South Carolina Books

Having already read and enjoyed Miles' other book about the islands, I am pleased to say I was again very satisfied with her work on the Lowcountry. The book is very personal yet informative, mixing historical fact with the author's personal touch to really grab your interest. I love the quirky stories, especially the one about Buster the cat. This book is enjoyable and easy to read and will teach you everything there is to know about the Lowcountry from a local's, and therefore, best point of view.

This charming book transforms boring history into an entertaining tale of a girl and her family from Boston living in Charleston, SC during the months leading up to the beginning of the Civil War by the attack on Fort Sumter. The reader senses the inhunanity of slavery through Sylvia's experiences. Your child will understand history like never before after reading this book.

This is NOT a book I typically would have picked up. But I was sitting in a coffee shop/used book store and saw it sitting there. I picked it up, took a look at the first page, and before I knew it, it was 4 hours later and I was completely in love.

This is an incredibly amazing book. After reading the back, I was not sure I wanted to purchase the book, but decided to do so. From the moment I opened the book, I didn't want to put it down. Sheri Reynolds made this book and religious cult come to life in every page.

This is probably going to be one of my top 10 most favorite books. I loved every single part of the book. The ending was soooooo great!

I liked this book a lot. It was very easy to read, a lot of descriptions to give you a good picture in your head. The story was great.

I enjoyed this book enough to finish reading, but I just didn't find the characters believable. The book started off pretty engaging, but really sputtered about 3/4 of the way through.
The main character is a young teenager who has been endoctrinated her whole life into this "cult" however even at a young age her doubts are louder then her faith.
Grampa Hermen leads the congregation and executes punishments however even own wife doesn't care for his leadership and expecially not for the punishement he delivers, she doesn't really listen to his sermons, however she seems to be totally in love with him. huh?

If you love to read books with vivid character descriptions, character you grow to care about, leave this book on the shelf.

If you just want to escape with a quick read you might like this book.

This was the first time i read a book by this author and it will be my last. For some reason i couldn't get into this book, i'm used to contemporary romance and this didn't have it. I feel bad that i only gave it 1 star but some other readers might like it!

Couldn't put this book down and you know a book is really good when reading it makes you laugh out loud!! I have become addicted to Dorthea Benton Frank's writing. I have visited the areas that she writes about and reading her books makes me what to go back to South Carolina as soon as I can.

My neighbor gave this book to take along to the beach. She insisted that I would love it and that it was a great beach read. Well, she was right. Sullivan's Island was a wonderful, moving story. There were bits of humorous moments that kept the story on a lighter tone. Sometimes I couldn't help but laugh out loud and at times I wanted to cry. The characters were seemed real to me and they were people that I could relate to. This book was consistently interesting, and it was hard to put down.

Sullivan's Island is truly a wonderful novel that is straight from the heart about family life. Ms. Frank's real gift is evident in her ability to create such a believable and likeable heroine. The novel is set in the Deep South and if you have ever traveled and spent time in that beautiful area this story will bring back memories of the ocean and marshes of the South. The book is full of the local color and flavor of Charleston's barrier islands and the author does a wonderful job of evoking the laid-back atmosphere of this area. All in all, it was an entertaining read that is ideal for an easy at the beach. I'd gladly recommend this book to all my friends.

This book is written with such flare and polish that it's hard to believe that this is Dorothea Benton Frank's first novel! Her conversational style of writing is highly appealing, and this beautiful saga is full of drama and history. There are no words to describe how much I loved this book!

Oh My Goodnes!!! I lived down in Conway SC. when this all happened and as I read the book I can remember this as if it was yesterday. He is very true and down to the point with every detail. To think that Mr. Registar offered all of his time and help to locate Crystal Faye Todd (even helped at the funeral, sat with her mother, etc.) and he knew the entire time where she was and what happen. I cannot even explain how real and true this book is. He is a great author and if you can ever get your hands on any of his other books I would recommend it.

I bought this book based on all of the five-star reviews and the abject raves from other readers, and am I ever disappointed. It's a run-of-the-mill murder "mystery" that is solved fairly quickly, with an uninteresting departure of focusing on the wrong guy. The "boy next door" stabbed to death 17-year-old Crystal Faye Todd in a monstrous frenzy. But nobody is prepared to believe when DNA points to teen who has given comfort and a shoulder to lean on to Crystal's mother. The murderer's parents believe the police have done a "frame job," and come across as almost comically ignorant. Get ready to read a lot of "it weren't a good thing." An Hour to Kill is a compelling read, but it cannot compare to classics in the "true crime" genre.

True crime is my genre; about the ONLY thing I read. And in many years of reading this genre, I have read many, many books whose setting was in the South, even the deep south Georgia, but I have NEVER run across authors who did such an excellent job (said tongue in cheek)of making the "characters" out to be such hillbillies. Living in a small, southern town myself, I can say this: sure, we have some odd sayings and our own dialect; but, come on, do you have to play on it? Even though I speak "the language" of these people, I still had a very difficult time reading it.

And this has to be the only true crime book I've read to date that included photos, but not any clear photos of the victim or the accused. Readers are provided with a grainy photo atop her headstone, taken at a distance of the victim and one side view photo taken of the accused. But, hey, there is a clear photo of Mickey Spillane and his wife, Jane, for your enjoyment! Go figure!

Throw in that this book plays on the fact that Crystal Faye Todd was murdered by her best friend Ken Register, but we're not given much background information on neither them nor their families; only that they had all been life long friends. Btw, how is that Ken Register was her best friend, but she had refused to date him and told her mother it was because he wanted sex all the time and smelled badly? Doesn't really sound like best friend material but, amazingly, Bonnie Faye Todd considers him as someone she can lean on and trust.

However, if a reader can wade through all that mess, there is a good argument here for the conviction. It was based mainly on past actions of the defendant and primitive use of DNA. Quite frankly, the jury, in my opinion, didn't have enough evidence to convict but read it and form your own opinion. Just plan on having Jethro's voice in your head while you do!

I purchased this book because of the strong reviews. Perhaps the other reviewers have not read a lot of true crime, because there was nothing special about this. Basically, it was a newspaper article extended with a few more facts to make a book. The story is horrifying, but you never really learn much about the people.

An Hour To Kill is the story of a brutal murder in a small South Carolina town. As an avid reader of true crime, I have mixed feelings about the book. There are a number of negatives: The center picture section is weak. There is NO decent picture of the victim, Crystal Todd, merely a tiny blurred picture of her on her tombstone. As she was a high school senior, it should have been relatively easy to at least get a yearbook picture. Also, for no other possible reason than to fill up the section there are pictures of Mickey Spillane and his wife! These people really have nothing to do with the book, except as an afterthought, not even appearing in the book until the last few pages.
There is no depth given to the main characters, Ken Register and Crystal Todd. Due to a lack of information or interest, the authors present them as little more than props around which to base the story of the arrest and trial. This is especially poorly done with Crystal. She is the victim of a brutal murder and we learn virtually nothing about her except that her mother loved her.
There does not seem to have been much in depth research in the writing of this book, which would have helped as the crime is not in itself really that interesting or unusual, except for its sheer brutality,

This book could have been a total true crime trasher due to the serious faults listed above, but it is saved by the authors' narrative abilities.
The writing is crisp and clean. It is for the most part reportorial in nature, and avoids the trap fallen into by lesser true-crime writers, of feeling that they must express their own opinions of the crime. Consequently they do not impose their own personalities on the story, which in my opinion is almost always undesirable in a true crime book. The writers, Hudson and Hills, move the story along briskly and professionally. Ultimately, An Hour To Kill is an easy read, but could have been much deeper.

I thought this book was going to be interesting from the title but I was really left disappointed after reading this. The author did not do a very good job keeping me entertained. I had no clue what was going on with the story because the author kept going back and forth with things that were not relevent to the story. Like describing things about African Gods after talking about what was going on with Carey and his best friend Kwabena or between Carey and the love interest Frances. If that was not so confusing I would have enjoyed the story more

Colin Channer has some talent as a writer. What he
possesses none of , is the ability to tell a fluid
story with believable characters and a conceivable
plot.

Satisfy My Soul is the tale of two warped individuals
who find one another. Carey , the book's protagonist ,
and Frances , his female companion. Through the course
of the story the reader is taken on a ride through
the spiritually damaged worlds of these two characters.
What unfolds is both pretentious and repugnent.

It's been said that Art can either inspire or offend
its recipient. The latter sums up my take on this
book.

Colin Channer gives a skillful blend of sexuality and spirituality. Who knew the two were so closely related? Amazing how he makes them become almost one and the same. This book was such a beautiful story, and touched me in ways I can't explain. Satisfy my soul was an exciting adventure that should not be missed. You will be captivated, and you will not be disappointed. Colin Channer has established himself as a master in my book.

This book was written by someone under stress. The publishers where in a hurry to have a new book by the author. I believe they should have waited or really read the book it has no soul the book is someone trying to finish a term paper without there heart in it. Only a objective mind that do not deal with the real world can find this book interesting.

Colin Channer's Satisfy My Soul is the story of two
lovers, Carey McCollugh and Frances Carey, who just
can't seem to get it right. Told from the perspective
of Carey, this novel explores the intricate ways of
life, especially love and spirituality, for those of
African Caribbean descent. No tradition or food is
left out as the reader is given the tragic story of
Carey and Frances trying to find their path to love
via obstacles like religion, African heritage/roots,
and other minor personality clashes that come along
the way.

From their onset, Carey and Frances are anything but
simple characters. However, they are equals to each
other when it comes to the arena of "lovin' 'em and
leavin' 'em," when it comes to how they've treated
their previous partners. Like many couples, the
subject of religion serves as a touchy issue for them,
but by the end of the novel, none of that matters.
Kwabena, Carey's best friend, proves to be a major part
of the climatic ending, which ironically, is the
source of Carey's introspective outlook throughout the
novel.

As a woman of African descent living in America, there
were various aspects of the book that I could relate
to. After all, love is suppose to be a universal
subject, but some of the Caribbean slang was difficult
for me to translate for a true understanding of some
of the "inside jokes" that were depicted on the pages.
I would recommend this work of fiction to any reader
looking for an in-depth, poetic novel on
Afro-Caribbean love. If you're a die hard romance
fanatic, this book will more than appease you due to
numerous graphic love scenes.


Anna
R.E.A.L. Reviewers

UPS muffed delivery of this item so I haven't a clue how good or not good it is!

Sandra Brown does it again. I couldn't put the book down all weekend. Didn't get much else done. Gripping story.

I have had The Witness setting on my bookshelf and decided for a change of pace, to finally read it. Well that was a waste of time. I couldn't find one character I liked, especially the heroine. The whole book is made up of lies and deceit. There is just nothing redeemable in it. I have read several of Sandra Brown's book and some I have liked and some not so much. I can't say there was any part of this one I liked. After awhile I found myself just skimming and went to the last few chapters and ended it. Even the ending was bad! Okay some liked it-so we all see things differently. I just don't enjoy books that the entire book is made of lies. Seemed like they never ended. We never even got to know who Kendall really was or her real name unless I missed that in my skimming. Well it's back to Nora Roberts for me.

I couldn't wait to get done with this book. The first few chapters were good and then it just got silly and totally unbelievable. I cannot begin to tell you how many times the main character was going to leave, run away, and yet was always stopped - and always in the same dumb way. This truly was a relief to finish so I could go on to another book. I felt like Ms. Brown just phoned this book in. Don't waste your time!

I've read several of Sandra Brown's books and enjoyed them. But this book was horrible. The plot and characters were both so bad, it was almost painful trying to get through the book. The characters are silly cartoon-like stereotypes, and the town secret is so ridiculous that it will leave readers shaking their heads in amazement - amazement that an author could come up with something so stupid. Don't waste your money, and if you do buy it, have some aspirin handy, because the book will give you a headache.

"I'll get rid of O, in upper case and lower...We'll print new books and paint new signs without the O in them." Seem familiar? It's not from this book, but from page nine of The Wonderful O by James Thurber, published over fifty years ago (in 1957). In Thurber's version, a frustrated treasure-seeking pirate upset that all items his band of mauraders finds and all the things they open during their search have the soon-to-be-banned letter in them, terrifying the inhabitants of an ISLAND called Ooroo. Hmm...

Ella Minnow Pea is about the inhabitants of a "63-square-mile autonomous island nation 21 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina...Formerly Utopianna, the country's name was changed in 1904 to honor native son Nevin Nollop, the author of the popular pangram sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." One summer day, a tile bearing the letter Z falls from an over-100-year-old public display of the phrase. Instead of attributing the tile's demise to the deterioration of the adhesive, town leaders determine that Nollop is making his wishes known from the grave: the letter must cease to exist in all forms. As additional (conveniently, the first few are the least-used) tiles fall, the council sticks to its decision and continues to ban the use of these fallen letters. Those age seven and up who defy the ban are subjected to increasingly severe punishment. On the third strike, they are out (of the town and off of the island). "Refusal to leave upon order of Council will result in death." Because the townsfolk are years behind technological advances, they correspond through letters, which make up the bulk of the book. Of course, this strange decision has far-reaching effects, as even those choosing to abide have a difficult time avoiding their use. As the number of prohibited alphabetic characters increases, so do the infractions and punishments, wreaking havoc on the citizens' lives. The council eventually agrees to change its policy subject to the successful completion of a literary task as the correspondence dwindles through a lack of usable letters. Besides The Wonderful O, LMNOP reminds me a bit of my favorite short story, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson in the willingness of many of the Nollopians to cave in to social pressure. And it contains a plethora of great words. But its best attribute, the seemingly unique plot, becomes its biggest weakness for anyone who has read Thurber's older, odder, better book. Also good: The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester.

This book manages to be charming and full of imagination allowing a play on words to tell a story of totalitarianism. The execution of the novel through the use of the letters is extraordinary. The ability to still utilize the same level of narrative without the use of all 26 letters is impressive. The author's commitment and struggle become one in the same as the characters as they limit their vocabulary to stay within the rules of the Council. I absolutely adored this book. It manages to make a strong political commentary within this fanciful world.

In Ella Minnow Pea, the creator of the sentence, "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog," is elevated to deity status by the residents of an obscure island nation. This sentence (which contains all 26 letters of the alphabet) is inscribed at the base of his statue. When letters begin to fall off, the island's High Council decrees that those letters be banished from print AND conversation under penalty of flogging or exile. Not surprisingly, the book becomes progressively stranger as more letters are outlawed. Dunn, however, manages to weave a compelling story around these grammatical restrictions. The result is curiously fascinating. If you're a fan of wordplay, creative use of English, and the like, this is a fun and surprisingly uncomplicated read.

In order to make the story work, so many bizarre assumptions had to be created that the whole thing feels very contrived. So it was very hard to read this book in the beginning, where all the contrivances were being laid out, particularly as they were laid out in an inelegant fashion. But once that was established, it was fairly good, not great, and something I did actually finish. Still, things were a bit too neat, everyone finding love and all that, the real baddies being deftly punished after realizing their failings, etc. Overall, I can't say I didn't enjoy it, but it was a relief to finish it. Books I really love leave me wishing they were longer.

Mark Dunn has written a literal "war of letters". My only criticism is that the use of the "letter" format for communication gets strained and artificial at times during the story, but is a convenient plot device for demonstrating the inventive ways that people will adapt to opression and the eventual triumph of good sense.

The book can be read in a couple of hours and is an amusing diversion. I strongly recommend it. The quality of the prose is high and the use of language is particularly clever when one remembers the constraints in which the author was working. A flawed masterpiece.

I enjoyed this book about Tony's adventures in Ireland. Like the cover says--he made a drunken bet no one expected him to keep, kept it anyway, and ended up with this adventure.

I, and several others in my bookclub, have no desire to see the stand up comedian in person. He didn't really come off as a funny guy in the book, particularly because he bombed both times he had a chance to show his stuff, but the book is delightful because it is peopled with quirky unforgettable characters and there's a wry humor in the writing.

SPOILER:
Tony's success in getting around Ireland with the fridge was definitely due to the call-in radio show that followed him from the beginning. He hardly struggled to hitch. Or find a place to sleep. Or eat. But that never diminished my desire to continue reading. It actually made me want to read more--to see how popular the guy could get. The adventure was fun to follow to the end, which was the funniest part of the book with its wonderfully anticlimactic kitchen appliance parade. I think the Irish people redeemed themselves there.

Don't read this book to discover Ireland--it's not a travel story of that sort. You do get some nice imagery/descriptions, but not enough to make it a standout feature of the book. You get more about the people than the land.

One neg is that I really don't feel like I know Tony Hawks much by the end of the book. You know more about some of the Irish characters than you know about him. Very little background info/motivation for actions, etc. is offered, and I wonder why. A little bit (not a ton) of that would have improved the story for me. Another neg is that the book made it seem as if all of Ireland is drunk all the time. It might be because Tony hung out mainly in bars, but it seemed like an unfair implication (then again, I am very unfamiliar with Ireland and Irish people).

In the end, this is a fun read about a crazy adventure in Ireland.

This is a laugh-out-loud funny book. After reading it, I wanted to visit Ireland. Sure, the premise of the book is a bit ridiculous. Traveling around Ireland with fridge to win a bet. However, the author consistently points this out himself. The people he meets are interesting, and his take on them (and the adventure as a whole) is well written and worth reading. As a bonus for those who can't read, there are many pictures in the middle of the book.

I plan to order several more copies of this book and give it to many of my friends. It makes me laugh out loud! Very well written.

'Round Ireland With a Fridge' is the first of Tony Hawks' two books inspired by a loony bet with a friend. I liked this book well enough, but I think it falls a bit short in comparison with his 2004 follow-up, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis, which I think is pure genius - an inspiring work never to be dislodged from my Top 10. It's brilliant.

In 'Round Ireland,' I give Tony credit for recognizing the role that morning DJ Gerry Ryan had in his success. Ryan literally put the whole country on alert for Tony. He set the tone for Hawks' circumnavigation of the Isle when he called it "a totally purposeless idea, but a d-mn fine one." That Ireland rallied to that call is a testament to a wonderful country and its good-natured people.

Tony Hawks is a legend. Absolutly brilliant.... one of the few books which have actually made me laugh out loud. Be wary of reading in public places because the constant smile/giggling to yourself can prove to be a little socially akward.

I'm still not sure how I felt about this book. There were some interesting literary references...although it seemed like they may have been too much to link with the multiple story lines. Connections were confusing and all over the place.

I have scanned quickly over all the positive reviews, and I feel sort of out of sorts giving this book a three star. Y'all I just did not get the gist of the story.

I simply did not like the Cocoa/Ophelia character. She was so neurotic, just annoying as hell. I had no sympathy for her. I loved George though. He was such a lovely and easy going man. I can't understand why he put with her craziness.

Willow Springs had some interesting characters. Dr. Buzzard appealed to me. Benice, Cocoa's friend, seemed a little weak minded and strange.

I still don't know what led to the two deaths. What really happened to Little Caesar? I have absolutely no idea what really transpired. I know that Ruby hoodooed Cocoa, because she thought Cocoa wanted her useless man. However, I am not sure of why George had to suffer for it in the end.

I did not feel like there was enough history to explain why the past affected the present so.

Y'all I just did not get it. I don't know. Maybe this is one of those books you have to read more than twice to get it. I was annoyed when I read the last words - just annoyed and a little depressed at the outcome of the story.

I read this book way back in the summer of 1988, when I was awaiting the birth of my daughter. It was the perfect novel to read during such a hot summer, during which the temperatures in the Midwest were similar to the hottest temps in the South. I found it fascinating that the practice of voodoo and herbal medicine as portrayed in the novel had survived through so many generations. The characters were strong and memorable. I ran across this book again while browsing in the library, and I am thinking about recommending it for the book club where I work.

There are really no adequate words to express what a wonderful read you about the embark upon should you take the time to read this book. It is one of the most poignant and soul-stirring love stories I have perhaps ever read. Each page is meant to be savored as though one is sampling a fine wine, as Naylor weaves a spellbinding tale of how love truly does conquer all.

I tell you a good book is one of those books that you're actually sad when it's over. That was "Mama Day" for me.

What many reviewers stated in here is true, Gloria Naylor is a master storyteller. Her characters are vividly drawn, her humor is by turns laugh-out-load funny or subtlety sarcastic, and her prose quite often caused this reader to sit back and savor the sheer creativity, beauty and freshness of the images which she creates.

I've read a lot of books by the current crop of black authors but nothing has touched me and made me fall totally in love with a book like Mama Day. This book was brilliant and I couldn't put it down until it was over.

In this book Willow Springs is a sparsely populated sea island just off America's southeastern coast whose small black community is dominated by the elderly matriarch, Miranda ``Mama'' Day. When Mama Day's great-niece, Cocoa, marries, she returns to Willow Springs with her husband for an extended visit. Once there, strange forces both natural and supernatural work to separate the couple. After visiting the menacing Ruby, a local root doctor, Cocoa becomes dangerously ill, and the struggle for her life showcases Naylor's talent for descriptive prose. Though the novel as a whole fairly breathes with life, it is marred by the unintentionally comic death of a major character, which is attacked by a vicious chicken.

This is a masterpiece of contemporary literature, a pleasure to experience. "Mama Day" is an entertaining and original look at family, community, and love. With a little voodoo sprinkled in for good measure.