Massachusetts Books

Obviously, the writer, director, actors, composer, and musicians are in total control of their craft. The Plimoth Adventure seems to be a work of art. The music is a special treat, with a recurring theme, and a feeling distantly reminiscent of Vaughan Williams' "A Sea Symphony," and having the catchy pop sensibilities of Monteverdi's "Vespro della Beata Vergine." The background effects ring true, and these include sounds of ransacking, rowing, water rushing, snapping fires, raising anchors, background conversation in a tavern, seagulls, cannon fire, and a scary thunderstorm. The story, as related by a lively dialogue, concerns efforts of the dissenters to escape to Holland, soldiers in Holland threatening the dissenters, commentary regarding 12 years in Holland, plans to move to Virginia, problems with the Speedwell leaking, attempts to fix the Speedwell, and commentary on where to land in America, e.g., how to avoid shoals. An amusing episode concerns a ship employee who wanted to throw all the dissenters overboard, who got sick onboard and died, and who himself was thrown overboard.

In school, I did not enjoy the chapters about the Pilgrims. They were dry and boring. But, in this show I learned that they really did some brave things and I am kind of proud of them. Americans rock and so did the pigrims at Plymouth rock! (get it?)

I have to admit that I am a real buff of historical fiction. While this tape is historically correct, it remains both exciting and fun. We listened to it over the Thanksgiving holiday, and must admit that it added terrifically to the mood. We all really enjoyed it.

I currently have two children that I am educating at home. There is a significant age spread between the two, but one thing is for certain, both really enjoyed this tape, and both learned allot. This audio tape told a very exciting story of the Pilgrims hardships prior to their sailing to the new world. While most of us know the basics, this tape covered more unknown details. It has a full cast and music score, with lots of sound effects to make it interesting, kind of like how old time radio shows did it. We highly recommend this tape for people who enjoy american history. I only wonder when the colonial radio will continue the story with another tape. It would be great to hear their version of the first thanksgiving and how Squanto effected the first settlement of Plymouth.

The writer, director, actors, composer, and musicians are in total control of their craft. The Plimoth Adventure seems to be a work of art. The actors are articulate, and it is easy to discern or understand every word. The music is a special treat, with a recurring theme, and a feeling distantly reminiscent of Vaughan Williams' "A Sea Symphony," and having the catchy pop sensibilities of Monteverdi's "Vespro della Beata Vergine." The background effects ring true, and these include sounds of ransacking, rowing, water rushing, snapping fires, raising anchors, background conversation in a tavern, seagulls, cannon fire, and a scary thunderstorm. The story, as related by a lively dialogue, concerns efforts of the dissenters to escape to Holland, soldiers in Holland threatening the dissenters, commentary regarding 12 years in Holland, plans to move to Virginia, problems with the Speedwell leaking, attempts to fix the Speedwell, and commentary on where to land in America, e.g., how to avoid shoals. An amusing episode concerns a ship employee who wanted to throw all the dissenters overboard, who got sick onboard and died, and who himself was thrown overboard.

Even though I'd never been to Cape Cod, I enjoyed the amusing stories captured in Shorr's little book "Provincetown".
It was particularly delightfull when I did visit the cape to have,to the amazement of the "locals",so much local knowledge, that in many cases, they themself did not hold. The stories in "P-town" truely capture the flavor and uniqueness of that little town on a hook shaped sandy spit in the Atlantic.

I recently visited Cape Cod for a week, staying in Provincetown. I happened upon this book during a visit to a Borders in Hyannis. Breezing through it, it sounded interesting, and I was glad I had decided to pick it up. I read the book nightly during the visit, and it was perfect timing.

Exploring for a couple of days previously, I had already familiarized myself with the lay of the land. Delving into the book, I learned some interesting tidbits of history and specific areas of town that I had bypassed without giving a second glance. Knowing their significance, I went back to see some places/things I may otherwise not have, had I not learned their historical significance.

My only disappointment with the book was that it didn't have more stories about pre-1900 P-town, as these were the eras of Provincetown that truly fascinated me. Otherwise, this book not only proved to provide history presented in interesting stories, but it also proved to be an invaluable travel guide during my visit! A must for any P-town visitor!

I've been going to Cape Cod for a gazillion years and thoughtI knew just about all the stories hidden up Provincetown's sleeve. How wrong I was. Ms. Shorr's breezy book offers a wealth of stories I had never known and was delighted to hear. Her easy style combined with well-researched facts makes for delightful story-telling. Reading her book is like sitting at the dining table late into the night with a new best friend who is spinning tales of their life. You know you should go to bed but you don't want to miss one word.

What a wonderful book. What a terrific read. Shorr succeeds in giving a marvelous sense of place and history to those who already know Provincetown and also introducing it to those who've never been there. Even if you thought you knew Provincetown, this book will make it new for you. It is filled with things you never knew, clarifies vague things you'd thought you'd heard, and explains why Provincetown remains one of the most mythic and well-loved places in the country. The book is filled with the same kind of quirky humor and good spirits that so many of us associate with the town itself. Lost and lots of fun. Thoughtful, well-written, funny, engaging. A perfect little book.

This may be a small book of only 128 pages, but it is a "Treasure Chest of Information". This is a collection of true stories about one of America's greatest towns. If you have ever had an interest in this unique town, whether as a historian, visitor, or a resident, you will love these fascinating, sometimes humorous, stories taken from the town memoirs. Kathy Shorr has created a delightful book covering the history of "Provincetown", Land's End", during the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.

The author writes about the settlers who first landed in Provincetown in 1620, (not in Plymouth, as commonly believed), the floating of the houses from Long Point, the first Town Crier, the birth of the Art Colony, the building of the Pilgrim Monument, the Rose Dorothea, and the birth of The Cape Cod National Seashore. In later chapters, she touches on the "Meat Rack", Spiritus, Hurricane Bob, the yearly Carnival, and the Blessing of the Fleet. Interspersed throughout the book are appropriate illustrations by Anne Rosen relating to each story. Shorr writes these stories in an intelligent, exciting, and fun manner that make this book a gratifying and enjoyable read.

This book should not be missed if you have an interest and curiosity about this town at "Land's End". I wish this book was getting the fanfare that other "Provincetown" books are receiving. This book is very special, and I feel one of the best books published about this town. You should not miss this book. A special book about a very special place!

Joe Hanssen

If you have a fee day, you can plan a mini vacation Right Here. No need for long drives or plane rides. Liz Nelson has managed to do all the planning, gather the important ingormation, and entice us to explore our own back yard. It was so nice to find a book I can use as a refrence for trips and activities in the North Shore area. It's a great book to pull out when planning weekend entertainment for out of town friends and relatives, and it is a perfect idea generator for those days when the kids think there is 'nothing to do."

When I travel I always plan ahead and study the areas I visit. Unfortunately, when I am at home, I never take the time to do the research. Now, the work has been done for me, so if I want to have a fun local adventure I have everything I need Right Here.

Whether you are new to the area north of Boston or a long time resident, you will find Liz Nelson's Right Here an invaluable guide to reservations,historic sites, museums, parks, bike paths, walks and more. I recommend it enthusiastically to our visitors of all ages and use it myself. Although I have lived north of Boston for 40 years, I have learned a lot from Right Here, and it provides visitors to the Salem Witch Museum with a wide variety of travel opportunities north of Boston. An excellent collection! Alison D'Amario, director of education, Salem Witch Museum, Salem, Massachusetts

I've lived in this area for 10 years and have barely begun to scratch the surface of all the region has to offer. Liz Nelson's little book is now my official personal guidebook to the historic and adventure-filled Massachusetts north shore.

The places she takes me to visit range from the extraordinary (quirky historic homes with unusual architecture and jaw-dropping memorabilia) to the serene (quiet walks amid sea spray roses in search of eagles and seals) to the ridiculous (snow tubing down a ten-story-high hill of ice!?!) to the adventuresome (whale watching!) So no matter what my mood, no matter what the season, I can find a day trip that's just right.

And no matter who accompanies me, from my 85-year-old mother, to my adventuresome outdoor-loving friends, to visiting cousins and their kids, we can always find a suitable jaunt "Right Here"!

I especially appreciate the TRIP TIPS -- complete and thorough driving directions, details about admission fees, where to park, and how much time to allow to thoroughly enjoy each place -- even helpful little hints such as "Disregard the 'Private Road' sign."

The best part of this little book, however, is the way it's written. Because Liz Nelson writes as though she's in the middle of her own exploration of each place, it's as though you are being accompanied by your own personal, not to mention observant and wryly amusing, tour guide.

Whether you're a visitor to northern New England or a seasoned resident, you can't go wrong with this little book. All the locations are easy driving day trips whether you're coming from Portland, Maine; the Concord or Manchester, New Hampshire areas; or from Boston.

This little book gives detailed and exciting information about the historic significance and the great beauty of 52 important and interesting places near Boston. It is especially valuable for nature lovers, and all of the trips described are suitable for children as well as for adults who would like to know this lovely area better.

I've lived in this area for 20 years, and love all the local activities that there are, but when I picked up this book at the local bookstore, I realized that I hadn't heard of most of the places Liz Nelson wrote about! I visited a few of them, and they are all amzing! Whenever I'm looking for something to do in the area, or a family activity, I pick up Right Here to see what else there is to be discovered! Great Book!

As an example of young adult historical fiction, THE SACRIFICE works well enough -- the essence of time and place are strongly conveyed. Situationally, the conflict can teach readers about the Salem witch trials, and the protagonist finds herself right in the middle of it (naturally), having been accused of being a witch herself.

Author Kathleen Benner Duble draws inspiration from her own ancestors' story, and her research seems pretty accurate (bibliography included).

My one big problem with the book is that it puts at its heart a ten-year-old girl who seems to have the wisdom of Solomon and enough fortitude to deliver a speech at her trial that inspires the governor to put an end to this hysteria. Really? After this girl has spent three months in horrendous conditions in jail, with barely enough to survive, she transcends her age to vehemently ask those present to come to their senses, and all listen attentively? It took a ten-year-old to make the governor of Massachusetts resolve a change in the system? I find this just a too bit far-fetched. If Abigail had been older, I might believe the story a little more, and it might make the book work better for an older audience.

As it is, THE SACRIFICE works well as a piece of historical fiction (THE CRUCIBLE-Lite, perhaps) for fifth- and sixth-graders, but it doesn't quite have the polish that makes it one of those books that adults without kids should be reading.

I had to do a report on the Salem Witch Trials so my teacher recommended this book to help me. I enjoyed it and I learned alot about the Trials.

This captivating books truly brings the Salem witch hysteria to life. Based on research into her own family's experience with the witch trials, Duble succeeds in taking her reader through the agony of accusation, imprisonment, and trial.

Although a fairly quick read, The Sacrifice is a nice addition to the wide variety of Salem witch trial stories out there. The Sacrifice follows the Faulkner family, in particular 10-year-old Abigail, as the witch hysteria hits their town of Andover.

While you can guess at what will happen (it is a Salem witch trial story, after all), the author does a great job at portraying Abigail's inner turmoil as she struggles to come to terms with what's happening in her world. At first she's eager to learn about the "witches" in her society and quick to believe the judgments, until the witch hunt hits close to home, forcing her to re-evauluate what she believes about herself and her fellow townspeople.

The ending of the book sort of reminded me of the ending of "Brokedown Palace" - there is a sacrifice made, and it's very powerful and heart-wrenching. As in that movie (which is extremely good, by the way), a character trades physical freedom for inner freedom, knowing that they righted a wrong situation.

One neat sidenote also came at the ending, as the author comments that this book is based on her ancestors who lived during the Salem witch hunt period and actually went through the situations written about in her book. Highly recommended.

The Sacrifice brings the period of hysteria surrounding the Salem Witch Trials to life as we are introduced to Abigail, aged ten, and her family, members of the village of Andover. Abigail is a bit of a rebel in her Puritan village; she sometimes speaks when she shouldn't and runs with her legs exposed when it's not seemly to do so. Nevertheless, she and her family could never fathom being accused of witchcraft until her minister grandfather speaks out against the girls making the accusations; suddenly Abigail's Aunt Elizabeth, her sister Dorothy, and even Abigail herself find themselves jailed and at the mercy of the townspeople. It is at this time that the sacrifice comes into play; Abigail's mother cannot bear to see her young daughters imprisoned and thus makes a bargain that seals all of their fates.

The idea that this particular retelling of the hysteria has some basis in fact helped me to embrace the story. The author discovered that she was a descendent of Abigail Faulkner, and built her story around her research. While I found some of Abigail's actions a bit questionable for a young lady in such a strict Puritan society, I did enjoy her character and felt the author did a good job weaving fiction into the tale. I do believe that this novel is marketed older than its intended audience; the reading style and level clearly work more for pre-teen than for the young adult market. I also at times found the dialogue a bit stilted, though I suspect the author was attempting to capture the atmosphere of the times.

Overall this is an excellent introduction into a time in our nation's history that leaves many of us bewildered at how easily a group of young girls managed to send so many innocents to their deaths. Enjoyable and fast reading.

I teach Pre-K, and used this book along with other books by Kate Waters (The Mayflower,Sarah Morton's Day, and Tapenum's Day)to teach my November unit on the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. The photographs, which I primarily used, are an excellent source for my young students to visualize how things were. (I also left them in our library to look at at their leisure.) The text, which is understandable for this age, was a bit long for them to sit for during circle time. However, I wish I had these books when my own children were younger, because they would have had no trouble listening to them one on one. I remember how excited my children were when learning of this era. These books would have been some of their favorites, and I highly recommend them.

I used this book as part of the third grade curriculum. We are studying Massachusetts History. This book and its partner books about Sarah Morton, a Pilgrim Girl and Tapenum a Wampanoag Indian boy were excellent!!
The texts and pictures were well researched and presented. Plymouth Plantation and the reenactors there provide an authentic setting. Homes, clothing, work and play of children during this period are acurately shown. These books should be in every school library.

I am continually amazed at how children's books offer detail and insight into daily life that no stout history book can provide.

Writing the same review for the other two in this trilogy. Excellent all!

This is a wonderful, wonderful book. It will help you teach your children about hard work, perseverance, and family. My children want it read to them again and again.

Young Samuel Eaton (a historical character) is looking forward to his first chance to help his father bring in the crops. He finds the work incredibly hard, and the coarse grain raises bad blisters on his hands. But he perseveres, and at the end of the day when his father tells him "you did a man's work today, Samuel," we feel his pride.

Masterfully written, beautifully photographed, this is a gem in every way.

This book took us back to 1627. We learned all about Samuel Eaton's first day as a man. He told us all about the hard work he had to do in the fields. It was so interesting to read a story that used different words from long ago. The pictures were awesome! They showed us the clothing the pilgrims wore, what their house looked like, and the hard work everybody did. We thought it would be difficult to be a pilgrim boy! We think everyone should read this book because you can learn a lot about how the pilgrims lived. Read this wonderful book!

After my grandaughter received "Hey Willie, see the Pyramids" as a gift, we became fascinated with Maira Kalman's books. Our most recent acquisition is Sayonara Mrs. Kackleman. The naive illustrations are wonderful and plentiful enough to spend a good amount of time on each page. We like to fill in the thoughts of all the characters. This has been her "bedtime book of choice" for quite a while now. We now dream of going to Pajan to see the Japansneeze!

Maira Kalman does a wonderful job of capturing her reader's imagination and eye. She has a very playful graspe of the English language. Her style is envigorating. Children and adults are captivated by the rhythmic storytelling. The colorful illustrations make it hard to turn the pages while the text spurs the reader on to do just that. This is an entirely delightful children's book that will give readers the travel bug.

Maira Kalman has captured the best selling points of Japan.
We have lived in Kyoto for 8 years. My husband is Japanese, and I'm American. We're raising our "doubles" (dual nationals)over here. "Sayonara Mrs. Kackleman" is our kids' ultimate favorite book, and they laugh and laugh when I read "Pajan" or they call them "Japansneeze" and "Hey Hiroko...are you loco?" The author writes about the precious things that we wish we could preserve over here. Sadly, the traditional culture is being replaced with the younger generation's obsession with character goods, shopping for horrendously overpriced luxury goods, overwork, porn DVDs in vending machines, McDonalds in every neighborhood. Kalman writes about Japan in the 80s, I think. It has changed a lot in 25 years, so the things she recorded in her book are all the more dear to me. The humor, the illustrations and the fact that she chose this country have turned me into fan.
When we go back to the States I check out all her books from the library, so we can read them as often as we do at home.

This is a story about two kids who take a trip to Japan. The writing style is really humorous, and yet it is not not silly. It uses puns and a wonderful descriptive style in ways that are really original. My son (age 3) really enjoys this story, and so do his older cousins. The illustrations are also interesting and fun to look out. This is a good book to read out loud at bedtime.

From the subway that "smoothed into the station" to all the exotic Japanese meals, this fantasy trip of two kids to Japan is just inspiring. I find myself as delighted and laughing as my kids. Having falling totally in love with Ms. Kalman's words and images I'm off in search of more!

I first read Mong-Lan's "Why is the Edge Always Windy?" before reading "Song of the Cicadas," and I must say that I have seldom encountered a masterly poet such as her. She captures in a few words gracefully what other poets would need ten. You don't need to have travelled to Vietnam or Mexico or San Francisco to understand/feel/intuit the primal exigencies of the land, of history, of the heart, of what she writes. Mong-Lan, apparently, went back to Vietnam in the mid 90's, at a time when very few Viet Kieus have gone back--these experiences form the crux of the book. What she has put into verse is new vital terrority, exploring not just the psychology of displacement, the aftermath of war, but the beauty, both visual and visceral, of experiences striking, commonplace and haunting.

Mong-Lan is also a visual artist and her drawings and cover photo grace the beautiful book. A must have!!

Scarcely with a first book does a young poet approach such a mastery of craft as Mong Lan does here in this poignant, graceful, inimitably organic collection. She achieves those special balances - passion and restraint, lyric and narrative, naivete and wisdom, intelligence and honesty - which are so rare in published contemporary poetry today, which is riddled with flagrantly duplicitous, smarmy, disjunctive, and/or watered down prose, which (of course) passes as the best poetry thanks to the influx of critics whose will is bent by the political pressures of the literati. But enough of that, and back to Mong Lan. Those poems within the sequences such as "Trajectory" and "The Golden Gate Bridge" seem to hang carefully like magnificent stained glass windows; in which intense color, silky texture, and story power are all constantly self-evident and at play; and through which the author's essence yearns to touch your own. I'll admit, I'm a pretty voracious reader, snobbish and not-easily-impressed; "Song of the Cicadas" haunts me for hours afterward; the poems are arrows into the heart. A must read.

I can see war in these pages, but it's more than that. It's also about ordinary people and their lives, not just Vietnamese culture but something universal in all of us. Highly recommend!

This is a very impressive book of poetry. Mong-Lan is a gifted writer who conveys the lyricism of language in the description of diverse experiences in Vietnam. Highly recommended.

Read this beautiful collection of poems. They will move you with their grace, insight and strength. Notice the blank spaces between the words and lines-more is said at these broken places than mere words.

This brilliant little book (71 pages of actual text) records twenty days in which Hawthorne was in effect a single parent for his five year old son, Julian, during August 1851. Hawthorne's wife Sophia, called Phoebe in the book, and two daughters (seven year old Una and newborn Rose) go off to visit Sophia's parents. Hawthorne is with Julian for just about every waking moment of Julian's day, running from six or seven AM to seven or seven thirty PM. He records their days in his notebook; and, despite the brief and informal style of these notes (and they are notes and not a detailed chronicle), succeeds in evoking nearly the totality of a child's day. I doubt that any major writer has ever so completely and carefully focused on what a five year old actually does and what his life is like.

Hawthorne is also direct and frank. He gets exasperated (as all parents do) about the constant demands for attention, the nonstop childish chatter and the endless sometimes inane questions but only rarely rebukes Julian. On the whole, Hawthorne is remarkably patient. He is amused by Julian's battles with the monsters that appear in the form of thistles and weeds which Julian routinely and daily slaughters. He is fascinated by Julian's determined and uniformly unsuccessful fishing. He admires Julian's great good nature and his gusto. Hawthorne takes care of the boy's minor illnesses, injuries and accidents. He feeds, dresses, bathes and clothes him daily. He also tries to curl his hair. Some of these actions he admits are badly or clumsily done but they are all clearly done with love.

The book also contains a few insights into other aspects of the normally reserved Hawthorne. He is positively volcanic about his dislike of Massachusetts's Berkshire region and its weather and his contemptuous and angry references to a neighbor and to (of all things) the Shaker sect are painful to read. Also clear, however, is his deep love for his family and for friends such as Melville and his love of life generally. He goes to considerable lengths to rescue a kitten trapped in a cistern and does what he can for the well-being of Bunny, whom he obviously considers a rather dull creature. There are observations on the daily round of country life in 1851 as well, including the contents of meals (little meat but plentiful milk, vegetables and rice), interactions with others, visitors and other matters.

The prose is very direct and clear, a far cry from Hawthorne's complex, allusive and often indirect formal style. This is a record of parenting and of a child's life that is moving and beautiful. There is also a useful if perhaps somewhat overlong introduction by writer Paul Auster.

I had previously thought of Nathaniel Hawthorne as serious, stuffy, reclusive - as indeed many contemporaries thought of him. However, _Twenty Days with Julian_ show another side of the man - and the eternal joy and wonder of childhood.

While his wife and daughters were away, Hawthorne spent three weeks alone with his son, Julian. Chronicling their activities, you get a clear sense of the time and of the person Hawthorne was. But what was most pleasant - and surprising - was how similar 4 year old Julian was to children today. A joyful read that would make an excellent Father's Day present.

This is abrief book, but full of great writing. It's very interesting to see what has changed in 150 years - the food, the activities, the words, and what hasn't - how little kids behave.

Hawthorne really captures the boundless energy and joy of small children, as well as his own sense of bewilderment as a father.

Everything positive said about this book is true. But I would add this: Mr. Auster's introduction is excellent until he reaches a point where he starts divulging some of the best points in the diary. So buy the book and go straight to the diary. Then enjoy Auster's wonderful intro. Bravo to NYRB for publishing this as a stand alone book; what a great gift for a new parent!
CS

From July 28th until August 16th, 1851, Nathaniel Hawthorne's wife Sophia took their daughters on a visit to her relatives, leaving her husband home to care for their 5 year-old son, Julian. Hawthorne kept a record of his time with the little boy in a journal, calling the episode "Twenty Days with Julian & Little Bunny by Papa". Anyone familiar with Hawthorne's exquisite, almost recondite writing style as exemplified by his novels and short stories will hardly recognize him in the guise of babysitter and chronicler of his jet-propelled kid's activities. Driven nearly to distraction by Julian's nonstop chatter and noisemaking (Hawthorne's wife had recently given birth to baby Rose, and the little boy was constantly being told to keep quiet), Hawthorne nevertheless decides to allow the child the freedom to be as noisy as he likes while the baby is away. This proves to be an exercise in forbearance for poor papa, as Julian proves to have no off switch, making it "impossible to read, write, think, or even sleep (in the daytime) so constant are his appeals..." Over the ensuing three weeks, the two take daily walks to fetch the milk, and to the lake where Julian fishes with furious, single-minded determination and catches absolutely nothing. Hawthorne struggles to figure out how his wife curls the kid's hair, and there are several unfortunate events - a bedwetting accident, a pants-peeing incident, the kid gets stung by a wasp, the pet bunny, Hindlegs, dies and is buried in the garden, much to Julian's amusement. (He hopes a Bunny Tree will spring up, covered all over in bunnies hanging by their ears.) Through it all, Hawthorne, in spite of his befuddlement with the finer points of child care, bears up gracefully, proving himself not only a gentle and loving father, but a genius at capturing the essence of childhood and the joy of witnessing,close at hand, his little boy's joie de vivre.

L chose this book because it was featured on a trip to Martha's Vineyard and I love the photograph in it.

Beautiful and insightful book on Martha's Vinyard. A must have book!!!

Peruse this impressive volume and step out of your world and right into the Campground in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. Experience all four seasons there through Betsy Corsiglia's lush photography, and learn it's history and meet it's inhabitants through Mary-Jean Miner's absorbing text. This book is a must-own for anyone who loves the Vineyard.

What a wonderful book about such an inspiring and inspired place. The pictures are bold and bright, and the text is tremendous. Betsy and Mary-Jean have done a great service to the Campground and the Camp-Meeting Association by providing such insight and memories of the Campground experience. A must have book if you've ever been to Martha's Vineyard. Great first book... hoping for many more.

The true flavor of the Campgrounds has been captured in this marvelous book. Photos and script leads the reader through the delightful history of this endearing place. Watching it change over the past fifty years, I can say it never looked better. Although long overdue, the talents of these two gals brings the Campground to life. A book to be cherished.

    I recently completed the novel and found it a most compelling work.  I believe that it successfully assimilated historical characters and events with fictional accounts while exploring some of the challenges we face under the human condition.  I believe that this work illustrates the significance of the the choices we make and the impact our actions, for good or for worse, may have on others, our families, our communities and our world.     Gertrude's choice never to love again or  be happy again affected Dr. Flagg and his family into the next generation (his nephew) as they held on to anger, sadness and disappointment due the rejection of Dr. Flagg's unyielding, all encompassing, and nurturing love.   Eleanor, caught in the same web of self-distruction learned from the Gertrude/Flagg experience, to gain a new lease on life and emerge from the ashes like the mythical phoenix.  It was pleasurable, clear, and concise reading which left the reader wanting more.   It provided an opportunity to expand knowledge on, and an appreciation for the  works of a renowned nineteenth century American Artist.  This work effortlessly captivated and aroused intellectual curiosity, a desire for greater self-awareness, the penchant to unmask and overcome deep fears and inhibitions, and one's mind's eye.     In summary, the clarity of the writing, the descriptive detail, the simplicity of the characters, and the complexity of the circumstances seamlessly worked together to give us a glimpse into lives which inspired artistic paintings, an unceasing love and devotion;  yet, still gives us cause to re-invent ourselves through self-inspection and the realization that a single life is intertwined and interdependent upon other lives.  The choices we make in how we face life and death are not choices we can make in a vacuum.

"Walking Through Time" is one of those rare books that you simply do not want to put down. Its two storylines run parallel, often intersecting and ultimately merging into one very satisfying, engaging tale.

Alternately written in the form of letters and prose, the book blends art historical fiction and a bit of suspense. The novel intertwines the lives of two women born a century apart who share little, but nevertheless sustain a deep connection. Eleanor, who lives in the present, discovers a packet of Gertrude's letters which lead her on a journey of self-discovery. At the same time, Gertrude's life unfolds, transporting the reader into the nineteenth century and the art world of the day.

After reading the book, I was not surprised to find that the author is, in fact, compiling the definitive text on the artist William Lamb Picknell -- who is Gertrude's husband in the novel! Rabb richly weaves her knowledge of the artist and the time period throughout the text, providing the reader with lots of historical reference. The history greatly enhances the novel and serves as a spiritual complement to the collective memory that generations seem to share.

I absolutely love this book! I felt like I was Eleanor. I, too, was eager to read the next letter from Gertrude. The reader can tell that the author put her heart and soul into this book. There is a lot of factual information that I find fascinating. I cannot wait to read the next book that Lauren Walden Rabb publishes! I definitely recommend others to read this heart-touching book!!!

A 20th century widow becomes open to love and experience through her infatuation with the letters of a 19th century woman, found in the attic. The author shares her philosophy of life through the protagonist's pondering on her relationship with her 14 year old son, a friend of the dead husband (the love interest), and a young woman from the local historical society who helps her answer questions about the author of the old letters. Flawlessly written and flowing.

I didn't believe I could be so enhanced and engrossed by a story of two different very generations. All the characters involved me, and I could not wait to know what happened to all of them. I want to write the author and find out more! I feel so much truth in the story. I am going to look into the artist since I saw where his art is now exhibited. This was a lovely reading experience. Thanks Lauren Walden Rabb!