Pennsylvania Books

Highly recommeded reading, well written. A doctor's perspective when faced himself with a potentially lethal diagnosis. Geoffrey Kurland takes you along for this trip with humor and a high dose of reality. His story helps the reader put things in perspective.

Our family was inspired by the stamina and ability to reach for the stars that doctor Kurland demonstrated in his book. It was quite helpful in dealing with our own personal fight against a difficult illness. I would certainly recommend this book to anyone dealing with disease and irony.As a doctor he has an aura of magnetic strength and is highly regarded in his profession. We tip our hats off to you!

Nonfiction with all the excitement of a novel. It reads easily, stays on track, holds the reader's interest and has to have wide appeal. How a physician barely survives a frightening disease and manages to achieve some lifelong dreams in the face of extreme adversity. It offers special insight to all of us as potential patients or medical providers, with some special appeal to runners and endurance athletes.

Wonderful book with a lot of insight on the doctor being the patient. Despite the seriousness of the subject (diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma), it is sprinkled with humorous anecdotes about medical sub-specialists and medical training. Gives insight into physician thinking and training that should prove enlightening to non-physicians. A well-written, wise book by a great doctor.

This book is a refreshingly candid, funny, and moving account of one physician's experiences as a patient with a serious and often fatal illness. I found it difficult to put down, extremely well written, and accessible to both lay public and medical professional. Dr. Kurland's account is an important addition to the genre addressing the patient experience. It is must reading for anyone involved in patient care... and anyone who might be a patient...

Very original ideas on the subject. A great teaching on colour and glaze creation. A wealth of good information for those who would like to expand their knowledge on the subject of ceramic decoration. I had borrowed the book previously but had to have my own copy to keep.

I found this book inspirational.The tips are well worth the price of the book. Excellent photos and illustrations.
Thanks,
Nancy

I found that the artwork is beautifully featured in this book and many of today's finest potters' work can be viewed. In particular, I truly enjoyed Ostermann's feature on up and coming Ontario potter-Richard Mund. His beautifully decorated work makes this book a new favorite for reference, inspiration and knowledge.

While I prefer traditional Italian maiolica to contemporary, this book is still excellent. It is filled with glaze recipes and practical technical information. This book is worth it's purchase price just for it's 8 page Troubleshooting chapter.

I recently purchased four or five books on ceramics. This was by far my favorite. The beautiful work is inspiring and well presented with clear how to information. He even shows what brushes he uses for each and every stroke.

This wonderful book allows the reader to experience a place and a people now gone. The "stars" of Ballymenone come alive again in story, song and the descriptions of their lives by Henry Glassie. Unlike most academic books, this one is written by a poet...lyrical, powerful and evocative prose by a writer with suberb descriptive powers and spiritual impact. My husband and I recently visited Ballymenone and spent the day searching for what we had read about...but the people described are mostly gone, the landscape altered, the old replaced by new. For anyone who loves Ireland and wants to understand its ways and its culture this book is a must.

I read this excellent book over a year ago and am amazed at how often my thoughts return to visit. I find that many of the folkways described by this extraordianary observer are part of my own everyday life as American Scotch Irish over two centuries removed from roots in Ulster, Ireland. The descriptions of the kitchen hospitality, even the arrangement of the kitchen furniture are very familiar to me. The gifts of storytelling and musicmaking so vividly described are as frequently celebrated in my current mileau. Thanks for an excellent piece of research and writing.

This wonderful book allows the reader to experience a place and a people now gone. The "stars" of Ballymenone come alive again in story, song and the descriptions of their lives by Henry Glassie. Unlike most academic books, this one is written by a poet...lyrical, powerful and evocative prose by a writer with suberb descriptive powers and spiritual impact. My husband and I recently visited Ballymenone and spent the day searching for what we had read about...but the people described are mostly gone, the landscape altered, the old replaced by new. For anyone who loves Ireland and wants to understand its ways and its culture this book is a must.

For years anthropologists and folklorists have often "looked down" on the subjects of their studies, attempting to fit their subjects into preconceived boxes and categories. Unfortunately some anthropologists and sociologists continue to regard their "subjects" with condescension or even amusement. Henry Glassie's work is a much needed antidote to such practices. _Passing the Time in Ballymenone_ is a jewel. Henry Glassie regards the people of Ballymenone with respect and affection, allowing them to describe their ideas, life-ways, and values on their own terms, not his. Recognizing that theirs is a mindset and lifestyle that must be seen as an integrated whole, Glassie studies everything about Ballymenone from traditional songs to entertainment to religious beliefs to architecture, liberally quoting from the people who welcomed him into their homes over his extended stays. Some of his insights are pure brilliance, such as recognizing the way the poets and storytellers of a rural Irish district have adapted ancient Gaelic metrics to the English they use today. You will learn more about Ireland and its people in this one book than in a host of others. You may also find yourself re-evaluating your own lifestyle after encountering the wisdom of these tradition bearers. The book also serves as an excellent model for those who plan to work and study in folklore or anthropology.

As a study of the folklife and history of a community in Ulster, this book is full, rich, fascinating, and moving. I've used it as a first reading for graduate classes in fieldwork because it merges useful ethnographic research techniques with insightful analysis and eloquent prose. Students find the book both practical and inspiring, and it is a tour de force of the best of folklore research. Glassie's insights are more than relevant today for thinking through contemporary concerns about a range of important social and political concerns including what it means to foster healthy community life and provide honor and respect to old masters and stars. It is also a wonderful read for anyone interested in storytelling and Irish history and culture.

I thought this book was interesting. I can't wait to try and find a few of them.

This book can only bring delight to local history buffs, especially those in the Pennsylvania area. Susan Tassin has compiled a listing of 46 ghost towns (or near ghosts) from around the state, has given a little history of each site, and, best of all, has indicated what the present-day visitor will find at each place (there is something at all of them, from restored villages to foundation holes) and how to get to them. Towns are located by section of the state, and some are close enough to each other to make visiting more than one an easy single day adventure. I only have two small quibbles, and they involve directions: the directions to Dillow's Fort near Pittsburgh are missing just enough information (probably a typo) to make it nearly impossible to locate, and in the directions for Laquin, after turning right on SR 3005 one needs to turn LEFT (not right) onto Southside Rd. Modern day explorers in the Keystone State should find plenty of inspiration in this book. Hopefully Ms. Tassin is at work on a follow-up volume amassing another inventory of ghost towns to go along with this one.

I was excited to get this book since the author was on T.V. and was talking about her book. I read the book from cover to cover and was very informed about the state that I live in. Can't wait until the weather breaks to see some of these places. Touring my own state, what a deal and alot of the places she mentioned aren't far from me....I never knew there was places like this around me. I just love her book and the information is priceless. My husband is from Pa. and never knew there was so much to read and to see in Pa. We are planning our vacation to see alot of these places and learn and get more knowledge about Pa. Way to go Susan Hutchison Tassin.

I just got this book as a gift and really enjoyed it. I used to live in rural Pennsylvania and still learned a lot of history from this book.

It is extremely well researched and full of easy to read history about the various communities that went boom and bust in Pennsylvania over 100 years ago. It's well organized by geographic area and stuffed with hard data as well as personal history that really brings out a sense of place and time and people. I was expecting something a little dry and got the opposite.

This book will hopefully shortly be found in every museum and historic gift shop in Pennsylvania. Very well done!

I have read that Pennsylvania is home to more ghost towns then Colorado, but most have been completely destroyed and are hard to find. This is a very well researched book containing numerous facts and anecdotes about many of the better known, but long defunct, towns from PA's past.

The book is divided by region so that the reader can focus on a particular part of the state. The author also includes information on the current state of each town, the accessibility of each location, and driving directions for finding them. Further, there is a solid bibliography and list of useful websites for further research.

The one thing that would have made this book better for me is if it included photographs from some of the locations. That, however, is merely a personal desire and in no way detracts from the overall work.

A must have for history buffs, ghost hunters, and abandonment explorers.

A wonderful window in time to the transition era on the PRR, and a valuable
reference for the PRR enthusiast and modeller.The book also showcases
the excellent photography of the late Don Ball Jr.

Don Ball's book shows in brilliant photography a railroad and a nation in its prime. Crisp color photography throughout. If there is a business to represent America when there were no doubts, this is it. Steam, electric, diesel, it's all here. And a surprising amount of classic images of other roads as well as the Pennsy borrowed power from the eastern US to make its manifests.

This book is simply a joy for rail enthusiasts. I am pleased to add it to my collection.

Lots of colour pictures I have never seen before, among them T1 and Q2.
The text covers the development of electric locomotives and the rather unspecific purchase of Diesels, which lead (to the pleasure of the railfan) to a large variety of types.

Ball and his cohorts have assembled an excellent collection of color photos of the PRR. Coverage is biased to the eastern end of the system, but this is not bad. There is an interesting story of the testing of early electric locomotives at the start of this book. A must for any true pennsy fan.

This is one of the "must have" books for every fan of the PRR. The color photos from the 1940s and 1950s (which make up the bulk of the book) are classic images of the railroad before its decline, and the text (which is limited to about the first 35 pages, plus photo captions, helps the reader understand the Pennsylania Railroad and its operations, particularly in the eastern half of the system. For those seeking more "technical" information, Staufer's Pennsy Power series will have more data, but the photos found here will complement the data found there. Those looking for historical information will some find some historical data here, although they may also be interested in Burgess & Kennedy's Centennial History of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Messer & Roberts' Triumph series, or in Rush Loving's book, The Men Who Loved Trains. There are also numerous other volumes published on the PRR, including many from smaller publishers.

I love this collection. So many pictures...
Very nice to buy or offer.

I bought the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to Philadelphia yesterday, after hearing it would come out in November. Took a brief thumb-though and it looks like they covered everything.

I had emailed DK a couple of years ago suggesting Eyewitness Travel Guides for Philadelphia and Seattle, and they have come out with both. The Pacific Northwest one (which includes Seattle) has some notable omissions, but having been to Philly a few times I was very pleased to see that DK published a guide book worthy of the series.

Good idea to include Lancaster County (Amish Country), Gettysburg, Hershey, Harrisburg and other Eastern PA destinations, as well as Atlantic City and some Southern NJ ones.

Now I have to go back up to Philly to get a cheesesteak, see the new National Constitution Center and check out the oddities at the Mutter museum!

I find the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides most comprehensive, well organized, informative, and up to date of all the other guides I've looked at. The introduction/history sections are pretty much all you need to read before you travel. They offer a nice background on the city. The guide is organized area by area and includes photographs of all the places they recommend to see along with a background information on each area. They even talk about museums and galleries and include pictures of paintings and objects one would see in these places. Also included are partial maps with each site marked appropriately, and descriptions accompanying each photograph. Another nice feature is illustrated street maps which allow each relevant building to be easily recognized. The end of the guide includes practical information one would need when traveling in Philadelphia, such as getting around, guided tours, personal security, hotels, restaurants, and much, much more. This guide is easy and fun to use. When I travel, I only use DK guides.

I was looking very forward to a guide for Philadelphia and this one met my expectations. The surrounding areas of Philadelphia are a little week and they glazed over a lot of things (especially in the state park and Pocono's category). The things for Delaware are very interesting and all great recommendations. The Jersey shore could have been more helpful but it is worth stopping by if you are on a trip here in the summer. Overall it is a useful book that would be very helpful if you are planning to go to Phili and see some of the surrounding area.

Buy this as a supplement to other guides, not as your sole guides. It doesn't have the details needed for complete planning, but blows other guides away on explaining the details of a few specific places. I like to get both a Frommers type and one of these, and flip back and forth, and find it's worth the extra money.

As a CPA and candidate for controller of Montgomery County, PA, it is refreshing to see the long-term planning, comparison, functional issue review, and the "watchdog" functions of a controller so well laid out. Montgomery County will be well served to use this planning approach.

Please tell me it's not this easy to run a city. If all the Giulianis, Rendells, and Daleys of the world would just implement this new direction for urban america, our cities would not be afflicted with the ills they currently suffer. Every big city resident should demand that local government run as recommended in this book. Students, policy professionals, elected officials, and urbanites everywhere should make this book a part of their libraries.

I am a passionate city fan and wish every mayor in the country would read this book and implement the policies the authors advocate. There are no quick fixes to the problems shared by large American cities (crime, poverty, decay). As successful cities prove over and over, local government must concentrate on the basics -- improving schools, reducing crime, lowering taxes -- to make the city a place where people want to be instead of a place people want to avoid. If Philadelphia would adopt the recommendations of this book, the city would truly be a great one.

Jonathan Saidel and his staff at the City Controller's Office have truly revolutionized the way city government looks at urban policy in 21st century Philadelphia. This initiative demonstrates how municipal governments can spearhead positive change in urban America. The socioeconomic proposals demand serious consideration in an ever-competitive urban environment. Philadelphia can now be seen as a motivating force for improved urban life. Citizens now can view government as a partner for improved quality of life.

This book makes concrete, achievable, realistic suggestions for reform in Philadelphia which will serve as a model for public policy direction in cities across the US. Mandel, Babyak, and Volpe have written the definitive text to lead Philadelphia into the next century. PANUD also would be an excellent textbook for public policy, urban studies, and government courses at the college and graduate levels.

Good book about something my US history teacher failed to mention or did not dwell on. This book is a must buy for those interested in the founding of this country,and a historical perspective of tax and monetary policy.

Richards' book on the Shays's Rebellion (or the "Regulation", as the rebels referred to it) is absolutely first rate. Six stars!

During the course of other research in the Massachusetts state archives, Richards came across a list of 4000 people who, upon participating in and losing the Shays Rebellion, had signed an oath of loyalty to the state of Massachusetts in order to be given clemency. Apparently, this list was in barely legible handwriting and had never been translated. The amazing breakthrough came when Richards decided to take this list, decipher the names, and find out who all the participants were, person by person. What he produces is a tremendously revealing and much more accurate account of the rebellion.

Through what must have been months of painstaking, dogged research Richards attempts to prove that we, today, have many misconceptions about the rebellion. Particularly, Richards makes a point that the rebels were more upset by very understandable abuses by the Boston-centered Massachusetts state government than by poverty. He also shows that the most important factor in recruiting rebels was their clan association. People joined almost exclusively as part of a clan, and this explains why some towns had widespread participation and others had minimal. He does a great job of fleshing out who the leaders and opponents were. A true local history project.

Richards also does a nice job of relating how the rebellion fit in with the national movement to form a stronger union among the states. This occurred in Philadelphia the next year at the Constitutional Convention. The rebellion played a very important part in our history that many today do not fully appreciate, and Richards does a fantastic job of putting it all together.

Last, three things. One, after reading this book I have a much better understanding of why the rural parts of the new nation feared Hamilton and his drive to strengthen Federal control. I also have a much better understanding for Hamilton's genius. You will, too. Two, I think it helps tremendously that Richards himself is a history professor based in Amherst, Massachusetts, in the heart of Shays country. You get the feeling that telling this story accurately is a labor of love for Richards, close to his heart. And three, apparently the possessive form of Shays in all the places I've seen it written is spelled "Shays's". That's right, "s's". It seems wrong, but that's how professor Richards and everyone else spell it. Go figure.

Do you hold dear, the Constitution of the United States? If you do, then you can thank the farmers involved in the Shay's Rebellion. This pivotal piece of early American history has been revisited by Professor Leonard L. Richards of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, in his book SHAY'S REBELLION: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS FINAL BATTLE, and has brilliantly clarified some of the misconceptions revolving around the event, particularly its cause.

In previous popular belief, it has been widely held that the farmers revolted due to their being dragged into a global market, which forced them into debt. This rather simplistic view misses many crucial elements, to which Dr. Richards superbly lends enlightment. The principle causes ran much deeper than that. Primarily, the farmers were being overtaxed and forced to pay creditors at the benefit of Revolutionary War bondholders, who were typically, either members of the Massachusetts Legislature or closely related to someone who was.

Ultimately, their revolt ended up helping in the ratification of the Constitution that we enjoy today. Richard's book also gives a slant contrary to popular thought, that the farmers of the Shay's Rebellion did in fact gain victory. Though they opposed the Constitution and their rebellion was squashed, it did result in substantial tax relief from the legislature.

I was also delighted to find a cameo appearance in the book of Mumbet, aka Elizabeth Freeman, the slave who sued for her freedom. Upon the outcome of her successful lawsuit, all slaves in Massachusetts were emancipated. Her story appears in Richard's book for her part in protecting from the Regulators, the valuables of Theodore Sedgwick, for whom she worked and had also served as her legal counsel.

At just over 200 pages, this is a quick and easy read, with no fluff added to fill more pages. Richard's writes succinctly and has done a brilliant job of shedding new light on the Shay's Rebellion.

Monty Rainey
www.juntosociety.com

The revolutionary war was won leaving America the victory and states burdened with the debt to pay for the war. War notes were issued by each state to pay military men for their service. Most of these men were farmers. Because legal tender was scarce, the men exchanged their notes for hard currency with speculators willing to pay cents on the dollar. In Massachusetts, these speculators were Boston merchants; merchants, who maintained a significant influence on the political machinery and helped, formulate tax policy requiring the citizen to pay tax money used to shed state debt and interesting the notes would be paid back at original issued value.

In 1780, the notes debt were consolidated and 6 percent bonds secured against the debt and L265,000 paid to make good on the interest with the state making four installment payments. Consolidation worked to the advantage of the Boston merchants capitalized on incredible buying leverage gaining 1/40 depreciation value of the note, it was a bonanza for the speculators.

One possibility explaining Shay's rebellion was the rebels were protest unfair tax policy. When the legislature decided to pay the original value of the note rather than the purchase price, the people of Massachusetts insisted they only receive the purchase value of the note. This cry went unheard as the state earmarked L1,250,000 for the holder, L270,000 for the holders of the original note; 80 percent of the state debt made it into the hands of the speculators, who were gambling on the future; 35 men held 40 percent of the state debt; the future did not look bleak because the new tax system benefited the speculators, by 1786 the increased tax burden impacted the farmer five to six times the preexisting tax burden providing the state a property tax and a poll tax on all male 16 year olds.

The farmers wanted the state to provide more money for debt relief: the back country was in bad shape, creditors wanted the farmers to pay their debts with hard currency; the court systems had numerous layers and fees and the people felt that it needed restructuring and additionally they wanted the state constitution to be revised or a new constitution formed; the people questioned why there was a state senate claiming the existing senate was a bastion for the privileged of Boston and the political machinery being influence by the merchants to pay back the war debt.

What were the laws of debt? The confession act of 1782 required debtors to go before a justice of the peace and acknowledge their debt and avoid court costs and 790 men made 4,000 confessions. In 1654, an outgrowth of the English Common law, Debtors could be arrested for debt: 1. confined to reveal hidden debt or force relatives to pay the debt 2. Seizure of the debtor's property 3. or liquidation at "auction" price rather than fair market value to generate hard currency. The creditor paid for the debtor's jail time.

Farmers owning money got the screws as they were harassed by creditors for immediate payment of their debt. A chain of debt prevailed with almost everyone owning debt of one sort. Farmers did not expect to pay in full their debt immediately. Boston Merchants pressed for local merchants to pay. The reason for the panic was result of England closing their West Indies trade. Now, wholesalers had no way to trade out their debt. Wholesalers imported English goods and sold these goods to local merchants extending an immense credit. In 1787, the wholesalers sued the back country, who sued the farmers. In 1786, Connecticut creditor filed 60,000 suites. 1/3 of the men in court were involved in a credit dispute and 20 percent of the tax payers were taken to court. The credit pressure caused a revolt to revise or redo the state constitution and restore the republic.

Farmers were facing new taxes; notes IOUs for service that could not be used as collateral to buy land, pay debts, or be used as currency; shortages of legal tender; and a government restructuring. The state constitution was in question, the people was to abolish the upper house of the state legislature and revise the lower house to force re election of government officials each year and the lower house to set the salaries. Included in the people's demands were the abolishment of the "Court of Common Pleas" and the "General Session of Peace".

Shay's Rebellion: The American Revolution's Final Battle by Leonard L. Richards (Professor of History, University of Massachusetts) provides a detailed and scholarly look at the farmer's revolt in 1786-87 that drew General George Washington out of retirement, and ultimately forced the Articles of Confederation of a fledgling nation to be scrapped in exchange for what was to become the American Constitution. A meticulous, thoroughly researched, deftly written study of a pivotal point in American political and military history, Shays's Rebellion is very highly recommended reading for students and scholars of American History.

I am an avid western reader, (L'amour, Will Henry, Zane Grey, Frank Bonham) and this book is a "Must Read" for anyone that likes western novels!! I thoroughly have enjoyed Six Notch Road!! A great story!! Can't wait for the other 2 books!!

This book has a unique plot line and is a good read even for those who do not like the Western genru. I have checked the factual setting and find that the writer does a fine job of being historically accurate. I would recommend this book to all who love Western fiction and those who simply enjoy a good, well told story. Malcolm

Mr. Santee transported me to the actual place and time of this great adventure. I was spellbound for two straight days. The only thing that could have possibly made it better... is to have been sitting around a campfire listening to Mr. Santee tell the story in person. Keep up the great writing. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the other two books.

This is without a doubt the best book I have ever read.I couldnt put it down.The writer is very good.Hope the other two will be out real soon.Just cant wait to read them.Please tell the author to hurry,hurry.A fan in waiting.....

This is a great book ! I'm not a western fan but it was suggested I read this book -- I could hardly put it down ! My girlfriend read it & had the same reaction---she read it in one sitting! The scenery descriptions & insights into the lives of the miners, coal & gold, were beautifully written. The emotional feelings of the characters were powerfully portrayed ------ I feel like I personally know each & every one of them & am anxious for the sequels----HURRY UP Mr. Santee !! What happens next? P.S. ( work on the punctuation )

This is a story that needed to be told. Ms Boogio's writing style makes you feel like you are sitting around the kitchen table sharing her life. A family's life who's outcome was determined by our very own government's greed. Many Kudos to Jean Boggio!

The family farm, providing sustenance and income for their legacy and kin for generations upon generation - is no more. "Stolen Fields: A Story of Eminent Domain and the Death of the American Dream" is the story of author Jean Boggio and her ancestors and their former farm on Neville Island in Pennsylvania. A somber and somewhat depressing story about losing ones livelihood to circumstances beyond their control - the construction of a munitions factory for World War I, claimed by the government by eminent domain. It becomes more tragically pointless as the factory is simply never built and the land is auctioned off to the highest bidder, Boggio's family helpless against a financial juggernaut of Carnegie steel. Not completely living in the depressive past, Boggio tells the tale of her family moving on and doing what they can to succeed in life. "Stolen Fields: A Story of Eminent Domain and the Death of the American Dream" is highly recommended for any biography collection and for anyone who wants a look at the shadier practices of the government against its own citizens.

Stolen Fields was a book that caught my attention and kept it throughout the whole story. It contained historical facts which I was not aware of and also many personal elements about the Cole family that were not presented in a long, drawnout manner. Personal history can sometimes be very boring.

Jean Boggio has a very delightful style of writing that is easy to follow and kept my attention. It also left me wanting to know more about the Island and the Cole family.

For 22 years I looked out my living room window at Neville Island. I also traveled over Neville Island to go to work and took my children to the roller skating rink there. I had no idea that its history included farming and being the "breadbasket" of Pittsburgh. I just knew its industrial side.

The Cole family's history should be included in Allegheny County's history. I am going to do some research into that. There are many elements of the family that fascinated me. I felt their sorrow and anger when they had to move off the Island and start anew in a different place and environment. To me, the grandchildren sound like strong survivors and who have overcome any impediments that had put before them, either from family members or society. Congratulations to them and best wishes for a strong happy future!
I hope that Jean will continue writing. I would enjoy reading more of her work in the future. She will probably be a good novelist, also.
Jean,good luck with this book and any that you may write in the future.

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (4/08)

"Stolen Fields" is a story of the American Dream gone wrong. It is a story of hatred, bitterness, ambition, and greed. It is also a story of "What If" and "If only." What if eminent domain had not taken the Cole property? If only Grandfather Cole had been able to build his prosperous ventures?

Jean tells of growing up as a descendant of the strong-willed and vibrant Cole family. In the first few chapters she gives the reader a glimpse into the historic heritage and of the hard working Coles and the economic success of the fertile farm on Neville Island near Pittsburg. The Cole farm on Neville Island was known as "The Market Basket of Pittsburgh."

Jean Boggio consistently and fairly shared two sides of a story. I felt bonded to the family as I listened as Jean shared lighthearted gossip through the stories handed down from one generation to the next, fairly reporting on two completely different perspectives of the perceived facts.

During the years of 1918 and 1919 toward the end of WWI, the United States government came up with a plan to rival the German Krupps Works that provided munitions for the German juggernaut. Neville Island was selected to be the site for the project. The government officials invoked the process of eminent domain to seize the property for public use. The project had only begun when the Armistice was signed. The government no longer needed the land. It was put it up for public auction.

The Cole family, distraught by loss of the home that had been in the family for over a hundred years, held out in an attempt to negotiate a fair market price. After a great deal of harassment and the fear of arson they were forced to accept the government-determined price.

Family accounts, newspaper research, and historical sources, as well as her own memories provided Jean Boggio with the material for this remarkable account of the Cole's of Neville Island and the impact of eminent domain on the dreams of her parents, their children, and ultimately on the generations that follow. Although there were feelings of hatred, and bitterness by members of the Cole family, theirs is a journey that resonates with a sense of accomplishment, pride, and promise.

This is more than a leisurely nostalgic stroll down memory lane. Jean's vivid descriptions draw the reader into the experience of being a part of her childhood at the Sandy Lake farm. She has the amazing ability to turn everyday circumstances and events into entertaining, often humorous, stories that resound with simplicity, warmth, and reality. Jean uses flashbacks depicting scenes from her childhood. She reveals details of her relationships with her sister, her parents, her grandparents, Aunt Gladys, Uncle Robert, Uncle Ned, and her cousins. These colorful characters provide dramatic word pictures bringing an excitement to the otherwise routine life for the Cole's from Neville Island. Family photos are included throughout the book to illustrate the events. These pictures add another dimension and a sense of relationship to the Cole family.

I especially enjoyed Jean's openness in relating college relationships and her early experiences in New York City. As an aspiring actress she was sympathetic to the beatnik culture. I appreciated her positive writing even in light of romances gone awry, family relationships gone amok and personal goals unattained. Jean gained a broad range of work experiences in corporate offices, in the field of education, and ultimately in the medical field as a nurse.

Strong writing, thorough research, and an objective look into the avarice that often accompanies the process of eminent domain make "Stolen Fields" a significant contribution to the history and future restructuring of a process often misunderstood and abused.

As a memoir writer Jean Boggio is a gifted storyteller. Her vivid descriptions and characterizations insure that the enjoyment of her writing will linger long after reading the final chapter. "Stolen Fields" is a rich and entertaining reading experience.

This book grabbed me from the first page. I felt like I was sitting at the kitchen table listening to the saga unfold in front of me. Boggio is an exceptional story teller. I can't wait for her next book.
Terry Walsh