Connecticut Books

I'm 12 years-old and I thought this story was very exciting. My older brother read it also, and he said it was great. It is about a fifteen-year-old boy who is eager to go to war. However, it ends up being the most horrifying life a young man could have. I would give six stars if I could. Since I can't, I'll write it down: six stars!

Joseph Plumb Martin is fifteen in 1775 when tensions between the American colonists and their British rulers erupt. He witnesses the organization and recruitment of a local military force, untrained and undersupplied. Martin hesitatingly enlists for the limit period of six months, required by the state militia. He sees combat at Gowanus Creek and is part of Washington's retreat to Manhattan Island. After colonial morale is lifted by Washington's surprise attack on the British at Trenton, Joseph re-enlists for the duration of the war and participates in the long, miserable winter march to and encampment at Valley Forge. Joseph remains in the Continental Army until the signing of the provisional peace treaty with the British in 1783. By this time he is twenty-two and has grown from a boy to a man.
This is an excellent choice of historical non-fiction for young adults for several reasons. First of all, the personal story, told in Martin's own strikingly honest words, is never embellished upon, and helps to focus an otherwise complex political story. Secondly, the American forces, often depicted in domestic versions of this war as having been invincibly heroic, are here described exactly as the poorly trained and undisciplined force that they initially were. Washington's losses and retreats from the British are diligently explained. Since Martin's military experience involved serving in several capacities, he is a good choice for a commentator. The author, who has received awards for his previous works on military history for young adults, does not shy away from the unpleasant news that Americans, confronted by a superior fighting force and often low on morale, walked away from battlefields once their enlistments were up and, in some cases, deserted. Moreover, he points out that, while Washington's army was starving at Valley Forge, the local citizenry had food in surplus and could have shared more with the soldiers, many of whom had no shoes that winter.
Heavily illustrated with reproductions of prints and paintings of the events discussed, this creative approach to an old subject highlights the subjectivity and propagandistic nature of "historical" art: The same series of events are depicted differently by various artists depending on their political affiliations. Murphy is careful to point out that elegant artistic renderings of American troops have very little in common with the crude reality of their service. A complete bibliography is provided as well as a useful time line. This book is highly recommended for grades six and up as well as for adults interested in an objective account of the American War for Independence.

I am 13 years old and i absolutly love this book, Murphy (the author) describes the American Revolution so clearly that u actually feel like you are in the story! This book is about a boy named Joseph who signs up to be in the Continental Army, he goes through hard times and good times as well! I would say any history fan would love this book!!!!

Christopher Brooks surely did his homework in writing 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: New York City: with northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut, and western Long Island. The details on the many hikes in the Tri State area are very helpful. One can easily trace around the suggested trails that Brooks provides. Also Brooks adds a little history to many of the recommended trails.

He gives equal emphasis to New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island, and the Hudson Region. Also a comprehensive index is provided so the reader can easily distinguish flat hikes from vigorous climbs to ones to bring the children on. Every base is covered as this book is a fantastic guide for anyone looking to explore new hiking trails in the New York area.

You would think that a hike in New York City would take you from say Central Park to Battery Park along the sidewalks. To my surprise, the Brooks have found all of these hikes within a reasonable distance from the city. As a for instance, the Pelham Bay Park is 2,766 acres in size with 13 miles of shoreline. It's also reachable by public transport. (Take the #6 train followed by the Bx29 bus.) The hiking there is flat, shoreline and all that. Or there's Norvin Green where you'll need sturdy hiking shoes, and find multiple deep-water streams to cross in a 9.3 mile up and down trail. Other hikes include wildlife refuges, state forests, national recreation areas, swamps, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, ocean shores. You can get away from the concrete.

As a book, the layout makes it easy to find things. The overall maps lead you to the general area you may find interesting. The descriptions of each of the 60 hikes includes a description, a detailed map of each, elevation profile, and directions - usually by automobile and public transport. As the back cover says, If you live near NYC, get it.

This is a fine beginners guide to identifying the tracks you might find while hiking in New England, whether you're in an urban area or on a wilderness hike. While not comprehensive, you will find the more common animals from your environment -- 34 mammals (including mice, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, skunks, frogs and toads, fox, coyote, porcupine, raccoon, deer, moose and bear) and 9 birds (including grouse, crow, duck, owl, heron and eagle).

The book begins with a preface of enouragement followed by an introduction on how to use the book and where/how to look for tracks, continues with 2-page species entries, and concludes with a short suggested reading list and an index.

Entries are ordered roughly by size, and a 5-inch ruler is printed on the back cover. Each entry has a couple of descriptive paragraphs on the lefthand page and b&w line drawings of typical tracks on the right.

This little book is surprisingly informative and quite compact -- a perfect introductory book for kids or adults who are interested in the wildlife around them.

I use this book everytime I go hikin

Backroad Bicycling In Connecticut offers 32 rides suitable for cyclists of all abilities and ranging from a 4-mile trail through a coastal reserve to a two-day bike tour of 114 miles through scenic Connecticut. Organized into five regions (the Litchfield Hills; the North Country; the Quiet Corner; The Housatonic and Connecticut River Valleys; and the Shoreline - Greenwich to Stonington), Backroad Bicycling In Connecticut is an ideal, highly recommended planning guide suitable for beginners and with much of value for even experienced cyclists.

One of the best guide books out there. Thoughtful routes, great directions and tons of interesting information.

Black Roots in Southeastern Connecticut, 1650-1900, represents a milestone in the publishing of African-American genealogy. Authors Brown and Rose spent eight years gathering every shred of information they could find on approximately 2,000 African-American families who inhabited one or more of 26 counties in Southeastern Connecticut. Their sources consisted primarily of U.S. census records from 1790 through 1870 and secondarily on manumission records, deeds, probate records, diaries, church records, and military records. In particular, Brown and Rose have amassed an amazing amount of information on blacks who were living in an area that, on the eve of the Revolutionary War, had one of the largest slave populations in New England. The authors cite the specific source for each element appearing in their genealogical sketches. The brief introduction summarizes some of the challenges of investigating black roots, while the bibliography, name index, and subject index at the back of the volume make using the book quite easy.

Clearfield Company would like to express its appreciation to the New London County Historical Society, the publisher of these two books, for allowing us to make them available to our patrons.

this book is a must have for blacks aswell as Native americans in Rhode Island and Conneticut it has 90 % of what most people are looking for ancestors and concrete genealogy so if you find it get

Rowena Graham inherits the home and restaurant of her sister Claudia after Claudia’s apparent suicide, but isn’t convinced that her sister would have committed suicide. Claudia quickly leaves behind her old life as head librarian after remodeling the house that hadn’t been changed since they were children. Claudia goes to work in the upscale restaurant, wears her sister’s expensive designer clothes and shoes and drives her Mercedes.

Rowena’s relationship with Claudia had always been turbulent; Claudia was unpredictable, self-centered and often cruel. After Rowena discovers Claudia’s habit of videotaping her ... antics with a string of lovers, Rowena is even more suspicious that one of the lovers might have been involved in her death. Claudia’s former therapist, with whom she claimed she had been having an affair, takes an interest in Rowena but she is reluctant to pursue the relationship with him and somewhat suspicious of his motives.

As the secrets, lies and distortions of her family life gradually unravel, Rowena is even more disturbed with her sister and deceased, alcoholic mother. Rowena had been made to feel for years that she was the plain, ugly unsuccessful sister. Her mother lied to the children for years about the disappearance of their father after the divorce when Rowena was 7.

The book explores the devastating effects of FAE – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. With the support of some wonderful friends, Rowena starts to get her life back on track and eventually solves the mystery of Claudia’s death. As in other books by Charlotte Vale Allen, you feel you know the characters so well that they have become part of your family, and you are reluctant to leave them behind when the book ends.

I recently discovered Charlotte Vale Allen by reading "Illusions", one of her older novels. I become so deeply meshed in the story that I literally wept at the end. I was emotionally drained and in a daze! She has a way of getting inside a woman's psyche. You know in your soul that she is an expert on the subjects about which she writes. "Claudia's Shadow" follows the theme that you just never really know a person, not even your own sister. I was captivated until the very end. I highly recommend her books. I'm working my way through all them. I've not been disappointed yet and I'm on my seventh one!

This is a comprehensive guide to birding in Connecticut. Ir provides important information on what birds can be found in the state, when and where they can be found and even provides information on how to identify the more difficult species. It is aimed at both novice and advanced birders, so there is ample birding info for all.

This book will give you a good start on birding CT. The best places to bird are described in detail and the directions are right on. The authors are experienced, knowledgeable, long time CT Birders.

You'll be glad you read this--and now we wait for what McGaughey will come out with next.

Kyle Marchi is a household name since he is the heir to Holcomb billions. Kyle is also well known under the pseudonym of Stokes Moran, mystery reviewer and syndicated columnist. As a struggling writer, Kyle refuses to use either his real name or pseudonym to get his manuscript published. He has been rejected six times so far.

Disregarding his feelings, his agent-spouse submits the manuscript under the Moran name and it is immediately accepted. An angry Kyle reacts by calling the Times to announce that Moran died. The paper calls Moran's agent to verify the statement and his spouse reluctantly confirms the report. However, Kyle becomes the prime suspect when a murder victim bearing the identity of Moran is found on the lower West Side of Manhattan. Not trusting the police to dig deep enough when they have an easy target, Kyle investigates the case.

A CORPSE BY ANY OTHER NAME is fourth and apparently the final entry in the Moran series as writer Neil McGaughey plans to start a new series set in Natchez-Under-The-Hill. Readers will mourn the end of this wonderful collection of satirical melodramas because it is a delightful, humorous, and lively set of novels. This particular book pays homage to the great mystery writers of the past as well as the New York City book scene. Fans of mystery novels need to say their good-byes to a special amateur detective.

Harriet Klausner

JJ Semple captures his life as a jazz musician in Paris and his experiences with the powerful life force, kundalini. Semple interpretes an accident as a child that distorted his growth as the catalytic event that brought him to the life changing occurrence as one with an aroused kundalini. I like the very honest way in which Semple retells his life with such openness and candor.

His time with the spiritual/physical altering force of kundalini is well documented and gives much food for those looking for more detail on this esoteric but increasingly revealed phenomenon. Semple writes in an informal and highly readable manner, so the book is an enjoyable read.

Diary of a Connecticut Yogi

Diary of a Connecticut Yogi: How Kundalini Tore Me Apart and Put Me Back Together is a personal account of the JJ Semple's experience of a Kundalini awakening. His story begins with a childhood accident that robs him of two of his most precious talents--singing and mathematics--both of which he was particularly gifted in. After years of difficulty and frustration at not being able to achieve at his previous levels he finds an obscure Taoist text, The Secret of the Golden Flower. Upon reading the book, he realizes that he has stumbled across the one true way of correcting the damaging effects of his childhood accident, which eventually leads him to discover the nature of his deficits and the path back to health. Diary of a Connecticut is an extraordinary statement about the inevitability of karma and the obstacles one must overcome in the quest for self-realization.

Although a dormant energy within most people, there are many who experience Kundalini awakenings unexpectedly, while others pursue them with yogic breathing techniques and practices. Kundalini can be as physically transformative as it is spiritual.

JJ explains: "The problem with classifying Kundalini as a means to 'spiritual' enlightenment may limit its attraction for many people who have neither the time nor the inclination for `so-called' spiritual exploration. What's more, some people are put off by terms like 'higher consciousness' and 'enlightenment.' On the other hand, if they knew Kundalini had therapeutic health benefits, they might be eager to learn more."

This book not only reveals the secrets behind Golden Flower Meditation, it provides a thorough look into the method's amazing restorative powers. Diary of a Connecticut Yogi describes the Kundalini Life Force activation process in detail. It's the first book that I know of which offers evidence that the Kundalini Life Force is capable of correcting physical defects, restoring health, and counteracting the effects of aging. I have read it and strongly encourage you to read it!

This book has provided me with valuable information about the history of children's book illustration.

Mr. Young is a superlative scholar with a fascinating way of gathering material for the benefit of his readers; everyone should take a look at this book.