Rhode Island Books

I don't want to say anything particular about the book, only that it was virtually perfect. Fay Weldon understands human emotions and faults. She expresses all of the thoughts and feelings people carry around all bottled up inside, and she does so with great conviction and humor. Just read the book.

One of her best; I couldn't put it down. An intricate, clever, funny, touching book that is Fay Weldon in top form. The characters feel very real, and their situations are truly compelling. I really enjoyed this book.

As I started reading this book, I felt the author was a very negative person. At the end I still had this feeling, but it was a compelling story none the less. Her writing style made me think, and I had to go back and read several passages again to get the full meaning of her words. The story was a depressing one for the characters, but their life's stories intertwining with each other were fascinating. I'm so glad she didn't let all her characters have the typical happy ending leaving you to feel that their lives would still be full of ups and downs.

It would be all too easy to assume from the title of Weldon's latest novel that it is a depressing read. However, I doubt that Weldon could ever seriously be mournful, especially not when you have both nurses and desire inextricably linked, as you have here. There's just a brief mention of Blues hero Stephane Grapelli, but that's just about how far the relevance goes. However, if you do know who Grapelli is, then you may well be of Felicity's generation in this novel. The title's also an oblique reference to Rhode Island Reds, a particularly fancied breed of chicken at the moment. Apparently, these poultry are extremely easy to rear. It's just Felicity's luck however, that she marries an American GI who hasn't a clue about how to run his own farm. She's even more unfortunate in that she believed his tales of a plantation mansion. Fifty years later, the funeral of her son-in-law from this marriage leads to a quite unexpected flirtation with romance.

Admittedly, parts of Felicity's life story are quite grim. Sophia, her only living relative, works in London as a film editor, whilst Felicity herself abides in Connecticut. Felicity has had a minor stroke, and is coming to terms with the reality of her advancing years. Sophia loves her grandmother - it's just that she feels far more comfortable when the Atlantic Ocean is in between them. Her busy life as a film editor means that she cannot just drop everything and be by her grandmother's bedside in Connecticut. Weldon is very perceptive in relating how much guilt can taint love, and how uncomfortable the young can be beside the old.

Sophia, and Charlie the chauffeur, tend to view the world from the perspective of the movies. When Sophia visits an aged relative Weldon notes that this old lady tends to use references from the fairy books of her youth in her conversation. Maybe what Weldon is saying here is that the motion picture is now the dominant form of fiction. Unfortunately, it really grinds my teeth to come across yet another character in an English novel this year that works in the Soho media world. If future readers ever come back to these novels, like Toby Litt's 'Corpsing', and Amy Jenkins' dire 'Honeymoon', they might think that everyone in England was working in film. The only writer who has a credible excuse for writing about Soho is Christopher Fowler who actually works there. The impression I get is that most young English novelists would really much rather prefer writing for the movies, and I can't help but think that this is very sad.

Sophia mentions many films in her narrative, whilst neglecting to mention the most obvious one: 'Harvey'. Okay, so The Golden Bowl is an old peoples' home, but it does stand comparison with the mental institution in Jimmy Stewart's movie. Okay, so you don't get to see the invisible rabbit in 'Rhode Island Blues' either - it's the interaction between the characters and the structure that seems quite similar. You don't see the whole of this story from Sophia's viewpoint, since Weldon chooses to flit between the main characters at times. It's quite a jolt to suddenly see the world from Nurse Dawn's perspective, who seems to be such a minor character otherwise. But then 'Harvey' also strayed from Jimmy Stewart's suspect vision, into other smaller narratives, such as the nurse's romance with the doctor. Although, this being Weldon, the Doctor/Nurse relationship here is far more risqué.

Feliticty's mental health comes into question when she starts seeing a gambling toy boy, and when the staff at The Golden Bowl discover what we've known all along - namely that her Utrillo painting is not a print. With insurance being such a premium in the litigatory States, moves are made to ensure the safe removal of the Utrillo from the Golden Bowl's walls (James Stewart's mental state in 'Harvey' was also brought into question due to a suspect portrait). Unfortunately, Felicity has also let slip to Sophia that she may have more family in England. Sophia, all alone apart from a temporary fling with a film director of Kubrick's stature, can't help but investigate her roots. She finds a couple of quite dull cousins who eventually let her enter their lives. Felicity impulsively decides to remarry at the tender age of 83. Sophia's cousins just as impulsively decide to check out their newly found grandmother, and petulantly join Sophia on her trip to the States. The question on everyone's minds seems to be this: is such an old woman capable of looking after a valuable Utrillo?

Ironically, Utrillo spent much of his own life in and out of institutions, with painting his only therapy. From this point of view, it's very fitting that his work should end up on the walls of an institution like The Golden Bowl. Sophia recognises the name of the old peoples' home as deriving from a passage in Ecclesiastes. No doubt it is also a reference to the novel of the same name - that also featured a suspected gold digger. What this novel seems to be about broadly, is the clash between the new and the old: the disparities between British and American culture, the contrast between the generations, and old and new forms of fiction. Several novels this year have discussed a problem which currently troubles Western culture: what to do with an ever aging population, from Will Self's vulgar 'How the Dead Live', to Barbara Kingsolver's life-affirming 'Prodigal Summer'. Weldon comes somewhere in between the two extremes. There is something quite merciless about some of her observations, mostly concerning the immigrant Charlie and his ever-increasing family. But most chilling and timely of all is Sophia's disquieting journey on Concorde. However, Weldon provides us with a mixed dish here; not all of her prognosis is quite as gloomy as this. The blues are there, but playing quietly in the background with the reds.

If it weren't for the fact that three people were slaughtered in the most brutal manner imaginable and that a young woman went through nearly a decade of horrific abuse, this story would be laughable. Christopher Hightower was one of the dumbest criminals imaginable: he told the most foolish lies, never worked to support his family, treated people around him like dirt, even as they gave him financial support...One can only wonder what in Hightower's background created the monster he became, but it's really hard to have as much sympathy for Susan Hightower as I should. Part of her excuse for enduring Hightower's abuse stems from--get this--her parents saying "Just do your best," which she translates into not being good enough for them! Another reason she gives is that she was "too fat" in the seventh grade. With a loving family who was clearly willing to support her, why did these silly reasons bother her? Who knows? But Christopher Hightower is where he belongs, in prison for life. A shame RI had no death penalty.

I purchased this book because i personally knew the father and daughter of the family that was killed.I had visited them on a few occasions with my mother to discuss the Bible.I was only 11 at the time..but i remeber them vividly.I grew up in the next town over,and knew exactly all the settings in this book.Its a well told story...and the fact that it is also true makes it even more bone-chilling. I highly suggest it.

The reason I read this book was to find out if the wife and family of Mr. Hightower realized before the murders that he had problems and was capable of murder. It was an interesting and well written book explaining point by point the relationship, from start to finish of Susan and Chris Hightower. I think it was a necessary book to write and to read, as it shows the complete selfish and cruel nature of Chris Hightower and for a brief moment you can see through his eyes and, as crazy as he is, you begin to understand why he thought he could get away with murder. One of the reasons I think people should read the book is because it examines the non-physical side of abuse that is just as harmful and probably more long lasting than the physical. Had Susan been aware of the manipulation that was controlling her, she might have ended the relationship years earlier and saved herself all the heartache. Christopher Hightower would very probably have murdered or attempted murdering someone who got in his way with or without Susan. The horror of what he did to the Brendel family is unbelievable and painful to read but the book brings it out factually without glorifing the brutality of Hightower's actions. I am glad I read it and I hope it will help others not to casually become intimately involved with strangers without meeting their family and finding out who they are or as much as you can about them.

The reason I read this book was to find out if the wife and family of Mr. Hightower realized before the murders that he had problems and was capable of murder. It was an interesting and well written book explaining point by point the relationship, from start to finish of Susan and Chris Hightower. I think it was a necessary book to write and to read, as it shows the complete selfish and cruel nature of Chris Hightower and for a brief moment you can see through his eyes and, as crazy as he is, you begin to understand why he thought he could get away with murder. One of the reasons I think people should read the book is because it examines the non-physical side of abuse that is just as harmful and probably more long lasting than the physical. Had Susan been aware of the manipulation that was controlling her, she might have ended the relationship years earlier and saved herself all the heartache. Christopher Hightower would very probably have murdered or attempted murdering someone who got in his way with or without Susan. The horror of what he did to the Brendel family is unbelievable and painful to read but the book brings it out factually without glorifing the brutality of Hightower's actions. I am glad I read it and I hope it will help others not to casually become intimately involved with strangers without meeting their family and finding out who they are or as much as you can about them.

If you have any interest in northern Rhode Island this is the book you want!!! Amazing detail and great old photos accompany detailed text on the history of this region. This is a great coffee table book and a wonderful gift for someone from the area !!!!!

This book has many wonderful old pictures of the Blackstone area, particularly Cumberland, RI. It presents the history of the people and their heritage in a well researched fashion. Nice addition for the collector of New England nostalgia.

If you have any interest in northern Rhode Island this is the book you want!!! Amazing detail and great old photos accompany detailed text on the history of this region. This is a great coffee table book and a wonderful gift for someone from the area !!!

A superb book, very informative and with wonderfdul and some greatly enlarged photographs.
There is a fair amount of information about faience production technology though the very best work on Egyptian faience and
frit is "Vitreous Materials at Amarna - The production of Glass and faience in 18th Dynasty Egypt" by Andrew J Shortland, this is available from Oxbow books if not avaalable on amazon. Also worth trying to get hold of is "Faiences", the catalogue (in French only) for the recent wonderful exhibition at the Louvre. Unfortunately, this is not available online from the Louvre bookshop. (...)

I waited for some time to get my hands on this work. If you're interested in AE faience artistry - the pictures alone are worth it. A fine addition to the Egyptophile's library.

A well illustrated book , numerous examples of what is known in pottery as " Egyptian Paste ". Ornaments , tiles ,cups, figurines and the ever present ,beads. More than enough colour photographs to satisfy the thirst . The 3 different processes of manufacturing Egyptian Paste objects are explained technically. Plus ,the many variations in the paste through the centuries. My only reason for not giving another star , not enough goblets .

This is a page-turner written with style. Initially, I was attracted by the period spy plot set in 1941 pre-war society Newport. However, equally engrossing are the portraits of racing boats (and the craftsmen who create them) and pre-war ethnic Connecticut village life. Normally a speed reader, I slowed down to savor the details. The picture of "society" reminded me of The Remains of the Day, except that Florence's boat races and chase scenes are more exciting.

In 1941, the war in Europe has captured the fascination of everyone in the Newport area whether they are part of the social elite, fishermen, or members of the Naval War College. The war has forged strange relationships. For instance, naval student and son of scions, Russell Westcott III noticed the beautiful young lady watching while he was winning a yacht race. He later learns her name is Sera and she is the daughter of a Portuguese fisherman living in Stoningham, Connecticut.

While Russell decides to make a play for Sera, her buddy Jake Werth wants her to see him as a lover not a friend. However, Jake knows he cannot compete with the charismatic, win at all costs Russell even as both attend the war college. Jake's role is to be a mole, trying to uncover who is giving away war gaming secrets. At the same time, a slickster wines and dines Russell into revealing those same secrets that he figures are nothing but silly adult games. As both Mike and Russell vie for Sera's affections, their adversarial roles will force a confrontation just as Pearl Harbor is around the corner.

THE LAST SEASON is a superb historical fiction work that brings Newport into clear focus just months before America enters World War II. The lead triangle is formed quite nicely in front of a vivid and descriptive backdrop. Although Jake's morality seems too perfect, readers will fully understand the motives of him, Russell and Sera. Ronald Florence provides a fabulous period piece that thrillingly turns THE LAST SEASON into a splendid novel that will leave genre fans seeking more works such as the authors' GYPSY MAN.

Harriet Klausne

Earlier this month, I was asked to read this novel. Being a SciFi reader, I hesitated before opening the cover and before I knew what had happened, I was engrossed. The detail of the period was great (gotta love those old V-12 Packards!) and the characters were so real that you felt true emotions for them. You can see that the author has done his research on many different levels.

Believe it or not, I had the same "can't wait to sit down and read" feeling with _The Last Season_ as I did when I read Stephenson's _Snow Crash_ even though the subject matter is completely different. For me, that is saying a lot... Good work Ronald Florence! You can't go wrong this _The Last Season_!

The only reason this is a 4/5 is that I am reserving that for the author's first SciFi novel. :-)

This book is wonderfully organized. The description of the styles and the economic environment in which they were hatched is beautifully done. Wonderful photos and illustrations too.

Very well researched and written, but I was continually nagged by the persistent thought "I wish the pictures were bigger."

When I say "small" I mean "small."

Frankly, they could not create enough books on Newport. It is blessed with so many wonderful buildings and an idealic setting. This book is well researched and the visuals are top notch. If you have any interest in Gilded Age opulance or just enjoy owning wonderful books, then I highly recommend this book.

somewhat hard to read, chapters seam to skip around. Once you figure it out,it's invaluable. Would not hike without it!!

As a avid hiker and naturalist, I found this guide to be the best and detailed ( it includes interesting historical facts of sites this trail transverses) guide I've ever used. It would useful to the most experience outdoorsmen to the novice hiker. I highly recommend it.

"The North South Trail" is a remarkably thorough field guide to this premier path through Rhode Island. The author has expertly manipulated 1:24,0000 US Geological Service maps to create large scale details for 34 trail sections. This handy guide and an orienteering compass are all you really need to navigate the North South Trail.

Trail descriptions for each of the 34 sections comprise most of the text. Chapters on Getting There, and Camping Along The Trail, and an appendix, and index all add the the thoroughness of this excellent guide. I particularly like the photography of rural Rhode Island, and the pronunciation guide for places such as Quonochontaug.

A great story from Googan to Hardcore. It isn't a how to and the advice it does give is, at times, as wrong as "waders full of water will sink link a stone" :) . But that doesn't take away from the story and I did think about amber liquid when I was at SW point getting pounded by waves.

I have never fished for striped bass before reading Striper Chronicles, but this book really opened my eyes to what an interesting and challenging sport it is. Orsi's stories and interviews with many who have been fishing throughout their lives for this fish are simply wonderful. I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend it to anyone, fisherman or not.

What a great read! This book is a "must read" for any fisherman, but particularly for those who fish the east coast. Easily one of the best books of fishing stories ever written.

The Knights of St. John were one of the three great crusading orders of Christianity - the others being the Teutonic Knights and the Templars. They were, however, far and away the most diplomatically successful; hence their receipt from the Pope of Rhodes, a prime bit of real estate on which to live, even after the collapse of the Crusades themselves. But as the maps in the inset of Brockman's book reveal, in all too painful detail, Rhodes is perilously close to the Turkish mainland, and it was only a matter of time before one of the Great Sultans decided to make a bid to conquer the Knights.

The first siege of Rhodes, in 1480 is one of the great post-Crusade epics. Brockman captures it well: the story revolves around the great feats of will performed by Pierre D'Aubusson, Grand Master, who built up the fortifications and orchestrated the defense system that saw the Knights survive an assault by 80,000 Turks.

The second siege of 1522 is something of a coda by comparison. Yet the fact remains that the Turks allowed the Knights to retire in good order and take their possessions with them. There can be no greater tribute to the respect that the Knights had earned by their past braveries. A nice little account of both events, with plenty of gory medieval detail about what goes on when a castle is under assault.

Read before you visit the island . As you stroll the medieval walled city you will find yourself thinking of the last Europeans to defend Christendom this close to Asia. It was the Turk who came here in the two sieges described. The Knights of St. John were deposed during the second siege and were allowed to leave, eventually reestablishing the Hospitallers in Malta. Look for evidence of the blood and carnage of the sieges as you walk this stop on the summer cruise route. Hangings, beheadings, Knights of Christ and Ottoman Turks alike displaying the heads of their enemies on dripping pikes; Could all this have really happened here in this jewel in the blue Aegean? Yes it did and the story of it is written for the history buff and traveler alike in this short entertaining book

The Knights of St. John of the Hospital were a crusading order who are mentioned in the background of "The Maltese Falcon." But they served as much more than the set up for a Dashiel Hammett mystery. Many historians consider the Knights to be the first practitioners of nursing. They could crack their enemies' skulls and then expertly apply the bandages. Nursing, however, was not their greatest contribution. After the collapse of the Crusading movement, they became Europe's Mediterranean bulwark against Turkish expansion.

When they were expelled from the Holy Land, they set up on the island of Rhodes, and weathered two concerted efforts by the Turks to dislodge them from the island.This, then is the story of those two campaigns, and it describes them in all their gallantry and savagery.

They finally succumbed to the might of the Turkish Empire, but were able to retire from Rhodes in good order. After being dislodged from Rhodes, the Knights moved to Malta, and there withstood another epic seige which served as the prelude to the decisive Battle of Lepanto. Their efforts truly helped to save Europe from Turkish domination. All in all, this is an entertaining and informative history of a pivotal period in European history.

First of all, I love the size of this book, petite. I live in Texas now, but keep this book propped up on my desk to feel more at home. The author has compiled the important historical facts along with the equally important tourist information. Eventually, each of the fifty states will have their own book, and I think this will be a good thing!

If you are visiting Rhode Island and want to get a feeling for the state in just a few minutes read this book. It's filled with great fun facts and wonderful pictures that express the feeling of the state. It would also make a great souvenir.

Did you know that the the state bird is the Rhode Island Red Hen, and it is this hen that lays the distinctive brown eggs you'll find in Rhode Island.

The book contains interesting historical tidbits and beautiful scenic photographs of the miles of shoreline and under-developed beaches.

I really like the "Only in Rhode Island" section where unique features of the state are highlighted such as Mr. Potato Head and the Big Blue Bug.

Finally, the "Rhode Island by the Seasons" section is a helpful guide to the annual festivities that occur throughout the year.

It's my best pick at..., a guide to vacation shopping in Rhode Island.