Washington Books

The book "Letters from Vinnie" is about a teenage girl who follows her dreams. She started sculpting and knew it was what she wanted to do in life. After sculpting a brilliant bust of President Lincoln's head, she entered a contest to sculpt a statue in remembrance of Abraham Lincoln. Though her lover Boudy wants her to stop sculpting and, marry him, she rejects the proposal because of her passion for sculpting. By winning the contest she gets $5,000 and decides to use it on a vacation to Europe with her parents. When things go wrong in Vinnie Ream's life she stands strong and fights her way through them.

THis is a great book for lovers of art, romance, and Civil War history. Vinnie is an intriging person that draws you in from page one- worth your time

I recentely finished "Letters from Vinnie" , a story of a young girl's letters from herself to her Counsin Regina. The time period is the time of Abraham Lincoln , and the subject on everybodys mind: Whether this war will end. Vinnie Ream , finds herself falling in love with sculpting and Abraham Lincoln himself. When she finally gets a grant to sculpt Mr.Lincolns head after his faitful death , all changes for Vinnie Ream. This book is based on true accounts and true characters.

I recentely finished "Letters from Vinnie" , a story of a young girl's letters from herself to her Counsin Regina. The time period is the time of Abraham Lincoln , and the subject on everybodys mind: Whether this war will end. Vinnie Ream , finds herself falling in love with sculpting and Abraham Lincoln himself. When she finally gets a grant to sculpt Mr.Lincolns head after his faitful death , all changes for Vinnie Ream. This book is based on true accounts and true characters.

History has always been fascinating to me.When I picked up the book, Letters From Vinnie by Maureen Stack Sappéy, I was transported back through time to Washington D.C. during the Civil War. There, through a girl's letters to her best friend, Regina I learned about Vinnie Ream, a high spirited, stubborn, head-strong individual. In the year 2000 with the advanced computers, e-mail, chat rooms, cell phones, and overnight rush delivery services, it's pleasant to read an author's version of a letter from a time period over one hundred years ago. The letters were composed so well that I actually began to believe that those letters were real and that I was Regina! You may not agree that learning about the hard life of an unwanted sculptress isn't the best plot for a book, but guess what? To me it is!

"THE MAN TO SEE" was a great book. Since I'm going to be attending law school this fall (of 2007), I thought it wouldn't hurt to read books by and about lawyers; man, am I glad I included Evan Thomas's "THE MAN TO SEE" because this is without a doubt one of the best biographies I have read in ages. Page by page, you feel caught up in a drama without end. The characters, adventures, and funny stories add so much luster to a larger-than-life figure. By the end of the book, I was sorry to see it all end; I felt like I actually new Mr. Williams! If you're interested in a good biography check out "THE MAN TO SEE." You won't be disappointed.

This is one of the best biographies ever written. A wonderful piece about an interesting man.

I have never been more absorbed by a book than by this one. Admittedly my interest was heightened by the fact that Williams was my criminal law teacher at law school, but I found this a fantastic book. Evan Thomas (did you know he is Norman Thomas' grandson?) paints Williams warts and all, and I found it a searing read. The account of Williams' deathly fight with cancer is most poignant. Anyone at all interested in law should read this book, and anyone interested in an amazing life will be enthralled by this account.

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read. It is a great story about a great man. I read a lot of biographies and I can tell when the author is fauning over his subject - just read some of Robert Slater's books on Jack Welch. Thomas book did none of that. Thomas made you feel that he was giving an accurate and true account of Williams life. Of couse Thomas was helped by selecting a subject that was larger than life, a one of a kind person both in legal talent and raw personality. This book is right up there with "Vince", Michael O'Brien's biography of Vince Lombardi. Interestingly, Lomardi and Williams were very much alike - both very religious yet profane, and above the rest of their competitors in their chosen fields. They were also both like to drink, were emotional and quick to say exactly what they thought or felt about something. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read biographies about great men.

Take a fascinating subject-- Edward Bennett Williams. Add a highly-skilled author with remarkably deep interviewing and archival research skills-- Evan Thomas. Put in a lot of hard work. And presto-- you have Thomas' "The Man To See," one of the most thorough biographies ever written (I have read many hundreds).

Edward Bennett Williams was one of the most dynamic men of the 20th Century-- a great figure of destiny whose life would have seemed emptier had not Evan Thomas been his biographer. EBW was a self-made man in the days where one could still achieve that accolade. He was no spoiled yuppie of family money. Bright, hard-working, forward-thinking, compassionate and disciplined-- and a wonderful rogue!-- this was Edward Bennett Williams. Warts and all, Evan Thomas presents the larger-than-life lawyer who pioneered criminal law practice in postwar America, bringing the constitution into the 20th Century. He sought power for the purpose of doing good, after doing well. Thomas interviewed practically every living person with whom EBW had a conversation or situation.

I am re-reading "The Man to See" for the fourth time in ten years. It remains fresh and fun. What a brilliant book!

The first time I hear of either Mingering Mike or Dori Hadar was when they both came to Amsterdam. Dori Hadar gave a lecture in the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam, following the series theme "Amateurism". This book not only tells of a person's amazing power to create beatiful and original art, but also gathers material which is in itself a world to visit over and over again. I was very pleased to have bought it.

I have been following Mingering Mike's intriguing story from the beginning since Dori and Frank discovered Mike's hidden gems. Let me say, I am still nothing short of amazed on this diggin' phenomenon.

Top quality stuff here, so don't sleep!

I was so excited to finally see Mingering Mike's work in detail- as well as the scoop on this fascinating story. This book delivers- and features all of the charming words and whimsical creativity of a true outsider artist. Much like Henry Darger and his mystique- Mingering Mike's appeal lies in his dedication to his dream and the crafty ways he set out to acquire making it in the music business. The New York Times story on this kept me captivated and now I'm proud to own the final product of all this hard work! Kudos to Hadar and pals who made it possible...and of course mingering mike!

an unbelievable discovery which almost seems too incredible to be real. a socio-cultural time capsule of american history which gives us an incredible collection of work as well as the incredible story of it's discovery. this is outsider art at its finest! so earnest, heartwarming, and real. an AMAZING book! thank you dori and mike!

What an amazing book! Mingering Mike is a true superstar and Mr. Hadar has done a great job chronicling his (imaginary) career. Can't wait to hear the songs!

THIS BOOK IS POWERFUL, ITS SHOCKING, AND IT IS ASPIRING. THERE IS NOTHING ON CHANNEL 11 THAT BRINGS THE HONEST, INSIGHTFUL, VERY REAL ACCOUNT THAT MR.DOUGLASS DOES IN HIS BOOK. FROM SLAVE TO FREE-MAN, THIS IS TRUELY AN AMERICAN SUCCESS. SKIP THE INTRO, AND JUMP INTO IT.

Douglass's second, and lengthier, narrative fills in many of the gaps left in his first autobiography: we learn about his mother, his siblings, and more details about his psychological transformation from brute to man. It's quite insightful, as Douglass is careful to relate each of his personal experiences to the innate evil of the peculiar instituition, for both the slave and the slave holder.

What are your impressions of Frederick Douglass? What would you say about Douglass observation that "conscience cannot stand much violence? Do you think it was possible to be a good slave owner?Why or why not? Why does Douglass view slaveholders as well as slaves as victims of slavery? Why is education incompatible with slavery? Why do you think the white children's attitude toward slavery is different from that of their parents? How would you describe Douglass attitude towards Mrs. Auld?

Having read a biography of Douglass many years ago, I thought I knew his story. Hearing through his pen was an entirely different matter. What a master of the language and insighful set of observations on human nature.

I am a man of many words, but words fail me in my endorsement of this book. The letter to his former master in the appendix is worth the price of the book by itself.

Standing in line at the Lincoln Memorial, a book beckoned to me that I previously hadn't seen before. The face of Frederick Douglas grabbed my attention; a man that I've respected for many years, encountering him mainly through my study of Abraham Lincoln. On the spur of the moment, I snatched up a copy of "My Bondage and My Freedom", and within a few days, my admiration in Frederick Douglass was transformed from interest to awe.

Frederick Douglass orginially penned his book as a response to people's accusations that someone as articulate and composed as he couldn't possibly be a former slave. With that goal in mind, Douglass wrote his memoirs, in a straight forward, powerful way. In the book, he painfully and honestly documents the path his early life took; the memories of being owned, how slaves coped during these times, and how he managed to pull himself out of it all.

While Douglass' life in itself is amazing, (as he describes the amazing process he undertook to learn how to read), what amazed me even more are Douglass' discourses that he sprinkles through the book, discussing relevant issues during the time. In one instance, he addresses the concern about why slaves simply didn't run away from their oppressive situations. It's almost as if you can actually hear the people talking to Douglass and he responding to them.

This book does not only tell the tale of a truly amazing American, but gives us a unique insight to the times. This book should be required reading in every high school in this country.

I've been a fan of PDR for years and years and think she creates the most wonderful characters. She's probably the master of the damaged hero (well maybe co-master with Gayle Wilson). Rarely has she disappointed me. I particularly enjoyed her latest offering because it was in the longer format that category fiction is denied.

This is a story of revenge, hatred, and old animosities made to come right by love, tolerance, reparation and forgiveness. By examining the heart and soul of a man tormented by a crime he perhaps did not truly commit (we are kept guessing), PDR is able to evoke the meaning of true love in both the sexual and non-sexual way. Rhys Hazard is a man who feels undeserving of love and comfort who has the great good fortune to meet a woman who can offer him both and by doing so achieves a level of love and completion for herself. Although events conspire against them, their regard for each other makes them complete.

Excellent story from a much admired author. Please can we have her next one soon?

Well written and touching. I laughed and I cried and at the end felt wonderful!

Read this one, you won't be sorry.

"Beloved, best-selling,romance author, Paula Detmer Riggs will win even more readers' hearts with her absolutely wonderful contemporary, NEVER WALK ALONE for Onyx in June 2003. Ms. Detmer Riggs known for dealing with tough issues in her storylines deftly handles several in this endearing novel. Millionaire mogul, Rhys Hazard decides to help save the flooded small town of Osuma, Washington by expanding his trucking empire there. Not intending to go there himself, Rhys is forced to return to his hometown and relive his tragic past when his trucking foreman is injured in a car crash. Rhys knows all about terrible car accidents since he caused one as a teenager which killed two young children and a schoolbus driver. Rhys was severely injured and sentenced to four years in prison. When bed-and-breakfast owner, Brina Sullivan first meets her new tenant, Rhys Hazard, she is instantly attracted to him despite his physical disability and brusque demeanor. Little does this divorced mother of two know that Rhys Hazard is really Mick Sullivan, her ex-husband's brother and the man responsible for her brother's death years ago. What a rare treat it is to find an author who is able to skillfully blend poignancy with passion. Like the Rogers and Hammerstein song, "Never Walk Alone" Paula Detmer Riggs' novel, NEVER WALK ALONE should become a classic!"
-Patricia Rouse, Rouse's Romance Readers Groups

To many of the residents of Osuma, Washington, the name Michael Sullivan means loathing. Fifteen years ago, he ran a red light, plowed into a school bus, and killed two students and the driver. Although he insisted the bus driver ran the light, Michael was convicted and served time. After his release his adopted father J.T. told him to leave town. An angry Michael never looked back.

Over the years, using the name Hazard, Michael built up a powerful hauling business, North Star Trucks, located in Phoenix. When his dad's company teeters on bankruptcy, he buys the firm to convert it into a northwest trucking firm. However, he is forced to take charge of the transition when his friend chosen to run the show is severely injured in a car wreck. In Osuma, Michael meets his young niece and nephew and the ex-wife of his brother. As the little girl hooks him, he and Brina Sullivan fall in love, but one of the three dead people from his accident is her brother.

NEVER WALK ALONE is at its best when the lead couple deals with their growing attraction to one another somewhat fostered by a little child who showers love on Michael. When the tale spins into a drug running intrigue, the subplot takes away from the heartfelt intensity of the prime theme of can Brina forgive the man she loves for killing someone else she cherished? Still this is a strong contemporary romance that leaves the audience to wonder if time can heal all wounds.

Harriet Klausner

This was an outstanding and emotional story of forgiveness and of learning to forgive yourself. It's about overcoming childhood problems and mistakes and forging ahead to find love and happiness again. It's not just a sappy romance story though, there's quite a lot of mystery, sabatoge, adventure and revenge involved too. I respected Rhys from the outset and couldn't help liking Brina and all the secondary characters (except John, of course). Their story captivated me and they'll remain in my thoughts for days to come.

Collins seamlessly blends believable characters, race relations and riveting American history into a page turner. I highly recommend it.

The author presents his tale during a forgotten struggle in American History. A gathering of WWI vets pushing their government for promised benefits. The characters in some instances famous Americans and others faceless and poor.
His female lead is a fascinating young Irish woman-beautiful, daring and intelligent. Collins' Nora brings us a unique view of Ireland and D.C. as she gropes her way through her first loves and a rebellious group of WW I veterans. She is unencumbered by America's racial morass and is attracted to a brilliant young African American man who was raised as white during his formative years. He is thrown out of his posh upbringing into the streets of D.C. He lives on his wits and dabbles in Marxism while supporting the veterans. I felt a link with Mark Twain's Huck Finn as this young man survives on his own in and around the capitol's many landmarks. The canoe trips down the Potomoc with the author's detailed understanding of the river topped off this wonderful book. It is captivating book that I couldn't put down. I hope Mr. Collins will give us more of Nora and her companions.

Many will enjoy Denis Collins's fine novel for the historical perspective: The cause and plight of the Bonus Army and the cameo portrayals of MacArthur, Eisenhower, et. al. Others, especially those familiar with Washington, D.C. and its history, will enjoy a return to the Capital, circa 1930s. I loved Mr. Collins's novel for the characters he creates and the tales he tells as he takes so many seemingly disparate events and weaves them into a plot.

Nora is a delight, and she beguiles the reader in much the same way she beguiles Walker and Sevareid. This mysterious Irish beauty, youth and innocense, tough and worldly, strides boldly through the story seeking the return of that which has been stolen from her. In her path, Walker, Sevareid, and the reader first try to figure her out, then fall for her without fully understanding why.

Mr. Collins is, first and foremost, a storyteller. He seems to lean on the stories of his past, true, anecdotal, mythical, and the result is a series of vignettes that stand alone as mini plots. Taken together, the reader is left with a grand story, the history, myth and love all cleverly mixed in a julep of The Depression, the Bonus Army, Washington and Nora and her loves.

I loved this book, couldn't wait to pick it up again every evening. The story is well told and the characters rich and alive. I was crazy about the brassy heroine, Nora, the intriguing Walker and the young Eric Sevareid (and their love triangle which dangles all kinds of interesting possibilities before the reader). Most of all, as an almost native of DC, I got to know a city I love in an entirely new light. The author makes DC in the 1930's come alive, from the characters living there at the time to the urban landscape and the banks of the Potomac River. Found it fascinating.

Washington, D.C., inspires a lot of excruciating writing, fictional and non-, of the "Let me tell you about this town..." sort, especially by scribblers whose chief goal in life has been to scrabble their way to and stay in the capital, however many broken fingernails and kneeholes it may cost.

In Nora's Army, however, D.C. native Denis Collins delivers a walloping novel that pierces to the core of the true city -- not the confabulation of conspiracy and ambition supposedly limned in myriad mounds of tripe masquerading as Washington novels, but a meaty story and engaging characters and an inventive plot and direct yet lyrical language redolent of the real Washington, the one that exists outside the media-manipulated template through which too many people have come to view the nation's capital.

By conjuring fictional yet genuine people and swirling them in his skull with historical figures and incontrovertible facts, Collins has built a book that stands with "Ragtime" and "Little Big Man" -- works of invention that deepen and improve on the reality they portray by illuminating it with imagination.

Into the warp of the story he unfurls Collins weaves bits of Washingtoniana -- Child's Restaurant, Hopfenmaier's rendering plant, Murder Bay, Swampoodle, alley dwellings, Griffith Stadium -- long lost to all but the most dedicated of local memories in a town overrun by people who think everybody else is, like them, from somewhere else.

But they're wrong. Denis Collins knows this so well, and he's written a book that honors his hometown as few have or could.

The reason I urge readers to buy two copies is because they're going want to keep a copy and have one to give to someone they know who appreciates great American writing.

-- Michael Dolan, author of "The American Porch: An Informal History of an Informal Place"

As someone who used to reside in Olympia, I enjoyed looking at all of the old photographs from Olympia. A well compiled little history. Book contains very little text, mostly pictures. For me, that's what I enjoy about history anyway.

This historic review of Olympia High School is great! If you like to learn about the history of Olympia (not only the school but the city too) this book keeps you turning the pages with so many wonderful pictures and great tidbits of information.

Brilliant piece of work! Whether or not you grew up in Olympia, attended OHS or know someone who did, this books is a must. So much history, and so many great pictures all packed into 125 pages. What a great gift.

This book brings back lots of memories. Our family has several generations and branches of people that attended and graduated from Olympia High School. Now we have another source to show people about our town and our families. Future generations will have a great time snickering at the outfits and hair styles. Love all the great photos of our town. Jim did a GREAT job. If you are a Bear or know one, get this book.

So many historic images, it's highly pictorial. Many pieces of history I never knew. What a great piece of work. I'm using it for Christmas gifts for family and friends.

If you prefer to journey off the beaten path, this is the book for you. Beyond the well-drawn characters and engrossing plot, the author draws you into the land so strongly that you can feel the weave of the ancient hills and valleys that knit northern Maine's most remote communities.

I picked up this book and could not put it down. Amy's story, and the parallel and intermingling stories, were funny and poignant, but it was the subflooring of Maine's rural culture that lent this book its solid foundation and its human appeal. Read it if you want a rare and special look into real lives, defined by real communities, that still exist today but are rapidly and sadly evaporating.

Very highly recommended.

I read this book in short bursts so that I could savor the characters. What fun. To really get the most from this book, I recommend reading The Funeral Makers first.

For the unabridged flavor of northern Maine, Cathie Pelletier delivers. I've read three of her books so far, and they've all been good. For a good story, I recommend them strongly.

This is the second book I've read by Cathie Pelletier and the story keeps getting better. The Funeral Maker being the first of the trilogy, I can't wait to read the third. These caracters just won't quit. What a great read when you just want to relax and have a good laugh. I will definitely read every book by this author and I dare say if you read one, you're hooked. Keep them coming.

What a way to spend the evening, sitting in a comfy chair with this book. It was especially good since I'd also read The Funeral Makers. I'm not going to stop until I've read all of Cathie Pelletier's books--it was a New Year's resolution.

While I have read extensively about World War II, my knowledge of World War I was limited. Now I have come to realize the immensity and horror of that great conflict. It is apparent Mr. Little has researched this conflict extensively, and has skillfully woven that research into an interesting and poignant story. His descriptions of the bloody trench warfare and the effects of artillery and the terrible destruction of human life are graphic and chilling. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends who are history buffs, and to the history teachers at the high school where I work.

One Step From Glory is a wonderful novel that tells a great story about an important time in our nation's history. The author presents a well-researched portrait of the people and events of 'The Great War'. Mr. Little writes almost as if he has first-hand experiences or perhaps those of a close friend or family member as he describes the events of war and emotions of the participants. I heartily recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys the interactions between history and its human participants.

Very interesting and informative. Brings WWI to life. You meet real people and experience real wartime conditions. Difficult to put the book down.

"ONE STEP FROM GLORY" IS AN UNIQUE PRESENTATION OF A WAR NOT POPULAR WITH MODERN HISTORICAL WRITERS. MR LITTLE HAS PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT ACCOUNT OF US INVOLMENT IN WWI WHILE ALLOWING US TO LIVE THE DRAMA OF WAR THROUGH THE LIVES OF REAL ORDINARY MEN. WE SEE THE JOBS OF THESE YOUNG MEN IN THE ARTILLERY, INFANTRY AND OUR NEW AIR FORCE AS EACH GROUP LEARNS WHAT IS REQUIRED TO FREE EUROPE FROM THE GRASP OF THE HUN.

"One Step From Glory" is a very good read with great attention paid to descriptive historic detail. The life of a novice soldier in World War I is fully portrayed. You'll have a meaningful picture of this pivotal war in U.S. history.

i was pleasantly surprised when i received the book...it was brand new... well taken care of...thanks for the good prompt service!

Great cookbook, very easy to folow the recipes. The things I have made all have been just great! I would recommed this cook book to anyone who enjoys good food.

A friend of mine got this for me for Christmas a few years ago, and I love it! In fact I've used it so much mine is completely falling apart. Every recipe I have tried is fantastic. My friend had it as well and went through before giving it to me and wrote comments on her favorite recipes which I thought was such a neat idea. You will not be disappointed with this cookbook! In fact I may have to make something from it for dinner tonight...

Wow, I can't believe there are only two reviews on this excellent cookbook. While I have to say that this cookbook is not for the beginner, it is quite useful for the intermediate and above cook.If you are planning a party for a small gathering, large gathering, or a wedding for 250 people( I'm a partime caterer and yes I do all the prep, cooking , presentation by myself), This cookbook is indispensable! I am constantly barraged by requests for the recipes for the items I served using this cookbook. Buy this book, read it cover to cover and you will have a indispensable source for your next party!

The Mac and Cheese recipe is a huge hit with everyone that has partaken. Great recipes for dinner parties, everyone from people with discriminating tastes to the average Joe will enjoy the meal. I'm just sad I don't entertain more and find an excuse to use the book more often! Maybe that should be my New Year's Resolution....