Rhode Island Books

somewhat hard to read, chapters seam to skip around. Once you figure it out,it's invaluable. Would not hike without it!!

As a avid hiker and naturalist, I found this guide to be the best and detailed ( it includes interesting historical facts of sites this trail transverses) guide I've ever used. It would useful to the most experience outdoorsmen to the novice hiker. I highly recommend it.

"The North South Trail" is a remarkably thorough field guide to this premier path through Rhode Island. The author has expertly manipulated 1:24,0000 US Geological Service maps to create large scale details for 34 trail sections. This handy guide and an orienteering compass are all you really need to navigate the North South Trail.

Trail descriptions for each of the 34 sections comprise most of the text. Chapters on Getting There, and Camping Along The Trail, and an appendix, and index all add the the thoroughness of this excellent guide. I particularly like the photography of rural Rhode Island, and the pronunciation guide for places such as Quonochontaug.

Despite the potential of the interesting subject matter, 18 private homes and their gardens, PRIVATE NEWPORT is light on details. Author/flower-arranging judge Bettie Bearden Pardee treats it more like a cocktail party of a book with some name-dropping and a few anecdotal stories. Every property is architecturally significant with some fine furnishings and an interesting history, but do not count on much more than just small talk here. Photographer Mick Hales does a better job of presenting the substantial homes, not the so-called cottages of the Gilded Age but mansions none-the-less. All the photos are color and appear to be taken expressly for the book. In addition to an Introduction and an Index, there is a Forward by Marion Oates Charles. Best for those who already love Newport, one of the lovliest towns in the U.S.

I used to live in Newport and I recognize many of the houses in this book. You will not see these private interiors and gardens any other way. The photography and writing are excellent.

Private Newport features page after page of gorgeous homes--those that only we mere mortals can only dream about! The photography is spectacular and I love the way the exterior of the homes and their grounds are included, as well as the amazing interiors. This is a great gift for anyone who has visited Newport or who desires to. You won't see these homes on the mansion tour as they are privately owned and not open to the public.

In this book famed historian Edmund S. Morgan summarizes and organizes the philosophies of Roger Williams and his contemporaries. The work is organized topically, and in each subject the views of Roger Williams and the Puritan mainstream are described and compared. Roger Williams held radical positions on separate worship for "regenerate" Christians, the need for divine authority, the separation of Church and State, and other issues, but Prof. Morgan shows such stances to be logical extensions of widespread Puritan assumptions.

The writings of Roger Williams and those with whom he corresponded compose most of the source material, but the language and organization are modern. Prof. Morgan's paraphrasing and interpreting reveal stunning reasoning.

The book is both an overview of religious developments among the English in the 16th and 17th century and an examination of the extremist thought of Roger Williams, a Separatist-Puritan who came to the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1631. Religion in England had transitioned from Roman Catholicism to the Protestant Church of England to the Puritans by the end of the 16th century. The Separatist-Puritans were unwilling to compromise with elements of the Church of England and were forced to emigrate either to Holland or the New World. Key concerns were the inclusion of both believers and lesser believers and the administration of sacraments to all, as well as a priestly hierarchy.

Williams, in his insistence on enforcing a purist interpretation of Separatist-Puritan principles, incurred the disfavor of all varieties of Puritans in New England and as a consequence was forced to relocate several times before being banned from Massachusetts Bay. He ended up in Rhode Island as a relatively young man, but the author gives no indication of how his life proceeded from that point on.

Williams questioned the legitimacy of self-selected, so-called elected, individuals to form churches and elect ministers. In addition, he disagreed that a civil government formed by a people ruled by divine right. What was the process whereby God extended authorization and legitimacy, he asked. His views undercut the Massachusetts General Court, which took on the responsibility of enforcing religious standards in the colony along with the ministers. According to Williams, a civil government was only about protecting the bodies and property of subjects. While fundamental morality was also of concern to governments in so far as immorality affected community peace, enforcing religion interfered with liberty of conscience concerning religion. In other words, religion could not be coerced. It was these fundamental views as well as his criticisms of practices within churches that exasperated authorities sufficiently to exclude him from the colony.

The author gives high marks to Williams as an uncompromising thinker. But with Williams there seems to be a fine line between intellectual integrity and self-indulgent nit-picking. As a religious man, where was he going with his view that no true churches existed or his idea that ministers could not preach to the unconverted? On the other hand, his ideas of separation of church and state were remarkable for the times. The author perhaps should have paid more attention to the practicalities of Williams' unfettered thinking. In this era of inclusion and acceptance, Puritan exclusiveness and rigidities are hard to grasp. This book helps.

Williams is shown as uncompromising in the pursuit of the correct way to live. Even when it was unpopular (even dangerous) Willams said what he felt was the truth -- and lived up to his own standards. He is too often overlooked and too important not to teach our children about.

A great story from Googan to Hardcore. It isn't a how to and the advice it does give is, at times, as wrong as "waders full of water will sink link a stone" :) . But that doesn't take away from the story and I did think about amber liquid when I was at SW point getting pounded by waves.

I have never fished for striped bass before reading Striper Chronicles, but this book really opened my eyes to what an interesting and challenging sport it is. Orsi's stories and interviews with many who have been fishing throughout their lives for this fish are simply wonderful. I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend it to anyone, fisherman or not.

What a great read! This book is a "must read" for any fisherman, but particularly for those who fish the east coast. Easily one of the best books of fishing stories ever written.

The Knights of St. John were one of the three great crusading orders of Christianity - the others being the Teutonic Knights and the Templars. They were, however, far and away the most diplomatically successful; hence their receipt from the Pope of Rhodes, a prime bit of real estate on which to live, even after the collapse of the Crusades themselves. But as the maps in the inset of Brockman's book reveal, in all too painful detail, Rhodes is perilously close to the Turkish mainland, and it was only a matter of time before one of the Great Sultans decided to make a bid to conquer the Knights.

The first siege of Rhodes, in 1480 is one of the great post-Crusade epics. Brockman captures it well: the story revolves around the great feats of will performed by Pierre D'Aubusson, Grand Master, who built up the fortifications and orchestrated the defense system that saw the Knights survive an assault by 80,000 Turks.

The second siege of 1522 is something of a coda by comparison. Yet the fact remains that the Turks allowed the Knights to retire in good order and take their possessions with them. There can be no greater tribute to the respect that the Knights had earned by their past braveries. A nice little account of both events, with plenty of gory medieval detail about what goes on when a castle is under assault.

Read before you visit the island . As you stroll the medieval walled city you will find yourself thinking of the last Europeans to defend Christendom this close to Asia. It was the Turk who came here in the two sieges described. The Knights of St. John were deposed during the second siege and were allowed to leave, eventually reestablishing the Hospitallers in Malta. Look for evidence of the blood and carnage of the sieges as you walk this stop on the summer cruise route. Hangings, beheadings, Knights of Christ and Ottoman Turks alike displaying the heads of their enemies on dripping pikes; Could all this have really happened here in this jewel in the blue Aegean? Yes it did and the story of it is written for the history buff and traveler alike in this short entertaining book

The Knights of St. John of the Hospital were a crusading order who are mentioned in the background of "The Maltese Falcon." But they served as much more than the set up for a Dashiel Hammett mystery. Many historians consider the Knights to be the first practitioners of nursing. They could crack their enemies' skulls and then expertly apply the bandages. Nursing, however, was not their greatest contribution. After the collapse of the Crusading movement, they became Europe's Mediterranean bulwark against Turkish expansion.

When they were expelled from the Holy Land, they set up on the island of Rhodes, and weathered two concerted efforts by the Turks to dislodge them from the island.This, then is the story of those two campaigns, and it describes them in all their gallantry and savagery.

They finally succumbed to the might of the Turkish Empire, but were able to retire from Rhodes in good order. After being dislodged from Rhodes, the Knights moved to Malta, and there withstood another epic seige which served as the prelude to the decisive Battle of Lepanto. Their efforts truly helped to save Europe from Turkish domination. All in all, this is an entertaining and informative history of a pivotal period in European history.

First of all, I love the size of this book, petite. I live in Texas now, but keep this book propped up on my desk to feel more at home. The author has compiled the important historical facts along with the equally important tourist information. Eventually, each of the fifty states will have their own book, and I think this will be a good thing!

If you are visiting Rhode Island and want to get a feeling for the state in just a few minutes read this book. It's filled with great fun facts and wonderful pictures that express the feeling of the state. It would also make a great souvenir.

Did you know that the the state bird is the Rhode Island Red Hen, and it is this hen that lays the distinctive brown eggs you'll find in Rhode Island.

The book contains interesting historical tidbits and beautiful scenic photographs of the miles of shoreline and under-developed beaches.

I really like the "Only in Rhode Island" section where unique features of the state are highlighted such as Mr. Potato Head and the Big Blue Bug.

Finally, the "Rhode Island by the Seasons" section is a helpful guide to the annual festivities that occur throughout the year.

It's my best pick at..., a guide to vacation shopping in Rhode Island.

The series is a must-have for hiking with children. I use the CT-MA-RI book to scope out which trails would be good for hiking with my 5 year old son. We have done about 8 of the 79 so far. Each one had accurate descriptions and good indicators for difficulty. Highly recommended.

Best Hikes in CMR is a great book for parents and kids to utilize for day hikes in the area. We found the most critical piece was that their ratings of difficutly and timeframes to complete are accurate. Also has many hikes in area's that are not the typical "tourist" hikes. The only negative was the limited maps that went along with the trail descriptions. Would be great if the author could point us to better maps or have a web site with them.

Massachusetts history teacher Daniel Cafferty proposes marriage to his girlfriend Olivia Halsey, but instead of joy she ends their relationship stating she does not want to marry. Daniel leaves heartbroken. Meanwhile, Olivia learns that her deceased parents' home that she now owns in Bishop, Rhode Island has been vandalized. Seeing an opportunity to escape, she flees for her hometown.

Olivia's two best friends, Lexie James and Claire Fitgerald join her from Illinois and Virginia respectively. The three women, though living widely differing lifestyles, are at crossroads in their relationships with men. Olivia questions whether saying no was the right thing; Lexie wonders why one night stands leave her lonely and empty; Claire questions whether her husband even cares. The past is all around them in Bishop, but it is the future each one must decide on.

Though at times having three adult women with varying relational issues to muddle through can seem overwhelming readers will appreciate this delightful contemporary tale. The story line mostly focuses on Olivia and to a degree Daniel, but also uses the subplots of Lexie and Claire to enhance the prime theme that relationships require communication, trust and work or they atrophy. Fans of modern day relationship dramas will enjoy COMING HOME with Dee Holmes who shows sometimes you can go home.

Harriet Klausner

Coming Home is the story of Olivia Halsey and her two friends Lexie James and Claire Fitzgerald. Olivia's childhood home in Bishop, Rhode Island has been vandalized. She goes back home to Bishop to repair the house. Claire and Lexie go back to Bishop to help Olivia with the repairs and to have some time together. Lexie is coming home with the issues of her job and the men in her life. Claire is coming home with the thoughts that her marriage is in trouble. Her husband is more married to his job than to her. Olivia is coming home to repair her childhood home and to also get away from Daniel, the man whom she loves but doesn't want to marry. Each of the three friends is at a place in their lives where they are unsure of what to do. They will draw upon their friendship to help see them through their troubles and indecision.

Coming Home was an OK book. It is a book about the friendship between women and also about the relationships between women and men. All three women have their own set of troubles but the fact that they give advice (whether wanted or not) ties everything together. These are three women who are leading very different lives but manage to stay friends through thick and thin.

The characters in this book were very dimensional. They all have problems and are very believable and real. The secondary characters all bring something to the storyline of this book. The storyline itself was good and well written. Dee Holmes did a good job of bringing together three different storylines and meshing them together into one story. A good book to read!

I am in the process of doing a series of digital illustrations of Nat Herreshoff sailboats, and was really happy to get this book. So many revealing photos I've never seen before, it is almost like going to the Herreshoff Museum. If you are into Herreshoff boats and history, this book is a must.

It is a bit pricey, but I was really surprised at some of the prices I saw on Amazon (where I order by far most of my books), for the "like new" copies. I got my brand new still in the wrapper example direct from the Herreshoff Museum at $69.95 plus S/H.

HERRESHOFF OF BRISTOL, is a loose biography of a company, told in text and photographs. The lives of the company's primary players, John Brown Herreshoff and Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, and those of their children who were involved with the company are included as they relate to the evolution of the company, and the boats they built. It is fortunate that members of the family were photography enthusiasts, Agnes, Nathanael Jr., and Katherine Herreshoff DeWolf, as well as employee Tom Brightman are noted as primary sources of the photos. Of necessity, the biography of people is limited, and that of the company seems to be focused on events with good photographic record. The famous boats built to defend the America's Cup are given due, but not excessive, space. In all, the volume whets the appetite for more detail: of the feats of engineering, the evolution of boat and yacht design, the non-nautical enterprises, and the personnal lives. It cannot deliver all this, ! and there is little else to look to other than visit the museum in Bristol, Rhode Island. If you admire inspired engineering, proficient historic photography, and boats in general, you will greatly enjoy this book. Those like me, hungry for further detail, will find it tantalizing, rather than truly satisfying.

...in the middle of Narragansett Bay, is a way of life almost forgotten in this day and age. Josie and Grace have captured the flavor of life on the island, in a very real and personal way. Although it helps to be from Rhode Island to fully understand all the references in the book, anyone can appreciate the trials, tribulations, and joys of living on an island.

My grandfather, Horace M. Barrett, was the illustrator of this amazing book about life on a small Island in the Narragansett Bay. My Granddad died in January, as did Josie Avery. They are both greatly missed but their lives live on through their book and through the people of Prudence Island. RIP, Granddad and Josie! And, Grace, thank you for your part in this book! I will treasure it forever.