Texas Books

I read Darkness Peering after reading about it in the New York Times (one of that year's best mysteries). Her stunning writing in that novel led me to buy her short story collection. I must say that this collection really drew me in. They are the type of stories that lingered in my mind long after I'd read them. When I've experienced that before, I know the stories have affected me greatly. Will we be hearing more from Miss Blanchard in future? I hope so.

What a great book of stories! Again I marvel at Ms. Blanchard's gorgeous prose and deft sense of character! Encore!

I bought this on a whim over a year ago and finally got around to reading it. I must say I was impressed. Blanchard uses words as a painter uses colors and the result is often a strikingly vivid portrait, be it the overview of the environment we are entering or a wafer-thin slice of life. I found most of her characters to be refreshingly brash, usually fighting for their independence yet always under-equipped (whether they realize it or not). This is an excellent collection of short stories, right up there with Raymond Carver. Actually, her writing reminds me more of Thom Jones and Susan Minot. But Blanchard certainly has her own distinct voice, which I hope to be hearing more of.

After reading "Darkness Peering" and loving it, I ran out and picked up a copy of Blanchard's short story collection. I wasn't disappointed. I'm not a huge fan of short stories, but these grabbed me from page one. There is an emotional spine running through all the themes that makes them feel strangely connected and almost novel-like. Her early writing is eerie, darkly poetic and yet hopeful. I highly recommend this for anyone's library.

I bought this after reading Blanchard's novel, "Darkness Peering," and it is a fantastic collection of short, often disturbing, always challenging stories. I have no doubt in my mind that Alice Blanchard is a writer of great talent who will soon be a fixture among the great American writers of our time.

Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (8/06)

It is a rare and brilliant find that captures a reader from the moment they open a book until long after the covers are closed. With an inscription that reads, `To small towns, where we learn life's big lessons' I was captivated before I had even reached the first page.

"Summer of Champions" takes the reader to the small town of Roswell, New Mexico in 1956 and the life of 11 year old Joe Don Miller. Inspired by his fifth grade homeroom teacher he is determined to become a champion over the summer by seeking excellence in all things as the ancient Greeks had done. For Joe Don excellence includes winning the All-Star Little League baseball team, helping his Mom, a widow since his dad's death in the Korean War, and winning the school spelling bee. As the novel opens it appears Joe Don is well on his way to becoming a champion. However, things soon happen which send Joe Don further and further away from his dream. As he struggles to find his way back, he learns life's hard lessons and emerges "a better man".

The novel powerfully portrays the complexity of relationships, the impact of events, and the struggle to see clearly when emotions take over. It is a powerful reminder that in life what is important is not always clear, and what seems clear is not always important.

A beautifully refreshing `coming of age' story, "Summer of Champions" takes the reader on a journey to the days when life seemed simpler, but the lessons felt harder. It is a novel that will move you to laughter, have you longing for redemption, and cheering for the champion within. With deeply rooted lessons on the true meaning of being a champion, it is an inspiration for adults and teens alike.

Mr. Connell has told his 5th Grade home class to work hard--to become champions. Joe Don idolizes Mr. Connell, and decides to follow the teacher's suggestion. So, as Dewey Johnson's SUMMER OF CHAMPIONS opens, in January 1956 in Roswell, New Mexico, Joe Don has made a good start. He presents his mom with a straight-A report card.

But don't be fooled. As Joe Don endeavors to meet his goal, he's no Mr. Goody Two-Shoes. Dewey Johnson sees to it that Joe Don does all the things a boy might between excelling in school and working a Saturday job. Joe Don wonders what girls are like, clowns in church, and tangles with his principal. He has a back yard fort, and two friends with whom he sneaks out after dark to hunt Martians.

Altogether, his life seems placid, punctuated only by bad knock-knock jokes, and kid angst--like will he make the Little League All-Stars, or will Janet Mitchum one day be his girl friend?

However, Joe Don's life isn't totally smooth. He barely remembers his father, who died in the Korean War. His mother makes little money. Then Mr. Connell does something horrible, and goes to jail. No one will quite talk about what happened, except to say that it involved some 6th Grade boys.

Believing these kids made up stories about Mr. Connell, Joe Don punches a couple of them in the nose. His grades slip, bullies make his life impossible, girls start chasing him, a good friend dies in a fire, and suddenly he's fighting with his mom. Overwhelmed, he decides he'll never be a champion. Then he receives a letter from Mr. Connell, with one more piece of advice about reaching that objective.

Anyone who has ever survived growing up will love Dewey Johnson's SUMMER OF CHAMPIONS. Johnson touches on feelings and needs that both boys--and girls--have as they leave childhood. Writing in the first person through Joe Don's eyes, Johnson catches moments to which everybody can relate: a first kiss, a narrow escape, a moment outsmarting mom, a moment in which mom outsmarts a kid.

SUMMER OF CHAMPIONS is also filled with incidents, language, and ideas that anyone will instantly recognize, if they reached their teens in the late 50s and early 60s . However the story will appeal to anyone who has lived through puberty, because in some ways, growing up in 1956 was no different than growing up at any other time. Today's kids may dodge different bullets, but they have the same feelings and needs their parents and grandparents had. That realization is the best message that SUMMER OF CHAMPIONS and Dewey Johnson leave on the book's last page.

Remember "Indian Burns", "Big Chief" writing tablets, and storing school supplies in cigar boxes? In the "Summer of Champions", Dewey Johnson reminds us of what life was like in a simpler time. Kids took responsibility for themselves, playing outside until their moms called them for dinner, and riding bikes all over town. His novel, set in the 50's, tells of people in a small town watching over each other. He shows how we are meant to live as a community. A great read for those who want to remember a less stressful time.
Sandia Ladies Bookclub

Set in Roswell, New Mexico in the 1950's, "Summer of Champions" takes a profound look at the idea of championship. Joe Don, the story's eleven-year-old hero is not into "profound". He is into baseball, and school, and girls, and aliens but not necessarily in that order. He is creative, funny and charming. His love of jokes and humor make him unforgettable.

The plot is filled with action, and daily life. It is beautifully written and brilliantly plotted.

If you don't mind laughing out loud while considering weighty issues, this is your cup of tea.

"Summer of Champions" is refreshing. Read just for the story, it is an entertaining look at the 1950's through the life of a young boy, his single mother and their friends. Read more deeply, it has spiritual guidance for dealing with the curves life throws, making moral decisions, the value of caring for one another, and the importance of community. A book with character and richness. When finished, you feel refreshed.

Description from the back of book:

Forbidden Territory

That was where Maddie Garret was leading him-not just through the wilds of Texas, but deep into the secret reaches of his heart. But could Texas Ranger Jonah Danhill, half Comanche and all lawman, accept the tragedy of his people's past and still embrace a joyful future spent in her arms?

Maddie knew that her last hope of rescuing her kidnapped sister lay with Jonah. Possessed by a passion for justice, though haunted by sorrows of his own, he was exactly what she needed-a man of strength, a man of courage, a man who could awaken the woman she was meant to be!

* I pretty much loved this book. My one & only complaint is that I thought there were too many bad guys to keep track of. It was hard remembering who was who & what their connection to Maddie was. I loved Maddie & Jonah but I found myself more drawn to Boone & I really wish he had a book of his own. The 3 of them together had me laughing so many times. What a fun book. Highly recommended.

This very enjoyable, quick and easy read is everything one loves in a historical Western tale!

Don't pass it up!

No one does dialogue better than carol finch. This book is no exception. Our alpha male (Jonah) meets Maddie when she barges into his room while he's (more or less) in a tub........She is running from bad guys and wants this texas ranger to help her. Right from the beginning they spar verbally. And Maddie is one heck of a woman. Definitely no shrinking violet in any way. If you're looking for a pulitzer plot, this isn't it. It's pretty much your typical bad guy-good guy western, but I've put it on my keeper shelf to re read just because the characters were so great and the dialogue so sharp and entertaining. This is a 'makes me smile' book......with characters with depth. I really liked it......

From the first page you are sucked into this adventure! When Maddie bursts into John Danhill's room and announces that he better not tell the two men chasing her that she is there. She then goes on to tell him that she got in his room because she told the clerk that she was his wife. From that point on you can't put the book down. It is a book with wonderful characters and good dialog between the characters. Maddie is quite a spitfire and he admires that about her. I also enjoyed the friendship between John and Boone. I would have given this more than 5 stars. It is a keeper on my shelf. I highly recommend it!! You won't be disappointed.

Jonah Danhill is half Comanche and all lawman. He is a member of the famed Texas Rangers.

Jonah has his bath interrupted when Maddie Garret bursts into his room claiming his protection and him as her husband.
Two men chasing her tell Jonah that she as stolen their money. Who to believe? Jonah is not a trusting man.

Maddie Garret is determined to save her sister, Christine, who has been kidnapped and solve the problem of her rustled cattle.

Jonah is determined to ditch Maddie as soon as they reach Fort Griffin. No way was he traveling any further west.
But intrigue and fascination bond Jonah to Maddie. Then they hit the trail together, each trying to push the other away. Until another incident.

Jonah tries to hire Kiowa Boone to take Maddie further west to her ranch, the Bar G. Then decides that he can't trust Maddie with Boone and they ride together.

Yup! they are being followed. Action packed and with a bit of humor from Boone as he understands Jonah's problem with the past and Maddie.

Maddie almost has her heart broken when she realizes the tragedy of Jonah's people and how it must have affected him.
Jonah is dumbfounded at Maddie's reaction.

Then he meets and learns of Maddie's two suitors, Wade Tipton and Avery Hansen and wonders how they are involved in her troubles.

Action, mystery and suspense with a bit of Boone's humor lead to a fascinating story. You get hooked from the very first page and begin to meet all of the characters.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --M -- and definitely a keeper.

Knowing the places in this book only help to create the images in my mind. Anyone would benefit from reading this book and being inspired that no matter their circumstances, they can achieve what they set out to do in life. I would also like to know more about the author's life after he went to school.

Absolutely amazing - the story and the writing. This book will stay with me forever. My copy is becoming old and tattered - I lend it to everyone I can.

My one line summary says it all. I am sure I was there. I anticipate each chapter anxiously waiting to see what funny, tragic desperate event is next and admiring the author for the practical and inventive mechanisms he has in place to keep his education going. I would like to know more about him in his later life.

THIS STUBBORN SOIL is a history book. No, one will not find the annals of nations set down here, nor even accounts of great wars or of vast economic movements. In these pages lie the images of poverty, illiteracy, sickness, premature death, fear, and bigotry that characterized the life of early 20th-century families enduring the ravages of both flood and drought in rough wood shacks with mud-and-straw chimneys and in poor, sandy fields where they tried to eke out an existence with a little livestock and with what few crops they could grow.

These were families for whom school was not nearly as important as having an extra hand in the field with a hoe or a cotton sack, families whose entertainment consisted of singing around an organ or a piano, the presence of which stood in stark contrast to the rest of the house, which never saw an electric light or a telephone wire. These were families that watched over their sick and watched them die either because there was no money to pay a doctor to come or because the nearest doctor was self-taught through mail-order books.

This is also the story of one boy who grew up in such an environment, who quit school many times because the choice came down to feeding the mind or feeding the body, who very nearly succumbed to the lure of wandering or of "riding the rods" as a hobo, and who was taught early on to denigrate Blacks and to hold Catholics in suspicion. In religion, he was exposed to holy rollers and tent revivals and pulpit-pounding evangelists. In school, when he went, he had teachers who had themselves barely finished an elementary education or, at the most, high school.

In this boy, however, there was something as strange and seemingly out of place as the organ in his ramshackle home-a thirst for learning and an unquenchable desire to go to school at Commerce, Texas, home of East Texas State Teacher's College, the only place he had ever heard of where he could continue his often-interrupted education. Both lack of money and inadequate preparation threw substantial barriers in his path. Of course, even before reading this book, we know of his eventual success thanks to the Ph.D. that came to follow his name.

THIS STUBBORN SOIL, therefore, is both a description of families who survived or died in a hardscrabble existence in early-1900s America and a hearth-side story of a boy whose love of learning survived all of the impediments in his path and finally resulted in the prize he sought for so long-a formal higher education. The soil on which he lived was indeed stubborn, for it yielded little and that only after back-breaking effort. He, however, was yet more stubborn, and that stubbornness bore succulent fruit.

The book is a personal memoire, and, for readers who share lingering childhood memories of dirt roads, railroad tracks past cotton fields, unquestioned racial segregation, and one or two-room schools reached by horseback or "footback," this narrative will awaken nostalgic images from the mists into which they have faded as the years have passed. For those who have never experienced the type of life Owens led as a boy, THIS STUBBORN SOIL will be very instructive and will help fill a pronounced gap in their knowledge of a large corner of early twentieth-century America. Though now out of print, copies can be found through many used-book sources, and the message remains timely, instructive and perhaps even inspirational. The book is worth far more than the effort needed to track it down, and I hope that every reader interested in American history at the personal level, in rural "local color," or even in just a well-written personal narrative will begin the search for it without delay. The reward of reading it is great.

I believe William A. Owens is all too often overlooked as one of Americas greatest authors and this book just proves my point. It is a great piece of work and an inspiration to all that read it.

I love this book. I bought it several years ago and want to re-read it.

The story is adorable, as are the characters.

Caution: As another reviewer mentioned, it can be torture to read the book on an empty stomach, because you will soon be craving the wings in the story. I would recommend whipping up a batch or two before you settle down for a good read.

It is really two books in one. There is the story about Uncle Bubba and his quest to open a wing restuarant and then there is the recipes for his wings throughout the book. The story turned out to be a much more touching story than I thought it would be. I even teared up a couple of times.

I have tried several of the recipes in the book and they have been wonderful.

I really thought the book did need something else at the end. Perhaps it will be coming someday. I would love to hear how everyone is doing in Cut Pug and how the restuarant is doing. Maybe even some pictures of the restuarant :o)

This book is more than about chicken wings, it's a darn-good read that makes you laugh out loud and touches your heart at the same time. There are only two problems--the book makes you crave chicken wings and there's sadness when your visit to Cut Plug, Texas is over. Well written. I highly recommend it.

I fell in love with Cut Plug, Texas - with Skeeter and Uncle Bubba and Irma and even with Banker Trinkle and his wife. Who could resist the members of the Book of Ruth Bible Class, the Garden Club or the Order of the Armadillo? Most of all, who could possibly resist trying the recipe for Garlic Wings? Or Bourbon Wings? Or Honey Tequilla Wings?

"Uncle Bubba" is full of small-town southern charm, with lots of garlic and pepper sauce on the side. You'll never look at chicken wings again without reaching for your apron and your copy of "Uncle Bubba!"

I bought this book just to see what all the positive reviews were about. I've got to admit I agree with the other reviewers here in giving this book a very positive review. Kind of a cook book with narrative, you get a good number of well thought out recipes(60-80 I think) that are used as a center point to a very funny story about Uncle Bubba and his friends. It really is two books in one, as the story of Uncle Bubba could have sold by itself.

Life inside prison walls has long been of interest to those not employed by or incarcerated in such an instiution. Having worked inside the walls for twenty years I can attest to the de-scriptive accuracy and the range of emotions offered as this former Warden tells his tale. Interesting throughout, this book truly gives the outsider an inside glimpse into the daily inter-action between the keeper and the kept. I believe the author is a good man who was tasked with one of the toughest, most un-appreciated jobs in America,i.e., maintaining order among soci-ety's disorderly. This account of his career will not fail to give the reader true insight into real prison life.

Rarely is a 'civilian' afforded the opportunity of viewing the prison system from such an honest and insightful perspective. Messrs. Willett and Rozelle have succeeded in creating a compelling work of non-fiction that reads as well as a good work of fiction. My appraisal of Mr. Willett is that of a totally dedicated, honest and compassionate man who did an outstanding job--few men could have done better. This book will remain a permanent part of my personal library.

Warden is a genuine daily chronicle of life within the Texas Prison System.
Jim Willett not only provides an honest insight into such a society but reflects on the humanity of both the "guard" and the guarded and the daily personal struggles and decisions that are required for such a profession.
Warden is well written and provides histroical information on a personal and interesting level from start to finish.

Long-time correctional administrator Jim Willett and his college roommate, Ron Rozelle, have produced an exceptionally interesting book on prison life from a very personal perspective. Drawing on Willett's distinguished career with the Texas Department of Corrections that spanned three decades, the authors bring to light aspects of a prison employee's life that rarely find their way into print.

Willett, who began his prison career as a correctional officer, worked his way up in the organization to become, at the time of his retirement, Senior Warden of the historic Huntsville Unit, where court-ordered executions are carried out and over which Willett presided.

Persons seeking a better understanding of the Texas criminal justice system and life behind bars would find value in this wonderfully thoughtful and revealing book.

Jim Willett was what some people might think of as a contradiction in terms--a compassionate prison warden. He did his job, which included giving the signal for executions to take place, while inwardly questioning the humanity of capital punishment. This is a fascinating story of a man who began his career in the prison system as a part-time guard, trying to earn some money for college. He fully intended to leave after graduation, but somehow he never did and as the years went by and the promotions came, he continued in the work for which he seemed so well-suited. This book is written in the first person and this adds to the immediacy of the description of prison life and the relations between prisoner and prison employee. The stories which are told in this book show the depths to which human beings can go and also the common humanity which binds us together. This is a fascinating and well-written book.

Great book, but I just couldn't give it 5 stars like many others did. I reserve 5 stars for truly monumental works. In this rating system, if you rate The Lord of the Rings, Les Misrables, Great Expectations, and The Grapes of Wrath 5 stars, can you honestly count this work with them?

Stephen Harrigan has captured the most enjoyable account of his Diving adventures. I felt myself re-living the events and relating them to my own modest enoyable times spent in the Caribbean recently. Superbly written and hard to put down. Makes airplane flights disappear. Happily discovered we are in the same City too.

When people want to know what it's like to dive, I give them this book. Harrigan has captured the essence of scuba diving. He has nearly expressed the inexpressible.

I was in tears by the end of the first chapter-- I thought I was one of a FEW who feels more at home underwater than on the surface. I don't get to dive very often (family, etc.) but whenever I need to "dive", I pull out this book & I'm in Heaven. Harrigan's descriptions of not only what he sees but what feelings these visions invoke move me beyond words, as I think they would anyone who feels the ocean in their blood.

This is the best book about scuba diving I've ever read and should be read by anyone and everyone that is interested in scuba diving. It does a fabulous job of describing the great things about scuba diving without telling you what you already know. That said, it is also a great story and would probably be enjoyed by non-scuba divers. This is a great gift idea for a diving inclined loved one.

One warning... one of the reviewers recommended reading this to get your diving fix when you aren't going to be able to get underwater for a while; NOT TRUE. I found the exact opposite, this book only heightened my desire to go diving to near pathological levels!

If you've read this, I'd also recommend reading Neutral Buoyancy by Tim Ecott which is another good book about diving. It has more history and straight information than this book.

There are so very few books that convey a sense of "being there" when it comes to the Kennedy assassination. This outstanding book takes the reader back to that fateful weekend of November 22nd 1963 in Dallas, Texas and does so in an open, honest and compelling manner.

"When the News Went Live" is written by four journalists who were in Dallas on that day covering the presidential visit. Bob Huffaker and the other three newsmen share many interesting stories that you will not find elsewhere and that have been untold for many years no doubt to all but their personal friends. This is why the book is such a valuable contribution to the historical record. Such first hand observation regarding not just those few seconds in Dealey Plaza, the murder of Officer Tippet and the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby, but how in fact the entire story unfolded, makes fascinating reading.

As an aid to anyone interested in the assassination, this book is a must have. I would emphasize - rarely do you find first hand knowledge like this - much of what is written on this subject is written by people many steps removed from the event where fact and fiction merge into one. Not so here. A fabulous book which is refreshingly free of the conjecture and myth that is so common in the Himalayan pile of work on the Kennedy assassination and is highly recommended.

We have become accustomed (yea, verily, some would say desensitized)to horror unfolding before our eyes in our very own living rooms. Bob Huffaker's book brings us back to a time before the desensitization, when we could scarcely believe what our eyes were telling us. I recommend this book highly to those who were there, watching as I was, and even more so to those who were not there. The young, raised in an era of suicide bombers, need to understand that it was not always thus.

1963 nov 22 brought to life again but with more professionalism.some very interesting facts that confirmed my own thoughts .

I stayed up all night reading when my copy of When The News Went Live, Dallas 1963 arrived. This book is a classic and should be included in the curriculum of every journalism and political science classroom in America.

Huffaker, Mercer, Phenix and Wise have written the Texas story of the Kennedy assassination, the inside scoop on Oswald's murder and the history of the evolution of modern journalism. These four men were Dallas television reporters, on the scene and on their own, in the middle of the news story of the century.

It is a salute to their training and their integrity as newsmen that their coverage under duress stands today as a compelling rendering of those fateful moments. I am glad they were the early ones on the scene, for they were the ones who broke the news to me in my elementary classroom. The story gives their perspectives more fully; all these years later, this book helps me understand the events and how they affected Texas and the nation.

Bob, Bill, George and Wes were there in Dallas with their Southern sensibilities. They weren't easily pushed around or manipulated that dark day and still aren't. They were taught to tell the truth as objectively as possible, and they reverted to that training and their good common sense when placed in positions lesser men might have blown or exploited. These four men cared about truth and justice and fairness and still do. I hope all young journalists will read this and learn about balanced reporting.

"With three shots from a mail-order rifle, Lee Oswald set off a worldwide tragedy that developed too fast to print. .... Broadcast journalism came of age in that crisis of grief and uncertainty, and as it drew its mourning audience, it helped to hold the nation together." -- Bob Huffaker; From the Preface of "When The News Went Live: Dallas 1963"

----------------------

"When The News Went Live: Dallas 1963", published in 2004, paints a vivid word picture of many of the incredible events that surrounded President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November of 1963, as seen through the eyes of four journalists -- Bob Huffaker, Bill Mercer, George Phenix, and Wes Wise -- who covered those events as they happened for CBS affiliate KRLD-TV and Radio in Dallas.

President Kennedy's shocking and appalling assassination on November 22, 1963, was the very first really big "Watch It Unfold Live On TV" news event of the television era, with four full commercial-free days being devoted to nothing but exclusive assassination-related coverage by all three major TV networks (with KRLD's on-the-scene Dallas reporters frequently feeding CBS-TV headquarters in New York).

And the four reporters whose intriguing stories unfold within this 224-page hardcover volume were right smack in the thick of things during the rapidly-developing events -- from the initial sketchy bulletins that told of the President being shot in Dealey Plaza during a motorcade drive through the city of Dallas -- to the announcement of JFK's death at Parkland Hospital -- to the capture of the accused assassin (Lee Harvey Oswald) in a nearby movie theater -- to Oswald's very own murder on live TV (with Bob Huffaker reporting live from the basement of the Dallas Police Department, where the single gunshot from Jack Ruby's pistol added yet another hard-to-believe chapter to the weekend's nightmarish story).

It was a mesmerizing weekend in American (and television) history, to say the least. And those days are re-lived with clarity in this engaging book by way of the recollections of four men who lived through and reported on those events when they were occurring.

"When The News Went Live" contains several excellent black-and-white photographs, too (some of them I haven't seen published elsewhere).

On a personal level, I have had the pleasure of communicating (via e-mail) with Bob Huffaker several times. He has been very cordial and gracious whenever answering the questions that I had for him. His personal insights into the events revolving around JFK's death are fascinating glimpses into the past, and are insights that I have enjoyed reading immensely.

A sample e-mail excerpt from Mr. Huffaker:

----------------------

"David, you're right about the presidential visit and motorcade being the main attraction that all Dallas media were covering, of course. But all our stations had limited capabilities for doing mobile TV, which then demanded either cables or microwave dishes--as well as a receiving dish within line-of-sight beaming or bouncing.

Hence the pool TV arrangements, limited to three planned locations. The local TV stations did live TV from the FTW {Fort Worth} breakfast, Love Field, and the Trade Mart. But this was, indeed, the day the news went live on television, unplanned.

WBAP-TV in Fort Worth had a non-running TV van, which they had towed all the way from Cowtown to Dallas Police headquarters, and we sent both of our KRLD-TV vans into duty--the Bread Truck at DPD and the Blue Goose on the 24th to the county jail, etc.

This was the first time in TV history when on-the-spot news suddenly demanded to go live from the scene. Before that, radio news on-the-spot descriptions such as ours that day were common (like the Hindenburg broadcast--radio only), and live TV was usually reserved for major speeches, sports, etc.

Bob" -- E-mail to this writer; May 30, 2006

----------------------

Relating to the subject of "WHEN THE NEWS WENT LIVE", I'd like to offer up the following observations as an extension of this book review.....

To those JFK conspiracy theorists who seem to favor the Oliver Stone-like or Robert Groden-promoted assassination scenarios (that feature a minimum of three gunmen and anywhere from 6 to 10 gunshots being fired at President Kennedy in Dallas' Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963) -- I always suggest to them that they ought to dig up some of the originally-aired "As It Is Happening" live TV or radio broadcasts from that dark Friday in American history.

After performing that exercise of watching a few hours of the November 22 television coverage of the assassination (in real time), or listening to some of the radio broadcasts in real time (which works just as well) -- I challenge anyone to then arrive at the same conclusion that was slapped up on the big theater screen in 1991 via Director Oliver Stone's blockbuster, conspiracy-laden motion picture "JFK".

Watching the day's events unfold "live" in front of you (or listening to them unfold on the radio as it was happening) should, in my opinion, provide everyone with a good general idea of how utterly impossible a task it would have been to have "faked" so much stuff that was being IMMEDIATELY reported to the world on live television and radio within minutes and hours of the President's assassination (and within a very short space of time following Police Officer J.D. Tippit's murder as well).

Via those original live TV/Radio broadcasts, you're not going to hear a SINGLE report that resembles anything close to the Oliver Stone/Jim Garrison-endorsed nonsense of:

"Three gunmen fired six shots at President Kennedy's motorcade today here in Dallas!!"

What you will hear, instead, is live coverage, as it happened, of a ONE-GUNMAN assassination taking place from where the majority of witnesses said it took place (the Texas School Book Depository Building), with no more than three shots having been fired by the SINGLE SHOOTER, which is a shot count that over 91% of the witnesses concur with -- including the small percentage of witnesses who heard only one or two shots, who are witnesses that certainly don't do Mr. Stone's "6-shot ambush" theory any favors.

Upon evaluating virtually all of the TV networks' live assassination footage from November 22nd, 1963, there is no possible way that a reasonable person could arrive at a conclusion that JFK was shot by three assassins, firing from both front and rear. Let alone arriving at an even more-cockeyed "8-to-10-shot" shooting scenario, as purported by Mr. Groden and some other CTers, which is an outlandish conspiracy-flavored scenario that has John Kennedy and John Connally being shot by way more than just the two Warren Commission-backed Mannlicher-Carcano bullets from Lee Harvey Oswald's rifle.*

* = And Mr. Groden's theory (that sports from 8 to 10 gunshots) also features an additional hunk of lunacy, in that Groden thinks it's very likely that NONE of these eight to ten shots came from the "Oswald window" in the Book Depository! (I'm not making this crazy stuff up here. I promise. Anyone who owns a copy of Robert Groden's 1993 book "The Killing Of A President" can check out Groden's preposterous theory for themselves, on pages 20-40.)

The bottom line is -- Very nearly all of the information being reported on TV and radio that November day favored a "Lone Assassin" shooting scenario (including the info concerning the Tippit murder in Oak Cliff), with very little evidence and information being broadcast that would support any type of a "conspiracy" whatsoever; and certainly no "conspiratorial" evidence that has ever panned out and "proved" that a multi-gun plot ended JFK's life in Dallas.

This is quite a telling "One Killer" fact. Because, in my view, if a vast conspiracy and subsequent "cover-up" had been in place on November 22nd (given the immense amount of TV and radio coverage, with reporters scrutinizing everything coming across their desks and digging hard for any type of case-solving clues during those first hours and days after JFK and J.D. Tippit were killed), I think that at least SOME pieces of the conspiracy would have leaked through to the sweeping television and radio coverage surrounding the two Dallas murders.

And I'm guessing that every reporter and newsman in the country (including Messrs. Huffaker, Mercer, Phenix, and Wise) would have loved to dig up some "conspiracy"-proving angle during that weekend in November of '63. Being the person who uncovered such a huge story would certainly be a feather in that reporter's cap, to be sure. But, as it turned out, nothing of that nature occurred....and has yet to occur all these many years later.

To think (as many theorists do) that these conspirators were so smart and so quick to have had the capabilities to immediately eliminate virtually every last scrap of information leading to a conspiracy plot of some kind, making sure that none of the "multi-gunmen shooting event" details seeped through to the media (multiplied by TWO separate murders as well, counting Tippit's!), is to think that any such evil-doers had powers similar to "Superman".

For example -- Almost every one of the initial reports concerning the number of gunshots heard by witnesses stated "3 shots". And while it's true that the very first report of the shooting from UPI's Merriman Smith (which was broadcast over all the television networks) stated "Three shots were fired...", it's also worth noting that Smith's initial bulletin was not the ONLY "three shots" account that was reported during those early hours just after the shooting.

For instance, Jay Watson of ABC affiliate WFAA-TV in Dallas (who happened to be in Dealey Plaza during the shooting and nervously reported the first bulletins to the unaware Dallas TV audience) is heard multiple times on November 22nd saying he heard "3 shots" fired.

Plus, several other members of the media are also on record stating their own PERSONAL beliefs that exactly three shots were fired by the assassin, including Robert MacNeil, Jack Bell, Bob Clark, Jerry Haynes, and Pierce Allman, among still others.

Some of the other "Three Shot" witnesses who were riding right in the Presidential motorcade itself include -- Photographers Tom Dillard, Robert Jackson, Mal Couch, and James Underwood. Plus, both John and Nellie Connally, who were riding in the same car with President Kennedy.

In addition, Presidential aides Ken O'Donnell and David Powers, who were both riding in the Secret Service follow-up car directly behind JFK's limousine, can also be added to the lengthy list of witnesses who heard precisely three gunshots.

And then there's also amateur filmmaker Abraham Zapruder, who took the most famous 26-second home movie in history when he captured the entire assassination with his 8mm Bell & Howell movie camera -- Zapruder showed up on live TV about 90 minutes after the President's murder took place and gave a graphic account of the horrifying event that had taken place in front of his very eyes.

Mr. Zapruder told the WFAA-TV viewing audience that he had heard two or three shots (but definitely no more than three), and he also demonstrated on live television where on the President's head he had seen the effects of the fatal gunshot. Zapruder puts his hand over the right-frontal portion of his own head to demonstrate where he saw the blood coming from JFK's head.

That's pretty amazing "LIVE" stuff from Mr. Zapruder's own lips (within approx. an hour-and-a-half of the assassination). And it's especially incredible and amazing if there had actually been many more than just two or three shots fired at the President, and if the fatal shot had actually (as many CTers believe) caused a huge hole in the BACK of John Kennedy's head, instead of the location where Zapruder placed it on live television -- i.e., the RIGHT SIDE AND FRONT portion of the head.

How could the so-called "conspirators" have possibly gotten THAT lucky with respect to Abraham Zapruder's live "on-the-air" WFAA-TV statements and head-wound "demonstration"? How?

And -- Could these ultra-clever conspirators have somehow managed to "manipulate" several reporters who were relaying the news live to the world immediately after the event, and have them ALL report on hearing just "three shots" (or, in a few cases, hearing only TWO shots, which is a number that certainly does not favor a "Multi-Shooter Conspiracy Plot")?

Or did the plotters just happen to get really, really LUCKY (again) when virtually all of the news reports favored the "Three Shots Fired" conclusion? With this 3-shot scenario matching the precise number of bullet shells that were found on the 6th Floor of the Book Depository after the shooting; and also perfectly matching the exact number of shots heard by TSBD witness Harold Norman, and also perfectly matching the precise number of bullet shells (3) that Norman heard hitting the plywood floor directly above his 5th-Floor location within the Depository.

Which, per Oliver Stone's movie, would mean that a full 50% of the ACTUAL number of gunshots were somehow inaudible to the enormous majority (91%+) of the earwitnesses! And, remember, Oliver has NONE of the shots within his movie's six-shot assassination ambush being "synchronized" in order to merge together with the sound of some of the other shots.

And yet, per Mr. Stone, we're supposed to actually believe that approximately 9 out of every 10 witnesses somehow missed hearing HALF of the gunshots fired that day! A reasonable thing to believe....or not? I ask you.

Were these so-called conspiratorial shooters so good that they could make 4 to 10 shots sound like only three to the vast majority of witnesses scattered all throughout Dealey Plaza? Highly doubtful, to say the least.

Again -- I'd advise all conspiracy theorists to sit down and watch the live TV footage....or listen to some of the surviving 11/22/63 radio tapes....and then try to find a "Multi-Gunmen Conspiracy" lurking within ANY of those original broadcasts. If anybody finds proof of a conspiracy via those means, please let me know. And let the world know too.

David Von Pein
December 2006
January 2007

This is a facile read...an entertaining and enlightening account of the "life" of a priceless Stradivari cello since its "birth". Along the way we learn briefly of the various characters who played a significant role in the cello's life history. The first part of the book gives a review of famous stringed instrument makers and the construction of these instruments. Ideal for either the interested "aficionado" or professional musician.

My husband, a professional cellist, received this book as a gift. He enjoyed it immensely. He has sent at least 5 of them to other cellist friends--some professional, some who just love to play. All reports from those who have received this gift have been wonderful. Highly recommended to those who play... and those who don't... there's a lot of interesting information about the instrument, the musicians who play and teach, and the world of music.

In 1720 the elderly violin maker Stradivari made a masterpiece: it was known as the 'Red Stradivari', but it wasn't a violin - it was a cello. Under its new name, the Piatti, it left Italy on a tour, to eventually become the author's key to success. Here is the history of Piatti, from its creation through its different owners. Cello players and classical music enthusiasts will relish this affectionate survey.

I loved this book and you don't have to be a cello enthusiast to enjoy reading it. Some parts are a bit slow but the good stuff makes up for it. Prieto has a personable writing style and obvious emotional attachment to his cello that is infectious. He structures the story well - his path to cello stardom is unusual and offers life lessons to people of all ages. He draws the reader in early with the tension behind "How did HE end up with a Strad cello???" The book is kind of a smorgasbord of music trivia/ commentary, including and engaging (if informal) overview of the great composers from the past to the present (much better than the historical overview in The Cambridge Companion to the Cello). Lastly, he is also of an age where his own life story is begins to offer a window into an era gone by. Sr. Prieto will be on your "dream dinner party" list after you read this. Buy the book and pass it on...!

Prieto's fascinating account of his famous cello's life is just the base upon which he gives a wealth of information about cellos, cellists, the cello literature, performances, and the world of the classical musician. Cellists and anyone appreciating cello music will find many portions they can use or be amused by.

Alamo Heights is a wonderful, entertaining book. Buy it

This book is very entertaining. One of the best ways to judge a book is to ask yourself, "Do I want to learn more about this topic?" With Mr. Zesch's book the answer is emphatically "Yes!".

This was a fascinating read. Mr. Zesch has taken a sweeping historical saga and distilled it to its human core. It was refreshing to read that the battle for the Alamo was about more than Davy Crockett and his coonskin cap. I celebrated Rose's triumph as if it were my own. I am convinced this author has much more to say. I can't wait to read his next work.

In 1903, the Alamo was almost destroyed. A large eastern business interest came with plans to raze the abandoned Hugo-Schmeltzer warehouse and erect modern buildings in its place. The old warehouse was an eyesore and stood as a daily reminder that perceived progress is only transitory.

The problem? The gaudy wooden building, that in some ways resembled an amusement park structure with it's crenelated exterior and fake cannon, sat atop the original stone construction of Mission San Antonio de Valero's convent--a.k.a. the Long Barracks. In short, they wanted to tear down the Alamo.

Under the leadership of two extraordinary women, Adina de Zavala and Clara Driscoll, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas engaged in what became known as the "Second battle for the Alamo."

Clara Driscoll, a wealthy socialite, put up the $75,000 necessary to buy the property with the understanding that the State of Texas would buy it back and assign custodianship to the DRT. Adina de Zavala, a Mexican-American woman whose roots ran deep in Texas, was a fierce advocate for preserving the historical structures of San Antonio. Two women from two different cultures, but with a common goal.

Because we hold the Alamo and all that it represents so dear, it's surprising, that the people of Texas were once politically divided on this issue. For five long years there were turbulent disputes. It finally took Adina de Zavala barricading herself inside the Alamo for three days to bring resolve to the situation and to protect the buildings from demolition.

In Scott Zesch's novel, the title "Alamo Heights" represents the social struggle between Anglos and Hispanics and within the strata of Hispanic culture itself. In 1903, Alamo Heights was the Knob Hill of San Antonio. If you lived in Alamo Heights, then you had arrived.

In the novel, Adina De Zavala is characterized by Rose De Leon Herrera, the wife of a young aspiring lawyer, Antonio Herrera. In one sense, she and her husband "have arrived" and are part of San Antonio's social elite. At the same time they must struggle to remain there. Antonio Herrera is constantly mortified by his wife's outspoken behavior for fear it may topple him from his hard-won social position. Rose Herrera wants to protect the Alamo as a symbol of her heritage. To do so, she comes to odds with nearly everyone.

Clara Driscoll is characterized by Alva Carson Keane a young girl of privilege who has become a popular modern romance authoress. Alva's reasons for saving the Alamo property, we find, are to erect a monument to her late cattle-baron father.

Both women are strong characters and conflict ensues as their egos and cultures clash. This conflict becomes clear when we discover that Alva is heir to Tres Piedras, a large cattle ranch near Laredo that once belonged to Rose's grandfather. Bad blood, culture and race separate these two women, but they are brought together by a common bond: to save the Alamo.

Zesch introduces us to an equally strong character in sculptress Mathilda Guenther, a composite of several real artists. Matilda is an older woman, but a free spirit who was born too early. A friend and ally to Rose, she would have fit in nicely into the bohemian communities of Soho, Paris or Berkeley.

Rafael Menchaca is the only strong male character in the novel. He is a coarse and uncultured mariachi/street vendor who calls himself the "voice of the people." He expresses his rebelliousness by idealistically voicing the struggles of his people through his songs. Socially, he is the antithesis of Rose Herrera and resentfully describes her kind as the "Tejano Bourgeoisie"

An intergral subplot develops when Rose's son, Enrique, a promising musician, aspires to become an apprentice to Rapheal Menchaca. In the process he falls in love with Menchaca's daughter Eva, a beautiful and talented sculptoress. Menchaca's opposition to this relationship soon draws Rose away from her lofty position in Alamo Heights.

Scott Zesch's novel, Alamo Heights, is a fictionalized account of the fight to preserve the Alamo. He has brought to life another time and place and thoughtfully interwoven this landscape with fully-developed characters, most of whom are based on real individuals.

The groundwork for his characterizations comes from his in-depth research of Zavala, Driscoll and others and of a time in San Antonio's history where women, especially strong outspoken women were a rarity.

The author's grasp of the cultura, or Tejano culture, at the beginning of the twentieth century is comprehensive. He examines Hispanic's attitudes toward women as their community struggles to inculturate with the growing Anglo population.

Each character is dynamic and self-determined, possessing an individual agenda. Zesch skillfully orchestrates his characters through his main story line and numerous subplots, creating a fascinating tale not of history, but an intriguing interpretation of real historical events.

Though heady stuff, Alamo Heights, is a light, easy read. It is well written and has inspired me to look further into its historical story behind the story. I look forward to future offerings from Scott Zesch.

Randell Tarin, Managing Editor(emeritus)
Alamo de Parras

As a native San Antonion, I picked up this novel because of its name. I was pleasantly surprised to find such an interesting and entertaining historical novel. I didn't remember the story of the woman who saved the Alamo from History Class, but I enjoyed learning about it. The main character, Rose, is very intense and passionate about her cause, saving the Alamo, and about her family. It was fun to watch the twists and turns of the plot unfold. I stayed up two nights in a row till 2a.m. to find out what would happen next. I liked the style of including letters and telegrams throughout the book, as well as Spanish words sprinkled among the text. I would recommend this highly.