

"Clearly, Mosaic is spiritually compelling. Its members are on fire with their faith, eager to share it with everyone in Los Angeles. Its leaders take risks that most pastors would not dare."

"His book will be on the syllabus the next time I teach a course on race, ethnicity and gender in American religion."

-- Quoted from Sociology of Religion: A Quarterly Review by Kathleen Garces-Foley (Cal State Northridge and Marymount University), Fall 2006.

"Marti's analysis is a well-crafted mix of first-person accounts and sociological theory."

"As an assistant pastor at Mosaic during the course of his research, he straddles the religoius insider/outsider tension with ease and precision, and the methodological appendix offers insightful advice for other scholars in this position."

"It also offers valueable insights into the postmodern church movement, and I found the discussion of Mosaic's theological position with regard to premillenialism particularly helpful."

This book does a masterful job of piecing apart Mosaic, how it is structured and how it operates. It provides facts and unique insights behind the scenes and gives the reader what he needs to understand diversity in a local church that is impacting the world.

This wonderful book allows the reader to experience a place and a people now gone. The "stars" of Ballymenone come alive again in story, song and the descriptions of their lives by Henry Glassie. Unlike most academic books, this one is written by a poet...lyrical, powerful and evocative prose by a writer with suberb descriptive powers and spiritual impact. My husband and I recently visited Ballymenone and spent the day searching for what we had read about...but the people described are mostly gone, the landscape altered, the old replaced by new. For anyone who loves Ireland and wants to understand its ways and its culture this book is a must.

I read this excellent book over a year ago and am amazed at how often my thoughts return to visit. I find that many of the folkways described by this extraordianary observer are part of my own everyday life as American Scotch Irish over two centuries removed from roots in Ulster, Ireland. The descriptions of the kitchen hospitality, even the arrangement of the kitchen furniture are very familiar to me. The gifts of storytelling and musicmaking so vividly described are as frequently celebrated in my current mileau. Thanks for an excellent piece of research and writing.

This wonderful book allows the reader to experience a place and a people now gone. The "stars" of Ballymenone come alive again in story, song and the descriptions of their lives by Henry Glassie. Unlike most academic books, this one is written by a poet...lyrical, powerful and evocative prose by a writer with suberb descriptive powers and spiritual impact. My husband and I recently visited Ballymenone and spent the day searching for what we had read about...but the people described are mostly gone, the landscape altered, the old replaced by new. For anyone who loves Ireland and wants to understand its ways and its culture this book is a must.

For years anthropologists and folklorists have often "looked down" on the subjects of their studies, attempting to fit their subjects into preconceived boxes and categories. Unfortunately some anthropologists and sociologists continue to regard their "subjects" with condescension or even amusement. Henry Glassie's work is a much needed antidote to such practices. _Passing the Time in Ballymenone_ is a jewel. Henry Glassie regards the people of Ballymenone with respect and affection, allowing them to describe their ideas, life-ways, and values on their own terms, not his. Recognizing that theirs is a mindset and lifestyle that must be seen as an integrated whole, Glassie studies everything about Ballymenone from traditional songs to entertainment to religious beliefs to architecture, liberally quoting from the people who welcomed him into their homes over his extended stays. Some of his insights are pure brilliance, such as recognizing the way the poets and storytellers of a rural Irish district have adapted ancient Gaelic metrics to the English they use today. You will learn more about Ireland and its people in this one book than in a host of others. You may also find yourself re-evaluating your own lifestyle after encountering the wisdom of these tradition bearers. The book also serves as an excellent model for those who plan to work and study in folklore or anthropology.

As a study of the folklife and history of a community in Ulster, this book is full, rich, fascinating, and moving. I've used it as a first reading for graduate classes in fieldwork because it merges useful ethnographic research techniques with insightful analysis and eloquent prose. Students find the book both practical and inspiring, and it is a tour de force of the best of folklore research. Glassie's insights are more than relevant today for thinking through contemporary concerns about a range of important social and political concerns including what it means to foster healthy community life and provide honor and respect to old masters and stars. It is also a wonderful read for anyone interested in storytelling and Irish history and culture.

This is the first book about a sister and brother named Elizabeth and Jonathan Pollack who become famous for solving a family mystery. There are good characters, lots of funny things about the kids and their family, and interesting clues and characters along the way. I would recommend this book to any kid who has a good imagination, likes to read, and enjoys mysteries. I read it with my Dad. It is one of the best books I have ever read. Mrs. Rosellini also wrote a second book about these ace detectives called The Mystery of the Ancient Coins. I recommend that one, too. Plus, I once got to meet the author and she told lots of interesting things about how she comes up with ideas, and family treasures, and other books she has worked on and is working on.

What great fun our family had reading Eleanor Rosellini's "The Puzzle in the Portrait!" Our 3 boys were 7, 9 and 12 at the time, and each one of them just loved this treasure of a book, whether they were reading independently or being read to aloud. We are all mystery lovers -- and this story kept us guessing, and wondering what would happen next. "Just one more chapter!" was a refrain I kept hearing, even from my youngest! There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments too, often thanks to the character they could relate to so easily -- Elizabeth's wacky and super-energized younger brother Jonathan. As a parent, one of the things I appreciated most was that this book gets a young reader thinking about how precious one's family history is, how much fun it can be to uncover it, and how important it is to preserve it for future generations. "The Puzzle in the Portrait" is a wonderful read, not only for boys and girls of all ages, but their parents too!

I think this book is great for all ages up to twelve years old. I would recomend it to anyone who is looking for a good book to read to there kids. The lady who wrote it lives next door to me wrote the book and has many more to come so watch the shelfs they will be coming soon.

In the opening chapter of this little book, the first in a series (see my review of The Mystery of the Ancient Coins) we meet three generations of a midwest family, including a precocious little girl; her over-energized brother; and a grumpy grandfather, hard "like a table with sharp edges." What evolves is a thoroughly engaging "hystery," with its roots in the family's ancestors who settled here in the 1800's. I recommend The Puzzle in the Portrait as a perfect addition to a summer reading list. It is also a perfect read aloud bedtime book. There should be more books like this where children exercise their minds, using their wits and skills, and delight in the process.

The Puzzle in the Portrait (written by my mom), is a must read book. For all the last minute christmas shoppers, this is an ideal gift for your children. The age group for this book is children up to twelve years old. I thought this was a very interesting and funny book which not only will entertain children, it will also teach a valuable lesson in the keeping of family memories. Children can relate to the story in the boisterous and comical Jonathan or the thoughtful, think before you act Elizabeth. This is a terrific mystery story and a great holiday gift! But even after Christmas, this will make a great gift.

David Weiss has written a profound memoir of a difficult encounter with people and his past. It is eloquent, brilliant, deeply moving and eminently readable.

This is the sad story of the Jewish community in wartime Nazi Austria and the return of surviving victims to Wiener Neustadt. A gripping tale told by the son of the former chief Rabbi of the town.

This is an astonishing work -- deeply revealing, personal, and yet universal in its message. David Weiss uses language with precision, describing complex emotions and internal conflicts with grace and originality. This book, regardless of our associations to the Holocaust, is one that we can all learn from. It reminds us that each human being must be judged as an individual, even when circumstances make it difficult for us to do so. For those of us who search within to overcome old biases and hatred, this book can be an epiphany. For any thoughtful person, it can illuminate a black period in history and inform our responses to it.

"Reluctant Return" by David Weiss presents the intricate emotional landscape of a Holocaust survivor compelled by the sincerity and heart of a new Christian sect to return to his Austrian hometown of Wiener Neustadt on a mission of reconciliation. Ichthyus, a new Christian sect devoted to repairing the deep wounds caused by Christian anti-Judaism and anti-semitism, begins from the dreams and visions of a minister's wife, Uli Eiwen, who feels led by God to uncover the truth of 1000 years of Jew-hatred in her hometown, and to work to forge a reconciliation. Uli's visionary experiences lead her to the belief that God has abandoned Christianity because of two thousand years of Christian anti-Judaism. Recognizing her God as the God of the Jews, she feels that God's covenant with Abraham speaks directly about Christians in particular in the statement, "your enemies shall be my enemies." She convinces her husband, Helmuth, of the power of her beliefs after a chilling vision of the Nazi swastika during a mass he leads drives her from church screaming. He discovers the horrible history of Lutheran complicity with the SS in his hometown, resigns his ministry, and starts Ichthyus. Weiss and other Jews from Wiener Neustadt are convinced to return by the simplicity and honesty of the Eiwens, much to their own surprise. Weiss's mapping of the intricate and complex emotions he feels during his return has much to say about the destructiveness of prejudice and hatred, and the difficulty and beauty of forgiveness. Weiss writes with a pained lyricism in this profoundly moving book. I have used this recently in a course on religious autobiography (college level), and it has been a powerful source of knowledge and reflection for my students. Very highly recommended.

David Weiss opened his heart and soul with "Reluctant Return" and I was drawn into his life and experience so deeply that I finished the book in one sitting (with a dinner break). We all have our ghosts and parts of our past we have buried or refuse to acknowledge and we live our lives fully, successfully and quite happily. David Weiss lived like that until he was forced to take another look at his feelings about Austrians and growing up in antisemitic Austria. He shares his own survival experiences during the 1930-45 period and his feelings about pre- and postwar Germany, Germans, Austria and Austrians. He points out that Germany and many German people have openly acknowledged their role in the holocaust whereas Austria and the Austrian people are barely beginning this process. He describes his experiences and deepest feelings when he is returned to the town of his youth. Then how he shared his life and these feelings with groups of Austrian school children whose history books have deliberately omitted their country's role in the holocaust. The children start to realize and accept that their elders committed terrible crimes against other humans whose only error was to try to live peacefully in this small town in Austria.

If this book were published by a BIG NAME publisher, it would be an instant best seller. I believe that "Reluctant Return" will take a path similar to "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "The Perfect Storm" and grow to be a classic.