Georgia Books

This is a very thorough and comprehensive guide of best trails in Georgia. This guide is not only a bicyclist requirement for exploring Georgia and its unique trails but offers intriguing historical and local information about the surrounding communities. A must for any level cyclist from the rambler to the hard core.

This book is a great resource for cyclists looking to explore Georgia on their bicycles. The guide includes everything from short, family-oriented rides to take with the kids to longer, treck-oriented rides for those who want them. The directions are clear and easy-to-follow and there are plenty of pictures to show what riders might see along the way. It's an all around good book for cycling enthusiasts.

Thorough, comprehensive, and very well written. Good photos, readable (and easy-to-follow) maps, and detailed directions make this a most useful book. John Trussell and Falcon have produced a guide that provides road cyclists with numerous opportunities to explore Georgia's varied, interesting, and beautiful panorama. Whether one rides in the cities, the picturesque hamlets, or across the rural and historic countryside, this is an important reference volume. It is equally "gear-good" for riders who live in the state and those who venture in from other locales.
A good guide to have on hand.
Bob Kornegay, May 27, 2008

This is the book to buy for any biking enthusiast wanting to have a handly reference to cover all that Georgia has to offer.

From the mountains of North Georgia, the many coastal excursions to the numberous Civil War sites and not to forget the cycling events such as Tour De Georgia and the Bike Ride Across Georgia. You will definatley need this as a reference to the many trail discriptions and maps with information to make your trip more care free. It is all laid out for you to enjoy the trip.
This author coves it all with very clean maps and detailed information. I carried on my last weekend biking trip as a reference and it proved to be a great addition to my enjoyment of the trip! A must have!!

The city where I grew up... I just had to have this book for my coffee table. The pictures are just beautiful. This book has great pictures to enjoy. I'm so glad I bought it.

I just returned from a trip to beautiful Savannah and immediately orered this book. It is a beautiful book and made me want to go back to such a beautiful city all over again! The images were wonderful and so familiar! A must have for any Savannah lover!

Brings me back to the time I spent in Savannah, one of my favorite places!

As promised, A Photographic Portrait of one of the South's finest "ladies". Savannah, Georgia is not just a lovely place to visit, but I would want to live there.

I found this book impossible to put down once I started reading. I do not read a lot but thought this subject looked interesting to me. The book gives us a glimpse into the culture and lives of the Hawaiian people. Coming from the midwest I found this story very interesting. This is NOT your usual read. M's McMillen did a thorough job of catching my interest throughout the entire book. I hope there is a second book in the coming.

After reading this book I found a renewed interest in searching out new authors to read.

I highly recommend this book.

Set in Hawaii in the early 20th century, School For Hawaiian Girls by Georgia Ka'apuni McMillen is an engaging and deftly written novel about the family of a murdered Hawaiian schoolgirl. The murder investigation is fraught with errors and sloppy policework, so the family copes by not speaking of the murder, or of the daughter they lost. But their silence and denial takes a toll on them, and they must grapple with the price of forgetting and what it means to remember, in this charged and emotional tale of the human psyche.

The 1920s rape & murder of a student at the Christian run School for Hawaiian Girls, was never solved. No one was ever convicted & no white man's justice ever meted out.

Lydia had been a beautiful girl on the edge of womanhood. Loved by two powerful boys, she already had a secret. She was also the target of the headmistress' upbraiding for falling short of her potential.

Told in a fierce chorus of voices, SCHOOL FOR HAWAIIAN GIRLS speaks of memories of a dreadful past & prayers for a hopeful future. There are two terribly warped boys, one the son of the preacher man & the other, caught between the death of his parents' culture & a future in the white man's world; a grandniece of the slain Lydia, a woman now in her thirties with a thriving tourist canoe business & a curiosity to purchase the abandoned school house & make a hotel out of it; & the acid memories & jaundiced nostalgia of the preacher's other child, his daughter, who was once the respected headmistress of the long defunct school.

Everyone has secrets they'd rather not have exposed & everyone feels impelled to do something about keeping those secrets silent.

SCHOOL FOR HAWAIIAN GIRLS is a haunting, fierce & vivid parable about what happens when one culture conquers another & by fair means & foul, sets about humiliating & eradicating their way of life. When Westerners came into Paradise carting their self-righteous mores & their own personal demons, they expected the native population to be grateful for its re-education. What they got was a living hell of suspicions, superstitions & soul-destroying tragedy.

A stunning, satisfying mystery, well written & finely tuned with a glimpse of the lush paradise islands & the dark impulses that drive us humans into our misery!

A taut thriller with liberal doses of redemption - a super read!

Lydia attends the School for Hawaiian Girls on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1922. When she becomes pregnant, her mother ships her off to Maui, forcing her to give up her illegitimate child. A year later, on her way to find her daughter, Lydia's body is found in the cane field. Raped and her throat slashed, she is soon forgotten by everyone but her family.

Moani owns a kayaking business in Honolulu in 1985. Taking care of her mentally disabled sister, Pua, she dreams of buying the School for Hawaiian Girls and turning it into a hotel. In her attempt to purchase the land, she uncovers information about her family, and Lydia's death, and discovers that the past is never completely buried.

"School for Hawaiian Girls" spans several generations, tying together Lydia's murder with Moani's mundane life. Despite the grisly death, the novel is less a "whodunit" than a tale about the mysteries of family. Several plots are interwoven by the use of various narrators, giving the reader a broader perspective. The different voices can be a bit redundant at times, but the threads of the story twine together well overall.

Georgia Ka'apuni McMillen gives each character/narrator a strong and distinct voice. While not always likable, Sam sheds light on his sister's murder and the factors behind it. Moani, his great-niece, possesses an equally strong presence as she attempts to succeed without her family's dubious assistance.

Supported by a number of secondary characters, several of whom get a chance to tell their story, these protagonists all breathe on the page. The advantage of the multiple points of view is that no one comes across as perfect -- rather, only human. The complexity of the characters keeps you reading even once the murderer is uncovered.

McMillen's writing style is concise and engrossing, steeped in the distinct dialect of the Hawaiian islands. For those not familiar with the Hawaiian pidgin dialect, certain phrases might seem confusing, but it allows for an authenticity of place and person. The ending feels abrupt and leaves several small threads dangling, but compared to the overall story, this flaw is minor.

"School for Hawaiian Girls" is not a murder mystery, but a complex story of generations and the "sins of the fathers" visited on the descendants. It's also a carefully woven tale of the conflict between the missionary influence and the native Hawaiian culture, and the resulting problems and prejudices that arose between the two. Most of all, however, it's a story of the interconnectedness of the islands and its families. If you think that Hawaii is simply palm trees and paradise, you'll learn a valuable lesson from "School for Hawaiian Girls."

The book was in great condition and was sent very quickly; thank you.

The combination of memorable characters, quirky situations, and beautiful prose makes this book a true winner. I've been recommending it to everyone I know who loves short fiction. These stories of people moving forward through their lives or gripped by inertia are heartfelt, sad, and hilarious. The writing is poetic, very visual, almost cinematic: I'm sure Hollywood is going to pick up some options on a couple of these stories. It's a treat to read such good fiction.

This is such a great book! It's a new collection of short stories from the winner of the Flannery O'Connor Award for short fiction. And it's funny - I'd be reading along and then come to a passage or sentence that was so funny I'd laugh out loud - and really, how often does that happen? One of the things that's special about the book is that the characters are really different from story to story. They, and the situations they create for themselves, are truly fresh and original. Short stories are the new, hot thing and I'm glad they're being rediscovered. All my friends are getting this book for Christmas!

The first time you read these short stories, you may find yourself missing subway stops or receiving curious glances from fellow commuters as you try to suppress your smiles and outright laughter. On a second reading - and these stories will repay multiple readings - you become aware of the craftsmanship of Sutton's writing. Sutton is not just an excellent stylist , but a stylist whose prose serves her message. The hard clarity of her writing is the perfect vehicle for the tough and unsentimental tone of these stories. Whether in the jaundiced observations of a divinity school employee sent to pump a donation out of a dying woman ("The Rest of Esther"), or the evocation of an emotionally fraught romantic triangle ("Risk Merchants"), Sutton's blend of spare eloquence and "tough guy" pose recalls Martin Amis more than any contemporary American woman.

A poignant and touching story woven together from journals and notes. It speaks of true Christian faith, love of family and sacrifice for others. It is rich in desription and brings back many memories of living in a small town and attending a local Methodist church.

This book offers the reader hope, understanding, and how the Robertson's faith saw them through so many hardships. The Robertson's suffered pain, sorrow, and adversity, but their steadfast love and abiding faith in the Lord always prevailed throughout the turmoil in their lives. Even though it was a simpler era of time, the hardships that they endured then is still prevelent today. I would strongly suggest that anyone suffering these adversities to read this book in order to gain a stronger appreciation for what we have and to gain faith and understanding for tomorrow.

Shadow Dawn is a one-year diary/journal kept by a pioneer "steel magnolia" during the mid-thirties. Mary Adelaide Webb and her Methodist minister husband, Doctor Webb, take the reader on a journey of faith of the shadows before miracle drugs or bypass surgery as well as the joys of their "holy vow" kept throughout a forty-year Christian marriage. The reader is swept up in the optimism Mrs. Webb exhibits even under dire circumstances and the grace she imparts through her thoughts and actions. I wish I could have known Mary Webb; what an inspiration she is!

This is a truly inspirational book and extremely well written. It focuses on the life of two people after the Civil War and the struggles they endured and gives the reader hope and encouragement for a better tomorrow in the world we live. Those principles applied at that time as well as today. The book is a comfort to the hurting in today's world.

When I read the first chapter of this book at a half price bookstore I had to have it. This book is so real, it's unbelievable. It's the story of a woman (Bobby) discovering herself through relationships (with women). It's the kind of book that can make you lost when you are done because you don't know what to do without those characters in your life!

*My favorite chapter was Fishlips, *Favorite use of an uncommon word "invegle" *Favorite lesbian rescue (you'll have to read it) *Favorite bathtub scene *Favorite lesbian novelist....Georgia ..........Don't miss this book! Lots o luv-Jonny

This is an old novel, first in print in 1987. Which would make it one of the first of a new genre, lesbian romance fiction. After almost twenty years, it stands the test of time, and is still one of the very best written in this category.
Tired of reading the same plot, again and again? The standard is girl meets girl, falls or tries to resist falling in love, discovers obstacles both very real and those also somewhat whimsical, eventually overcoming and getting the girl of her dreams in the end, with just the right blend of romance, sensuality, and sex to keep the pages turning. Settings in unusual locales help stir interest. Interesting occupations and professions and character traits pique curiosity.
Basically, a love story is a love story. This book is unique in many respects. First, the writing is exceptionally fine. Next, there is more humor here than one would expect. Point of view is first person, as the protagonist looks back fondly, sometimes painfully, and tells her own love story.
I'll say it again: very fine writing, great good humor, and this novel stands up to the passage of time. It reads like an old, dear friend.

I carried this book around in my purse for weeks after I finished it simply because I could not let it go. I think I have read it cover to cover at least 3 times and every single time I would sit there nodding up and down at certain parts. I mean Ms. Cotrell gets it EXACTLY right. The first chapter held me fast and never let me go.

This is more than a book about a remarkable community of people. It is an inspiring guideline for how to live.

My family has roots in the Snowbird community; Both of my grandparents on my father's side lived in the Snowbird area, as do many of my cousins to this day. My two aunts moved to the main Qualla rez, and my father left Snowbird for the Navy, and then college in 1956, and never moved back. Even so, there is no place on earth where I feel more at home than the Snowbird mountains.
I preface the review with these statements because when I read this book, I felt like I was "back home." Dr. Neely obviously cares a great deal about this community. Perhaps it makes her ethnology somewhat biased, but it certainly livens up this book! Her descriptions of the annual gospel singing event at Snowbird were on the mark, and her description of the constant factionalism among the Eastern Cherokee band is also (sadly) accurate.
The most useful thing about this book for someone who knows nothing else about the Cherokee is that it explains how the "harmony ethic" is still a part of the way Cherokees live, and how it has subtly changed the Cherokee way of practicing Christianity, and how we deal with modern political and economic life. It shows that it is possible to be "traditional", in a sense, while being fully engaged with the modern world. It also shows that Indians are not the cardboard cutouts so often seen in the movies, or in "New Age" explorations of native spirituality.
If you read this, back it up with Finger's broader histories of the Eastern band, Mooney's classic exploration of Cherokee mythology, and, if you take them with a grain of salt, the Garretts' "Cherokee medicine" series. Then, take a trip to Graham County, preferably around Memorial Day weekend when you can be a part of Snowbird's annual "Fading Voices" festival at Little Snowbird Church, stopping in Robbinsville to visit the Junaluska Burial Place. You'll be welcomed, but if you can't make it Snowbird, this book is the next best thing.

I was lucky enough to take a course from Dr. Neely (Modern American Indians) at Northern Kentucky University and this was a required textbook. Her class was one of the most interesting I have taken as an anthropology major. Her detailed ethnograpy on the Snowbird Cherokees is a must for anyone interested in Cherokee Indians or Indians of the Southeastern United States. She spent several years living with the Snowbirds prior and after writing the book if I remember correctly. You really get a feel how life is like for the Snowbirds. I definately recommend this book!

By the time chapter one is finished, the reader has the comforting sense that they have somehow become part of the Snowbird community. Chapter two, one of my personal favorites, defines a "real Indian." You just might be surprised at the definition Sharlotte uncovered and the source of some of the discrimination felt by the Snowbird population. If for no other reason, this book should be read for this chapter. Far too often, we are satisfied to settle for loose definitions penned by someone without the slightest notion of understanding and the result is invariably and simply wrong. Sharlotte, though, has listened carefully to the voices of these fascinating people; she has let them define their existence within the parameters of their own culture. There is no finer type of understanding than the one which is born within the confines of the specific culture and this book humbly delivers a powerful punch of humanistic reality. Simply put, this work is an import! ant contribution to the very essence of cultural relativism and should not be missed.

This is a replacement for the one she has worn out...A great book for all who cook.

I've owned this book since it was published in 1977, and I've enjoyed so many of its recipes. The layout of the book and its typography make it easy to read. It includes a nice variety of recipes with suggestions on how the dishes should be served, whether or not they can be made ahead or frozen, etc. I've given the book as a gift to countless brides.

I have had this cookbook for several years, and it is the one I continue to turn to whether I need to prepare a simple meal, or plan a dinner party. The recipes are easy to follow, and do not contain ingredients that are difficult to find in my local grocery store. (I hate recipes that require me to spend half a day shopping for unusual items!) This book also has an extensive section of special features, including cake decorating ideas and kitchen charts detailing substitutions and equivalents, that has been a useful resource. Although the cookbook was originally published in the early 80's, the frequent requests I get for recipes I make from it attest to its timeless quality. Buy this book!

A Taste of Georgia is a book that deserves a place in my kitchen. I needed this book. It is a compendium of the foods that I loved in my childhood. Cookbooks are a social history of the time and place that created them , and this book reminds and teaches everyone who uses it what good Southern food is all about. If I could have one cookbook besides Joy of Cooking (which is about the only book that shows you how to string up a chicken) A Taste of Georgia would be the The One!

The style holds the reader; the story grasps the reader in a tale
that displays loyalty and love between a grandfather and a five-year-old granddaughter in a tense drama that reveals the best of us and the worst of us! (From a reader in LA,CA)

An exciting tale of love and compassion between an old man and his five-year-old graddaughter he raised from a baby. A gripping tale of survival against all odds. Written in the style of the best of authors---simple and to the point in a manner to keep you turning the pages!

I thought The Third Season was a remarkable story about a grandfather's devotion to his little granddaughter. It is a story to touch your heart. And it makes us all wish we had a grandfather like that! This novel will wind around your heart just like Poppi is wound around Spice's tiny finger. This is truly a story to stir your emotions.

The good guys win in this one without undue blood and gore. Jack Jones captures the poignant interaction between a widower and his young-but-wise-beyond-her-years granddaughter. Makes you feel good about life again.

The colorful book, Through Georgia's Eyes, was excellent. Georgia, a young girl, learns to paint and discovers she can be an artist despite what her siblings say. The bright illustrations portray Georgia's feelings. Strong in talent, she paints large flowers that make people "feel like real butterflies flitting through out the unvervise of her garden." Painting pictures in my head, the authors action words excited me. The story, super and wonderful, was entertaining. I would give it ***** stars. Jodilyn

Rachel Rodriguez and Julie Paschkis have teamed up beautifully and sensitively to glean the essence of Georgia O'Keeffe's life and paintings. Rodriguez writes almost in a haiku-like prose: simple yet distilling O'Keeffe's life and work to its heart and soul. The book should be a delight to children to read and be read to and encourage young and old alike to follow their dreams.

My sister recommended the book to me and I bought it for myself and all of my friends with children. Everyone loves it! The illustrations are beautiful and draw children into the story about Georgia O'Keeffe's life and accomplishments. It encourages children to be creative and value their individuality -- and naturally leads to conversations about the importance of seeing and appreciating the colors and beauty around us, taking pride in our individual talents, and exploring our creativity. I highly recommend this book. Buy it for your friends with children too. They'll appreciate it!

Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings have always captivated me. As a college student, I had a poster print of one of her paintings---a sinuous sandstone fissure---pressed on to a cheap foamboard backing, and toted it around from dormitory room to apartment to apartment until it was gouged and beaten up. Something about O'Keeffe's color palette, and her eye for natural lines of beauty, provoked within me a stillness even in unstill times.

Somehow Rachel Rodriguez and Julie Paschkis have succeeded in conveying the contemplative beauty at the heart of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings and life. The prose is spare and reflective, mimicking the cadences of the natural world: "A canyon calls her. From the bottom at dusk she sees a long line of cows above, black lace against a dusky sky." The illustrations, cut-paper collages, mate the vibrant intensity of O'Keeffe's artistic vision with the simplicity and wonder of a child's.

The first time I visited New Mexico and marveled at the quality of the light at daybreak and sunset, I couldn't help but wonder whether Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings had perfectly captured colors that are indescribable, or her paintings had so colored my perception that I saw the world through her eyes. This book brought a slice of that warm southwestern sunshine into my gray northwestern spring.

I highly recommend "Through Georgia's Eyes." It is simply enchanting.