Florida Books

Well, Amazon sent me an e-mail asking me to review this book. Quite frankly, I sold my last copy I had on hand, and I had to replenish my stock, so I purchased from Amazon in order to receive it quickly, which I did. I posted other reviews as Kitty's Creator (above), which were mailed to me by people who had read the book, but had no Internet access to personally write a review, and I also included other reviews, which were given to me by people who didn't know how to navigate this site. Everyone's comments, after reading and enjoying the book, were the same. "When is your next book coming out?"

Consequently, Off Course, A Seaworthy Romance, came next, followed by Kiss Me Darlin', just this past November. There are more to come, so stay tuned!

Joyce Marie Taylor
Author and Poet

As the author of this novel, I can honestly say that it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears of joy to create. I am constantly reminded, even by perfect strangers, that writing a novel - not to mention publishing one - is a great accomplishment.

If you want a peek into what a woman goes through when the big "M" strikes, this book will definitely give you some insight. You'll also have a whole new outlook on men named John and the numbers 1010. Enjoy the read.

"The Ruby Con", by Joyce Marie Taylor, is a fascinating look inside the mind of a woman who is experiencing the effects of aging, as well as all those paranoid feelings that accompany the onset of menopause. The author has cleverly woven this tale of mystery and romance around this episode of a woman's life. The references to biblical characters - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - and the significance of the numbers 1010 will keep you turning page after page until she reveals all the answers. A must read for women of all ages, and men, too, especially if your name is John!

I found "The Ruby Con", by Joyce Marie Taylor, to be an extremely phenomenal presentation of humanness, anxiety, emotion and fear - real or imagined. It is very difficult to put the book down after starting to read it. It's very absorbing to both male and female readers. I shared reading it with a person of the opposite gender and we both enjoyed it thoroughly - for different reasons, in some cases. The writer expresses different personality traits to the understanding of the well-read person, and also to those readers to whom real life drama is expressed in lay terms. Many thanks to the writer for sharing her professionalism with an avid reader.Robert V. Pacevich, Retired, Live Oak, FL

Read most of the book. It's a great one to read. Can't seem to lay it down long, but have to because of my schedule. Just love the way it tells a great story about a special person living in Hollywood, Florida. Anyone reading this book will enjoy it as much as I do - Guaranteed! Keep up the good work, as I know you will. Also it's nice to know a very fine lady as you and a dear friend. Bob Hemmis, Col.U.S.ARMY RETIRED, Hollywood, FL

An excellent presentation from any era, especially from someone having lived through menopause - the fears, the angst are so well orchestrated by this writer. Kudos to a beautiful book and an exceptional writer! Hazel Tyson, retired, Live Oak, FL
Having Lived in Florida for over 20 years, I actually was able to visualize where Kitty lived and her hangouts on the beach. Also, having endured menopause, I understood her paranoia, but! she got me in the end!...I loved it!!! Caroline Watkins, Hollywood, FL

I am reading the Ruby Con (which is a cool way you changed the name from it's original name). I'm not even half way on your book, and all I can say (because I don't want to give it away) is you write as if you wrote it for me to read. You really draw the reader in. I can relate to "Kitty" so much. Right now she's running into a bunch of John's or Jon's or Jean's...you know what I mean. I've already told my friends to purchase the book. My husband asked me just last night, "What book are you reading that has your attention?" (Because if it's not an art book, I'm not normally reading it - I 'm very narrow minded that way - and I'm just not a reader.) But your book has my interest. I'm really enjoying it. I look forward to purchasing your next book. It's kind of like how people will read all the books of one author like Robert Ludlum or Stephen King or whoever you like. Once you find a reader you like, you want all their books. Last time I felt this good about reading from one particular author was Bishop T.D. Jakes. You have a way of capturing your reader! In my opinion, your book should be the first thing people see when they walk in the door! It must be hard right now, competing with the lion from Narnia, but that is a story from Disney, that's tough competition...but I'm not reading that book, I'm reading YOURS!!! Good luck in getting your second book published. I really like the artwork on the Ruby Con! And don't worry about blogging. Personally, I'd rather read your book, but I love your poetry...I wish I had your talent!
Kathleen - Port Charlotte, Fl - Art Instructor

For those who are still in the preservation trenches, the story of South Miami Beach's revitalization is a stunning re-invigoration! It is clear that the struggle to save inherent and classic beauty takes its toll on both skyline and people's lives, but the result can be profitable both to posterity and pocketbooks.

In another small city on the waterfront, one with less flamboyant but no less elegant architecture, the struggle is as ferocious and dramatic. One of the key South Beach protagonists recognized its parallels and potential early on - Geraldo Sanchez. Undoubtedly, within the next decade, reviewers will be writing in about the volume to be written on the saving of Newburgh, New York.

The book could serve as a guide for depressed cities in search of a path to follow. City leaders will find many things to copy, imitate and avoid.

I am a resident of South Beach, and knew of its history as a tattered slum before being amazingly restored to its rightful place as a world-class destination.

What irked me immensely was that I could not find any thorough explanation of how all this was accomplished. I had heard of the wonderful work of Barbara Capitman and the Miami Design Preservation League and wanted to learn more about them. Then one day, on my usual trip to Books & Books on Lincoln Road, there was "Saving South Beach" sitting on display.

After barely looking at the beautifully designed cover, I eagerly bought my own copy. Thanks to Ms. Stofik, we now have the full account of South Beach's salvation, told in a delightful writing style which is at once scholarly, intricately detailed, and gently amusing.

Not just a history lesson; the background of the residents, and the conflicts involving the city government, developers, and preservationists (and the detailed profiles of these players) make this book quite a read. It is hard to put down and most gratifying in the end. Included are rare photos, including of Capitman herself, and the incredibly gorgeous New Yorker Hotel which was tragically lost to demolition.

If South Beach fascinates you, you must learn of its history and this is a perfect way to start.

A must have for anyone interested in preservation and the saving of our national treasures. Stofik shows how one city, despite politics and special interests, revitalized a decaying past into a vibrant future.

An easy going writing style makes this a joy to read and Stofik's passion for historical preservation shines through.

I spent Winter '08 visiting my dad in urban Tampa, and looking for Old Florida, decidedly hard to find. Jeff's terrific narratives about so many interesting people and places augmented and often replaced my futile search.
I'm a hard-to-please reader, and this one completely satisfied.

The book's editors (Mormino & Arsenault) invite us to sit down with Florida delectables, like orange juice, to read this book. My plan was to snag some recipes from Randy Wayne White's "The Fishing Guide's Guide to Tropical Cooking." Alas, Klinkenberg's book was in my custody for only a day when relatives spotted it on my table top and hauled it away for their reading pleasure. My half-a-book review: gimme my book back, I love this author!
"Seasons" real value is in the future when we read its stories of people and places and look back wistfully at Florida as it was. And it reminds me that Florida today is still full of charm. And charming writers like Jeff Klinkenberg.

Jeff Klinkenberg has been out in his car on the back roads and he's found the reason everyone moved to Florida in the first place. When my great aunt moved to North Miami in 1927 her house was on stilts (floods and alligators); now it is surrounded by 6 foot chainlink fence topped with barbed wire (urban animals!). Jeff talks to people who tell him the stories in between those extremes. Excellent read for anyone who wonders what was there besides the weather.

If you want to know what real Florida is like, what it looks like, feels like, smells like and even tastes like -- fall through summer -- this is the book for you. Klinkenberg is a true original, a natural resource as valuable as the panther, manatee and black bear.

Dr. Larry Rivers has really put together a wonderful research on the institution of slavery. A lot of the information that he provides about slavery is not necessarily new information. What makes this research so good and so important is that he puts it against the background of Florida. Whenever the institution of slavery is discussed, the state of Florida is not the first or the last state that is mention in the discussion. However, with this book Dr. Rivers has made Florida one of the most important states in terms of the developments of the institutions of slavery.
The scope of this book ranges from the year 1500- 1865. This study begins with Florida when it was still a territory of Spain. It is here that the author tries to piece together the African presents in Florida before the institution of slavery is established. The author uses a wide range of sources to his point. He utilizes a lot of researched that focuses on Africans who were free when they first set foot in Florida. He uses sources from historians who have done extensive research in Florida such as Jane L. Landers of Vanderbilt University and Canter Brown of Florida A&M University. This to me adds validity to this book and this study.
The rest of the chapters of this book provide a lot of information that is not nessccary new information in terms of slavery. There have been many studies conducted on slave resistance, on slave condition, slave families, etc. However, there has never been such a study done in regards to Florida and slavery. I am a Floridian by birth and a historian by profession and the way that this booked flowed had me on the edge of my seat at all times. I knew about slavery and about slave conditions, but to read about slavery and slave condition in an area that I am familiar with was very riveting. The information provided about Gadsden and Jackson counties were very valuable to me because I grew-up in those counties. I am sure anyone that has looked at this research and has family ties to Florida would feel the same way.
The sources that he uses throughout this book I think are very appropriate. Each one is used to magnify his point. I really love the slave narratives because they reflect a truth that is not tainted by modern society need to be politically correct. The author uses several quotes from a former Jackson County bondswoman by the name of Margrett Nickerson. Her quotes to me are beautiful because they reflect her grammar of speech and you can almost feel her tone of voice as she reflects about her experiences as a bondservant. Since the author uses so many different sources, it is hard to say if he neglected any appropriate sources. I would think that he used so many different sources because he did not want to be accused of not using enough sources.
Overall, I think that this is an excellent book. As a Floridian, I really appreciate this book because it helps me to better understand the environment that I grew up.

A study of this magnitude can only be described as ground breaking and powerful. Larry Eugene Rivers interprets and analyzes the Florida slave's experience in startling, inspiring, and rewarding ways. The author certainly raises the bar for future state studies of slavery. A model study that should be emulated by other scholars seeking to update and revise studies of slavery in those states that had enslaved blacks during the antebellum period.

Rivers presents his work in a scholarly, readable, and evenhanded manner. The author named names; he treated enslaved blacks as human beings. The voices and humanity of enslaved blacks come through loud and clear in this study. The reviewer can see why "Slavery In Florida" is the fourth most purchased book in Tallahassee, Florida through AMAZON.COM. and why it has already won a national book award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association in the notification category. "Slavery In Florida" is a highly original and stimulating interpretation of the contact between Native Americans (Seminoles), enslaved blacks, and Anglo Americans during the period from 1821 to 1865. Read this gracefully written book and judge for yourself.

I found this book, Slavery In Florida: Territorial Days To Emancipation, to be a deeply researched, beautifully written, and well grounded book on the peculiar institution in Florida from 1821 to 1865. This study presents the story of slavery from both the perspective of the bond servant and the master. The book covers every aspect of slavery in Florida. Among the chapters are those that focus on the slave family, religion and community, physical treatment of bond servants, slave resistance, and the participation of enslaved blacks in the Civil War. Rivers presents an engaging analysis of race relations during the territorial and statehood periods in Florida. Particulary, he discusses the relationship between enslaved blacks, Native Americans, and whites in an even-handed yet critical manner.

Readers will find the voices of slave men, women, and children throughout this study. Rivers used the Federal Writers Project WPA interviews of former slaves as well as other newspaper interviews with former bond servants to described "what slavery was like" in Florida from the viewpoint of the enslaved black. From the extensive endnotes, the author apparently used hundreds if not thousands of probate records, appraisals, and inventories to describe the slave family. Given the cruelty of slavery, Rivers argues that enslaved blacks were still able to carve out some semblance of family, connected with generations of kinfolk. Rivers presents convincing evidence that bond servants were far from being passive victims. They were sometimes successful in getting concessions from masters concerning family matters, work routines, and religious worship.

Some readers might find insightful Rivers' suggestion that the largest slave rebellion in the antebellum South was not the Nat Turner insurrection, but the Second Seminole War (1835-1842), where the majority of the warriors consisted of runaway slaves from Florida and state to the north. Apparently this is what General Thomas Jesup thought when he declared this battle to be "a negro and not an Indian War" (p. 204).

In describing enslaved blacks and whites, Rivers further gives a balanced assessment of the human frailties as well as strenghts of both groups. I found this refreshing since most studies paint all whites as the bad guys and all blacks without a blemish.

Anyone knowledgeable of the historiography of the antebellum South will quickly notice that Rivers includes the latest scholarship on slavery. As an avid reader of books on slavery, this is, in fact, one of the best books I have read on the topic in years. It should serve as a model for other state studies. I hope someone will read Rivers' book and use it as a guide to do a study of antebellum slavery in my state of Delaware (which has yet to be done). Slavery In Florida is a gripping read, and I give it five stars.

A study of this magnitude can only be described as ground breaking and powerful. Larry Eugene Rivers interprets and analyzes the Florida slave's experience in startling, inspiring, and rewarding ways. The author certainly raises the bar for future state studies of slavery. A model study that should be emulated by other scholars seeking to update and revise studies of slavery in those states that had enslaved blacks during the antebellum period.

Rivers presents his work in a scholarly, readable, and evenhanded manner. The author named names; he treated enslaved blacks as human beings. The voices and humanity of enslaved blacks come through loud and clear in this study. The reviewer can see why "Slavery In Florida" is the fourth most purchased book in Tallahassee, Florida through AMAZON.COM. and why it has already won a national book award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association in the notification category. "Slavery In Florida" is a highly original and stimulating interpretation of the contact between Native Americans (Seminoles), enslaved blacks, and Anglo Americans during the period from 1821 to 1865. Read this gracefully written book and judge for yourself.

I've been collecting Mr. Clemence original prints for a few years now and was most delighted to finally see his book. It was during the last Art Basel fair in Miami, when I purchased a beautiful abstract piece by him. A friend then gave me the book which is just brilliant! The transformation South Beach has gone through is shown here in a very interesting way! The photographs zero in on the very creative buildings that fill the city, showing us how good architecture can create an inspiring environment. The book captures that aspect very well, w/ photos that are as original as the buildings! I wish Mr. Clemence would bring his camera to Los Angeles and help us celebrate the great new constructions that are re-shaping our downtown.

What a delightful surprise this book! As a photo enthusiast I was not expecting much from such a simple , inexpensive book. But, was I wrong! The photos are gorgeous, very skillfully composed! And the light used in a very seductive way. The photos " Delano " and " Light Carving " in particular are real gems. Others, like " Neon Ocean Drive" has a subtle use of contrast that creates a very interesting mood.It's clear that after living in South Beach for so long he definetely knows his subject!And the printing also was another pleasant surprise, comparable to the more costly fine art photo books.Later I found out that Paul Clemence has a thriving photographic career in Miami. I have a feeling we'll still hear a lot about him!

After moving away from Miami Beach it was great to find this book! It shows some of my favourite places there and in very cool photos.It totally sends me back, I can just see myself walking again on Ocean Dr., enjoying the breeze, the palm trees and the Art Deco. And the little texts with people's view on South Beach definetely reminded me of many conversations I had with the people I met down there. Kudos for the layout too; it is just as stylish as the photos themselves. Great job!

Despite what the book description says above this is not much of a travel book, but it is a fine photographic essay. Even though they are black-and-white photographs you will be reminded of the colors of Miami Beach. Frequently the exposures are softly focused with delicate textures. Many of the photos are details and they take in small areas rather than a great expanse of building(s). Most of the building views take in sections of well know structures so you will sometimes need to think about what building you are looking at (they tell you where and what in the back of the book). There are just enough wider views to keep you engrossed; all part of the enjoyment of thumbing through this volume. The introduction is informative and the locals' short pieces add some extra color. If you've spent anytime wandering around South Beach gawking at the buildings this book is for you.

Shomer proves that you don't have to tote a pistol or have supernatural powers to be a strong female protagonist.

These tourists take the reader, by plane, by boat, by grayhound bus and most of all by surprise to amazing unexplored territory. The women and men in the stories shaked, rattled and rolled me into their worlds: worlds which are ordinary and outside and beyond that too. Shomers words, her vibrant images, the emotional depth and sparkling jewel of humor,and pathos ah ha the reader with unexpected possibilities. The journeys of each tourist did come to an end, but fortunately, as a reader, I will be a frequent flyer back to their worlds, reading each story again.

I absolutely loved these stories. We read Tourist Season for our book club (all women), and it was the basis of one of the best conversations we've had in months! Shomer does an amazing job of capturing the women of these stories at unique moments in their lives -- moments that many of us could relate to in some way. These stories are quirky, sometimes funny, and always incredibly human. I can't recommend this collection enough.

In tight, concise prose with vivid imagery that almost reads like poetry, Shomer paints entrancing pictures of women at various stages of their lives. She takes situations that range from the mundane to the quirky to elucidate women we might know - our sisters, our daughters, our wives, our mothers. Stories even a guy can appreciate.

Our family is one of the original Tupperware pioneers mentioned in this book. I was very impressed with the author's ability to really capture an honest and accurate account of Brownie's spectacular rise to power in Tupperware as well as her eventual demise in the business world of the 50's. This book gives credit where it is due to all the early players that were responsible for creating this truely unique American Company. There has always been more to the Brownie Wise and earl Tupper relationship then people today understand and this book does tell the full story well.

Having been in the Tupperware Family all my life, i found this book to be fascinating, truthful, and completely up front and interesting - My parents were one of the original distributors so i know what is true and what is not - But the author did great research and wrote it in such a delightful way - I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the true story behind Earl Tupper and Brownie Wise and the early pioneers who worked themselves silly(sometimes literally!) to make Tupperware become a household name!

I was amazed at the details Bob Kealing related in the book. He really brought Brownie Wise (as well as Tupper himself) to life. The story is not a "slam job" but an even-handed look at the rise and fall of a strong-willed single mother. Brownie Wise was an integral part of Tupperware's meteoric rise. Sadly, as a woman, she was all too easily cast aside. This book relates a sad chapter in the history of Tupperware that I had no idea of. The authors detailed accounts made it easy to connect with the main characters in a way some historical novels never do. I also loved the way he put you "at the scene" by relating details of significant events taking place at the same time as the story. I predict you will be pleasantly surprised at the level of details and straight-forward writing style of this book. Excellent story about one of America's first successful business women.

Bob Kealing transformed meticulous research about the "Queen of Tupperware" into a fascinating story. The interlinking saga of Tupperware and Brownie Wise moves from the early days of the little known plastic container company to the heights of 1950s corporate America. Kealing points to the important contributions Brownie Wise made in home party sales which ultimately made Earl Tupper a very rich man. The surprising downfall of Wise shocked her legions of fans and women who valued her as a role model. She was a promoter & mentor to all the women who for the first time were able to gain financial success. This book is also an important addition to Orlando area history. The small town of Kissimmee eventually grew because of its proximity to Walt Disney World. However, Kealing points out that there was a rich history before Disney World arrived. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in long buried histories.

This is an amazing collection of Gator history. I highly recommend it as a gift to any Gator. We bought it for our son-in-law and are having a hard time giving it up! Enjoy!

This is a fabulous compilation of all things Gator. I bought copies for my parents and all my siblings for Christmas, and they have all raved about how awesome the book is. Packed full of history spanning the decades since the very beginning of UF and the Gators, this book will be a welcome addition to any faithful Gator fan's collection.

This is s must have for all Gator Fans. I bought this as a gift for a friend, and now I am going to get one for myself. I cannot even begin to tell you everything that is in this book. It is so well organized, displayed, and truly a treasured item. I read it from front to back and learned things that I have never heard before. It is truly remarkable!

The picture here does not even begin to do this volume justice. This is a beautiful book that comes in a sturdy and attractive box. It's as much scrapbook as it is history book. Inside the book, in addition to the wonderful photographs and narrative account of the history of Gator football, there are many, many artifacts that come in little pockets on almost every page. There is a replica of the ticket to the national championship game, a copy of Steve Spurrier's handwritten resignation announcement, a copy of the actual stats sheet from the 1966 Auburn game that secured the Heisman for Spurrier, a felt pennant from the 1950s, a copy of the card that Urban Meyer had each player carry with him during the days leading up to the 2006 championship game....the list goes on and on. Each page has a new surprise. Norm Carlson, longtime SID and Gator historian, has done every Gator fan a huge favor by putting together this remarkable "vault" of Gator memorabilia.

Vizcaya is one of the great Gilded Age estates, build by an heir to a huge fortune, who had no family or children, so he devoted all his time and wealth to this palace on Biscayne Bay..and if you've ever layed eyes on this pile you can appreciate it was money well spent. This book is the best resourse I've seen on Viscaya; the text is scholarly and extremely well researched. The images are very well realized, and frankly in a book like this, great images are a must, because you can't imagine a place like this, unless you can actually see it, no description, no matter how articulate can do this place justice. If you have any interest in great residental architecture, or the history of south Florida or just appreciate great books, then I can't imagine you not loving this book.

In my opinion, Witold Rybczynski is the best observer of architecture writing today. Laurie Olin is in the same class as an observer of landscape architecture. The chance to read the two of them writing about this estate is an unusual treat. This is the kind of book somebody might give you and although the cover is attractive, you give a small inward sigh, knowing you will never read it. Not with this book. The writing is simply vastly better than books like this usually are. If you are at all interested in the design process either in landscape or residential architecture you will not be disappointed in this book.

And if you like this book, check out the two books I have linked to which are classics.The Perfect House: A Journey with Renaissance Master Andrea Palladio Across the Open Field: Essays Drawn from English Landscapes (Penn Studies in Landscape Architecture)

This book by two architects that is the story of Vizcaya, the James Deering Estate built in the early twentieth century in Miami as the lavish and sumptuous expression of the great wealth of its tractor-manufacturer owner, is an exceptionally first-class literary production from every point of view that could have a bearing on its subject. Written in the technically precise phraseologies appropriate to architecture and interior decoration, its prose is free of and stands above the contamination that abounds in the otherwise usual debasement of modern literature, and it is illustrated with a landslide of stunningly magnificent photography in both color and black-and-white. But something else with which it is illustrated is what recommended this book to me. I am neither an architect nor an interior decorator, nor has the stuff of those callings ever engaged much of my attention, but as soon as my eye fell on the watercolors painted of Vizcaya by John Singer Sargent when he was a guest of Deering's there in 1917, while I turned the leaves of a friend's copy of the book, I knew immediately as one with a profound attachment to watercolor painting that I must own this book for myself. For although I have held perhaps a hundred Sargent watercolors in my hands in the Metropolitan, Brooklyn and Boston Museums, and seen many more besides in other books, I had never before seen these, as they have lain quietly in private collections without ever being published to my knowledge until now, and they are among the finest examples of Sargent's amazing wizardry in this medium, which defies belief that a human being could have painted them. And the rest of the book is a plus even for one not particularly attracted to matters of residential design or interior décor, for it is a record of an era of refinement, gentility and taste, a belle époque in American history that is gone.

An impressive architectural achievement of the Gilded Age when country manors and their gardens were a conspicuous documentation of personal wealth and power by their owners, the Miami estate of Vizcaya was the equal to such famous contemporary structures as the Bilmore and the San Simeon. The collaborative work of Witold Rybczynski (Martin and Margy Meyerson Professor of Urbanism, University of Pennsylvania) and Laurie Olin (Practice Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Pennsylvania), Vizcaya: An American Villa And Its Makers" is the complete story of how this magnificent building came to be constructed, landscaped, and utilized as a 180-acre estate on Biscayne Bay complete with lagoons, canals, citrus groves, a farm village, a yacht harbor, and a 40-room Baroque mansion. Enhanced with a wealth of seventy color and 96 b/w illustrations, "Vizcaya" is an informed and informative body of impeccable scholarship presenting a seminal study that is very strongly recommended as an addition to professional, academic, and community library American Architectural History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

I read this book and was very interested in the story. Unfortunatley I came away felling very sad and empty because the crime was commited in 82 and the book was written in 95 and one of the killers had been out for a few years already. BY 1995!!

This book is an excellent read for those interested in this subject and I looked for a site for Marvin to tell him how much I support him and what he does for others, and I am sorry the system failed him and Staci, and Hilari.

I have read this book 3 times trying to figure out why I am so confused. John Pierson had a background where he raped and licked and tried to suffocate his girlfriend right about the time he did those things to Staci Weinstein. His blood was found in her bed and on her under pants. He had a history, which several people atested too, that when he became excited or violent his nose bled. Eddie Wasko, on the other hand... was never accused of rape, being violent in any way...and not one bit of physical evidence of his was found at the Weinstein home. There was nothing to prove he was there with the exception of a statement that he gave after being interrogated for close to 30 hours without food or much sleep. And let's not forget the Eddie Wasko passed a polygraph test at the point he was questioned the first time. I am also confused at the fact that this Judge Snyder would not allow John Pierson's girlfriend, Janice Langhorn, to testify that John had raped her, licked her all over and tried to suffocate her while becoming extremely violent because she didn't want to have sex with him....That is just what happened to Staci....So why was she not allowed to testify to that to show that John Pierson is a maniac and HIM and only HIM killed poor little Staci Weinstein??? If I had some type of Law degree I would go through this case with a fine tooth comb because everything is showing the the guy who actually committed this murder...spent only 7 years in jail for it and no sooner he was out he was sent right back in for rape...AGAIN!!! COME ON...people...Are we trying to clean up violence in our communities because we didn't in this situation, did we??? The other guy...is still to this day in prison. It's unfortunate that these things happen in our judicial system...but they do and SOMEONE needs to take a look at it case by case and put a stop to it!!!! My sympathies to Marvin and his family..and also to Eddie Wasko for believing in and listening to the corrupt investagators who were trying to get professional gain out of a vulnerable, niave man. Thank you!

I was a teenager when my step brother killed Staci, My adopted Mother was married to his father and everyone knew that John had major problems. He shoved me in front of a bus in grade school which lead to my being hospitalized. He also tried to smother a girlfriend after she refused sex. He was paroled and soon was back in prison for attempted rape of a woman in central florida.
He is now out and working for his younger brother Gene Pierson doing home repair in Florida. Again the system has failed us. My sympathy to Marvin for his loss.

As someone who knows Marvin, this has been the hardest thing for him to go through. He is the sweetest and kindest man you will ever meet. This story just proves that bad things do happen to good people. Only a parent can truly understand what its like to lose your child. This book will help those who don't to understand what its like.