Kentucky Books

Michael Troyan has a gift for biography. I hope he can collaborate with Turner Classic Movies to produce a video on the life of Greer Garson.
This book makes me wish I could have known Greer Garson. She loved and respected her mother, she loved her husband, she loved children and orphans and the disabled and disadvantaged. She loved her dogs, ranching in New Mexico, history, and she loved Texas...makes me love her even though I never met her. Good job, Mr. Troyan.

Michael Troyan has done a wonderful job of putting together an informative and enjoyable biography on a fascinating subject. In fact, I found the book so delightful as to find it to be one of the best biographies I've ever read.

While there is no doubt that the charming personality of Greer Garson herself that radiates throughout the book has helped in the formation of my favorable opinion, I give much-deserved kudos to Mr. Troyan for being able to present his subject to the audience in such a friendly manner. By that I mean that throughout the pages, I could feel the presence of Greer Garson, and after having finished the book, felt as if I had just finished reading a letter from a long-time friend.

The first half of the book, which deals with Greer's childhood, life in Britain as a stage actress, and the later move to Hollywood, is generally a smooth and easy read. The toll of the grinding studio system and the competition involved for the popular actresses of the time are keenly felt and one can get a very good idea of the kind of position the actress was in at the time. Eventually though, talent perseveres and success follows. Detailed and interesting accounts of each of Greer's films are available and are a joy to read.

The latter half of the book is a particularly refreshing read because of the relatively vast amount of information about Greer's later life outside of Hollywood. Personally, I had not previously been aware of her various activities and hobbies and learned a great deal more about Greer Garson than when I first started out. A sign of a good biography is new information, and this one certainly has its fair share.

Now, all other traits aside, the most notable accomplishment of this work is that it does not read as a stiff, dull and fact-driven thesis paper, which is a pitfall that so many biographies of this kind can fall into. Rather, it is an intimate yet respectfully distant portrait of a lovely human being who was also a remarkable artist in her own right.

Modern actors and actresses don't seem to have the charisma, style and elegance of yesteryear's stars. Maybe that's because most of today's actors are really nothing but pitiful celebrities striving to be what once was, when Hollywood was golden.

I long for yesterday when it comes to film stars: Betty Davis, Myrna Loy, Katherine Hepburn Ginger Rogers, and so many more. Oh, yes, and that includes Greer Garson. The beautiful and talented woman we thought was born in Ireland in 1908, was really born in London in 1904.

Author Michael Troyan delves into Greer Garson's life, as much as anyone could, given that she was an extremely private woman. He carries you through her intense desire to succeed as an actress, her `discovery' and career struggles to resist being typecast, all the way through her marriages, and to her death on April 5, 1996 at Dallas Presbyterian Hospital with Van Cliburn at her bedside.

I'd always thought of Ms. Garson as a brilliant actress who could get any part she wanted. I had no idea of her struggles with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. One of my favorite films is the record-breaking "Mrs. Miniver." I get chills thinking about her Academy Award-winning performance.

And while it felt a bit like voyeurism looking in on her life, I'm glad I visited it through Troyan's eyes. It was a satisfying trip. And the author did a marvelous job showing us a small part of the woman who was Greer Garson.

For a compelling look at one of the best actresses to ever grace the stage, big or small screen, read A Rose for Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a wonderful slice of our American film history.

This book on Greer Garson I highly recommend. It's very balances and tells of the good and bad times in her life about her career andher fmaily. Though i must admit I wished it had mentioned more about her interests and personal life off screem. But overall it's really well written and interesting book about alovely screen actress. Greer Garson really had class
and a wnderful grace about her in all of her films

An excellent read if you're into details. For me, the details got a little overwhelming, but I so much wanted to learn more about this actress that I admire greatly. Sadly, as the author himself stated, it was difficult to write a biography because Greer Garson was a very private person and did not give many interviews or express many personal opinions in public. However, he richly details her movies, her public service, and others' opinions of her (and a good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold). I have always enjoyed watching her many films and am tracking down as many of them as I can on DVD so this made for a fine addition to my collection of her work. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading and loves any of her many films.

I have to say this book is just wonderful! It is great as a casual read as well as excellent for the researcher and/or family historian! It helped me to fill some gaps in my families history (Daniel's sister, Sarah Boone) and gave other avenues in which to reasearch.

Wanted to read this book as a celebration of Daniels life Yet I found it to be long statements made directly following his death It is told that none ventured into writing of this man during his life I guess that makes it appealing The man had big family and was known to beat the Indians at there own gam that I found Admirable the book on a whole was simply a bore due to the accounts of how Boone tryed to purchase this or that But to those who want to build homesteads in the 1800s It will be to your liking

This is the one to get. This one, and John Mack Faragher's BOONE biography (Henry Holt, 1992). Anything by Belue is worth getting; he is precise to the point of obsession, and his works--four thus far--will stand the test of time.

Occasionally a book that has been available for a while deserves another look just because of its intrinsic value. In 1998 a book was published that combined the names of two legendary individuals who will be associated forever with the history of the American backwoods-Daniel Boone, the famous adventurer, and Lyman C. Draper, the renowned nineteenth-century interviewer and collector. It was only through the painstaking efforts of editor Ted Franklin Belue that Draper's highly significant tome on Boone finally came into being a century and a half after it was started. Before the ink was dry on the printed page, this book had become a backcountry classic. It instantly went to the front rank of Boone biographies. For the previous hundred years few but the serious historian had been drawing from Draper's handwritten manuscript on Boone; now even the casual reader would have the material readily available in print. Despite the fact that Draper never finished writing the biography and didn't take Boone's exploits beyond 1778, The Life of Daniel Boone (596 pages hardcover, $39.95, Stackpole Books) has proven to be well worth the long wait.
The book is a treasure trove of information about Boone, including such highlights as: his early years in Pennsylvania and North Carolina; activities during the French and Indian War; hunting in the Appalachian region; long hunting in Kentucky; adventures in Dunmore's War; the establishment of Boonesborough; and the first half of the Revolutionary War in Kentucky. While perusing these pages, the reader will be reminded constantly of Draper's monumental research that involved extensive travel to obtain interviews with people who had known Boone personally or with relatives and friends of such individuals. He also endeavored to collect important documents before they disappeared. His efforts were literally a race against time. Belue sets a standard for excellence with his very interesting preface as well as his editor's note (following the preface) that explains how the book finally came into being. The outstanding notes at the end of each chapter by both Draper and Belue are a further wealth of information. Draper's 44-page appendix provides a Boone genealogy and biographical sketches of many other frontier figures.
From Smoke & Fire News, November 2004, by Bob Holden

Lyman Draper wrote the single best account of the life of Daniel Boone. This source, while not well known, has been mined by virtually every biographer of Boone since 1850. This book and the biography of John Bakeless are the best two volumes ever to appear about the life of Daniel Boone. Also the Memoirs of Nathan Boone and his wife are of extreme value. These books provide the basis for the study of early Kentucky history.

John Reed could describe a thumb tack and somehow make it enjoyable and make you want to keep reading. Even better `A Still Small Voice' is free of thumb tacks and filled with heart. The pacing solid, the storyline is great and it's witty at times with lines like, "It's only a basket -and even the weaver of that basket knew it would eventually be lost." It's the kind of book you want to pass along to a friend.

There's also a line that reads "... but for me it was more of a sense of what was right, like the right amount of cinnamon, or the right amount of wine." And I think for a book, this story was just like that right amount of wine (red).

A must.
Totally transported me to another time.
Such strong writing.

This is the BEST book I have ever read. Ever. Days after I finished it, the simplistic beauty of the writing still haunted me. If this isn't eventually recoginzed as one of the best books of our time, I'll be very disappointed.

I found this book to be very intriguing and thought provoking as well as quite entertaining. The day-to-day details of Civil War era life and lifestyle were fascinating additions to the "love story".

This book is written so beautifully that at some points I found myself reading pages over and over again just for the simple beauty of the words! This book is about love, loss and the hardships and the simple pleasures of life just before and after the Civil War. It is a poetic, funny, sad and romantic story about enduring love and how it haunts us. At times I did become a little frustrated with all the "horse talk" however, the "horse talk" does set the mood so one feels they are sitting on a old farm house porch in Kentucky staring at the horses grazing on the blue grass of that beautiful state! I recommend this book to readers who are tired of the same old historical romance books that grace the shelves of every bargain department store! READ THIS BOOK!! YOU WILL BE CAPTIVATED BY IT!!!

I purchased this book for a history class. Great price and a good read. Good source of first-hand experiences at concentration camps. Differs a bit from the usual horrid details in other books, but explains some of the lighter sides, if I may, concerning the relationships between captives and captors.

"The Dentist of Auschwitz" is a spellbinding novel about a man that lived through the holocaust of World War II. The trials and tribulations of Benjamin Jacobs as he survives through labor and concentration camps will move you. Had it not been for the author's dental instruments that he brought with him, he would most likely not be alive today. Be thankful that he is alive and can tell accounts of his intriguing survival because this book is a very interesting and trivial tale. It is a very well written novel that I could not put down. I would recommend this novel to anyone and everyone.

I couldn't put this book down. Benjamin's story needs to be made into a movie: are you listening S. Spielberg? This is a remarkable book of unbelievable odds of survival. Ben escaped death so many times, but, the ending of this book is the most tragic episode of his story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a perspective and gratitude adjustment; when you read about the suffering of Jews and the fortitude of the survivors, you come to realize how petty and spoiled people can be in their own minds. Each time I read about a survivor, I feel a renewed sense of the gratitude I have for my life. My mother is also a survivor of Auschwitz, but each survivor's story is unique. Read and realize gratitude.

I found out about this book after reading another book that the author co-wrote. It is called The 100-Year Secret and it deals with a portion of the material that is contained in The Dentist of Auschwitz. The author spent almost five years in various camps, riding in closed railroad cars in summer, open railroad cars in winter, on death marches in the dead of winter, and on "hell ships," that were mistakingly attacked by the RAF and he, along with his brother still outlived the Nazi monsters that created this world for them. How Jacobs managed to survive his voyage through "man's inhumanity to man" is at the heart of this amazing story of survival. I promise you will not be able to put this book down.

I started reading this book and could not hardly put it down. I think I read it in 3 days. Benjamin Jacobs was sent to a concentration camp along with the rest of his family. Benjamin and his father ended up at Auschwitz. Had it not been for Benjamin's dental training and given a little bit of preference over the other inmates, the pure hell he was put through would have surely ended in death. The love story between him and Zosia is touching. Unbelievable how anyone could survive just a nightmare. This is truly the part of history most of us would like to rewrite. Great book.

This fine work was my introduction to Wendell Berry. I found it a bittersweet exercise to read it. I was taken back to my boyhood visits to my grandparents in rural Kansas and my grandmother's memories of another way of life. Berry reacquaints us with that other way of living and with what is really important in this life.

Reading The Memory of Old Jack is taking a journey through a man's life--the times he's proud of and the times he regrets but understands with a clarity that only comes from age. Soren Kierkegaard said that "life can only be understood backwards; the trouble is we have to live it forwards." Old Jack does this well and Berry manages to tell his story in a way that Old Jack's understanding brings understanding to our own life experiences.

Mr Berry is a writers writer. Eloquent without being pretentious. Brilliant without being inexcessable. He is Wes Jackson and Frederick Buechner at lunch over beans and Hoecake

Memories of a lifetime move into and out of the mind and soul of Jack Beechum, town patriarch and now-aged and retired Kentucky tobacco farmer who was born of, defined by and wedded to the richness and rewards of the toil and soil of his beloved farm. As in other Wendell Berry novels that I've read, Port William, KY is the setting for the same collage of personages who populate and flesh out these recollections of one man's successes and failures, joys and sorrows, hopes and regrets, with prose that embraces the poignant nuances of each reminiscence. Throughout, it's as if Old Jack's mind lights upon a loose, dangling thread of a past experience and, holding on and following it carefully, he wends his way back to the original whole-cloth of the event. Whether it is the poetry of the narrative, or the truth of universal insights, or the pervasiveness of gentleness and forbearance, this is literary soul food. There's nothing maudlin here, however, as these are remembrances of a pretty vigorous and rough-hewn guy, grown old but not soft. But, by gosh, this IS beautiful down-home style stuff.

For Berry readers, this will come as no surprise, but this is a phenomenal book. I love the simple elegance of the prose, and the import is incredible.

Beautiful, beautiful book.

This book is brilliant, just superb!! If you love historical fiction you will read this book in one sitting!! It is such a romantic, interesting, compelling read!! It will draw you in from page one!! This books has a sequel titled KENTUCKY HOME which is just as great!! Read both you will not be disappointed!!

This is one of those books I would rank right up there with "Gone With the Wind", a book you can re-read over and over, and still relish every word. One of THE best, period. I have waited wistfully in hopes that the author would write more historial sagas in a similar vein......she is a master of her craft.

I loved this book. It was hard to put down and I was able to finish the 600 pages in one week...which says a lot since I'm the mother of 3 small children! It was supspenseful, romantic and very-well written. If you enjoyed "Mrs. Mike", "Christy" (the book, not the horrible mini-series), and "Tisha", you will love this book. This book will be on my list to read again and again!

This book is a very satisfying read...long enough for you to get to know the characters so thoroughly you'll feel invested in their lives. Receveur's characters are brilliant, shining through the pages and burning a place in your heart the way no other characters since Scarlett & Rhett have done.

It follows Kitty Gentry through her experiences on the brink of the new frontier in Kentucky's wild days when indians were a force to be feared, tolerated, and respected. This book is always entertaining, never dull, and what makes it most intriguing is the accurate historical references throughout the book.

Kitty is the ideal heroine. Unlike Scarlett O'Hara, you will admire Kitty's struggles and wish you were right there beside her. Kitty possesses a little bit of all the qualities you find redeemable in yourself and others. You're going to LOVE this heroine and this story, which follows all the way through to a strong, solid ending in a satisfying conclusion.

This book deserves much more attention than it's gotten. It's one of my personal favorites. Lovers of history, romance, suspense, action, drama...this book has it all! If you loved 'Follow The River' by James Alexander Thom, this one may be your new favorite.

How much do I love this book? I named my first son Cullen after one of the book's characters. That speaks for itself.

This is the story of the fictional Kitty Gentry and her family as they leave their home in North Carolina to start a new life in the Kentucky wilderness, from the Cumberland gap to the new settlement of Fort Boonesborough. And yes, we see plenty of Dan'l Boone and others too.

While the Gentry family builds their new home and plants the land, the ever present danger from the Indians constanly threatens the safety of the settlers, and the revolutionary war rages on in the east. Tragedy strikes for Kitty and she is forced to leave her home and move into the fort as they defend themselves against attacks from the Indians, and she eventually finds not one but two great loves of her life.

The author does a nice job of setting the "stage", from the lush lands of Kentucky, the food, the smells, and the battles. She doesn't pull any punches, she gives you a good view of how hard life was settling into a wilderness --yes people stank, used chamberpots, their teeth rotted, women died in childbirth, etc. It wasn't an easy life. All in all a very enjoyable read, a very solidly written piece of historical fiction, but I find it just not quite up to a five star rating, as there were times when the story slowed down a bit and lost some of it's page turning excitement. 4.5 stars. Apparently there is a sequel called Kentucky Home that continues the story of Kitty and Roman as Kentucky becomes a state in the union, which is also out of print.

I thought this book was wonderful because I know all the places and some of the characters. My great-grandfather is even in it. Our house used to sit on the foundation of the church that it refers to, which is also where my grandparents met. So, this book held a lot of meaning for me!! I can't wait to read the sequel.

I enjoyed Turn Back Time very much because the characters just came to life for me. There was a mixture of sorrow, joy, and romance in it, but the best part was that it was a good, clean book with no four-letter words.

What great story telling. Couldn't put it down. The characters were so earthy. I passed this book around my family, who are from Kentucky, and everyone enjoyed it. Brings back so many memories. Great to the last page!

There are very few books that draw you right in from the first page but this book does. You love the family, the conflicts, the way it is solved and above all their love for God that shines through. Beware it is one of those books that will keep you up to the wee hours of the morning "just to find out what happens next"!

This is definitely one of those books that you don't lay down until you read the last word. It goes everywhere with you and your family wants you to hurry up and finish so they can have you back! It was a book that had me hooked from the beginning. It reminded me of the old mining stories my family use to reminisce about. The detailed info about the mining terminology was very interesting. Do you remember the Little House on the Prairie shows? It made me think of that time period. The characters in the book were so realistic and believable. When I read books like this with so much detail, they make me feel a part of the script. They also make me regret getting to the last page. This book was great and once I finished reading it, it was on my mind for days. It's nice to be able to find enjoyment and comfort in a book like this when you need an escape from the everyday happenings of the world. Grab this book and escape for a few hours! Very enjoyable, where's #2!?! Keep up the fantastic work Lisa and Dale! I love Dale's childrens books, they are great, too.

Maybe only a great character actor could write about a great American character with such warmth and passion. Maybe it's because Richard Kiel spent over a quarter of a century in putting this story together. No matter the reason, KENTUCKY LION is truly a grand story. The characters come alive in this womderful piece of story-telling; even if it wasn't 95% true, I feel like I got to know Cash. I can't wait to see the movie!

I just got a copy of this book and upon opening it I could not put it down. Richard Kiel has done an astounding job of recreating in colorful details the life and adventures of this true gentleman. It is a page turner indeed! Once you start it you will see just how wonderful it is and just how hard it is to put down. I highly reccomend this book to anyone and I truly believe it should be included in a list of mandatory reads. There is much to be learned from this book. The authors have done an astounding amount of research into the life of this greatly overlooked individual. Richard and Pamela have created a true gem with this book. A masterpiece telling of the true life of Cassius Clay. A++

What an incredible account that until now has gone uncovered! The astonishing true story behind the Cassius Clay story. Captivating and enlightening read.

Excellent...This is a must read. This historic american novel will make a great movie or mini series for television. Richard Kiel and Pamela Wallace tell the life story of Cassius Clay with passion, romance and intrigue. I started reading this on my flight from California to Texas and could not put it down. The history that was researched for this book is truly amazing. It's a great story of a great american hero.

Kentucky Lion: The True Story of Cassius Clay
This is an amazing book about one man who would not give up his fight for something that he believed in, despite many things being thrown in his path. Once you start reading it, you will not be able to put it down. I had never heard the name 'Cassius Clay' before reading this book, and now I will never forget him or the story of his life. It's definitely a book that everyone will find interesting given the many aspects of his life that are brought to life throughout the pages of the book.

A definite MUST READ!

Reading the novella based on the letters of the author's great-grandparents was a pleasant way to spend an evening. The epistolary form (with its built-in sense of reality) is very appealing to most readers. What I found most interesting, however, is how good the writing is--particularly the lack of authorial self consciousness that advertises inexperience, and is so hard to overcome in fiction. Karen Milan, Book Reviewer, Fort Worth, TX

I am not much of a reader, but this book was just right. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, and the story touched my heart.

This is a love story that is sweet and pure, and is an over-all wonderful story. The characters are real and the letters around which the story is woven are actual letters from a real family. Simply wonderful!

This wonderful story tells a simple and pure love story. The kind that anyone would want to live. What is more amazing is that the letters around which the story is woven are real letters from a real family. You'll be stunned at the beauty of them. Don't miss this opportunity to see the depth and persistence of real love!

This is a lovely story of courting with love letters, a sadly neglected form. The letters are real and Ms. Richard Dodson's graceful style and seamless interweaving of letters and narrative make the characters come alive. Read it!

Presently you won't see Chris Offutt's name on any bestseller's list, but please don't let that discourage you from reading his wonderful work. In "Out of the Woods," Offutt follows the lives of ex-cons, alcoholics, gamblers, and drifters as they struggle to find direction and purpose.

Offutt's characters share one common thread, they were all born and raised in Appalachian communities in Kentucky. Reared in a culture in and of itself, these Kentuckians face harsh realities as they try to carve out a path for themselves in mainstream America. Most grapple with a strong desire to get out and see the world yet simultaneously they fight the urge to return to the comfort and security of home. In "Moscow, Idaho," a young prisoner on grave digging duty aims to turn over a new leaf and wonders if he will ever find a woman, a good job, and a town to settle in. "Two-Eleven All Around" is the story of a man who is so desperate for attention from his girlfriend, that he stages his own arrest in hope that she will hear about it while listening to her radio. These tales combine perseverance and heartbreak into poetic prose.

There have been comparisons of Offutt's writing to that of Raymond Carver's. Only in my opinion, Offutt is better. Carver's characters tend to present with a flat affect, but Offutt is able to take the reader subtly and deeply into his characters minds. Chris Offutt excels at what he writes about because he lived the life of his characters. He grew up in a small Appalachian community and at the age of nineteen he meandered across the country where he went through more than fifty jobs before returning to home and raising a family. Chris Offutt has come full circle and there is no doubt that he will find himself a place in the world of literature.

Ain't no such thing as a perfect story no matter how masterful the crafter is. That's what art is, I guess. It's the "imperfections" - maybe the particularities, the quirks and indiosicracies - which strick you in that very personal way like the writer is writing for you and you want to shake the hand which wrote that tale, which made your life a little better just now and you really want to say - thanks! After awhile, if the work is good, you don't feel like you're reading some book. This guy, Offut, is actually a very ordinary proser. It seems. Seemingly, not that much extraordinary stuff is going on. No sense of immediate beauty or anything like that. He writes as if he's one with the tale being told. There's this intimacy here, OUT OF THE WOODS, like you don't get in many places. He honors - people, life, words, and the putting together of. That's what I think. Some phrases jump at you with a real live human voice. ("I'm going with Jack," she said. "I'm sorry." - in TOUGH PEOPLE) ("What the f--- do you want?" - in TWO-ELEVEN ALL AROUND) I've been keeping these sentences in me for awhile and as corny as this sounds, they make me want to be a better person.

There's only a few writers that I hold as examples of what the art should be, and Chris is one of 'em.

This book of stories rivals Denis johnson's Jesus' Son as oneof the most compelling books of stories written in the last decade.Economically written and darkly funny, not one word is wasted. And the landscapes are etched with a painter's flare for light and form. I've read Mr. Offut's novel and memoir and they are very good. But this book is truly original, an example of how much promise the short story as a significant art form in 2000 and beyond.

Because I love short stories and Southern writers, I discovered Chris Offutt. Out of the Woods was his first book I read. It won't be the last. His fiction is serious, his characters haunting. Haunting because of the writer's honesty. Offutt turns on the overhead light and throws off the sheet. His protagonist in "Two-Eleven All Around" sums up all of his characters when he ponders, "Sometimes I don't think I've done anything to leave my mark in this world. I'm the kind of person the world leaves a mark on." Offutt has left his mark.