Mississippi Books

This is a really good book if you were stationed in Gulfport at any time in history. There is alot of pictures that span through the years, I even saw a few pictures of some old buddies and one very knowledgeable Gunny Sgt. that was attached to my old battalion.

I've been meaning to write a review of "Shake That Thing" and "Avalon Blues" for a few months now. I found them at Colony Music in Times Square, NYC. If you are interested in playing the music of Mississippi John Hurt, I don't believe you will find any better instruction than Stefan Grossman's.

He breaks down the songs musical phrase by musical phrase at a very slow tempo. His instruction is very clear and easy to follow. In the beginning, I had a little trouble getting used to playing an F chord by hooking my thumb around the neck of the guitar but it's an important skill to learn. With consistent practicing, I am now playing five songs very smoothly (although not quite up to MJH's tempo yet, but with a steady rhythm and competence!).

I bought this book in July along with Grossman's other book "Avalon Blues" (this is another Mississippi John Hurt book). There is a wealth of things to learn in both books. The material is presented in both standard notation and guitar tablature. Most of the M.J.H. songs are in standard tuning but there are a few that are in alternate tunings which I haven't tried yet (an excuse to buy that 2nd guitar!). Some songs require a capo ("Candy Man" is one of those songs...it's in the "Avalon Blues" book).

Anyway, the bottom line is if you enjoy fingerpicking, you will have a blast with these books. I was only playing (strumming) guitar for 1 1/2 years when I decided to try my hand at this type of music and after a few months, I'm actually playing it!

If you practice regularly, you'll be playing these songs in no time and you can build up an excellent repertoire that people will enjoy for years to come. So far I can play "Louis Collins", "Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me" and "I'm Satisfied" from this book. I can also play "Sliding Delta" and "Coffee Blues" from the Avalon Blues book.

Both books come with CDs that contain the original 1928 MJH recordings of the songs as well as the 1960s recordings made when Hurt was "rediscovered". Grossman includes some additional recorded versions by other Bluesmen (Rev. Gary Davis, Mance Lipscomb).

Grossman doesn't always tab out the entire song, but you get enough info to go back to the original recordings so you can figure out what to do and try to play along. I'm sure when MJH played the songs, he never played them the same way twice. That being said, Grossman also gives minor variations on how you can play some phrases. I also enjoy the extra background info that he gives. For example, in the song "Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me" he talks a little bit about white songster Jimmie Rodgers and how a trademark Jimmie Rodgers lick keeps appearing in this song. It's a cool sounding lick. I recently taught it to a friend who's been playing guitar for years!


This is really an excellent book for anyone who wants to sharpen their fingerpicking skills. It's not for the absolute beginner. You should be able to play a clean barre chord and have sufficient dexterity in your fretting fingers to play over four frets when needed (I hope that sounds intelligible). It will help too if you're not a slave to looking at your fretting hand while playing. All of this comes with time and practice. I don't see why a beginner can't be playing from this book fairly quickly as long as they have determination and a willingness to practice consistently. The fingers will learn to cooperate eventually. I speak from experience.

There's just something about this music that makes it very accessible, even to someone like me. When you listen to the original recordings, it sometimes sounds as if there's more than one guitar playing. As I was learning the songs, I was surprised at how simple and "bare-bones" the music was. This simplicity is what makes the songs of MJH sound so enchanting. The songs are not difficult to learn at all, the way Grossman teaches them. Some are easier to learn than others. This only increases your motivation to keep on learning more songs!

Me? I'm just a middle aged white woman who's used to playing Bach and Beethoven on the piano. Practicing classical music can be a slow and torturous process (for me and anyone who is stuck within hearing range of me). Being able to sit down and fingerpick these Mississippi John Hurt gems is so much fun! And my family doesn't even mind when I play them. These two books "Shake That Thing" and "Avalon Blues" have opened an entire new world of music for me.

Jack Bales has done it! His "Shifting Interludes", is a masterpiece, a grand compulation of Willie Morris'essays. Mr. Bales' talent and ability has proven itself and is only equaled by Willie Morris' skill in the form of the essay. I would recommend this whole heartedly to any one who lived through the turbulent times Willie Morris writes of, or who simply enjoys fine reading and craftsmanshift in books. A must read and a fine gift.

A must read and see book, especially if you are going to visit the Shiloh/Corinth Civil War Battlefield area. Mr. Timothy Isbell captures, not only the out of the way places to see, but the beauty of the area in some very dramatic, beautiful photography. A five star Civil War coffee table book.

I really enjoyed this book. Who better to tell an infrantry man's story then themselves. The hardships of Marches, Poor food and bitter fighting. I strongly suggest that you read this book.

The Soul Of Southern Cooking is a wonderful combination of recipes and stories that evoke a time when black families had to make-do in the midst of hard times, yet were able to develop and enjoy a variety of delicious meals with a culinary tradition popularly referred to as "soul food". From Homemade Hog Head Souse; Neckbone and Macaroni Stew; Delta Fried Catfish; and Sunday's Fried Corn; to Boiled Chicken Feet and Legs; Stovetop Roast Beef; Celery Seed Dressing; Ten-Minute Oven Pecan Brittle; and Mrs. Hunter's Southern Tea Cakes, The Soul Of Southern Cooking fully lives up to its title and will prove a welcome and unique addition to the family cookbook collection.

We often hear the past does not equal our future. But Joyce shows us how EVERYTHING that happens in our lives works together for our good. That having mastered the joys and sorrows of the past can be an impetus for a rewarding future. Such wonderful storytelling prose with extra doses of inspiration--we couldnt put this down! Thanks for reminding us that we each have a special voice and giving us the inspiration to use it!

This book provides a strong overview of the folk culture of a range of communities in South Florida. The chapters on occupational folklife and tourism are especially strong. The writers provide a very readable and informative study of the types of traditional activities associated with the many different ethnic and occupational groups in the region. There is excellent background history on the Seminoles, Miccosukees, and Cuban communities as well as fine descriptions of the folk arts, musical traditions, and festivals associated with each of the various cultures. The bibliography is excellent, and it is a useful starting point for further developing the insights of the writers. This volume is a great contribution to the Folklife of the South series, and it will serve the historical record well.

Proves that real life is usually more romantic than fiction. A great read.

Lucy Adams, author of If Mama Don't Laugh, It Ain't Funny

I have tried four recipes from this book. The ingredients and instructions are simple, easy to put together for such a pleasurable end product. I have to agree with author that the end product defies all preconceived ideas of what southern cooking is about.