South Carolina Books

The author absolutely cannot be faulted on his expertise and technical knowledge of places, government agencies and policies and, to a lesser extent and leaving aside some major flights of fancy, cougars. This certainly gives the story realism and body. Where the prose style fails is in the creation of suspense and atmosphere. There isn't any. While there are many grisly bits, to be sure, there was never anything that lent a little tingle or made the hairs on the back of my neck stir. It seemed as though the author was so concerned about injecting all the information he could that he had no room left for emotion or characterization and that left the book feeling very flat to me.

Be aware also that the author does have an ax to grind concerning the policy of re-introducing predators to areas where they have been exterminated (such as wolves to the western national parks). I'm on the fence myself - I embrace the theory but would not like to embrace an actual mountain lion in my driveway. The author is definitely not on the fence.

Also, the passages giving us the mindset of the cougar are interesting; they show understanding of the animal but too often drift off into anthropomorphism/fantasy - as when the cougar turns over in her mind the fact that motherhood is no fun and so she's not going to get pregnant ever again. He also demonizes the puma to the point that it becomes a sort of furry "Jaws," leaping on everyone it sees and plotting revenge. It contrasts oddly with the determinedly factual nature of the rest of the book and seems more suited to a sort of gruesome Disney-esque
"creatures of the forest" adventure gone bad.

That being said, I found the information interesting and the story itself readable, though never compelling. If you're interested in cougars, hunting, environmental "experiments" or people vs. animal encounters, I think you'll enjoy the book. And for a non-fiction account of people vs. mountain lions, I highly recommend "The Beast in the Garden." It's informative, factual and, unhappily, true, and it will make you look over your shoulder whenever you take the garbage out after dark - especially if you live in the western United States.

Ted Gragg has exhibited his mastery as a wordsmith in this spellbinding and thoroughly captivating novel. Anyone who has gotten to know Ted, listened to his delightful and amusing recounting of his own adventurous childhood and adult experiences, or read "On Target," his monthly column in "Waccamaw Outdoors" knows he can spin a yarn with the ease, ability, tongue-in-cheek humor and down-home common sense of the likes of Will Rogers. "Puma" launches Ted's legendary story-telling reputation into a whole new realm.
Ted calls upon his vast depth of experience with and knowledge of the geography, wildlife, law enforcement agencies and human culture native to South Carolina in general and the Horry County area in particular, as well as firearms and their properties and usages in fleshing out the various facets of this gem of a novel. He paints layer upon layer of insightful and varicolored scenarios as the gripping suspense, constantly shifting between human and animal drama, and never far from the surface, transports the reader from opening sentence to epilogue with no perceptible break in the action and precious little letup. It's not hard to see the horror/drama/suspense/thriller movie playing out on the big screen as Ted's words come alive off the page. I hope it won't be long in the making!
Ted avoids the common error of anthropomorphism when putting us in the mindset of the various animals portrayed, particularly the villain of the story, the man-killer cougar. I'm sure he got help in this area from long talks with Thomas, the guardian of the gate, right Ted?
A "can't put down" white-knuckle thriller that leaves you hungry for the next offering from this very talented author.

An action packed thriller I couldn't put down until the end. Ted Gragg's writing style brings the Puma to life in all it's wild glory. His exceptional style of writing captures the reader with dramatic force and power. You will forget you are reading the words as the story comes alive. The Puma and the characters are so real you can see and hear them from the pages. This is great novel by one of America's newest and most exciting authors on the literary scene today. I expect this novel will make it to the big screen once a screenplay worthy of this great novel is complete.

Puma is imaginative and captivating!

Gragg has written a contemporary adventure novel set in the "Wild" of South Carolina. Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Officer, Mike Carson, finds himself to be the unlikely hero in the hunt for a man eating Cougar! Mike's hunt for a storm ravaged cougar takes on dramatic twists as he fights for more than just his life. With unexpected threats around every corner, it will take more than former military skills and endurance to survive tracking this American Cougar across the Wilds of South Carolina.

Louis L'amour fans, keep your eyes on this writer!!!

LT Range USNR

I don`t read much for pleasure, but the pace of Ted`s novel captured me. It was the focus of my entertainment until the last chilling word.

His style is a blend of Mark Twain`s indiginous vernacular and James Dickey`s "Deliverance"; death stalking in the last remaining wilderness.

When I was a young hunter in south Georgia, there really were a few isolated pockets of wilderness, places where there was no evidence of

human intrusion except for the few ancient mammoth cypress stumps, footprints of past logging expeditions. These retreats have forever disappeared in

the deep south. Now every attempt to relive that anxious, fearful, aloneness, to experience real isolation is thwarted, when I wander into yet another old

campsite; hear vehicle noise only yards from my seemingly isolated deer stand- Oh yes, and sometimes even some idiot`s reggae cell phone`s ring tone.

In Horry county, South Carolina where the tale is set, animal habitat is swiftly shrinking due to the marshalling tourist industry and soaring

property values. Man relentlessly encroaches upon beasts until at some point he is forced to acknowledge the real conflict between the ideal,

"ethical treatment" of animals, and the increasing threat to his personal safety, and even the lives of his family. In Charleston, SC, racoons caring rabies

and intestinal parasites that may kill or infect causing neurologic disease, forage in back yards, eating from pets dishes, and strewing

garbage. Their lives are protected by law. In Myrtle Beach, deer graze the roadsides, golf courses, and back yard schrubbery. Deer predators will

soon follow. If not man, then cyotes, bobcats, and if they are here, even LIONS! Cyotes seem to be steadily moving into this area. In other parts

of the country where more numerous, they prey not only on livestock, but also on household pets. Why not the lion, who has been documented to take

easy human prey?

Ted`s novel came alive for me when I realize I had hunted the same general area where the the central character, the great cat enjoyed the sport and satiety provided

by human prey. I never saw panther sign in Deep Woods club, but then I am not the woodsman Ted is, nor have I spent a fraction of the time he has in that

mosquito plagued, snake and gator pit. Also, I have known Ted to exaggerate but never to prevaricate. Novel and entertainment aside, big cats may already

inhabit this area.

I live in semi-suburban wilderness as well. Once you turn off the black top into my wife`s wanna be horse ranch, you see a house and some white

fence, but behind is a slope of dense undergrowth and myrtle descending to a swamp and small stream. I built a boardwalk across the swamp which ends on a small

deck. I sit out there for hours, meditating, and nature watching. I see owls, ducks, all varieties of song birds, beaver, otter, racoons, and on occasion, deer.

Soon after the cat walk was built, my son Josh was sitting quietly, watching and listening to the whistle of teal swimming by when he saw a

"really big black cat". "Dad he was bigger than a bobcat, much bigger!" Our distant neighbor, roughly one quarter mile from here, is one of Josh`s high

school teachers, and I believe a reliable witness. He and his son have seen the "big black cat" on several occasions.

The book is a fast paced, graphic, and an occasionally gorey tale, intensely entertaining, and as you see, possibly prophetic.

I enthusiastically recommend it.

Straightforward account of the history of the first submarine used in a wartime attack, and the story of its recovery 135 years later after it disappeared following its one and only mission.

Great history, OK writing.

What an exciting and informative book! Part history, part research, part archealogy, but all joined and very readable. The incredible dedication and bravery of the crews who parished aboard the "fish-boat" deserve the highest honor. These men of the past never gave up, just as the modern day team who had to move natural and govermental mountains to raise her from her watery grave. Since the research is on going and the mysteries haven't been all solved this book does not have the definative answers, I try to log unto the hunley.org site periodically to check for new developments. It's well worth reading by anyone interested in Civil War history, early submarine warfare or archealogy.

An absolutely fascinating book. In depth and accurate historical research
gives this book its feeling that the authors where there as it happened. A
work of non-fiction that can be as exciting as a work of fiction, but it is all true !!

I first ran across the story of the Hunley in a popular journal on archaeology and was fascinated by the tale of courage, desperation, and originality. Subsequently I saw parts of a film on the subject, and I was hooked. I found the book by Brian Hicks, Schuyler Kropf in Amazon.com's menu and decided to pursue more information on the subject.

The authors are journalists rather than professional historians or archaeologists, but they do have a talent for writing and a sense of the character of the South and Civil War history that gives the book a more readable quality. They also seem to have researched their topic well. The final pages of the book recount their efforts to follow the "fish boat's" story from first inception to final successful strike against the USS Housatonic, a Union ship participating in the blockade of the Charleston harbor. Considering that the Hunley was a secret weapon and a stealth weapon at that, its paper trail would be expected to be a difficult one to follow. The authors made a remarkable success of it, giving life to their subject.

Interesting too was the narrative of the Hunley's resurrection and restoration. The serendipitous survival of the boat in a nearly intact condition is itself an amazing story. The great care with which it was removed from the water and painstakingly preserved is a credit to underwater archaeology. Certainly it could easily have been a disaster. What the preserved remains had to say about the vessel itself: its construction, its advanced styling, the likelihood of it's having continued to be water free for long enough to allow small stalactites to form, etc. made it an even more entertaining study. It's definitely on par with the Titanic for human interest.

If your interests run to one of the most ingenious achievements in naval history, the gritty determination of desperate men, or simply a good, old-fashioned mystery, this book should captivate you as much as it did me. The authors have sifted through rarified documents and firsthand accounts to present a very intriguing story as only investigative writers in Charleston might. The real merit of this book is its careful, reader friendly presentation of what could otherwise have been an abstruse topic. Here are basic charts, drawings, photos, expert insights, interviews, and personal backgrounds all introduced in historical context. Throughout the book appropriate facts are cleverly recalled and embroidered in the story of the evolving discoveries. When you finally put this book down, you will wish it could have been twice as long and had provided answers to the Hunley's remaining mysteries.

This book was not what I expected it to be. I borrowed this book from the library believing it to be an inspirational book, but I found it to be more depressing than inspirational. It seems that the author decided to allow almost every possible thing that could happen to a slave happen to Joseph.
The book was a little too wordy and at times gave out unneeded information. Even though the book was supposed to be about slaves overcoming the struggles of slavery while keeping faith in God, it was more about seeing just how evil, mean, cruel, and unchristian white slave owners as well as none slave owners could be. The Christians (slaves)constantly go from belief to unbelief in God depending on the problem at the time.
The Christian characters in this book are weak even though they are suppose to have such great faith. "Faith without works is dead". The unchristian ones are evil and almost always have the upper hand and are the stronger.
It even touches on how blacks go against blacks (or shall I say brown) because of the color of their skin.
A lot of the story may be based on true facts, but I thought it was told in a very depressing manner. I have read many books on slavery, but this book was by far the least inspired of all in my opinion.
I most certainly did not finish reading the book with the feeling that I was inspired!! By the time I reached the end I was tired of the cruelty, the word nigger, and the fact of Joseph getting abused in almost every chapter.
I was quite disappointed and would not read from this author again.

This is a wonderful book that explores the complexities of how to live an honorable, Christian life in a society that approves of discrimination. In a world where laws and social prejudice dictate that some humans are less worthy than others, how is a Christian to act if he or she is a member of the oppressing class, or a member of the oppressed class? What can or should one do? The parallels for today are powerful for those who look.

My only criticism of this gripping tale is that the evil characters donÕt even pretend to be Christians, and the Christian characters always are good, even if they are weak. In my experience, sometimes Christians deliberately do evil things, and many non-Christians are wonderfully moral and loving people.

Nevertheless, this is a book well worth reading and discussing with your friends. It is told in a manner that involves the reader on all levels. Marvellously written - powerful message.

Ê This is a wonderful book that explores the complexities of how to live an honorable, Christian life in a society that approves of discrimination. In a world where laws and social prejudice dictate that some humans are less worthy than others, how is a Christian to act if he or she is a member of the oppressing group, or a member of the oppressed group? What can or should one do? The parallels for today are powerful for those who look.

My only criticism of this gripping tale is that the evil characters donÕt even pretend to be Christians, and the Christian characters always are good, even if they are weak. In my experience, sometimes Christians deliberately do evil things, and many non-Christians are wonderfully moral and loving people.

Nevertheless, this is a book well worth reading and discussing with your friends. It is told in a manner that involves the reader on all levels. Marvellously written, with a powerful message.

As an avid reader, it is an extreme compliment that I give this book my A#1 best book ever vote! It was hard to turn the pages without my tears falling on the words! Wonderful story, beautifully written!

The author has done a wonderful job depicting a terrible time in our nation's history from the perspective of those who had to live through it.

The slaves had to endure and put their hope in the afterlife, the Christian slave owners had to consider that their slaves might be better off being under their protection that to be free in the South. Their dilemna also included the fact that their plantations depended on slave labor. The white slave driver had to decide whether it was better for him to remain there and keep the slaves from enduring an abusive driver, or to seek out cheap land for himself and his family in the west.

Hate still abounded among nonChristians and those who called themselves Christians. The main character Joseph endures so much pain (physical and emotional) that you cry for him throughout his struggle. Some parts of the book were a bit wordy, but many other parts were painted vividly with such gripping descriptions that you feel you were there.

I finished the book with a new understanding of the struggles everyone in those times faced in the disgrace of slavery.

an excellent cookbook on a regional cuisine. excellent and accurate choice of recipes (although i wish there were more chicken dinner ones). these recipes are perfect for flavorful basic meals. this is without question the book i use most, especially for sunday dinner. i have passed along the mac/cheese recipe to dozens of folks. the smothered chicken recipe is a staple in our house. try the butternut squash succotash or the spiced apple pie or the stewed chicken. they're can't miss and delicious

the food in this collection isn't fancy or fussy, but it is very very good. this book is best suited for everday folks who have cooking and eating as an integral part of daily home life.

I was eaagerly awaiting the delivery of this book and was disappointed. The recipies were little more than re-hashing some basic carolina cooking. Nothing innovative or even interesting.

I was hoping for more.

This is one of my favorite cookbooks, especially after spending a summer in Charleston last year. I was raised on very traditional southern cooking, and I was looking for something that added a bit of gourmet flair to traditional recipes (and made them a bit healthier). This cookbook does it beautifully, and has a lot of nice background on low country cooking, food traditions, and history. The collard greens and gumbo recipes are just spectacular. I like too that there are basic recipes for things like hoppin john and plain old rice. No pretty pictures, but the volume of recipes more than makes up for it.

If you are looking for something reminiscent of your grandma's cooking in the fifties, with lots of fatback and crisco, you won't find it here. But I think this is a much tastier, healthier turn on my favorite little bit of southern food.

This is a wonderful cookbook, with all the southern cookbooks out there this has to be the simplest one I've used that delivers southern food with a gourmet touch BUT without the complications that gourmet recipes sometimes present to the home cook. DELICIOUS, DELICIOUS

I really disliked this coobook because it did not capture the real way people of the south cook. I am born and raised in the south and this is nothing like the food you get from big momma's house. There is absolutly nothing "gourmet" about true soul food. You use what you have to make a great meal. It is not about splurging on items that you would not normally have on hand. You use what you have to make a meal. Thanks for the effort though...

I first picked up this book on a whim in Dean's friend's shop in Phoenicia and assumed it would be just another gardening how-to book. Boy was I ever wrong! I have never had a gardening book inspire me in such a way! I wanted to go out straight away and work in the garden and smell the rich earth and let the sun warm my back. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of reading this book during the long Catskill winter! Now, I read Dean's book each and every spring to give me the inspiration to spend hours digging and planting, and I frequently browse for articles and/or other books written by Dean, or similar in style. (I haven't found any that compare!) Not only do I wish Dean was my neighbor, but I wish he would write another book! This book is one of the few that I am actually wistful when I finish the last page....I want it to go on and on.

I also had the great fortune of touring Dean's garden during a garden tour 2 years ago...what a treat that was! I went home and wanted to rip everything out and start over, or at least have Dean come and advise me. His garden is every bit as beautiful and inspiring as his book.
A "must read" for EVERY gardener!

That is probably too mean a title for a very, very personal book, yet it seems appropriate. Mr. Riddle is a sincerely down-to-earth person, it seems, and when he says something is "purdy" I suppose he means it. His A-shucks persona gets in the way of some very good advice, however.

But this is not to say that Mr. Riddle is a poor writer -- far from it, or that he does not know his subject -- he is a classically trained horticulturist and writes a well-received garden column for Elle Décor magazine. He knows what he is doing.

There is not much in this book to learn, or that you cannot learn elsewhere -- but as the travel industry says, half the fun is the journey. The process Mr. Riddle uses to refine his design ideas is the real essence of the gardening parts of the book. His humanity and the depth of his friendships provides the soul of the memoir part of the book.

My advice if you buy this book is to read through it twice to pick up the bits you miss when you are rolling your eyes at his hokey expressions-- it is worth it.

The librarian at Skene Library in Fleishmanns, NY foisted this book upon me as I had missed Dean Riddle's personal appearance and reading. I politely took it home. I started to skim read and three hours later had finished the book and made a list of pages to return to for information. This book is a jewel of a read and a must for any Catskill gardener. I have had a "failed garden" for ten years in the Felishmanns area. I used to be a good gardener. Not in the Catskills! Mr Riddle provides a virtual how to manual for my next year's garden. But beyond the practical, it is a delightful, fast paced, funny read.

Out of all the gardening books I've purchased for our public library in the last four years, I would recommend Dean Riddle's book first and foremost to our readers as a balm to the soul, an inspiration to gardeners everywhere, and a plain old good read. The focus of the book is informative yet personal: it is the story of one man's coming of age in the garden, his connection with the strange and often-ignored vibrancy of the horticultural world, and his joyous appreciation of people, plants, dirt, sticks, old glassware, fried eggs, and just about everything else.

For four months a year I read virtually nothing but gardening books of all types as our orders come in to the library. Very few of the writers are able to touch and inform readers at the same time, and it is this gift that Dean Riddle brings to his writing. The book is organized in such a way that Riddle is able to incorporate stories into his highly readable and clear descriptions of his own garden plans. Within the space of a few paragraphs, the reader finds himself in Dean's world. The fully-colored images and sensations of Dean's garden stay brilliantly painted in one's mind long after the book is closed.

I am really enjoying this book. I am not done yet, but I have already started looking at my garden differenly. I am thinking about getting some more garden books to help me improve my garden. This book is whimsical and delightful. The author writes with a wonderful style. I hope that he is allowed to stay at his rented bungalow forever. My only complaint is the books that Amazon suggests you should get if you enjoyed this book. They all seem to be about being Gay. This book is so much more than a book about a man coming out of the closet. I think anyone would like this book straight or gay. Have to go and stroll in my garden. Enjoy the book!

Where is that very fine line between supporting a cause and breaking the law? This is a history of the six men who provided money to John Brown and may have crossed that line in supporting him. Slavery was the cause of a major division and source of disruption in nineteen centaury American life. The Northern states managed to abolish slavery with minimal problems. At the same time, slavery in the Southern states became immensely profitable and the foundation on which a society rested. Slavery colored every national debate, becoming the sticking point for westward expansion and the source of radicalism in both the North and South. Agreeing with their position and knowing history makes it easier for us to be sympatric toward these men. This masks the fact that their money supported actions that caused a number of deaths.

Who are "The Secret Six" and why would they support someone like John Brown? The answer to that question is the subject of this book. Edward Renehan shows that there is no easy answer to this question, providing a look at six complex men. Individually and collectively, they decided that the United States was evil and their cause placed them above the law. Two placed themselves "in harms way" during resistance to the Fugitive slave law or in Kansas. The balance stayed home and allowed their money to do their fighting. Into their lives came John Brown, failed businessman, possible criminal, zealot and ready to "fight slavery". Six wealthy men wanting to strike a blow for freedom and one zealot with money problems was the almost perfect match.

The book contains a very good portrait of all the main characters. An overbearing possibly abusive husband, a hypochondriac, a number of well meaning people that were committed to revolt and a cold-blooded killer is the cast. They do not make for a likeable or heroic group and the author details their good and bad points. Along the way, we get a nice overview of bleeding Kansas as seen in Boston and as Brown contributed to it. This build up, allows the reader to understand how the Secret Six were able to accept Brown's ideas and assume his plans would work. When Harpers Ferry failed, the Secret Six realized that many might consider them to be as guilty as Brown. This section shows them at their worst as they scrambled to get clear of the mess they had helped create.

The opening chapter is one of the best introductions I have ever read, setting the tone of the book, introducing the cast and providing closure. The writing style is very good and easy to read. The book is informative and complete, providing a look into a world of privileged radicals in the years leading up to the Civil War. This is a balanced history, free of condemnation or adulation leaving judgment up to the reader.

John Brown remains an elusive figure even today, nearly 150 years and who knows how many books after his execution. But our continuing fascination for the Brown--was he a saint? a madman? a traitor? a hero?--tends to overlook the fact that his activities, both in bleeding Kansas and Harpers Ferry, were financed and supported by many aristocratic and wealthy New England abolitionists. Edward Renehan's genuinely fascinating book offers us the first in-depth look at the leading six of them: Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a pastor who became a colonel of black troops in the Civil War; Theodore Parker, minister and philosopher; Franklin Sanborn, educator; Samuel Howe, physician; and Gerrit Smith of New York and George Luther Stearns of Boston, wealthy businessmen.

For me, the overriding impression from Renehan's narrative is that the involvement of the "secret six" with Brown was not unlike a Gilbert & Sullivan comedy. The six raised money for weapons that were frequently low quality; they self-importantly sprinkled letters to one another with codewords: "shepherds" for soldiers; "furniture" for guns, "Hawkins" for Brown; they insisted on not knowing details about Brown's plans to protect themselves, yet got petulant when they felt they were kept out of the loop; when Brown was captured, all but one of them (Higginson) panicked mightily (Higginson, to his never-ending mortification, seems never to have been recognized as a conspirator by the authorities); and by the time Brown was hanged on 2 December 1859, Howe and Stearns had fled the country, Parker was dying of consumption in Italy, Sanborn couldn't make up his mind whether or not he ought to flee, Smith was in an insane asylum, and Higginson was planning a half-cocked (and never pulled off) plan to rescue Brown's still imprisoned companions in the crazy raid on Harpers Ferry.

All this is absurd and even silly. But things take on a much more ominous tone when Renehan paints a portrait of Brown as a religious fanatic who seems indifferent to life in Kansas (the Pottawatomie massacre is just he most famous example); who believed that his raid on Harpers Ferry was approved by God and hence infallible; whose military planning included the bizarre insistence that low ground was more defensible than high; and who apparently felt no compunction about adding deception and common theft to murder in the pursuit of his goal to spark a slave insurrection.

The fascinating subtext of Renehan's book, then, is a question: how is it that well-educated, wealthy, upper-class men could've so fallen under the sway of a man like Brown that they were willing to risk treason to finance his insurrection (notwithstanding that after the revolt failed they lost their nerves)? Part of the answer lies in the secret six's hatred of slavery and their despair over a legal end to it. But part of the reason must also have been Brown's charisma. Mad as he probably was--as even Higginson years later said he was--his magnetism was overpowering.

A valuable addition to our understanding of the pre-civil war in Kansas as well as the debacle at Harpers Ferry. Highly recommended.
__________
* The title Higginson gave himself and his five fellow backers of Brown who, Higginson believed, all betrayed Brown after his capture by trying to deny their complicity. The reference, of course, is to Peter's denial of Jesus.

If you judge a book by its publisher, which is not always a bad thing to do, you will not expect much out of this volume. And you had best begin this book not expecting too much or you'll find yourself disappointed. I give it three stars out of generous feeling tonight.

The author attempts to give us a history of the backers both financially and morally of John Brown and his attempts to overthrow slavery. The men involved were intellectual, wealthy individuals who should have known better, but apparently were overtaken by self aggrandizement. This could be a very exciting and interesting work on this subject is little known and very much ignored, however, it is a rather stuffy and dry examination of this very exciting incident in 19th century American history. The author rightly describes the John Brown as a religious fanatic and murderer, and while he shows me six co-conspirators who lost their nerve after Brown was arrested, the book tends to put these people in the light of bored men who want some game to play at and when that fails they do all they can to distance themselves from their failure. This is substantially true. However, these men were more than what they appear in this rendering. He also would have done well to flesh out their other actions and accomplishments, not to make them heroes, but to give us a better look at their times.

If you are looking for a book to give a general picture of New England abolitionists, you might very well find this book helpful to you. You should not expect any great writing were amazing research discoveries. If you have a fairly substantial knowledge of this era and of these individuals you will get much out of this volume.

No one has done more than Renehan to explore and explain the Byzantine tale of abolitionist John Brown and his idealistic but confused (and sometimes absurd) northeastern bankers. This is a splendid story that, by polishing with his customary narrative excellence, Renehan has turned into a real gem.

THE SECRET SIX does a wonderful job of revealing the tangled web of intrigue that lay behind John Brown's 1859 incursion at Harpers Ferry. This is stunning stuff: six affluent northeasterners, one of them the husband of poetess Julia Ward Howe and another the leading Unitarian minister of his day, financing terrorism in slave states -- and going about it methodically, calmly, and deliberately. What a story. And so well told.

I like the book a whole lot!The number one reason why is because it is written about my hometown!

This was one of the best books I've ever read about Black history in small towns. Very detailed and well done.When reading this novel I felt like I was there. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

I thought the book was better than average. The ending was a little disappointing, but I thought the theme of the book was
great. I thought Eleanora Tate did an awesome job at describing the characters, especially the peoples' ancestors. I didn't really like the whole paegent thing, because I'm a boy. (you know what I mean) The only reason I read it was because my teacher made me, but I'm glad I did.

The Secret of Gumbo Grove is an excellent book. I highly recommend it, especially if you like mysteries. It is about an 11-year old girl, Raisin Stackhouse who help Miss Effie, the church secretary, clean out an old graveyard. Miss Effie knows all about the people buried in the cemetery, and is happy to tell their stories to Raisin. After Miss Effie gives Raisin the church records, she finds herself in a mystery, who is "Gumbo" Dickson? Why doesn't anyone in the town want to talk about him? Could this African American be the founder of Gumbo Grove? I really liked how the author, Eleanora E. Tate, tied the mystery in with Raisin's everyday life. For example, the "Miss Ebony Calvary County Pageant," in which one of Raisin's sisters, Hattie, participates. I disliked Miss Aussie, who wouldn't even admit that some people in the graveyard were her relatives! Miss Aussie wanted to destroy the cemetery. I also found it very sad that marijuana and alcohol were sold to anyone, especially minors, in her community. Luckily, Raisin didn't take any. This book is one of my favorites, and I hope you like it too.

The Secret of Gumbo Grove is an excellent book. I highly recommend it, especially if you like mysteries. It is about a 11-year old girl who helps Miss Effie, the church secretary, clean out an old graveyard. Miss Effie knows all about the people buried in the cemetery, and is happy to tell their stories to Raisin. After Miss Effie gives her the old church records, she finds herself in a mystery, who is "Gumbo" Dickson? Why does no one in the town want to talk about him? Could the African-American man be the founder of Gumbo Grove? I really liked how the author, Eleanora E. Tate tied the mystery in with Raisin's regular life. For example, the "Miss Ebony Calvary County Pageant",in which one of Raisin's sisters, Hattie, participates. I greatly disliked Miss Aussie, who wouldn't even admit that some people in the graveyard were her relatives! Miss Aussie wanted the cemetery to be destroyed. I found it very sad that marijuana and alcohol were sold to minors in her community, but luckily, Raisin didn't take any. This book is one of my favorites, and I hope you like it too.

At least that's what I tell myself when I sit down to drink up the words and prose that Tony Earley puts on paper when he's writing and not teaching over at Vanderbilt University! (I'm just playing, of course.) Earley's works, two short collections of short stories and the stupendously written "Jim the Boy" evoke a deft blend of early Ernest Hemingway with the Southern traditions and common sense of Flannery O'Connor and Carson McCullers, among others. This collection "Somehow Form a Family: Stores That Are Mostly True" is merely another solid example of his work ethos and ability to spin a good yarn. I've read it several times and it becomes more enjoyable, as familiar and comfortable as a worn pair of shoes, each and every time. You should treat yourself to the experience, too.

I've read Earley's other two books--both of which were truly excellent--and I had high expectations for this effort, but was somewhat disappointed.

The trademark gentleness that marks Early's other work isn't as deftly handled here. Some of the stories don't really amount to much. Because the book is largely autobiographical I get the sense the material constrained the writer in ways fiction wouldn't.

Actually, to my mind the best writing in the book is the introduction where Early explains the "Mostly True" aspect of the title, wherein he muses about the clarity of memory and the ways in which it changes over time.

This isn't a bad little book. It just pales in comparisons to both Tony's other book of short stories or his Jim the Boy novel. Try one of those if you liked this one--you're in for a treat if you do.

This book rekindled a flame in me to write some of my memoirs for our children and grandchildren. Written with heart and humor. Evokes many childhood memories.

Tony Earley is a really great writer and this is a outstanding book! I first encountered Tony Earley in the pages of The Oxford American and his essay, "A Worn Path", which is included in this book. He is a wonderful writer and reading his essays brought back countless memories of my own life. I can't say enough about this book!

Tony Earley's third book consists of ten previously published pieces that in his introduction he says he hesitates to call essays but rather stories "mostly true because memory, like imagination, is largely a function of individual perception." So there you have it. At least, unlike the plethora of recently published writers who either don't seem to understand the difference between fiction and nonfiction or choose to ignore it, Mr. Earley acknowledges the difficulty of keeping the two completely separate. The "pieces" cover a variety of topics and for the most part have little in common with each other except the fine writing of the author.

I reread most of the articles and found myself liking them better the second time. I attribute that to Mr. Earley's attempt at honesty and his expertise with words and finally my seeing myself and members of my family in many of his pieces. (He also in his introduction hopes that his readers recognize themselves here.) How many writers would admit to something so politically incorrect as trying to kill a sick cat to put it out of its misery? ["Shooting The Cat"] His language is impeccable. On an autumn morning in North Carolina, a window was "intricately jeweled with frost." Dan Ledbetter (Earley's grandfather) at 6'4" was "so skinny that he seemed to have been constructed from spare parts." And the above-mentioned cat, in healthier days "had come to Granny's house in the usual way: it showed up on the back steps freshly weaned and mewed solicitiously, as if seeking work." I recognize the author's blue Carolina mountains, the Tennessee sighting of which always takes my breath away. Also, in the title piece, Mr. Earley remembers the bad reception of his family's Admiral television built in the 1950's and understood that his family was poor because they owned a black and white set too heavy for Hoss on "Bonanza" (my dad's favorite TV program) to pick up by himself. Mr. Earley also includes a thoughtful chapter on the uniqueness of words he heard in his childhood and is saddened that in only a generation these "colorful" expressions will die. ["The Quare Gene"] In a moving passage he remembers visiting his maternal greatgrandfather "well into his nineties" and being asked by the family patriarch, "Who are you?" The youngster replied, "I'm Reba's boy. Clara Mae's grandson." (At family reunions in East Tennessee, although I'm fairly sure my past is longer than my future, I am always referred to simply as "Frank's boy" and will remain forever nameless.)

In "A Worn Path," Mr. Earley traces his religious upbringing as a child at Rock Springs Baptist Church, his later flirtation with the Episcopal Church because he "loved the smell of incense as much as. . . the smell of beer," his attempts at atheism and finally his peace, (sort of) believing that he is watched over by a loving God and that "as we walk through the world, even along the dangerous paths we have chosen for ourselves, God worries about where we put our feet."

Regardless of who you are, where you are from, whether or not you believe in God or think you should kill sick cats, you will marvel at Mr. Earley's beautifully burnished prose. We can all be thankful that in spite of the fact that as a youngster, he seems to have watched television day in and day out, he still grew up to be a fine writer.

Anyone who's visited Columbia knows exactly why the Union burned it down. What a pit. The books ok, though.

Union Major John Arledge was investigating the disappearance of a couple of his men that were last seen at the Heyward residence. Sparks flew immediately between Arledge and Ellen Heyward, who was struggling to simply survive and protect her sister, Pam. The sisters were forced to flee to Columbia and reside with a relative. However, they were hardly there before General Sherman's march on Columbia (Feb. 1865) happened.

*** Here is a tale that shows the author's deep research and knowledge on her topic! It is bold and authentic in historical detail and rich in colorful characters! Miriam Freeman Rawl shows the trials women like Ellen and Pam had to survive through during this hard time of America's past. It also reminds us that even among holocausts and its rubble aftermath, love can still be found. In my opinion, this author has succeeded in creating a story to win the hearts of readers everywhere. A MUST for people who enjoyed "Gone With The Wind"! ***

Miriam Freeman Rawl's From the Ashes of Ruin is the perfect book to tuck away on your summer vacation. Or for anytime that you want to immerse yourself with another time, another place. Ms. Rawl's engaging storyline and vivid writing style quickly absorbs the reader and brings to life Columbia, SC at the end of the War Between the States.

An all together good read in the best traditions of storytelling.

Against the backdrop of the antebellum world, here is a story of resiliance in the face of annihilation. With a deft, loving zeal Miriam Rawl reveals the sinuous soul of an unconquerable nobility that was the Old South. This is an unsentimental, but personal panarama of a people, a place, a woman and a man that will never bow down to the mere technical defeat bestowed upon the Confederacy by ignorant historians. Here the South lives again in the tough musculature of the human heart.

Being from Michigan, thus the Union as it was in 1862, I knew the destrucion placed upon the Southern states during the Civil War was bad, but nothing could describe it as vividly as this book. Reading it I felt like I was a part of the Civil War....and I was scared. It's a wonderful book with a perspective of the war I never felt before.

Angela Banks has done an awesome job portraying the Master and Slave relationship from infancy to adulthood. This is a love story also where the fact that racism is taught and not a born attribute is clearly displayed. Some of your characteristics and decisions you make are due to your upbringing. Promise and Gus are bestfriends, have a brother/sister relationship, and are raised together. Promise has so much to offer Gus and is a survival guide for him, as they grow up, she is still an essential asset to him, but unfortunately because of the environment and historical time, there relationship cannot remain the same and this is where the boundaries are crossed and the differences are clearly identifiable. There are some hard lessons learned for each character of this story and even Masters don't always have things there ways. Georgeanna is the product of the superficial, racist, spoiled, inherited riches. She is the one character in this story that I wish I could transform into character and jump into the pages and give her something that her great grandchildren would remember. This story also shows how back in time, Incest was tolerated amongst people. So many people also didn't know the truth even if they could read, because they had interpreted even scriptures incorrectly to support their way of living. This is not another roots or queen story, this depicts a different side to slavery and the emancipation. I really like the way Angela Banks brought these characters to life and this is a book that I would love to see made into a movie, but it will need to be a movie that is based solely on the book. Very well written and I look forward to reading more from Angela Banks in the future.

I really enjoyed this book, it has romance but it is far from a romance novel. (as a man, these are generally not my favorite...) The central theme to this novel is the interaction between slaves and slaveholders just before the Civil War. It was a rough time in American history and bad choices were made by good people. Each side is portrayed in a fair light, and there are no caricatures. The characters and their relationships develop naturally and I really began to care for them. I am anxious to find out what happens to Gus and Promise in a sequel....

Angela Banks novel The Fruits of Atterley, portrays the perils of slavery and how it affected a family. The Rileys owners of Atterley Plantations are predominate political and social figures in their community, however when the love their son has for one of the slaves is exposed, it set off events that could ruin their lifestyle and reputation.

. This author gives us a portrayal of slavery that you often do not get from history books. Even though the characters used in this novel are fictional, she uses past history and actual letters pertained from the historical societies to bring these characters to life. This novel raises questions and makes you think about how these characters especially slaves lived through those trying times of slavery.

Review by Jen Murphy
SistaGirl Book Club

The Fruits of Atterley is the story of two childhood companions raised together on a rice plantation in South Carolina. Gus is the son of Zachary Riley, the owner of Atterley plantation and his wife Rebecca, a founding member of The All Saints Ladies Benevolence Society.

Promise is the personal slave of Gus. The daughter of Abraham, Atterley's African born blacksmith and Cora a former New Orleans prostitute.
Promise is educated and given the finest of everything by Rebecca. Promise longs to be just like her mistress. She feels that she isn't like the other slaves. She doesn't have to work hard like the rest of he slaves.

Promise and Gus share a close childhood friendship. When Gus is sent to a Military Academy their friendship is reduced to letters and the lavish gifts Gus sends to her. When Gus returns home the family tries to push him and his cousin Georgeanna together. Gus realizes he is in love with Promise and when their relationship turns from friends to lovers their lives are forever changed and complicated by racism, the master slave relationship and a series of horrific events that force Promise to realize she isn't any different than the rest of the Atterley slaves. This book is deeply rooted with the roles of southern society, political tension and slavery. I enjoyed this bittersweet novel rich in character and very well defined. A vivid walk back in time that cracks the heart. I highly recommend this novel. A remarkable story. A historical novel of importance.

Reviewed by
Dawnny2005

The Fruits of Atterley transports the reader back to the Civil War era and examines the complex interrelationships of the slaves and slave-owning families who reside at the fictional South Carolina rice plantation, Atterley. The novel depicts the social attitudes of the day and cleverly incorporates historical facts, philosophies, and personalities through the adventures of the main characters.

The novel begins with the birth of Augustus (Gus), future heir of Atterley, and Promise (a mulatto slave) and follows them through to adulthood. Gus's father, Zachary Riley, has political ambitions through his dealings with the powerbrokers of yesteryear. We are exposed to some of the more popular viewpoints and rational used by land owners and statesmen to justify South Carolina's succession from the Union and their stand for slavery. Gus's mother (Rebecca) is a genteel Southern Belle who sympathizes with her slaves until the "unthinkable" happens. Gus and Promise grow from childhood playmates to adult lovers only to have their passion doused by the harshness of reality. A terrible scandal ensues, the Civil War erupts, and Atterley and its descendents, like the fruits of its orchards, are left bitter, bland, and mealy.

If you're familiar with novels of this type, the passages on the horrors of slavery will seem familiar because the author thoroughly intermingles the injustices and ugliness of human servitude in the stories of surrounding characters â€" endless back-breaking labor, the beatings, the rapes, the family separation, attempts toward freedom, wrath of the master's wives upon female slave competition, etc. However, one unexpected and somewhat refreshing aspect of this novel is the liberties that Promise and Hannah (another slave) take in their speech and behavior. Even though this is a work of fiction, it seemed as though they were a bit blatant and disrespectful (by yesterday's standards) at times in their actions toward their owners. Promise's educational level and her openly teaching other slave children to read also seemed a bit far fetched but easy to overlook. I would have liked to see other characters developed more but understood it to be a story of the South in a turbulent time and told through the lives of Gus (a white man) and Promise (a female slave).

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading its sequel.

Reviewed by Phyllis