Georgia Books

Dublin Carol by celebrated Irish playwright Conor McPherson is a new sort of Christmas Carol, and a tour de force for three talented performers.

The demons that haunt this work's leading character are all in his own head and of his own making - alcoholism (would it be an Irish play without it?), family abandonment, failure to succeed. In McPherson's usual style, the dialogue runs summarily from pathos to humor and back again using earthy language and varied pacing, interspersed with poignant little Christmas moments. It leaves the audience to decide for themselves what the leading character will do at 'the end of the day'. I'll say no more about it.

The entire work takes place on Christmas Eve day - a time for hope, introspection, and whiskey. The leading character, John Plunkett, an undertaker's assistant, has just returned from yet another funeral. His young, gangly and untried assistant, Mark, is the perfect foil for John's stories, advice, and for providing the audience with plot/background exposition. We learn how John got to be in his current position, the ruinous road that lead him there, and what he may have learned from his past experiences and mistakes- if anything. The final of the three not-so-wise characters, Mary (hmmm, Mary? a Christmas Eve visit?) provides the catalyst of the story. I will not reveal her relationship to John nor the reason for her visit; suffice it so say that her tidings are not glad nor her news of great joy.

Does John Plunkett learn his lesson? Does he make amends? Change his life? Unlike Dickens' holiday work, the answers to these questions are less discernable.

A timeless and deeply human story of loss, hope and getting a second chance that will touch everyone's heart. Witty, charming and very well written, I read it once for the story, then a second time to grasp all the unspoken emotions between the lines. I just know I'll read it again.

I read this book a while ago and it's still alive in my mind. Rosemary Sutcliff writes with depth and accuracy of history and myth, that I'm sure if you could read all her books, you'd know just about everything. Finn Mac Cool is written in a beautiful style that puts you in the character's place. The flow and incredible scenery of the book makes it a good read for girls, and the intense attraction and gore is active enough for boys to read over and over. A wonderful read for any boy or girl, no mater their age.

I read this book a while ago and it's still alive in my mind. Rosemary Sutcliff writes with depth and accuracy of history and myth, that I'm sure if you could read all her books, you'd know just about everything. Finn Mac Cool is written in a beautiful style that puts you in the character's place. The flow and incredible scenery of the book makes it a good read for girls, and the intense attraction and gore is active enough for boys to read over and over. A wonderful read for any boy or girl, no mater their age.

A wonderful book about an incredible man who has done so much to bridge the gulf between different peoples. Please note: there is a website for the book and the man at: http://fishnet.net/~kwbgcg/power.htm

A wonderful book about an incredible man who has done so much to bridge the gulf between different peoples. Please note: there is a website for the man and the book at: http://www.fishnet.net/~kwbgcg/power.htm

I drive a lot for work to locations at which I have never been and had used it for months as an in-car reference. Also, it has helped me explore Atlanta, which can be pretty crazy to drive in.

The color scheme and labeling is easy to navigate at a glance, which is critical. This is a book. You have to flip pages a lot if your trip goes off the page, but that is necessary if you need this amount of detail in a map.

The one-time cost was less than my monthly mobile phone charges for using Google Maps Mobile if I was getting lost a lot that month!

Now it makes a solid backup to my GPS. No batteries required. You may even customize it using any writing utensil and writing anything you want, wherever you want, for quick reference. The pages are also 100 percent compatible with sticky tabs.

So easy to use when traveling, as the writing is large. A big improvement over the folding maps that tear.

I read this book years ago and it has always stuck in my mind. I am glad to have found it again.

The story is fiction because it revolves around some Americans who supposedly found themselves in von Lettow's army. But the historical setting and many of the characters and events are real.

When WWI broke out, the small number of German troops in German East Africa (now Tanzania) rallied and trained the local tribes and the resident German farmers into a guerilla force to resist the much larger British army to the north in Kenya. The book details some of the tactics used, as well some remarkable inventiveness.

Paul von Lettow, the commander, had an ensemble of talent in his army's baggage train that proved very handy. There was a German fellow named Ersatz who invented a lot of things out of local ingredients. (Because the Royal Navy pretty much owned the seas, there was no resupply for the German soldiers in Africa.) Everyone knows what "ersatz" means now - but this campaign is where the concept got its name!

Like a medieval army, this one had no formal logistical support. It relied on many camp followers, including women and children, to keep the army fed and supplied. Many of these womens' efforts and what life was like for them in the field are described.

One incredible tale told of an Imperial Navy vessel marooned in the Rufiji Delta. Some of the German farmers had domesticated African elephants, and used then to haul guns off the ship up the slopes of Kilmanjaro to shoot at the British army. It sounds highly implausible, but Stevenson gives evidence for many of the points in his story at the end of the book.

This is one of those books where you learn a lot while reading a great story. Stevenson claims that von Lettow knew that the Germans couldn't hold East Africa, and that he felt he was just laying the groundwork for an African country free from future British rule. Whether this is true or historical revisionism I don't know, but the Tanzanian people did build a statue honoring von Lettow in Arusha several years later.

"Ghosts of Africa" is a great title, as it refers to an incredible story that not many people know - at least in the USA. It is the reverse of "the African Queen" - and far more interesting!

This novel really captures a lost part of Africa. It details the German resistance in Africa during WWI. The germans were led by german noble named Paul Von Lettow. For four years they tied down nearly half a million british troops with barely 12,000 of there own. Von Lettow wrote the book on guerilla warfare although he is largely forgotten today. The book contains a great cast of characters in addtion to Von Lettow, many of whom were based on real people. The book has plenty of action and romance. I highly recommend it.

I had been reading and loving Mr. Kogan's analysis of the music of our lives for many years. I had a collection of clippings of his work, but like most of what I had, I lost it in Katrina. While my city is hardly recovering, when I found this collection of Kogan's writings, it was like I had recovered some of the most important memories of my youth. Much of the music I write has been informed by Kogan's insights, and I can't recommend this book more highly for anyone who listens to music with more than their ears.

I have been reading and enjoying Frank Kogan's work in the Village Voice for years. It is a distinct pleasure to read such thoughtful and thought-provoking articles. For example, Frank's observation about country & western as "split emotionally between a desire for home and family on the one hand and the urge to range wild and free on the other" was, for me, a sort of "aha" insight: as soon as I had read it, I recognized the truth of it, but I'd never quite thought of it that way before. Whether or not I enjoy the music he writes about, I always find his comments worth reading.

This little paperback cookbook contains some of the best roasting recipes I have found. Most recipes are fairly simple and not extremely time consuming and the ingredients are easy to find. The instructions are clearly written and easy to follow and the end results are fabulous. It covers a broad range of cooking from appetizers and soups to main courses, salads and dessserts. I would highly recommend this low key little gem.

This is one of my favorite recipe books. It taught me how to roast a simple, tasty chicken. The roasted vegetable recipes have become regulars for family gatherings. The roasted potato salad is also a new staple for parties. And I still haven't tried everything that I would like to. I find roasting to be a simple way of cooking, with simple ingredients for the most part.

Harold Clarke is an amazing man. But before one pretends to know him, it is important to know that he voluntarily relinquished his position as the Chief Justice of Georgia's Supreme Court so that Charles Weltner, the great Civil Rights figure of Georgia's past, could become Chief Justice before he died of cancer.

Such an action is typical of Harold Clarke's character. He is an immaculate man of decency, a true southern gentleman. I will defer the fact that he knew my grandfather and cares greatly for my father and even me. The fact is that he is a hero of Georgia's often troubled judicial history, and I love him greatly.

His book is most worthy of being read. I can promise anyone who reads it that you will appreciate Chief Justice Clarke's simple upbringing and his rise to destiny.

- Jeff Berry

A pleasant trip into the past. Runs the gamut of human emotions: Nostalgia, Humor, Sadness. So very reminiscent of when times and places were simpler. I highly recommend it. Very enjoyable reading. E. F. Howard .

Dr. Wiggins has assembled an outstanding collection of photographs, as well as commentaries on dozens and dozens of Confederate soldiers from totally unknown men of the ranks to well known subjects. Not only can the historian or reenactor gain much from the details of the uniforms and weapons but we all have the opportunity to look into the eyes of men long gone who marched off to a horrifically brutal war. Images of the men at reunions decades after the war show us old men who lived with the wounds, amputations and memories of what they had done in their youth. A remarkable book preserving these men for all time.

Hugh T. Harrington
author of: "Civil War Milledgeville, Tales From the Confederate Capital of Georgia," "Remembering Milledgeville, Historic Tales From Georgia's Antebellum Capital" and "More Milledgeville Memories."

Best collection of Georgians in their Confederate uniforms I have ever seen! The book features over 120 images of this type and another 100 or so of Georgians returning from the war. Very impressive!

Good work for the younger reader who wants to know more about Georgia's Confederate heritage but also for the serious researcher.

People of all ages and all walks of life, whether from Milledgeville or not, will enjoy Mr. Harrington's vivid accounts of this Georgia town's tales. I could say it's "easy to read," but that wouldn't do the book justice. Mr. Harrington writes as if an old friend is telling you a story, but in this case, the stories historical tidbits that anyone, not just history enthusiasts, will enjoy. I highly reccommend sitting on your porch with a glass of sweet tea and a copy of this book for a lovely afternoon of fun reading.

Anyone who likes mysteries, murders, witchcraft, oddities, humor and a host of other things too numerous to mention will love this book. Each story is completely different and you'll learn so much about Milledgeville, Georgia. Even if you've never been to the antebellum capital of Georgia you'll feel as if you have after reading the stories. I honestly believe that this book will appeal to everyone, no matter if they live in the United States or abroad. It reminds of Reader's Digest with short stories except these are all true events that happened right here in the heart of Georgia. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.