Michigan Books

As a Grand Rapids native, I thought this was a wonderful book. It's truly fascinating to see how far this city has come and to learn of all the things that our forefathers went through to make our community what it is today. One of the things I particularly enjoyed is seeing that some of the buildings from the early 1900s are still alive and well in downtown GR to this day. It has given me an entirely new appreciation for our fine city. I would recommend this book to anybody, particularly those interested in the history of Grand Rapids and/or the Western Michigan area.

This is an excellent book describing how it was long ago. It is both fascinating to the adult reader and the listening children alike. It teaches many lessons on how we should act and react to people. My children beg for more stories from this book and they sit very quietly and listen and imagine the details as I read on. I feel it is a must in every household and is appropriate for both boys and girls.

The second of a series of novels written by R.K. Narayan, who created an entire fictional city and then filled it, book after book, with its people. Also known as "The English Teacher," in U.S. editions, a young man begins a traditional arranged marriage, but soon loses his wife to illness. As the protagonist attempts to penetrate the border separating life and death, seeking reunification with his wife, and attempts to care for his son, the reader is guided through Narayan's fictional world and into the depths of the hero's heart. Searing but inspiring for any reader facing the loss of a loved one. A masterful transition from Narayan's charming first novel, "Swami and Friends," about a young boy's adventures. Also recommended: "The Guide," ironic comedy about the rise of man who is mistaken for a seer.

From the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, to the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, to the Fisher Building in Detroit, to the Point Betsie Lighouse, , Michigan is home to some of the most impressive, innovative, and artistic architecture in America. Combining the informative commentary of John Gallagher (architecture critic for the Detroit Free Press) with the superb photography of Balthazar Korab, "Great Architecture Of Michigan" is a compendium of images that underscores and exemplifies the diversity and sophistication of Michigan's architectural heritage as reflected in the best of its churches, theaters, office towers, stadiums, government buildings, and private homes. An impressive compendium of photographically illustrated architecture, "Great Architecture Of Michigan" is an especially recommended addition to professional and academic Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists for architecture students.

Dave Dempsey is simply the best writer on Great Lakes issues today. He does another masterful job here. It is a must read for every citizen who lives in the Great Lakes basin and anyone who cares about our regional economy and future.

Once again Johnanathan Rand has scored a hit with our young reader, age seven. He has enjoyed all the Chillers books he has read, both the American Chillers and the Michigan Chillers. Living in Michigan we were fortunate to have met Mr. Rand, who was absolutely terrific, taking his picture with our son and signing all our son's Chillers books. This particular story appealed to him because living on the Bay, as we do, we see the big ships as they travel through and so he could visualize the story as it unfolded. Now he can't wait to to read the next mystery and wonders, if the next time he goes go fishing, he can catch an alligator, too!

This book is an engaging read, light, yet highly informative. It is instructive with a fresh perspective on nature. You'll learn about plants and animals that you have probably taken for granted for years. Mary has researched to the nth degree, but delivers with a childlike sense of discovery. It will be hard for you to put it down.

A thourough look at how the steel industry is fueled buy raw materials. Historical perspective on the railroad that delivered iron ore from the mines to the ships that carried the ore to the steel mills. Development, timelines, and accurate info on the birth, growth and current status of a little know rail system. Great photography of the trains and their evolution of construction, capacities, and building of the rails through uncharted wilderness of the Missabe Iron Range

This is a superb book. Stavros (Steve) Frangos is a regular contributor of articles on Greek-American history to the National Herald, a Greek-American newspaper published in New York. He probably knows more about Greek-American history than any other writer active today, and he writes well. This short but authoritative book includes an excellent bibliography.

This is an excellent read for any college basketball fan. I was at MSU during the Kelser-Johnson reign and knew a number of players in the book. Kelser filled in many behind-the-scenes stories I'd heard about as well as games and incidents I'd always wondered about. The format is a little ackward, and there's some fairly obvious blowing of one's own horn, but it still delivers what's promised--a behind-the-scenes look at a fascinating team's road to the NCAA championship, potholes, bumps and detours included. I also found interesting contasts to today's game and the 1979 "dawn" of the Final Four's evolution into the National psyche. You don't need to be a Spartan to enjoy this book.