Virginia Books

{This is} a brief book that doesn't fetishize fifty and that collages different voices. Though its contributors rarely object or probe or mention negatives--nor ask how and why 'women' are changed into 'older women'--some present important facts and perspectives succinctly. Gwen Yeo, director of the Stanford Geriatric Education Center, notes that 'Women over fifty are less prone to epression than any other age or gender group.' Artist Claire Falkenstein, trying to undermine the prejudice that creativity wanes with age, says that before her eighties she had never been able to use 'a symbolic language in the way I do now.'

From Margaret Morganroth Gullette - Women's Review of Books

{The} candid conversations found in this volume inspire, amaze, and challenge attitudes about women and aging. . . . Skillfully woven by the authors, discussions cover sexuality and enopause, beauty, eccentricity, housing, politics, careers, mentoring, risk-taking, and more.

Despite the acknowledged lackof socioeconomic and ethnic diversity reflected here, these proceedings make an important contribution to understanding women's place in the world today. Thoughtfully designed with large clear type. Detailed participant biographies appended.

From Paulette Bochnig Sharkey - Small Press

Richard Croker's novelization of the events leading up to and including the Battle of Fredricksburg in December of 1862 is just about as good as it gets in the "cast of thousands" (lots and lots of characters) type of historical fiction.

Due to the nature of this book, it is just about impossible to get too deeply involved in many of them. But, Croker does an admirable job of giving us something to know about each of them, reminding the reader who each character is when they re-join the narrative and then we get to watch them in arugably the Union Army of the Potomac's worst moments. Most of the characters are real and not all of them are big generals. Not only do we get to see the action in the battle itself, but there is plenty of focus on the behind-the-scenes political intrigue that demonstrates how truly talented Lincoln was as a politician and also the dangers of too much civilian interference in purely military matters.

The only complaint I have concerns maps. There are not enough of them and the maps that are included are so stylized that I had difficulty reading them. Fortunately, the maps are not absolutely necessary for the book to be enjoyed and if you find yourself confused, historical maps of this battle abound on the internet.

I hope than Richard Croker is working on another book. Chancellorsville comes up next chronologically and he would do a great job with it.

Croker's previous novel of the Civil War, To Make Men Free: A Novel of the Battle of Antietam is not required pre-reading to enjoy this novel.

I don't know who reviewed this book at Publishers Weekly, but I couldn't disagree more with whoever it was. Having read several non-fiction and fictionalized novels of the Civil War, I would have to say this book ranks almost equally with Jeff Sharra's The Last Full Measure and above his Gods and Generals which I felt was weak. I am enjoying new characterzations and characters in Croker's book that weren't covered in Shaara's books. In fact I have ordered his "To Make Men Free" and am looking forward to reading it.

This is a great personal account of the struggle to desegregate Norfolk's school system during the Civil Rights era...told by someone right in the center of it all. This makes history come alive for those of us too young to have been there...

So often the real, personal accounts of history are never heard and instead we learn of a select few's vantage point. Mr. Heidelberg LIVED desegregation and has graced us with a powerful, first-person narrative of what life was like for African-Americans striving to get only what their white peers were receiving - a quality education with opportunities.
You must get this book! This is a story about desegregation and human rights that you probably have not heard before.

This collection of short poems is an ode to the person whose age is sixty or better. Some are light, describing the pleasures of age and how your perspective changes. When that hurdle is jumped, many of the things that were so critical before now become superficial. This is summed up in the last two lines of the last poem in the book.

But now that I'm sixty I've got to confess
That more often than not, I couldn't care less.

Some of the others are less light hearted, describing the downside of aging. Financial fears, forgetting simple things, having to face young criminals and ways to try to recapture some of the exuberance of youth are all mentioned. However, even these topics are dealt with in a light-hearted manner, so there is never a point where the tone turns depressing.
Whatever your perspective is on turning sixty, this book will make you smile at some of the consequences of reaching that mark. Matthew is a very good poet and his prose will lighten your feelings, no matter how dark they are.

my son gave me this book on my 60th birthday. I grew up with the milne books and read them to my boys. In fact, our oldest, Christopher, is named after Christopher Robin. Get out your old book of Now We Are Six, and keep it next to you while you read this book. So charming. So clever. Makes me feel like a kid again and it makes me smile....alot.

This book can be a dry read a t times, there is a lot of information in parts but it helps focus your observing of young children.

If for research or documentation you have the need to observe children, this book will serve as a detailed guide to that process. It includes recording routines, a children's use of materials, peer interaction, child-adult interaction, play, adult-directed behavior, language, and finding patterns.

During several summer vactions on Virginia's eastern shore, I've enjoyed researching and piecing together information about this special peninsula. I purchased "Off 13" in a local museum during this summer's vacation and spent a day devouring it. I now consider this my key quick reference book to one of my favorite places. Off 13 provides succinct and accurate guidance for exploring off the shore's beaten path. It also provides fascinating appetizer bits of history for an 'oldcomer'. Simply a wonderful book. It can be purchased at the Cape Charles Museum off 184 in Cape Charles, VA.

But I ask a favor... please don't tell too many people about this wonderous world off the 'mainland.'

Kirk Mariner's book "Off 13 - The Eastern Shore of Virginia Guidebook" offers a highly informative and entertaining guide to an overlooked but tranquil peninsula bounded by the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, not far from the Nation's Capital. Many people know of Chincoteague but may not be aware that the rest of the Virginia eastern shore is well worth exploring. "Off 13" is full of interesting anecdotes and historical information about the area and its many little towns as well as useful and practical information for travellers.

Take this guidebook with you to Colonial Williamsburg, and it's almost like having a private tour guide showing you the high-points, and saving you wasted time getting around.

Buy it as a souvenir, and you'll have the perfect refresher of all that you've seen, with some in-depth information about the buildings and people of the town.

It's important to know that Colonial Williamsburg is, indeed, a living CITY, and there is more than can be seen in one day. The Official Guide to Colonial Williamsburg is a valuable tool for that visit.

If you are planning a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, this is the book to have! It includes detailed drawings of each building, shop, tavern, and official hotels in the historic area. This book tells about each point of interest and ticket options. If you want to read up about the historic area before or after your trip, buy this book you won't regret it

This is one of the most useful guides I've ever read. Virginia was host to nearly 1/3rd of all Civil War engagements, and this guide covers them all like a mini-history of the war. Unlike travel books that are organized geographically, this guide organizes them chronologically. Each campaign is prefaced by a detailed overview, followed by concise (from 1 to 4 pages, depending on the battle's importance) but engrossing descriptions of the individual engagements. These descriptions make this a great book to browse through when you're not in the car. Most sites' summaries touch on their condition--whether they're threatened by development (as too many are) and whether they're in private hands or protected by the park service.

But the maps are where this book really stands out. Each battle features a very clear map designating army positions and historical roads, as well as historical markers (the author also wrote the /A Guidebook to Virginia's Historical Markers/), parking, and visitors' centers. Best of all, though, many battles are illustrated with paintings or photographs of the sites, and the point-of-view of these pictures is marked on each map!

If you are familiar with either or both of the two editions of the excellent "Civil War Battlefield Guide", then you should add "The Official Virginia Civil War Guide" to your collection. This book has the advantage than in focusing on about 1/3rd as much of the war, it can do so in far greater depth.

Many small conflicts that don't receive more than a mention in the other guides are prominently and competently presented here. This makes the work a handy reference tool and an interesting read in its own right.

The layout is an improvement over the previously mentioned guides in several ways. Not only is there increased depth, but tactical maps are included for every event covered--rather than just the major ones. In addition, simple campaign maps are also included (something missing in many battle monographs even.) One weakness is that the tactical maps are not overlaid onto topographical maps, so in cases where the guides both have maps the general work is preferable in most instances.

The information on visitor centers, directions, and interesting background is very helpful as well. Also of note, the introduction states that all royalties from the book will go towards preservation efforts in Virginia.

One can only hope that similar works will be produced for other regions. This guide sets a fine standard for others to follow.

I read this book 25 years ago and it is still the best study skills book out there. Every high schooler headed to college should own a copy.

One of the first (if not THE first) appearances of this title, Ms. Voeks' work is concise yet commanding. With a soundly expressed point of view, she offers in this slim volume a much greater reward to her readers than can be found in subsequent, and more emptily-massive, publications with the same or similar title. In it's brief, yet kindly, tell-it-like-it-is manner, her book will be a welcomed -and valued- gift to any young person about to leave "the nest".

While the projects involve time and effort, the end results are beautiful quilted wall hangings that depict the stories of our childhood. These are beautiful artist-quality products that you can recreate for your home. I found the instructions, patterns and illustrations to be very direct and informative.

This is a very hard book to find but it's worth the money. Bonnie Kaster is a master applique artist and has done a fine job with these patterns. I have over 200 quilting books and this one is still THE ONE I choose to show people. If you can't get the book, at least check out Bonnie's other patterns from Sweet Memories. They are equally as stunning.