Maryland Books

As a snakehead angler, I was both amused and amazed at the furor that eruped in Crofton, Maryland during the summer of 2002. Eric Jay Dolin has captured the true essence of a most unlikely series of events, from the capture of the first unidentifiable fish to the final extermination of a pond full of them.

Both humorous and informative, his book explains the evolution of the snakehead myth, the media hyperbole, the bureaucratic process, the public's reaction and the true characteristics of this fascinating species of fish.

Most importantly, he highlights the continuing efforts required to control invasive species that enter into our local environments.

Since I had personal experince with Snakeheads prior to the Crofton event, I followed the stories and exaggerations with keen interest, and some dismay, during that summer. Eric's book serves to shine the light of reality and reason on a very emotional topic. He has done a fine job of putting the entire episode into perspective.

I recommend this book not only to anglers, but to anyone who is concerned with the control of alien species. I will continue to fish for snakeheads. I will travel half way around the world to do so. I'm glad that they are not an American sportfish. Otherwise, I would not have a valid reason to pursue them in the remote regions of Southeast Asia. Their natural habitat includes some of the most unspoiled and beautiful areas on earth. That is where I want to be.

Although at times it sounds like a masters-level thesis, Denton's A Southern Star for Maryland is a decent overview of how Maryland reacted to Secession Fever and how the state was compelled to stay in the Union. Denton provides some interesting numbers and analysis to support his thesis that Marylanders were inclined to join the Confederacy, detailing the general pro-Southern nature of the state. He also does a good job of detailing the quick and effective (and often legally questionable) movement by federal officials and Union volunteers to squash pro-secession sentiments in the state.

Marie Forbes employs a novelistic style to bring alive the story of a small farming community that develops over the centuries into a bedroom suburb. Includes oral narratives from those who shared in the community's past.

Hugh Leonard, an Irish playwright and journalist, was born in Dublin in 1926. He spent fourteen years working for the Irish Civil Service, before he was able to concentrate fully on his writing. Leonard - known in 'real' life as John Keyes Byrne - received the Tony Award in 1977 for the play "Da", which was largely based on his own youth and his relationship with his adoptive father. (It was also made into a movie, with Martin Sheen playing the Hugh Leonard role). "Out After Dark" follows on from "Home Before Night", and tells part of his life story in prose form.

"Out After Dark" is less of a year-by-year account of Leonard's life, and more a collection of anecdotes - largely from his early working life. There are, naturally, a couple of exceptions - including his traumatic last performance as an altar boy and how, despite the offer of another scholarship, he made his decision to leave school. His first job as a clerk was with Colombia Pictures, before moving onto the Land Commission. (He didn't particularly want to become a Civil Servant, but he recognised it as an easy escape route from an amorous colleague called Dolores). Like his mother, Leonard had always loved going to the cinema, though by the time he joined the Land Commission he knew he wanted to be a writer. Nevertheless, he soon gets drawn into acting - with a very helpful shove in the back from office typist, the persuasive, lively and lovable Kay Kelly. Leonard, by his own admission, proved a rather limited actor...he could've been a comic genius, only for the fact he was generally playing serious roles. (Still, his acting career does include connecting with a femme fatale called Sandra). Sadly, Kay's time as a character in the book proves limited. Leonard's best friend from his time in the Land Commission was a gentleman called Mick - the pair manage to get each other into no end of trouble. A couple of trips to Belfast feature, where he hopes to be taken advantage of by the women who live there, and he touches on his encounters with Behan, Kavanagh and O'Connor.

I loved "Home Before Night", but I wasn't quite so taken with "Out After Dark". It is, admittedly, easily read, and a largely affectionate book. However, there's an occasional quip made an another's expense that could have been left out - Leonard only manages to make himself look bad, rather than his intended victim.

Somehow, a copy of this book remained in my library from my older sister's childhood. One day, when looking for something to read to my own son (who had requested "something about bugs"), I cracked this book and discovered how wonderful it is. Think of this as a collection of poems disguised as interesting information about backyard bugs. The text does not rhyme and has no overly obvious meter, but it reads so smoothly that it often lulls my little one to sleep. The illustrations are simple one-or-two color prints, and are very dated in appearance (hence my 4 star rating instead of 5). Yet my 4 year old loves to look at them as I read. You can only find this book used now, and the hardback binding is not the highest quality. Still, it's a worthwhile investment if you are looking for new bedtime reading material.

This book shows what creative minds can do for art besides yet another vinyl floor-tile design. A book not for everyone but a must for anyone who uses and appreciates what a tool can do. In addition, it can be a source for ideas for student sculptors or for anyone with a shop.

This book is a fascinating 300 page message to the public that if the Cheasapeake Bay, a long sufferer of pollution and overharvesting, is to survive as both a marketable commodity and a landmark of the southeast, many changes must be put into place. Horton explains many interwoven factors contributing to the bay's problems, including nitrogen, phosphorus pollution (from farm fertilizers), sediment pollution (which clouds water and suffocates underwater grasses), overfishing, and sprawl development. It was really interesting to see how all these parts were the sum of a greater equation, and gets you to think how something simple you do everyday and take for granted really could have an effect on something miles away (hairspray, anyone?). The one thing I didn't like though is that a lot of the information was repeated (probably intentional to stress his points) and you could pretty much get the gist of the book before you were halfway done. But overall, a very solid, eyeopening, and unflinchingly LIBERAL book!

Luvaas has written an excellent book for anyone wanting to know more about the South Mountain/Harper's Ferry/Anietam Campaign of 1862.

Each chapter contains the following information:

1. Detailed driving direction for reaching the site.
2. A description of what happened at the site.
3. An account of the action by an acutal participant.
4. Map(s) of troop dispositions at the site during the campaign.

I have referred to the book during some of my several visits to the Antietam Battlefield and have thoroughly enjoyed each tour! A detailed order of battle and other pertinent information is included in the book.

The only complaint I really have is that the maps could have been more detailed and numerous. Complaint aside, I highly recommended the book as a valuable guide to the actions in September 1862.

Read and enjoy!

Just getting started in a local UGR coalition and this is great background. Easy to assimilate but clear, consise information.

This is a book the legal profession never expected to be published. A fully documented book that shows how the legal profession can initiate, advance, perpetrate and defend its corruption. A book that exposes professional and judicial process corruption patterns into which even the US Supreme Court fits. A book that shows why the legal profession cannot regulate itself into a good reputation -- because it is not accountable to the public.