Massachusetts Books

This book was very helpful in planning our vacation. I love the Fodor's books and this was no expection. Great help is you're planning to visit cape cod soon- I would definately recommend taking this book with you.

After looking and buying a number of bulky guides,(many which focused on Cape Cod or Martha's Vinyard) I finally found the only concise, detailed and rich in description guide to Nantucket out there. A bonus is that its tiny enough to fit in your purse or pocket as you walk or bike around the island. A++

I attend college in MA and like to hike in my free time. This book told me everything I needed to know, from hiking near Boston (where I go to school) or somewhere farther and away from the city. I highly recommend this guide to all hiking-enthusiasts!

If you live anywhere in or near Mass or travel there you will want this book! I saw it at the library and since I only live 1/2 hour from the Mass border I thought it would be fun to browse through it. I had post-it notes stuck on so many pages I thought I had better buy my own copy. The book is divided by regions and towns and has suggestions for restaurants, shops, markets, etc. If you consider yourself a foodie or just enjoy sampling local favorites you will want this book! I am now planning day trips around the foods I want to try. Great book. I wish there was one for every state.

This book is great! The story is about an unexpected friendship. My children Shelby and Jake loved it. The way the author wrote was very smooth and understanding. Forbidden Friendship would be a fantastic book for the holidays.

THE FORGOTTEN CAPE is one of the titles from Arcadia Press' IMAGES OF AMERICA series depicting the changes which occurred in Massachusetts' famous Cape Cod region. Mary Sicchio has collected a number of photographs by Richard Cooper Kelsey (who is shown on the book's cover photographing Wychmere Harbor in Harwich prior to the opening of Thompson's Clam Bar) ranging from 1940-1960, give or take ten years each way. Kelsey was one of Cape Cod's best known photographers, his works gracing many books and postcards. The photographs included in the book show the development of Cape Cod from a picturesque seaside community to the major vacation resort it would become. All facets of Cape Cod are included: the natural beauty of the land and oceans, the lighthouses and historic sights, the commerce, houses, and people who populate the Cape, both locals and vacationers. People familiar with the Cape will marvel at how much of the Cape has changed but also how many parts of the Cape have remained the same.

As someone who has vacationed at Cape Cod for part of just about every summer of my life, and makes numerous day trips to the area (at least twice a month most months), this book has been enjoyable to peruse. I can remember visiting some of the places no longer in existence: lunch at Lobster in the Rough or if I never did actually eat there, at least passing by it; the Chatham Life Saving Station prior to its being moved to Race Point, and the Mid-Cape Highway when it was somewhat rustic. It can help but make a person nostalgic. Yet I was also struck that as much as the Cape has been developed, and it's easy to bemoan the changes, the Cape has also stayed the same. Many of the shots along the National Seashore or those of the Chatham Fish Pier could have been taken just this past year, so little has changed. Perhaps this is why the Cape has remained so popular and beloved: its ability to both change and remain the same.

This book is a great gift idea for anyone who loves Cape Cod, especially people who have vacationed at the Cape for a number of years. The excellent captions below the photographs make it a great gift for history buffs too.

Dew's story of a son's last summer before entering Harvard University is charmingly detailed by a master storyteller. It speaks of a mother's devotion and care for a son who must inevitably separate from her. This is a book every mother of a son should read before he leaves for school. Indeed, the main character is fortunate to have a mother such as Dew describes.

Every season of a Boston sports fans' waking day is covered in this excellent book. The highs and lows of each of the 4 major Hub sports teams are chronicled here, capturing the moods,the history, and tradition that is truly unique! Boston Globe columnist Ryan shares his passion that the true sports fan of New England feels. Whether Boston fan or foe,this is the ultimate guide that realistic captures the flavor of the love affair of a sports town and it's fans! A great read!!!!

Cynthia Zaitzevsky leaves nothing out of this heavily-illustrated explanation of how and why Boston's Emerald Necklace parks were constructed. In addition to the history, she includes draft plans, planting lists, and a full survey of all the architecture and bridges orginal to the park system. After reading of all these accomplishments, you will want to visit the parks to see what remains today.

I first encountered Charlotte Forten Grimke as an adult, when I read the hefty (more than 600 pages) edition of her journals published as part of the Schomburg Library of 19th Century Black Women Writers. I was captivated by her inquisitive mind and vivacious spirit, which clearly came through in her prose.

"A Free Black Girl Before the Civil War" is a selection from the journals of the young Charlotte Forten (Grimke was her married name), all written in 1854. These writings offer a fascinating glimpse into the life of an educated free black girl during the era of slavery. We learn about Charlotte's love for nature, her participation in abolitionist activities, her admiration for the pioneering African American poet Phillis Wheatley, and other topics. Editor Christy Steele and company have provided a rich and colorful assortment of study aids: photographs and illustrations from Charlotte's era, a map of the "Underground Railroad," a timeline, and other resources. At 32 pages, the book is a lot less intimidating than the adult version which I first read!

The book also encourages its young readers to start their own diaries, and offers some tips. A list of relevant Internet sites further adds to the interactive nature of the book. This is an outstanding book for younger readers. Adults who also enjoy it would be wise to seek out the Schomburg Library edition of Charlotte's journals, edited by Brenda Stevenson. Both versions of these historic documents are excellent contributions to the field of African American studies.