Georgia Books

John O'Donahue wrote poetry with the grace and passion of a waterfall -- a grand IRISH waterfall. He was wonderfully Irish in the musicality of his work. His poems are marked by whimsy, humanity, and spiritual power, but they are readily accessible too. I was driving when I first heard a recording of him reading a selection of his poems. Sadly, it was just after his untimely death. (Everyone says "untimely," but he was still in his fifties when he died. What glorious poems are we missing?!) I had to pull over to recover, to steady up. When I got home, I immediately went online to search for his books of poetry. This is the best I've found so far.

Celtic spirituality distilled into a language so rich it makes you swoon. John O'Donohue has synthesized his formidable intellect, the depth of mature spiritual experience and his love of the nature of his homeland into poems of great beauty and poignancy.

At first glance, John O'Donohue's poetry appears simple. That deception is largely due to its brevity and form. Yet it is complex with tiered symbolism. As is frequently the case with poetry, the reader may not "get it" first time through but these verses are worth a second, third, even fourth read. Some, like "Decorum" are so short as to approach the level of Celtic haiku.

"Conamara Blues" is divided into three parts. Since O'Donohue is a Catholic scholar, this may or may not be an intentional acknowledgment of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Family, etc. The middle portion bears a distinctly religious slant, though not unpleasantly so.

The first and final sections are more secular in tone. They touch on diverse topics: nature, the attitudes of foreign tourists seeking the "true" Ireland, the emotional discomfiture of meeting an old flame (" . . . let nothing slip/ From the invisible ruin/ We carry between us"), even death ("you can almost hear the depth/ Of white silence, rising to deny everything.") As befits Irish literature, there are occasional moody, melancholic notes, threaded like quicksilver through an otherwise optimistic flow of imagery.

Americans are unlikely to have encountered old European customs like using the wide wings of a slaughtered goose to sweep the floor around a wood-burning kitchen stove. We hear O'Donohue's sad perspective in looking past human practicality to see those wings no longer ". . . being folded around . . . Embracing the warmth/ And urgency of a beating heart/ . . . Never again to be disturbed/ Every year by the call/ Of the wild geese overhead".

Few of the 54 pieces take the shape of traditional, rhymed verse. If you are in search of that, I suggest the Hallmark section of your local store. O'Donohue's poetry follows its own rhythm and internal rhyme. In so doing, it reminds us that it is the desire and duty of each writer to see beyond the obvious, to take less tangible connections and gently define them for the rest of us.

Mary Musgrove, known to the Creek Indians as Coosaponakeesa, was the daughter of a Creek princess and an English colonist. Raised in both cultures during the early 18th century, she assisted the English as a translator and ambassador to the Native Americans, living in what is now Savannah and coastal Georgia. Mary's childhood and young adulthood are vividly described, and Mueller provides an excellent description of tension between the Creek and English cultures. Young readers will particularly appreciate the first-person descriptions of Mary's education and her transformation from shy child to confident young woman. As Mary matures, she adapts to English ways, yet retains the faith and values of her native culture. Her life is characterized by the balance between native and colonial, and both cultures sustain her in different ways.
Life during colonial times, particularly in rural areas of the southeastern United States, was difficult; colonists faced a number of challenges, most notably disease and miscommunication with the native tribes living in the area. Mueller doesn't gloss over these challenges, and readers will be inspired by Mary's resilience in the face of personal and professional loss.
Later portions of the novel, which cover Mary's adulthood, have some problems--most notably, occasional shifts in point of view from first-person to third-person, which distracts from the narrative. Nonetheless, this is a quick, interesting read for junior high and high school-age students that covers an area of history that isn't commonly taught in school. -- Nanette Donohue

After losing myself thoroughly in this exciting adventure into Georgia's past, my only disappointment is in having to return to reality. The story of Mary Musgrove is one of strength and faith as we follow her amazing life. From her early youth with her mother's people, to her successful attempt to learn of and live within her English father's world. All who read this will, I'm sure join me in thanking Pamela Baur Mueller for saving such an important piece of history that was nearly lost to us all

Written by Pamela Bauer Mueller (2006 Georgia Author of the Year Winner for YA/Children's books), An Angry Drum Echoed: Mary Musgrove, Queen of the Creeks is a historical fiction novel written from the first-person perspective of a real-life legendary figure - Mary Musgrove, daughter of a Creek mother and an English father, who successfully bridged the two worlds of Indian heritage and the English way of life. A lynchpin figure of the burgeoning Georgia colony during the 1700s, Mary Musgrove applied her influence with Indian tribes to encourage the chiefs to meet with General Oglethorpe in the Savannah, leading to the peaceful establishment of an English colony in Indian territory. Yet despite being held in high regard by English settlers as surely as Native Americans, she became an antagonist of the newly formed colonial government. After ten years of serving as an unpaid diplomat and interpreter, she led her Creek tribesmen in a march through the streets of Savannah in search of justice. A fascinating dramatization of a truly remarkable and strong-willed woman's life, recommended for readers of all ages.

"The Beach House" was great, but "Another Summer" is even better! When I first began reading, I was a little disappointed because there are all new characters, and Eric and Julia are not a part of this novel. However, this book has exceeded all of my expectations!

The book opens three years later with Andrew, the man who owns the house that Eric had been staying in in "Beach House," who attends his 20 year high school reunion to meet up with his high school girlfriend, Cheryl. They attempt to rekindle their relationship.

June finds Kelly, a young lawyer, staying at the beach house to attend a class at the local university. Just getting off a bad relationship, she is drawn to Matt, the man teaching the class. She must come to a decision about whether her priority is her personal or professional life.

In July, a man and wife and their ten year old son stay at the beach house. The family has recently experienced the death of their infant daughter and befriend some special people who help them overcome this tragedy.

In August, Cheryl, who is a social worker, returns to the beach house with three teenage girls who she has brought in hopes that being outside of their urban lifestyles will be inspiring for them. She challenges Andrew to accept the girls; if he does, she knows a relationship between the two of them is possible.

This book is terrific because it ties up the loose ends left from the "Beach House". We learn what has transpired in the past three years between Julia and Eric, we meet up again with Chris Saddler- average teenaged boy turned Hollywood star, and we even hear again about Joe and Maggie.

"The Beach House" brought tears to my eyes, and "Another Summer" is equally touching. The characters are believable, with real-life problems. I hope that Bockoven will come out with another book to add to this series! I can't wait to read some of her other books!

If you like this book, I would suggest books by Nicholas Sparks, Kirk Martin, and Mary Alice Monroe.

THE BEACH HOUSE has always been a place for relationships with some ending in love while others in broken hearts. The current owners should sell the California place since they live across the continent, but Julia cannot bring herself to do so. Instead she and Eric rent the place from May through August to various people.

May. Back in high school twenty years ago, Andrew Wells broke Cheryl Cunningham's heart. Now he desperately wants a second chance with the woman he always has loved, but can Cheryl trust him not to break her heart again?

June. Marine biologist Matt Landy provides a talk attended by attorney Kelly Anderson, who looks for an edge in an upcoming court case involving the scientist. However, her attraction to Matt leaves Kelly wondering if her personal feelings might cause a professional conflict of interest?

July. The death of their child Angela destroyed the Davis family's joy in life. Craig and Ann and their other child Jeremy desperately need healing, but unless a miracle occurs, the Davis relationship seems near an end.

August. Cheryl brings three Oakland teenage girls with her when she returns to the house to join Andrew. If he accepts her charges and still wants the complete her after a month of inner city chaperones, Cheryl knows that she and Andrew can share both their lives.

ANOTHER SUMMER, the sequel to THE BEACH HOUSE, is a warm anthology that fans of contemporary romances starring strong characters will enjoy. Each story is fun to read, as the audience will appreciate Georgia Bockoven's fine work.

Harriet Klausner

If you haven't read a book by Georgia Bockoven, then you are missing out. Another Summer is truly another winner and a must read for fans of Bockoven's The Beach House. And for those of you who are new to Bockoven, I highly recommend searching for her backlist. She is a not-to-be-missed writer. Can't wait for her next book.

I got this for my brother, but was able to see what it looked like when he opened it, and we were both impressed with it! Nice photos and explanations.

From both a pictorial view and a written view, this is one of the best books available on the subject.
Money well spent!

This book does a wonderful job of capturing the breadth and depth of Cherokee art and craft, neatly presenting it within a broader, cultural context. I highly recommend this book to Indian art historians, art collectors, and anyone with a passion for Cherokee culture.

I love the Mossy Creek series. The different writers add wonderful flavor and life to the town which keeps this very fun. In this installment we see some significant changes in relationships betweeen our main town characters which I'm not sure I agree with but still enjoy the read. Makes me anxious for the next to see how it works out. If you have not read any in this series, this is not the book to begin with. You really should start from the first. Trust me, you will be hooked and looking for your own Mossy Creek.

Reading a Mossy Creek book is like visiting with old friends and catching up on what has happened since the last time you chatted. This newest addition to the series is no exception.

This is a great series of books recommended to me by a friend. I ordered them all, used & new, and received them all in a timely manner. You get to know these people in the stories and think of them as friends, or most of them anyway! I could not put them down and as soon as I finished one I picked up the next one immediately. Enjoy

I am not even in the music business. I purchased this book to support Jawar and to the book give to someone else who needed it. Not only did I get stuck reading the book and jotting down information and contacts that I may need later, but the person I gave the book to loved it. It is full of music resources, contacts, links, referals, etc... I am glad I purchased this book. I am now online at amazon.com getting ready to purchase another one for my mother. Ho-tep, Jawar!

What a great resource. If you're in the music industry and need info the scene in Atlanta, this book is for you. It has listings for entertainment attorneys, studios, engineers, clubs, etc. Its a great reference for those new to the biz as well as seasoned vets. You can never have too many contacts. The book is not a Hip Hop book! It covers all types of music.

This book is well put together, you can tell the author put alot of time and thought in putting this book together. This book gives you a step by step guide of how to get into the music industry business. It also gives you all the resources of who's who in the industry in Atlanta. It is a must have.

If you really want to see the hot spots of gay Atlanta, this is a must have. Food, facts, and fun are all a part of this well planned book. Dont be caught in Atlanta with out it or you might just miss out on all the best Atlanta has to offer.

My partner & I are relocating to Atlanta. Between our GPS system & ATLANTAboy, we drove around like we lived there!!! Simple explanations, easy read and very informative! If you're headed to Atlanta, or for that matter already live there, you should own this book. It's the newest form of "gay ID"!

If you are going to Atlanta this is very helpful for gays and lesbians. It is a super handy size, fun to read and has great tips. It is very easy to use so when you are in the car it isn't hard to find what you are looking for.

We bought Roger's Book for FL lighthouses and used it as the basis for a tour of all of FL's lighthouses and now we plan the same with this book. His pictures are so nice and his easy, friendly and informative writing style is enjoyable. We really enjoy the insight he adds to the history of each lighthouse. We are looking forward to our next trip with this book as our guide.

This book not only contains excellent information on lighthouses, it is beautifully presented with great sketches and pictures. The pictures alone are worth the price of the book. Roger Bansemer has done an outstanding job in putting together this book.

Bansemer's Book Of Carolina And Georgia Lighthouse showcases the great lighthouses that served the maritime trade for generations along the Carolina and Georgia coastlines. Roger Bansemer's informative text is superbly enhanced by his wonderful paintings. Most of these grand structures are no longer in service, having been rendered obsolete by advances in maritime and communications technologies. But their legacy lives on as proud relics of a maritime history that continues to hold a fascination for each new generation. Superbly produced and presented, Bansemer's Book Of Carolina And Georgia Lighthouse is a very highly recommended addition to any light house enthusiast's collection.

Charles Reagan Wilson's work brilliantly describes the civil religion (as described by Geertz) of the "Lost Cause" that was pervasive in the Reconstruction and Early Modern South.

Wilson argues that this civil religion was a combination of Christian and Confederate symbols. According to Wilson this civil religion was formed out of Confederate ministers attempts to reconcile defeat in the war with the Will of God and (as the ministers believed) Confederate righteousness.

Significant in this study is Wilson's look at the role that White Supremacy played in this civil religion. He looks extensively at the role of racism as embodied in groups such as the KKK.

All in all, the work is a brilliant look at ideas pervasive in the reconstruction and early modern south, ideas which have been influential in formation of the modern New South.

Wilson's Baptized in Blood is a brilliant book, one of which I was required to read for a graduate history course on religion in the American south. Although I was born and grew up in the south, I nevertheless was a foreigner there. There was much in the psychology of southerners which made no sense to me. Reading Baptized in Blood was an extraordinary eye-opener! Though I am yet and always will be a stranger in the land of my birth, through the cogent narrative Wilson provides, I understand more deeply now the mythic, psychological origins of the many peculiar and bizarre thoughts, feelings and behaviours of southerners. Southerners REALLY and TRULY BELIEVED that GOD was on their side, in the prosecution of the civil war, and have had to reconcile their defeat as best they could. The inability to let go of that loss goes far in making southerners what they are.
Baptized in Blood is well worth the reading of anyone who seeks to understand the post-civil war period, and/or the social and political psychology of the American south.

This book discusses the theological basis of southern slave society. Anyone who questions the religious self-righteousness of the southerners should read this book because it highlights the contradictions inherent in the hateful southern society and the teachings of Jesus Christ. I have acquired a much greater understanding of the history of the religious right, and, being a southern black trying to understand the hatred around which I live, this book enlightens my perspective.

The Battle for Georgia: Get three
Voices and stories of both famous people and ordinary citizens during the tumultuous years of the Civil War come together to form an exciting well documented historical novel.

I've always been a fan of historical novels, but this is the best one I've ever read! I couldn't put it down!!!

THE BATTLE FOR GEORGIA By: Robert W. Hester.

This is a thrilling novel with excellent well developed characters. You don't want to put it down