Massachusetts Books

I really enjoyed reading this. I've lived in Boston for nearly 30 years, but never really felt like I knew its history. Chaim Rosenberg provides a wealth of information about the changes the City and region have undergone in past times. Every page has some interesting fact to reveal or story to tell. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand how our great city emerged and came to its current form. I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the Sox beating the Yankees, but as a history of Boston, The Great Workshop hits a homerun.

This is a must read for anyone who lives in the Boston area, goes to school in Boston, or has visited (or plans on visiting) Boston. Who knew history could be so interesting? The author provides all the facts in a colorful and exciting manner. The pictures (some black-and-white, others in color) further bring the text to life. I'm sure you will enjoy this book as much I have!

"The Great Workshop: Boston's Victorian Age" is a terrific book, written in a lively and interesting style. In addition to the engaging text, there are many pictures, including some charming colorful trade cards and old postcards. The book describes how transportation, industry, commerce and society are interrelated. It's got fascinating details, but also covers a lot of ground-- Boston and beyond. A great read for anyone interested in how communities are settled and grow, whether you're from the Boston area or elsewhere.

This book is an enjoyable and excellent read. It allows greater insight to the victims as well as a view of the mindset of others who suffered and experienced this tragic event than other books I've read on this subject. I purchased this Guide after learning that it was a source and reference for the music and story in the Believers Beware CD. This book, with its pictures and well researched references, convinced me that we have much to learn about ourselves from a study of history and a reflection on those who came before. Thank you David Brown. The Reverend John Hale (1702), may have said it first - but I think you've told it best.

It is not often that you can find a magical piece of literature that allows you to view the story as if you are getting a personal tour of the event. This wonderful creation is one of the best I have read on the historic Salem Witch Trials. As it may not be the most beautiful memory in our nations past, this books allows children, teens, people interested in the Salem Witch Trials an inside look on the experience that grabbed many people by their hearts, and in many cases those few years, by thier freedom and lives. I hope you will take the time, as I have, to read this wonderful piece, and add the new-found knowledge to some use!

If you're intruiged or just interested in the Salem Witch Trials like I am I would defenitly suggest purchasing this book. I purchased this book when I was in Salem, Massachusetts and I haven't been able to put it down. I know alot about the Salem Withcraft Trials but this gave me an even better insite on what happened! Have a great read, and i know anyone who reads this will.

Richard F. Miller's HARVARD'S CIVIL WAR: THE HISTORY OF THE TWENTIETH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY is the best Civil War regimental history ever written. It excels in its structure, its prodigious research, its wealth of personal detail, its grasp of the 20th's internal strength - and rifts - and, not least, in the quality of Miller's lucid, trenchant writing.

Independent scholar Richard F. Miller presents Harvard's Civil War: A History Of The Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an in-depth scholarly study of one of the most influential northern units in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Nicknamed "The Harvard Regiment" due to the quantity of its Crimson-connected officers, this infantry unit was destined to experience the worst of nearly every major battle of the Army of the Potomac from Ball's Bluff (1861) to Grant's Overland Campaign. Because so many of its officer corps were educated men, the Harvard Regiment left behind numerous diaries, memoirs, and letters, which form a solid base of source material for this exhaustive examination of many different personalities that comprised the unit, from abolitionists to radical German emigres that had escaped the failed revolution of 1848 to the sons of prominent Republicans and more. Ethnic tensions further exacerbated the stress of the war itself. Extensively researched and annotated with an index for quick reference, Harvard's Civil War is a superb glimpse into the sufferings, sacrifices, and triumphs of a truly courageous and hardy military unit.

Independent scholar Richard F. Miller presents Harvard's Civil War: A History Of The Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an in-depth scholarly study of one of the most influential northern units in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Nicknamed "The Harvard Regiment" due to the quantity of its Crimson-connected officers, this infantry unit was destined to experience the worst of nearly every major battle of the Army of the Potomac from Ball's Bluff (1861) to Grant's Overland Campaign. Because so many of its officer corps were educated men, the Harvard Regiment left behind numerous diaries, memoirs, and letters, which form a solid base of source material for this exhaustive examination of many different personalities that comprised the unit, from abolitionists to radical German emigres that had escaped the failed revolution of 1848 to the sons of prominent Republicans and more. Ethnic tensions further exacerbated the stress of the war itself. Extensively researched and annotated with an index for quick reference, Harvard's Civil War is a superb glimpse into the sufferings, sacrifices, and triumphs of a truly courageous and hardy military unit.

Imagine the love-child of Dorothy Parker and James Thurber. She's that good, only better. More heart and a wilder imagination, as well as touch of the poet and a love of wordplay. Like Irish music, Connor's writing makes me laugh for joy while weeping for the world's sadness. Among my favorites: the elegaic "Let Us Praise Famous Dead White Men" and "Midlife Barbie". Anyone who has ever dreamed of hanging out with a star will love "Driving with Ray". Anyone who has loved one or more of the following writers: Lorrie Moore, Veronica Geng, T.C. Boyle, Kafka, or KAthy Acker will enoy History Lessons.

Joan Connor channels voices--or so her ventriloquism would make it appear. In her highbrow to lowlife--but always achingly human--stories, her imagination and range of character and setting seemingly know no bounds. Here there be mystery, tenderness, wit, and the Vonneguttish, tragic absurdity of life, brought to us in tales of mythic, strange, and real people who come to seem more familiar and true than our neighbors. Most of all, her surprising and inspired use of language returns to me the joy of reading I too often slog through other books without.

Connor received the AWP Short Fiction Award for this remarkable collection of stories. She opens up a new fictional landscape that I gladly linger in. On the top of my list.

Well written and easy to understand. Great roster in back of book for all known members of unit. Covers the 3rd Battalion that became the Independent Battalion as well.

This book not only chronicles the hardships and private feelings of those who served, but shares some of humor including the relationship with their horses and the exchanges between the north and the south. It shares and documents what they ate, their weapons, is a wonderful way to find information of ancestors who served (which is how I found the book). This book has whetted my appetite for more knowledge of the civil war.

"Many volunteer cavalry regiments which distinguished themselves on the battle fields of the Civil War, have had their histories written and published in a style well calculated to perpetuate, for the use of their descendants and future historians of the war, the memory of the unparalleled services rendered by them for the preservation of the Union; many of these have been issued in an attractive and useful form, but none have, up to present time, approached in completeness and luxury that which has lately appeared to commemorate the services and chronicle the history of the officers and enlisted men of the First Massachusetts Cavalry." Book review from Journal of the U.S. Cavalry Association.

This is a book out of the ordinary for Cormier, but up to par to say the least. He takes a break from writing wonderful young-adult fiction and compiles his writing from his columns in newspapers around the country. These short stories range from his memories as a child to his memories of becoming a parent and grandparent. He relates the feelings that all of us feel in the words that most of us wish we could say. This book will touch your heart and soul.

Opening this book is like opening a window into the life of author Robert Cormier. We find out about his childhood memories, favorite movies, family interactions, and travels. We see Cormier the journalist, who wrote every one of the columns in this book on deadline while juggling the responsibilities of also being a newspaper editor. The columns made me laugh at one turn and cry at the next. He has a way of finding something extraordinary in the everyday details of life. This is a perfect book to keep by your bed to savor over time. I find myself returning to it over and over again. The introductory comments by Cormier's wife are refreshing and give a glimpse of the wonderful relationship they seem to share. Fans of Cormier's work ought to enjoy this book as much as those who are not familiar with his other work. I'd highly recommend that everyone treat themselves to "I Have Words to Spend".

I really enjoyed the book 'I Have Words to Spend'. I am very interested in Robert Cormier and have read most of his books, but Words to Spend showed a side of him that I never knew. Did you know that he once went through the car wash at 50 miles an hour, that his favorite word is cellophane (pronounced slowly: cel-lo-phane), or that he worries because his handwriting looks like that of a schizophrenic's? Reading this book was like looking through a window into the life of Robert Cormier, my mentor, author extraordinaire. I can just hear the words being spoken in his old, leathery voice, enthralling me with every page. One of these days I ought to go down to the Fitchburg Library and read the rest of those columns...

Book is as described. Very well researched and documented, with excellent images/drawings/maps which aid tremendously in bringing to life the changes to the Charles River Basin over the past 300 years.

This extraordinary book brings together a confluence of compelling themes: The history of a city and its self concept; the evolution of city planning and the politics of public space; visionary thinking and the implications of decisions on the future of urban living; and the visual record of 19th century Boston through historical photographs and maps. These ideas have been woven into a highly readable book, stunningly designed by Yasuyo Iguchi. For anyone who lives in or has lived in Boston, this book is the best history of the city's evolution. For others who may not be as compelled by the specific story of how the Charles River came to be or the significance of the Big Dig, this book is a fascinating and provocative exploration of the implications that face all cities as they envision themselves into the future. How should public space be used? Who decides what is the public good? Haglund cares passionately about these issues and has assembled a thoughtful, readable and provocative response to these important questions. Don't miss it.

This book received an Award of Honor from the American Society of Landscape Architects Professional Awards Program in 2003.

In the contemporary professional world of academic writing current history professors have unfortunately succumbed to falling back on the traditional stereotypical role of pretentious writing, utilization of uncommon vocabulary, complicated imagery relating to their historical subject, and hard to understand primary evidence that the general public can not relate to in their own lives and era.
However, Jonathan Earle effectively demonstrates in his book with superlative ease how past U.S. politics, its parties, and the era in which they were at it's apex, can indeed be interesting to the general public again. Jonathan Earle counter poses the traditional stereotypical role by using interesting primary evidence through out his book, in which he makes you feel like you were actually participating in the events and conversations that took place almost 182 years ago.
Earle uses fascinating historical imagery that not only correlates to what he writes about, but makes you want to explore the images away from the fascinating and important emergence of the Free Soil Party, which defied the traditional system of U.S. politics up to that point in our brief history as a nation. With just a brief emergence of a new century this book shows that our young nation was already facing dire dilemmas that would eventually divide a nation into half for four bloody years. With more men, women, and children who were murdered on both the Union and Confederate sides, then both World Wars and contemporary wars that the U.S. has been involved in to this day.
This is an outstanding read that will take your imagination on a wild adventure back to a time period and political party that is too often negated in U.S. history. In my view Jonathan Earle's book and his writing has triumphantly pounced the traditional stereotypical role. That historical subjects and academic writing can not only appeal to the general public again, but more importantly Earle's book shows just how significant past key historical events and U.S. politics have shaped our lives to this very day.
Erica Hare

Jonathan Earle's deftly written, lively account of the Free Soil Democrats' role in the antislavery effort challenges traditional interpretations of the movement, showing these politicians played a critical role in this country's push toward equality. But more than that, Earle makes you feel like you were at the dinner table with these folks as they debated the central issue of the day, and that's worth the price of the book alone.

I picked up this pounder in hopes of gardening on the cheap, but little did I know what pleasure I would find delving into this well-written account of a fertile time in our nation's history that doesn't get much play in the schools. And, so informative for any one interested in history, and history of the US. Even the garderner in me was gratified: I never knew that hickory needed a split to thrive. What's the sequel?

This is a great collection of short stories. I was knocked out, been telling all my friends, all that stuff. Anyone sick of Dan Brown and his ilk of clumsy sensationalists should pick this up, spend time with a writer who knows how to find insight into the small moments life offers.

Highly recommended.

This book is really something. I generally am hesitant to spend so much dough on a writer that isn't a sure bet, but after reading her prize-winning title story in a lit mag I had to grab it. God, she's refreshing. Comparable (sort of) to Denis Johnson without the reliance on dope as a plot element. Funny, wry, dark, intelligent. If you want to see what's going on in contemporary fiction check this out (She's got a novel too if you're not much into short stories that comes out in a month or two).

The sheer verbal energy and inventiveness of this collection pulled me straight through to the last page in less than two days, a personal recond for reading a story collection. The stories are edgy, unpredictable, funny peculiar, funny haha, and most of all wisely discerning about lives quietly lived on the margins of our society. I was reminded somewhat of Confederacy of Dunces. Christie Hodgen is so talened: Ephram lives! The book was really a delight to read.

I enjoy this series of books and have found this book on the Jewish Community to be well done, organized well and filled with interesting pictures bringing back happy memories. If you grew up in the Lynn, Salem, Marblehead,orSwampscott area you will enjoy this book.There are photos of Jewish youth and adult groups, community center photos and area businesses of the 1940's-1960's

This is a wonderful book with many early photos of North Shore Jewish Life focusing mainly on Lynn Salem and Peabody with photos also from Marblehead Swampscott and Beverly. We enjoyed this book and recommend it

Having lived all my life (well not yet) on the North Shore, I found this book to contain photos of many people and places from long ago. I recognized people from my childhood and found the book very well organized and put together.