Minnesota Books

If you grew up in a small town in America, you will enjoy this book. The best book that Mr. Hassler has written. Hollywood should make a movie!

I have many different ways of rating a book; writing style, emotional impact, what it has taught me, etc.
Although I have read quite a few good novels this past year I think Jon Hassler's Grand Opening has been my favorite despite the fact there was really nothing spectacular in the style of writing. There was something very real about this book. It's the perfect portrayal of how certain individuals will just never be accepted into small town life. I have grown up in small towns all my life and have experienced this treatment because my family was never one for participating in small-town politics. It also didn't help matters that my mom was a "big city girl" from Minneapolis, MN. It's hard to be accepted in a small town unless you were born there, but really...even the people who are born there rarely make the cut themselves.

This book is full of bad things happening to good people. It's also full of good people having not-so-good thoughts and being hard on themselves for it. The beauty of Catholic guilt is well reflected in the character of Brendan.

The book had me split the entire time; I loved it for it's realism, yet I hated it because it wasn't an escape for me. People generally read to escape from the issues of daily life, yet this book paralleled the small town behavior I have viewed my entire life.

GRAND OPENING is like taking a step back in time to 1944 and makes the reader both want to return to a simpler place and time while also being glad that times have changed and we don't have to live in Hassler's fictional town. In the book we meet the Foster family: Hank and Catherine and their son Brendan and Catherine's father. The family is staunchly Catholic and moves to the small town of Plum to open a grocery store. They soon discover that the town is evenly split between Catholics and Lutherans, neither of whom will socialize with the other. They also learn that small the politics of small town life are not always easy to navigate and that harsh judgments rarely go away. We see innocence in Brendan who loves his new home, and we see some quirks from the grandfather that can be amusing. We also meet a group of interesting characters: Wallace Flint, a man who is more disturbed than he appears; Dodger Hicks, a young man with few chances or saving graces in his life; Fr. O'Day, the parish priest without the finesse of Bing Crosby's famous Fr. O'Malley; Paul Dimmitburg, the son of the Lutheran minister taking a leave from his seminary studies; and Mrs. Brask, the mayor's wife and the worst kind of snob imaginable.

Hassler has a gift for creating good characters and he presents a slice of life in this novel that is both pleasant and dark. There are conflicts throughout the book, both large and small. Hassler does not immediately throw the reader into controversy as some writers do. Instead he brings the reader into the town itself and sets the reader on firm ground, and then the conflicts and tensions begin. It's almost as if we're being transported back to 1944 and we've moved to Plum. Hassler also doe a good job at creating a small Midwestern town at the end of World War II, keeping the historical circumstances in mind while not allowing World War II to envelope the entire story.

This book will be enjoyed by many of Jon Hassler's fans, and is a great introduction to the works of an enjoyable writer.

This is one of those books that will stay with you for a while. I read it two weeks ago, and still find myself thinking about the characters, especially Dodger. Don't be fooled by the blurb, this isn't a cute story about a cozy, friendly town, but has darker undertones. The characters struggle to deal with intolerance, and indifference; Hassler really makes you care about all the characters, and the story. I think he is a wonderful writer, and would recommend this novel as a good start for anyone who wants to discover his works.

I first read this novel some years ago after "Staggerford" and it made me a true-blue Hassler fan. Its rich cast of characters keeps this novel moving along. Though a few of the characters are merely great window-dressing (for example, I wanted to see more done with grandfather), most are fully developed and integral to the plot. Overall, the theme of redemption through action is clear, and, sadly, many negative elements of small town life haven't changed in the 21st century.

"Staggerford (also by Hassler)," "Grand Opening", and "Passing through Paradise" by John Schreiber make a great trio of Minnesota novels. All are highly recommended.

This book has stayed with me like few other things, since reading it many years ago. I often find occasion to quote from it; brilliantly witty, charming, scathing and life affirming all at once. Bunuel led an unusual life, but his autobiography is filled with universal truths to which any reader can immediately relate. Buy it at once, and you will find yourself reaching for it often...

An interesting short semi-bio, in whuch Luis speaks about his life and the people he has met.

Bunuel gave some interviews towards the end of his life discussing his long list of movies. That's why I was delighted to find that his autobiography--which is one of the greatest, if not the greatest by a filmmaker--does not dwell on them. Instead Don Luis chronicles his childhood and upbringing, the relationships he cultivated, and meditates on life, love, death, art, alcohol and cigarettes. Many of the stories from his younger days are even more surreal than his movies. He writes in detail about his stormy friendships with Garcia Lorca and Dali, about his half-hearted attempt to try Hollywood on for size, meetings with Hitchcock, Fritz Lang, and others. The book is not somber or sentimental, it's not over-inflated. Bunuel's voice does not intimidate, it soothes. He's a master storyteller, a very gifted and generous writer.

As a young person, don Luis helped me find my way out of the hormone fog, ... authoritarian adults and their institutions, and equally lost peers. Years later upon reading MY LAST SIGH, I was not surprised at all at the depth of don Luis' humanity and intelligence.

Nevermind the moniker "filmmaker" when talking about don Luis; he is an artist's artist. With his autobio, he only confirms what an equally supreme being he was. I miss him. However, encounter this book and become lit by life itself.

Writings by film directors tend to resemble their films, and "My Last Sigh" is no exception. Bunuel's films are anarchic, funny, unpredictable, subversive, and often disturbing in a way that's hard to pin down. So is this, his autobiography!

Though he disclaims literary talent, Bunuel turns out to be a wonderful writer, and the book is stuffed with piquant anecdotes and elegant observations. I'm afraid to quote examples, because this review would go on forever. Suffice to say that, if you could choose to live any person's life, Bunuel's would be a hard choice to beat, just for the adventure and entertainment value. This may be my favorite book written by a filmmaker.

I think the book is wonderful. I wanted to attain a better sense of Charles A Lindbergh and what better
way then to read something he wrote. He is a good writer and his character comes through. It is also very
enterntaining and down to the practically of having real substance of history in the book. I am greatful to have read it and attained a glimps of a cherished individual in our aviation history.

This book got a little dry at times but it is a great 1-stop shop for anyone who wants to know everything about the famous flight.

Great account of an adventure. Includes all the early stages, including conception, financing, building, testing, and monitoring the competition. Especially relevant these days with all the X prize comparisons.

The writing of the actual flight is exhaustive, and sprinkled with autobiographical anecdotes to give context and color. His accounts of growing up on a Minnesota farm surely add to the American mythos of self-determination. And his days spent learning to fly through barnstorming and the Army are notable for being enchanting, yet completely straightforward and accurate.

Lindbergh says accuracy is one of his major aims. This adds to the substance of the book, since he examines his mistakes at least as much as his successes. The writing sometimes waxes poetic, as when he says "The dull blade of skill is sharpened on the stone of experience."

Overall, this is a valuable book on many levels. For the historical record of a groundbreaking flight. For the description of the early days of flight, and the adventure and pioneering spirit it embodied. And for the tale of a man who conceived a great project, found the friendly cooperation of others to help him achieve it, worked through many obstacles and setbacks to prepare for it, and then finally executed it well, despite his own human imperfections and mistakes along the way.

Lindbergh took some risks with this book. He wrote it out first person, present tense. (A big "no no".) And he broke up the storyline with frequent flashbacks. Somehow it all works anyway, in spite of or because of these risks.

But, then again, Lindbergh was a risk taker. He put his life on the line with his Paris flight and succeeded gloriously. He does the same thing here, in the literary world, winning the Pulitzer prize.

We should all stop to reflect a moment on how great a coup this was. And how improbable. Lindbergh published this book in the decade following his ill-fated attempt to prevent America's entry into World War II. In many ways his star had fallen with the American public, politically and otherwise. Yet, he was able to resurrect himself through this first-hand story of his great experimental flight. You can't keep a good man (or woman) down.

My favorite part of this book is the section where he refers to his metaphysical experiences during his flight over the Atlantic. He recounts these experiences in more depth in Autobiography of Values, but it is here that they first see the light of day.

This is an enthralling saga of a great moment in the history of aviation, told by the flier himself. It is a unique contribution to world literature, and as such, scarcely needs me to recommend it. Yet, I do so, unreservedly.

Richard Salva--author of Soul Journey from Lincoln to Lindbergh [UNABRIDGED]

Lindbergh's flight solo New York to Paris is still hard to repeat with a small, prop driven, aircraft. It is hard to summarize or constuct a methaphor to measure the impact of Lindbergh's historic flight in today's setting, it was such a great leap forward for mankind.

The flight inspired my father, 14 years old and living on a farm in Wisconsin in 1927, to become a graduate aerospace engineer, and later to work on the design of the P-38, X-15, and the Apollo capsule, among others, many of which he could not even tell me about. It had similar effects and results for thousands of others.

This book is well written and documents not only the flight, but the life of Lindbergh, and the logistics of pulling off this incredible event. After reading this book, I came to the opinion that the planning and logistics (including fundraising and sponsorship) may have been more difficult than the actual flight. We owe much for this leap forward to a group of individuals from St. Louis, who told Lindbergh, "you worry about the design, building, and flying of the aircraft, we will take care of the money". Reading about this portion of the effort alone, provides much food for thought about current corporate management and government projects. A case study in delegation! I found this book interesting, fascinating, well written, and inspiring. The event and the book are timeless. Reading it makes you realize the difference one person can make when perseverance is applied in a large dose.

Yessiree, I give it 5 stars as a running book. I was finding I was docking some books and CDs; because I approached it like, is it perfect enough to get the highest rating like a Shakespeare play or a symphony?

I go with the genre it belongs too; and too, I'd say those who have had substance abuse/alcohol problems would find it inspiring too; cause Dick became addicted to pain killers; and did some things; that were indeed wrong.

It's a good book for athletes, cause Dick's body did start to break down some; even away from his being prone to some bad accidents. It makes me ponder, we hear about so many athletes who later end up being not in the best shape because of their sports career, say like Larry Bird. It makes you think, it's great to run that great Boston Marathon in '82; but is it worth it in the long run.

I agree, the book may have minor blemishes, might be choppy in parts in the latter half of the book, but it shouldn't keep anyone from reading it, indeed, some of this could have been expanded on.

It's a good book, kind of for your couples too; I mean, I admire his wife, Maureen, for staying with Dick; for her care, love and also standing up to him some.

I definitely, would like to read "Duel in the Sun" to continue reading on Mr. Beardsley, really, along with his rival at the Boston Marathon, Alberto Salazar and along with "Pre" Prefontaine himself; there certainly is more to read on these famous track runners from America.

As Dean Karnazes' book UltraMarathon Man is getting to be compulsory reading for Greeks (but not only them of course), I think Minnesotans and those from the surrounding areas should read this one, especially if they are interested in the sport.

Beardsley reminds me a bit of the great American cyclist from the turn of the century (meaning near 1900) Major Taylor, in that his glory descended into lows.

After going through this book, I am still contemplating parts of it and how we and history will see Dick, but I definitely would wish him and his family the best. Some parts of it, really are astonishing; and it is astonishing as a whole. He certainly has given a lot to the Marathon.

I have heard Dick Beardsley speak and he is awesome. I purchased his book to give for gifts at Christmas time. He has persevered through the toughest of obstacles and is still standing with his wife by his side!

My husband is a marathon runner & enjoys reading. We have met Dick Bearsley when we ran the Detroit Lakes Half marathon. My husband really enjoyed this book. He learned alot about Dick Beardsley & his marathons.

Very well written book! It shows the high and low of Dick Beardsley's running career and life. It is a very quick read, with no slow sections. It might be the best book about running that I have read.

This book is about the life of a runner named Dick Beardsley. It talks about his life goals in running and how he got into a bad habbit of using pain killers. The book takes place in the mainland, and not in a certain place because he traveled a lot to race. See i am a runner so i like the book because it gave me the motivation to go on when the going gets tough. If i compare this book to other book i would say it is not the best running book i have read but, it is better than the other types of books i have read. I think if you are a runner you will really like the book cause it teaches you to be tough in a race and some pointers on how to run marathons. If you do not run i dont think you will have a strong liking with this book. It can get kind of boring a some parts, but the parts that tell about his races really made me want to read on, so if you are a runner i think this book is better for you than if you are not a runner. So be a runner!

On Sept. 1, 1894, a firestorm raced across east-central Minnesota, consuming everything in its path. In four hours, the flames killed hundreds of people, and wiped six towns off the map. Hinckley was one of those towns and this novel is the story of its people.

Nora is a seamstress, trying to hem a dress in daylight that seems to grow dimmer as the minutes pass. It isn't until the family horse begins to scream that she and her daughter, Ellie, run outside. What they see is a firestorm consuming the countryside and the small town of Hinckley. Their only escape route is the set of railroad tracks that runs east of their farm, tracks that the Number Four train is currently on. The train signals escape, but will Meri be fast enough to outrun the flames?

Farmer Josef Strom flees with his wife and infant daughter. As the flames close in, they race to the safety of the town's gravel pit. But disaster rolls out of the flames and Josef is forced to make a decision not conceived of in his worse nightmares.

But for some, the fire is a stroke of good fortune. Lars Jenson can't believe his luck. He's managed to identify two bodies as his wife and daughter. The fire consumed them and the secrets they held over him. Now he is free to live his life as he sees fit-a wealthy businessman and pillar of the community.

But not all of the survivors return to the town. One stays hidden in the hills, disfigured by the burns that killed so many others. This lonely soul longs for community, but stays hidden out of fear. Rumors begin to circulate through town about the ghost living in the hills. The words filter back, piling pain upon pain.

As the survivors struggle to rebuild, they find they can't move forward until the ghosts of their respective pasts are put to rest. Raw emotion threatens to consume the town, just like the maelstrom of September.

Intrigued by both the cover and the concept, I admit I was still somewhat cautious about this book because I'd never heard of the author. That is until about page 3 when I found myself completely engulfed by her account of the firestorm. Marlo Schalesky opens this novel with a bang: a blaze of descriptive images which make you feel as if you are right there in Hinkley, Minnesota, choking from the smoke and flames.

This is one of those rare stories which has you caring for the characters on a very personal level. After the fire, you'll feel as though you have a vested interest in watching how they rebuild both the town and their lives. The dialogue of the hermit in particular is prosaic and melancholy and you will be flipping pages madly to discover the ghost's identity. Overall, the novel addresses the theme of past mistakes and the search for redemption. I don't hesitate in saying this is one of the best books I've read this year, and the only other current author who has had me as consumed with the lives of his characters has been Khaled Hosseini.

Outstanding novel- I feel like I've discovered a gem of a writer who's work transcends the Christian Fiction label.

In 1894 a fire broke out in the town of Hinckley, Minnesota. Four hours later 400 square miles were torched. Four hundred eighteen lives were lost. Out of the ashes the townspeople rebuilt and rose again like the Phoenix of mythology. And a myth began to grow among the survivors. There was one in the hills watching, observing. Friend or foe? No one knew. To this day no one knows who the hermit in the hills around Hinckley was. Speculations abound still.

I met Marlo Schalesky through Shoutlife. Intrigued by the blurb for Veil of Fire, I went to her website and discovered I could read chapter one. I did. And I rushed right out to find the book so I could finish the story.

I must say I'm not a fan of historical fiction. I find it difficult to relate to stories that delve into settings, customs and such that I'm unfamiliar with. However, this story caught my attention because it seemed to have a little mystery and suspense to it. This story, though set in a historical time period and speculating on what might have been so and what was, reads more like a suspense novel than anything else. I went into it expecting chapter one to be about the fire and the remaining pages to be about the aftermath. I got more than I bargained for. The first four chapters cover the fire and the townsfolk attempting to escape. Some succeed, others fail. This section was some of the most intense reading I've done in a long time. I could smell the smoke and hear the flames. The fear of the characters was palpable. I experienced it all with them. This is the mark of a great writer.

The remaining story takes you on several paths. That of a little girl orphaned by the fire. A woman grief-stricken over the loss of her own daughter. A businessman who essentially owns the town. His no account son. A farmer whose only tangible of his lost wife is his infant daughter.

And the hermit in the hills. We see inside the mind and heart of this character. Learn their struggles, meditate on their questions, consider possible answers along with them. All the while having no idea who this person is until the last possible moment. Marlo tosses out so many possibilities to reader as to the identity of this person. I personally was so torn by the possibilities that I could not make up my mind. And yet, it stared me in the face the whole time. Like any good story should.

This was my first historical read. If there are others like it out there, I can assure you I'll be reading more.

Marlo Schalesky is a consummate storyteller who has woven a tale of suspense, love, and healing in Veil of Fire. In 1894, the small town of Hinckley, Minnesota faced a fire that destroyed the community. As the few survivors begin to piece their lives back together, fear reigns and the citizens persecute the unknown--a being they believe is a ghost. Only a young orphan is willing to question who or what this being might be. Her discovery shatters the secrets one citizen thought had gone up in smoke. Schalesky has done a masterful job of maintaining the suspense until the moment the secret is revealed--a skill that eludes some of the best authors. I loved this book.

I had heard that Marlo Schalesky's writing was a cut above the rest, and this novel drew a line under that phrase and placed an exclamation point at the end. In BOLD font.

What a spellbinding book! I was hooked right away and read right through to the end, breathless, savoring the excitement with each page. A VEIL OF FIRE has it all: great story, heartfelt, tender moments, real characters, the thrill of the chase, quiet beauty, and truth. I loved that it was based on a real event in history. Marlo's fine writing and historical accuracy made this a memorable read. Looking forward to my next Marlo novel! Well done.

This book is part of the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace, a heartwarming saga featuring Betsy Ray, a girl growing up in small town Minnesota at the turn of the twentieth century. The books follow her from kindergarten to marriage. In this particular book, Betsy is twelve and on the brink of high school, but she and her friends Tacy and Tib are still enjoying childhood and all that comes with it. Betsy's interest in writing is blossoming, and her world is expanding yet still endearingly safe, composed of seeing plays in downtown Deep Valley, seeing the town's very first automobile, meeting a long-lost uncle, befriending a lonely former actress whose daughter died, and visiting the new Carnegie library. Visit Deep Valley if you want a refreshing respite in the innocence and charm of Betsy's world.

We first meet Betsy, Tacy, and Tib's school friend Winona Root in this book, and the four of them make a wonderfully real crowd of friends. I especially enjoy Winona's addition to their group.
Where the first two BT books were almost little collections of stories, from Big Hill on, there are larger themes to them. Betsy's writing and her uncle, Keith Warrington, are tied up together along with her friendship with Mrs. Poppy in this story, giving a great purpose to the book.

These are the perfect books to read with my granddaughter. The times they lived in were much like my childhood. My granddaughter still relates to their adventures and it givbes her a glimpse of the world I grew up in.

I first read Betsy Tacy Go Downtown over 40 years ago. This book and all the Betsy/Tacy books have had a huge impact on my live. Imagine, finding out I was not the only one. Through the wonders of cyberspace I have found a whole communinty of Betsy/Tacy fans. There have been trips to "Deep Valley" and discussions of the books and characters. It is wonderful to find others who love the books as much as I do.

Betsy Tacy Go Downtown is a sweet book and colorfully paints a picture of a simpler, gentler time. These books have stood the test of time and are a wonderful read for all ages. I read them out loud to my daughter when she was 4, over 17 years ago. She enjoyed them and I am sure most people will.

I first read the "Betsy" books 4 years ago and am currently re-reading the series. Is there not a more delightful set of books for any age? 'Downtown' is my favorite of the younger Betsy books. So many plots and subplots wind their way around in this wonderful book. For those who love the theatre there several chapters on that theme. Do you enjoy Christmas traditions? A chapter on that. And how about Betsy's short story in chapter 9 "The Pink Stationery"? Hey, Robert Ludlum--move over! The relationship between Mrs. Poppy and Betsy is my favorite theme of the book. How mercy and compassion can transend the difference between age, cultural upbringing and social status. A sweet, sweet book. If you read only one Betsy book (and that will be impossible!!!!) this is the one to read.

I tell you now from the words of Red Moon, from the great spirit was born the wolf and man became his messenger, in other words the human race was created from wolves, or so says the author of the Book of The Moon.

Brother Wolf: A Forgotten Promise starts off with an emotional "letter" from wolves to men, focusing on how humans and wolves used to live together in harmony, and how men are now killers, of wolves and other creatures. The letter ends with 'I do not think I know you anymore.' It is highly emotional, and nearly made me cry!

After that, the book switches to its true form...a book with captivating text and even better photos of wolves, taken ina areas where they are very elusive and have lots of foliage to be hidden among.

Jim Brandenburg, a very well-known wildlife photographer and the author of multiple wolf books, even goes far enough to explain his first encounter with wolves and how he felt at that time. The book is highly educational, but also very touching.

Overall, the book has great text with even greater photographs, and is definitely a good read. The high price, however, is quite a problem. But if you like wolves, and if you're willing to pay the price, definitely buy this book. It's excellent.

Jim Brandenburg succinctly captures the essence of the wolf. The wolf has been so unfairly persecuted throughout our history; due on no small part to ranchers. Incredible photographs, this book will make you a wolf lover if you aren't already. Incredible text and photos!!!!

This book had drown my attention at the very first sight, as I had been trying to find a good book with lots wolf photos for ages and fail at almost every bookshop I went to. The photos in the book are magnificent, also other then wolves, there are wonderful photos of landscape and other wildlife.

I know this isn't really a review, but I'm so excited to read/look at the pictures in this book (I just ordered it) I just had to say something. Wolves are my favorite animals and it always makes me a little angery when people talk about them as vicious man-eaters, because they're not. This book really looks like it sets the record strait. I'm really looking forward to reading this book!

What a special book this is! Written by a very special lady. Who had a very special husband. And they lived in a very special place. And they came across a very, very special deer which began their four year period of caring for wonderful Peter Whitetail and his progeny. And whatever wild creature came to them in need.

The reader will know what it is like to live in 30 degree below zero winters on the border lake between the U.S. and Canada and the struggle of wildlife to survive in such severe conditions. The reader will know what it is like when outlaw hunters gun tame deer and bear down for sport, leaving the humans who loved them in despair. And the reader will know what it is like for the animals to live in constant fear of and alert for predators and, as the deers age, to become more prone to know defeat.

But above all, one has the marvelous experience of getting to know Peter, Mama, a wonderful black bear whose life is cut very short by man, and a host of our forest friends.

Helen Hoover, as one reviewer points out, was a woman who was developed on the right and the left side of her brain. A superb intellect was accompanied by a magnanimous heart, by deep feminine feeling values, intuitive grace, and the courage at times to bear the almost unendurable. Her husband was a marvel too. Devoted and dedicated, and very kind. His illustrations are terrific and really capture the mystery and sternness and wonder of the setting and its inhabitants. That they picked up from city life and faced their almost impossible dream successfully is awesome.

As for Ms. Hoover's prose, she was a highly gifted writer but, more than that, at times she reaches the heighth (or perhaps I should say depth) of genuine and beautiful poetic prose. I believe, had she had a bent to do so, she could have been as well a highly accomplished poet.

This book is a great adventure story. It is Ms. Hoover's gift to humanity.

The kind of story that must be pulled off the shelf and reread again and again.

When a injured deer finds its way to the Hoover's cottage, they didn't realize that in helping him, they'd find a friend. Peter, as the deer is named, comes back season after season, bringing other deer with him. The Hoovers' observations and personal narrative is a touching tribute to this gentle hearted deer.

I was enriched by reading this lovely book, and found it also raised a lot of questions about man's relationship ( and duties) to the wildlife surrounding his home. Hoover's tale was clear eyed and a definite antidote to all the Disneyesque sappy forest characters we are bombarded with. Life was hard for all in the northwoods, and, as always, the "laws of nature" seem awfully harsh. But the intelligent, loving relationships depicted in the book make it more bearable.

I hadn't read this book in a few years and when I saw it again on my shelf I remembered it was a great book to read in the summer. The story is a good one, esp. if you read it in partnership with Hoover's other book about her move to the woods, The Years of the Forest, and tells the story of how she and her husband moved to the wilds of Minnesota in middle-age and what (and who) they found there. The Gift of the Deer introduces us to Peter, Mama, Pretty, Friendly, and all the others who live in Hoover's "neighborhood" deep in the North Woods.
Oh - and why is it great to read in the summer? Because her stories about the bone chilling cold of Minnesota winters are just right to balance the August heat and humidity!

Helen Hoover's beautifully vivid prose makes this memoir read like a fantasy piece. I felt I was sharing the precious moments that she and her husband Ade spent with the wild whitetail deer family who visited them at their log cabin deep in the Minnesota woods. Helen's richly descriptive style of writing draws you into their enchanting lifestyle, filled with peace, and the quiet mystery of virgin forests. The area around their cabin became a safe haven for a groundhog who became a regular houseguest, squirrels who nibbled graham crackers from Helen's hands, chipmunks, ermine, owls, beautiful birds of all kinds,and even a bobcat and a lynx.This is more than just a story about wild animals. It is a tribute to Peter, the magnificent whitetail buck who taught them so much about the dignity and majesty of wild things, and enriched their lives with his noble and gentle ways.This book is a treasure of a journey into some of the most peaceful, delightful, and rewarding places that a nature lover can go without leaving their home. I hated to see it end.

"I loved 'Infinite Variety' for the way the authors brought the Marchesa Casati vividly to life."--Robert Fulford, author of 'The Triumph of Narrative: Storytelling in the Age of Mass Culture'

"'Infinite Variety' is a thoroughly unbiased and well-researched biography. The 'Definitive Edition' includes a plethora of new information as well as artwork and photos. Thanks to the efforts of Ryersson and Yaccarino, the story of the Marchesa Casati, with all its splendor, will continue to astonish.--Jonathan Williams, Gothic Beauty Magazine

"Mesmerizing and revealing, 'Infinite Variety' is the definitive account of the Italian femme scandaleuse. A great glimpse, and more, into the life of a larger-than-life individual."-Mar Yvette (Clear Magazine)

"'Infinite Variety: The Definitive Edition' provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the bizarre and spectacular life that Casati led...All you fashion-conscious history buffs will love the in-depth exploration the authors take into Casati's stylish life."-Denise Dandeneau (Zink Magazine)

"This meticulously researched and completely updated biography vividly details Luisa Casati's extravagant life...Fashionistas, art history buffs, aficionados of Belle Époque and Jazz Age culture-and general readers-will be pleased."-Lorraine Thompson (Primo Magazine)

'This book about the Marchesa Casati (1881-1957) is called "The Definitive Edition" about a lady of extravagant leisures. It is an excellent book reviving the roaring twenties in Europe and gives you a fairly good insight of the lifestyle of the truly rich and famous through to the 1940s. Part of this set was the Marchesa Casati, who is a source of inspiration to this very day for fashion designers, artists and wealthy heirs. So if you squander your vast inheritance, at least do it in style!' (review from Elegant Lifestyle)

What a pleasure to discover a "new" writer who truly belongs in the company of women writers such as Anita Shreve and others. Both Summit Avenue and The Real Minerva are haunting novels, calling out to and transfixing the reader with images and emotions so real that we are all with the main characters as they discover and experience blood, betrayal, strength, and sisterhood. We are all able to find the selkie within us, identifying with the shape-shifting of Cora, Penny, and Barbara, as they confront the circumstances that force their transformation for survival and safety, yet protect their inner strength and loyalty, not only to themselves but to other women in their lives.

This writing beckons to the reader to forge ahead, to follow the path of most resistance, and yet to hope there is no ending, only so that the story will go on. However, knowing it has to end, I am left waiting in anticipation for the next book, the next shape-shifter who goes beyond the limits of conventionality, who will shake us from our traditional viewpoints, expectations, and limitations. Here's to stretching, not remaining earthbound, for in truth "sometimes the Gods disguise themselves as mortals and walk among us, at least for a time, before they disappear."

Mary Sharratt is the up and coming queen of early twentieth century mid-western American fiction. She weaves together a rich tapestry of painstakingly researched facts, mythology, folklore and feminism. While her first book explored the intricacies of lesbian relationships in the early 20th century, this one concerns friendship and the often times rocky relationship between mother and daughter. It is about a girl coming of age and accepting her mother's sexuality. A woman making it on her own after surviving abuse. Unresolved resentment. Lust. Incest. Violence. Murder. Infanticide. Colorful characters thrust into vivid by-gone era scenery. All the good things that make for an absolutely enthralling novel, and yet, it is also more than that. For those who are willing to look, it also contains insights and observations into the human condition. Excellent and highly recommended!

The Real Minerva is just that--a real book. Not pretentious, not attempting to ride the trends, not obsessed with overblown language solely for the glory of its author. Not an unreadable creation for people who want to impress their peers by waving around a copy of the latest, hot-for-no-good-reason literary novel.

It is, instead, a story as unforgettable as any fairy tale we heard as children, peopled with characters who not only come immediately to life--they come to live with you. It is a lovely, satisfying story which reminds us that suspense--wanting to know what happens next and being unable to put down the book--doesn't depend upon noisy, gimics.

Mary Sharratt's voice is uniquely her own, yet her work resonates with the marvelously old-fashioned quality of good storytelling. There is not a wasted word here, and you'll find yourself rereading passages, not because you didn't understand, but because the language is so lovely, in such an understated way--like a perfect little black dress.

Don't miss this one!

Having read Mary Sharratt's first book, Summit Avenue, I expected strong female characters--what amazed me was how different, how individual the heroines of The Real Minerva were. How unique this second novel is--it shows new aspects of life as a woman in the beginning of the 20th century, the hardships they face, the decisions they make. Cora, Penelope and Barbara are brave, complex characters, surrounded by a cast of well drawn secondary characters; Irene, Mr Hamilton, the town gossips, Dr Lovell, all are real, breathing people.

The Real Minerva has a rich, compelling plot that keeps you reading. Sharratt has managed to write suspense on every page, with careful word choice and precise use of metaphor. She depicts so many fascinating characters, scenes and events without using one word more than necessary, something few authors manage to do. And she has fun with subtle literary allusions and entertaining coincidences.

Overall an excellent book, heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time, and great fun to read. I can't wait for Sharratt's next novel.

"She's your angel. She saved us both." These are the words we read in the prologue of Mary Sharratt's captivating second novel, The Real Minerva. The woman who speaks shows her daughter, the prologue's narrator, a photograph of the angel, "...taken before she vanished from Minerva and embarked on her long journey." From that moment, we understand that in this story someone will be saved, but something - or someone - will be lost.

The novel centers around the lives of three women - fifteen year-old Penny, her beautiful but emotionally hardened mother Barbara, and Cora, a wealthy socialite who has fled her abusive husband - living in Minnesota in 1923. These characters spring to life on the very first pages and from there grow in depth and complexity. Cora is pregnant, a secret she hopes her brutal husband will never learn. She plans to raise her child alone on her grandfather's farm. Penny's relationship with her mother is troubled in ways far beyond those of a normal young teen and her parent. Barbara is having an affair with the married man they clean house for, and Penny's disgust and disillusionment push her into a terrible quarrel with her mother. Penny runs away to Cora's farm in answer to an ad Cora has placed for a hired girl, and in this encounter we glimpse how deeply their fates are intertwined.

Sharratt masterfully shows us how the world sees these three women, how they see each other, how they see themselves. She depicts what we think we already know - that people judge us, that they see us through the lens of their own need to conform. But then she deftly pulls us into the shoes of both judge and judged

There is nothing extraneous here. Even the secondary characters exemplify change and loss and possibility. The story cannot move forward without them. Irene, the bitter daughter of Barbara's employer, along with Cora's husband Adam remind us the dark side of passion is rage. Cora's interaction with the migrant workers who come to help with the harvest shows us the woman she was meant to be. We wonder if this woman is lost forever, and the author means us to. Cora is at once driven and crippled by her fear and hatred of her estranged husband. She wants to save herself, but in the end she cannot. She is too broken. But more importantly, she is us. And through these characters we learn once again that we can run from our lives, but not from ourselves. We must face who we are and chose who we will become.

This story leaves its mark, a mark that honors those who are saved, those who save them, and the price each must pay. For in the end, there is always a price. The Real Minerva does not let us forget that.