South Carolina Books

It's really stupid. The premise was so ridiculous, I figured it must have been, "clever" to get as high of a rating, and a prominently displayed review that said it was Orwellian, so I bought it. I hated it. Cookbooks are probably more engrossing than the cardboard characters. This book is a concept gimmick with just ONE interesting idea, that very quickly looses it's charm.

Mark Dunn, Ella Minnow Pea (MacAdam/Cage, 2001)

Ella Minnow Pea is the story of Nollop, a fictional island off the coast of Georgia whose inhabitants revere Nevin Nollop, creator of the famous sentence "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." There is a large statue in Nollopton, the island's largest town, that has the sentence affixed to it. One day, the "z" drops from the statue and shatters on the ground. The Nollop high council decrees that this is a sign from the almighty Nollop that he no longer wants the island's residents to use the letter under pain of expulsion. While this throws the island's residents into confusion and despair, it's not that hard for residents of the island (save its bees) not to use the letter Z. Things get complicated, though, when more letters start dropping.

The book starts off slowly, but as it picks up speed, it becomes an interesting and amusing meditation on language and religion. It's worth your time, but give it some space in the early going. ***

I read Mark Dunn's 'Welcome To Higby' quite some time ago, and loved it. I've had this book on my wish list for a couple years, and finally decided it was time to give it a read...and it was soooo different from 'Higby', that's it's hard to imagine the same author wrote it!

'Ella..' is a great book, with a very interesting and different plot, and some very clever writing. The little island of Nollopton (off the coast of S.C.) is it's own country, and they all but worship Nevin Nollop, the creator of the panagram 'The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog'. Well, the statue that was erected for him a hundred or so years before is aging, and the tiles of that panagram are beginning to fall from it. Thinking it's a 'sign' from the great Nollop, the High Council makes illegal each letter as it falls. The personal letters that are written by the townsfolk to one another are witty and inventive in the absence of more and more letters. As additional letters disappear from their vocabulary, we see the cracks, and eventual downfall of this small, close-nit community.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book as a very different read from your normal everyday fiction. Dunn has written a great book that will keep you interested to the very end. I absolutely look forward to reading more of his novels.

I agree that this book is enormously clever and entertaining and beyond the capabilities of most of us to think of and execute. Most of the reviews focus on the obvious: enjoying the wordplay and storyline. A couple of reviews focus on the underlying theme of the personal loss of freedom when living under tyranny and fanaticism. A third level is recognizing how language evolves to satisfy our needs. Another clever and interesting book that pursues this theme is The Professor and the Madman: a Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary, by Simon Winchester. I disagree with the reviewer who claimed the language was stilted and baroque. I found it a refreshing change from today's conversations that are limited to few words and muddled thoughts. I had no trouble following the contrived language as it evolved through the book.

This review will likely never earn a "yes" vote for its helpfulness, but nevertheless, I wanted to share that I absolutely adored this book. The premise was brilliant and I not once felt that the excution got stale. I don't know; maybe I'm just easier to amuse/impress than some, but this book really was one of the smartest things I've ever read.

Not only is 12-year-old Patsy a slave, but she's also one of the least important slaves, since she stutters and walks with a limp. So when the war ends and she's given her freedom, Patsy is naturally curious and afraid of what her future will hold.

Although she and the others are technically free to do as they choose, their former owners are reluctant to do that. So, as long as they remain on the plantation, they all know their lives won't be any different.

With that in mind, the slaves slowly begin to leave -- seeking long-lost relatives, or starting over in a brand-new place. Patsy, who arrived on the plantation with a group of men as a toddler, has no idea who her parents are. With a sick feeling in her heart, she enviously watches other families reunite, knowing that no one will come for her.

Even so, Patsy's too busy to feel sorry for herself long. Now that slavery's ended, she and the others are free to learn, and they're eager to get a school established on the grounds. But problems with securing a teacher force Patsy to reveal her secret -- some time ago, she learned to read and write. Soon, Patsy is enjoying a newfound importance as her fellow ex-slaves depend upon her, affectionately calling her "Little Teacher" -- and helping her gain the confidence to embark on a new life of her own.

This book is an excellent way to get anyone, from children Patsy's age to adulthood, to understand just what freed slaves endured as they struggled to make the huge transition from captivity to independence.

I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly



In this book Pasty or "little teacher," a slave in South Carolina, learns how to read through two white kids when they play a cruel, sick joke on her. While Annie pretends to be the teacher at a school Pasty and the little boy "pretend" to learn, but Pasty isn't pretending. After receiving a journal from Annie as another cruel joke, she starts writing. As an injured slave no one pays much attention to her until she reveals that she can read. Promised a plantation school and land, the newly freed slaves on Davis Hall Plantation are furious when they don't get either. What will they do? Read and find out!

This book is O.K. but it isn't a book that I would just pick up and start reading. I like historical fiction, but this book just doesn't make me want to read it. Don't let my opinion influence you though, try it and you might like it, I am just a picky reader.

We can never know the life of others unless we have put ourselves in other people's shoes. Life can be so hard these days so we need to get along with each other because we might need some one to do something for us one day.

Pasty is talking about how her life was in 1865 at Mars Bluff, South Carolina, she could not be taught how to read or write, and had to work in fields, all the time. She also got beat when she did not do the right thing, she had to cook for the owner, and I know that is a way no one would want to live, like she had to. It was a hard job to do when she had to be out in the cold doing work.

Pasty's life can make people want to have a new experiment if they were in her shoes. If that was my life I would want to be able to get out of the situation she is in, that is something some of us might would break down in cry sometimes it is hard when you can not see your mother that often her mom came to see her the owner of the slaves made her leave but refused to leave she got arrested for private property and for trespassing.


Everybody's life can change in a spilt second. Have you ever felt that your life has gone through different pathways, some people can be going through things that make you want to get angry around the clock, every body can feel if they have lost control of what they have done in the past, sometimes you just have to give it to God for your wrong doings and the pain you went through once in your lifetime.


I would recommend this book for any person of any age. It is a great book reminding people of how much they have got to be thankful for and, how much freedom you actually have, during the moments of your life when the world has put you through things that make us wonder why life can be so hard.

This book is one of the best in the entire series in my opinion. The story takes place just after the Civil War on a plantation, and though the negros on the place expected life to change, it hasn't changed at all.

One of the things that make this story one of the best is Patsy herself. Instead of giving her a perfect life, the author gave her anything but that. Patsy hobbles, one of her legs is shorter than the other, she stutters and stammers, and because of this, everyone presumes that she is stupid. She is anything but. She also longs for a family, but doesn't even know who her parents were.

This is an outstanding story, one of the things that make this story good, once again is the heroine. Patsy is perhaps one of the best characters written. This is one of the best of the "Dear America" series.

The moment I started reading that book, I couldn't put it down! It was AMAZING! It's about a girl named Patsy living in the Reconstrustion era. As many of the other slaves leave, who are now freed, she wonders about her life and if she should leave her plantation life. She learns a lot about herself and life in general. But I won't give away the ending... :-X I recommend it to all!!!!!!

This is my first Pat Conroy book. All of his books have great reviews on Amazon, so I wasn't sure which one to start with; I just picked this one. I think I made a very good choice by reading 'The Water Is Wide' first. It's an early book, and I got a lot of insight into who Pat Conroy is, his humor, his goodwill, the kinds of people he surrounds himself with, etc.

I just started reading 'Beach Music' and I really feel an affinity for this author after reading 'The Water is Wide.' I appreciate his ability to write and articulate ideas.

'The Water is Wide' is about the time period in the south in which many people grew up with racial prejudices as a way of life. As children, it's "just the way it is" and they don't know any better. As Mr. Conroy became a man, more educated and involved in the very things he had been taught to dislike as a child, he underwent a huge personal change and touched so many people along the way. I like his kick-*** attitude and how candidly he wrote about everything.

This story moved me on many different levels. This is a book about a man helping others, inspiring others, and overcoming the false beliefs about race that stemmed from his upbringing and culture. It's also about someone who was courageous enough to stand up to authority. It's a wonderful story. If it were fiction, it would be a good story. But the fact that it is based on the author's experience just makes it even better. Can't wait to read the rest of his books!

I looked up Daufuskie (aka Yamacraw) Island on Google and it seems to be a big resort island with golf courses and hotels now; probably nothing like the Yamacraw Mr. Conroy experienced many years ago. Must visit some day anyway.

I searched for the movie 'Conrack' on Amazon, but they seem to only have VHS version sold by a different seller, but not available on DVD. Conrack wasn't on Netflix either. Let's hope it gets re-released on DVD.

This is an early example of the promise of Pat Conroy. Everything I have read of his has been extraordinarily beautifully written. There are pages I have to reread just for the joy of the wording, the descriptions, the expressions of thoughts.

As a teacher he must have been a treasure. It is an indictment of the school system in which he worked that he was not fostered and encouraged. America's children are the losers in the situation. I know the people of "Yamacraw" felt the loss when he was not allowed to return to the school there.

America's readers have reaped the benefits of Conroy's education and experience and his exemplary use of the language.

Enjoy!

After having read the book, we had an opportunity to tour Daufuskie Island (Yamacraw Island in the book). After the tour we stopped at the General Store and noticed that The Water Is Wide was not offered for sale. We asked about this. We were told the Gullahs thought the book put them down and they did not want the book available on the island. ..... Interesting.

The author has an excellent command of words in describing characters and action. Unfortunately, they are not used to good effect in this autobiographical novel.

For me the book lacked interesting characters, a fascinating plotline, and impending danger and escalating conflict. Consequently it lacked ongoing suspense, failing to involve and absorb me in this so-called story.

I say so-called because the book seems more like a a series of isolated incidents, hardly focused on a particular end or goal, and therefore take on a rambling, babbling, numbing quality, one which I, for one, found increasingly boring.

There was no point in the book where I felt I couldn't put the book down and wonder or care about what was going to happen to the main, or even the subordinate, characters. It was all ho-hum. To me, a good book compels me to keep reading, even if I have to stay up all night doing so. Not this one--if anything, it threw me into an uncaring state of somnolence. And many of its points that are continually repeated contribute to this

At page 115 I tossed the book into the trash can so that I could better use my time by reading something better, hopefully a book that is more involving and fascinating.

While reading The Water is Wide, I experienced exactly the kind of heart-warming, comical, enjoyable reaction Pat Conroy had in mind while writing the book. Several themes are apparent throughout, and it was easy for the reader to recognize the most important one. Pat Conroy taught his students and readers that no matter a person's race, literacy level, age, or gender, everyone matters, and everyone is equal.
Pat Conroy moved many times as a child, since his father was in the military. His first job was teaching English in Beaufort, South Carolina. He then found himself teaching on the remote Daufuskie Island, which was referred to as Yamacraw Island in the novel. This teaching job provided the inspiration and plot for The Water is Wide.
Pat Conroy, referred to as "Conrack" by some students, has an excellent way of teaching readers the importance of acceptance and equality. He does not preach or lecture his message, but his delivery of it through countless situations is just as effective. Sometimes his point is concealed by the amusement of the Yamacraw students, but by the end of each chapter, the reader will be reminded of the seriousness at hand.
The Water is Wide never failed to entertain me. The book takes countless turns in the plot, and each turn results in comedy, sincerity, or amusement. The reader finds him or herself relating to each character, even though the lifestyle on Yamacraw Island is much different from most of the United States. Pat Conroy made me realize how lucky I am to live in a society where education is important and emphasized. This book opened my eyes to how people in other, less fortunate areas of the world live. I recognized that education is imperative, and how much the average student takes for granted.
While Pat Conroy had no problems capturing my attention with plenty of interesting stories, he sometimes overwhelmed readers with his personality. Several parts of the book were filled with Conroy's strong opinion on characters and school rules. This sometimes interrupted the plot. Other than the occasional rant by Pat Conroy, the book flowed smoothly.
The Water is Wide was an excellent read for teenagers and adults, especially those interested in teaching. I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover, and it influenced me in ways only exceptional literature can.

I recently attended a talk by author Mary Alice Monroe at a winery in N.C. She gave such interesting glimpses into the creation of her characters in her book titled "Time is a River", which I read and loved. Now, I'm reading "Beach House" and I just can't put it down. I purchased her sequel, "Swimming Lessons", and another title, "Sweet Grass", which I'm holding on deck to read next. These books were purchased brand new from Amazon and arrived quickly and in perfect, brand new conditon.

This book was so amazing! I loved it... it truly took you away and plopped you right in the middle of the story! I was so sad that it ended and then I found 'Swimming Lessons'... what a gift!

Truly have read a lot of books but Beach House has been to the top of my list. Truly a book you cant put down.

The Beach House, by Mary Alice Monroe, is a beautiful account of the life of Lovey Rutledge, a woman who lives alone in a small house on the eastern shore. Ms Rutledge cares for Loggerhead sea turtles and their hatchlings. Her life and the entertwined lives of these beautiful turtles show us how precious life is to us and to those creatures that live in the ocean. It is well written and worth reading for adults and to read to children. I plan to read everything Mary Alice Monroe has written, after reading this beautiful story.

MONROE IS A WONDERFUL AUTHOR,AND HER NOVELS ABOUT THE LOW COUNTRY IN THE SOUTH ARE SIMPLY CAPTIVATING. SHE AND ANNE SIDDONS MAKES YOU WANT TO GO TO THE SOUTH LOW COUNTRY AND STAY THERE FOREVER. THIS STORY IS WONDERFUL AND IS SO REAL AS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS,AND FAMILY MEMBERS SO OFTEN HAPPEN IF PEOPLES LIVES. LOVED THE BOOK !

another book that i read a few months ago. some parts were a little too graphic for me, but i got through it. the strength of gal was unbelievable. i enjoyed this book.

This true life story was sooo hard to read!!! But so well written. She takes you along side her in the journey. It hurt me to know a little girl or any child was sooo abused. However, there is a God, and he made this horrific story into a best selling novel. Yeah, I hope for real-time revenge for the heroine...but we know our God never slumbers nor sleeps.

Gal, was a tear droper, for a grandfather to beat his children and granddaughter like that its a hurting thing.But then to beat his wife to death " WHERE IS THE LOVE? I can believe how a father and grandfather can do these kids like this. Goodreading

I so enjoyed this book and was rooting all the way through for Ruthie aka Gal. Many things about her reminded me of myself (I AM A SURVIVOR of sexual abuse) and, like Gal, I persevered. However, it was only by my Savior's grace that I was able to do so. It was interesting to read Gal's story in her own dialect (like "The Color Purple"). I could "feel" the beatings. I could "see" the house and garden after her return and renovations. I could "smell" the marijuana she smoked as her way of coping with her circumstances as well as the liquor on Daddy's breath. I couldn't put this book down and read it within a few days. I highly recommend it. A++

I read this book a couple of years ago. I cried and laughed a little. I can't believe she went through all that heart ache and pain. I was really disappointed when her aunts(who she was raised with as sisters) didn't give her at least a third of her grandfathers ( who she called papa) insurance policy. She was the one who was there for him when he was sick. HE DIDN'T EVEN PUT HER NAME IN HIS WILL!!! I was sooo happy when she found happiness. This is a must read.

I see some complaints about whether everything Donald Gaskins said was true. That's not the point. The book really let's you get a feel for this person. Much more so in certain repects, than any other criminal I have read about. Colin Wilson suffered a psychotic breakdown as a result of listening to Gaskins and was temporarily hospitalized.

This book is a good read ( i finished it in a day ) but i just have some trouble beliving some of Pee Wee's stories - he even states himself that he has told several versions of the stories -so why should i believe without doubt that this book is "the truth"? ... from reading profiling books on serial killers - you find that these killers may change up the way they kill / despose of their bodies - to make an improvement - but gaskins has 2 ways of killing people and he bounces back and forth between them -- doesn't make much sense ...
at the end of his book he lets the readers know that he wanted to become famous - but, he and his crimes really aren't known outside of the southeast ... i'm not saying he didn't kill a lot of people, i'm not saying he didn't torture them ... i'm just having a little trouble beliving mr gaskins versions, i just get the feeling that he is admiting to more, for one last attempt to in his words "be famous" ... he even mentions that back when hurricane hugo hit the grand strand, that there were reports of bodies (remains) being found, but it was reported that those were from graveyards .... i believe that to be true because, gaskins said that he "sank" his victims, with big chains, etc., and sank their belongings, he also says that when he felt he was about to be caught he took all of the tools he used for his killings and all the chains he had left and sank that to the bottom of the marshlands in horry and georgetown counties ... when hugo came through -- this is a definate time that things would have been brought up from their watery grave ... but no reoprts of the 30 plus chains, and other tools have been documented

As someone who lives in Sumter, SC I've heard a good bit about Pee Wee Gaskins. He actually used to live in a house right down the street from where I sit now. In any case, I have talked with people who are friends and who actually knew Pee Wee back when he hung around places like The Neck, (which by the way was 100% described accurately in the book..... it was a ROUGH place where the cops would NOT venture into) and they described him as a 'nice guy' but one that you would definitely not want to cross. He was known for a hot temper and my friend said that there were bodies that people would never find left from Pee Wee (I trust my friend on this one.... he was involved in a lot of things back then before he got his act together.)

If you are reading this for a glimpse into a serial killer's mind then this is an excellent book. There were parts that made me cringe, especially since my best friends can remember some of the incidents (missing persons) when they took place (I was too young then). It adds a frightening touch to think that I drive by places everyday where it is rumored that he had buried bodies.

For those who have 'researched' and hold the belief that Pee Wee lied about all of this and was only seeking to be more 'famous', I'd like to remind everyone that the deal was made with the author that this book would NOT come out until after his execution and that he received NO funds whatsoever (nor did his family) for releasing this book. I feel that if he only did it for 'attention' that he would have wanted it released before he died. And after talking to people whom I trust who could tell me about his personality and demeanor, I firmly believe that 90% of the book at least is true (everyone embellishes after all... so I'll leave 10% for that).

All in all, a GREAT but sad look into the life and mind of this murderer.

I first heard the name "Pee Wee Gaskins" in 1994. My new boss and I were traveling through the upstate part of SC to pick up a company car. We were discussings things unrelated to work and getting to know each other. When he asked if I enjoyed reading, I told him I enjoyed reading books about true crime, serial killers in particular. At that time, he told me I should get the book "Final Truth". I did.

After reading the book (which I found somewhat disturbing because of the details yet refreshing for the truths told about the corruption in the "justice system") I began traveling extensively through rural SC for work. After visiting that particular part of the state, I found it quite believable that Gaskins could have commited all the murders stated in Final Truth. There are rural parts of the state where there isn't so much as a house or gas staion for literally miles.

Not having actually known anyone who knew Gaskins, I took this book at face value. While it may be true that Gaskins wanted "notoriety" like Bundy or Dahmer, I actually got from the book he was telling the truth.

There are a few questions I have always wanted to ask ANYONE who knew Gaskins. I have actually talked with people from Sumter, Florence and that area in general but only people who "knew of" Gaskins and his crimes.

Did the police ever search the areas where he claimed to have buried his "coastal killing" victims?

Has anyone ever seen any of the "artwork" that he supposedly taced, signed and sold from death row?

Gaskins spoke of a "writer" that wrote a book (I'm assuming) about him which was filled with lies about his wives and children. Does anyone know what he is talikng about? The only other book I can think of that Gaskins was referring to was titled "Slaughter in Carolina". I have not read this book but am looking for it. He calims in Final Truth this libelous book or story was written by a woman and a woman wrote "Slaughter In Carolina" (I finally found this book and have written a review of it as well as scanned an image)

I never got from the book that Gaskins was an abused by his mother. In fact, he claims the only abuse at home was from his step father and that was just an occasional slapping (no type of sexual rape is discussed in the book at the hands of his step father). I believe the gang rapes discussed by Gaskins at reform school and prison are probably accurate.

If anyone would like to discuss this, please email me at pumpkins2002@comcast.net

This autobiography by serial killer Pee Wee Gaskins is brought to you by the apparently easily-duped co-author, journalist Wilton Earle. Gaskins' justifications and distortions are passed along with little examination or challenge, and probably bear small resemblance to the facts.

I had the pleasure of meeting and spending a week with Dr. Timothy Tyson as part of a Civil Rights Tour in Alabama with my public school district. Although I was "required" to read this BEFORE the tour, I did't pick it up until after I had returned home. Reading Tyson's words in print doesn't compare to listening to him in person, but the book is extremely powerful and eye opening to say the least. My parents were of the segregationist baby boom in Alabama and little mention of the civil rights movement was ever made to me during my childhood in the deep south. It is my opinion that most Americans are of the impression that it began with Brown v. Board and ended with the assassination of MLK. The book is only the beginning of an unearthing of long-buried truths about the struggle for racial equality and the unsung heroes who continue the fight.

Blood Done Sign My Name is a non-fiction work that combines the personal memoirs and research of Timothy Tyson, Professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin. The most striking aspect of the novel is the description of Dickie Marrow's murder from the points of view of different citizens of Oxford. This unique feature makes the book appealing to many age groups. Teenage readers can relate to Tyson's personal anecdotes about growing up in rural Oxford, North Carolina. Even if younger audiences do not understand the symbolism behind the text, they can still enjoy the well-developed characters and eventful plot. Adult readers can gain insight into many themes concerning race and white supremacy. Tyson elegantly expresses the naiveté of children on the issue of morality and treatment of other races. This is best conveyed in the passage where young Tyson taunted a black child solely because his friend had started an insulting chime. The author describes that it was fear--not hatred--that bred the twisted idea of white supremacy. Parents can also connect with the decisions and actions of Vernon and Martha Tyson. The Tysons believed that their children should be exposed to many different opinions yet respect all races. The difference in perspectives in the work allows readers of all ages to enjoy and understand the truth behind the Civil Rights Movement.
The book contains a few minor flaws that diminish the lucidity of the text. The plot is rather erratic; from time to time, the events are not connected perfectly. This technique may be Tyson's personal style of writing, but it proves to be rather confusing at major points in the plot. For example, Tyson usually explains a personal memory of the murder and follows it with completely unrelated information about another character. These discontinuities in the plot make the book difficult to comprehend at first. Gradually, however, the reader gets acclimatized to this original form of writing. The gaps between personal stories build suspense and enable the reader to process a feasible prediction for the sequence of events. The novel also includes many extraneous details about minor characters that play an insignificant part in the plot. Tyson extensively describes his mother's childhood, even though his mother does not affect the sequence of events in any fashion. This extra information, however, does not detract from the book's overall theme. Though the story contains a few negligible weaknesses, Tyson maintains his overall claim and presents it in an interesting and distinctive manner.
Blood Done Sign My Name is an enthralling story that expresses the moral wrongs of racism. To call it a mere story does not do Tyson proper justice; it is more fitting to call the book a documentary. By citing several engrossing stories throughout the novel, Tyson maintains the reader's attention and successfully proves his thesis. Other than its occasional lack of continuity, Timothy Tyson has written a classic non-fiction work for readers of all ages.

I recommend this book not only to those of us who lived through the time but also to younger adults who care about racial issues in America. The author's personal account allows readers to experience recent history through his eyes. The book is informative and a very good read!

I finally got around to reading this memoir this summer and was in awe of the author's narrative gifts. This story reads like a novel and is full of plain human wisdom, an emotional openness combining humility and pride, wry humor, sharp political analysis, and a can't-put-it-down story line that comes to terms with America's number one cultural problem: racism. This is a book of local history that gets at the human condition, and a work of history that reads like great literature. I'm telling everyone I can to read it, and that includes whoever reads this. Don't pay attention to any of the so-called "corrections" made by some other reviewers here. This is a must-read historical work that shows an astute and perceptive ability to understand its widely varying participants' points of view and experiences, while not shrinking from the moral and historical obligation to draw judgments. There is only one word to use: *brilliant.* (I'm not one to use that lightly when talking about either autobiography or
history.)

Disclaimer: The writer of this review is a professional historian with a Ph.D., but one who has never met Timothy Tyson.

I read this book for a college course and found it shocking and heartbreaking. I grew up very close to where the event of the story take place. After I had finished the book I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Tyson. This is when I began to become suspicious. I also met the offspring of people involved in the story. They, along with many other residents of Oxford confirmed what I already suspected. Much of this story is COMPLETELY MADE UP! Some of the events did actually happen, but are blown WAAAAAY out of proportion, and the means by which Mr. Tyson acquired some of his information are very shady. So my verdict: as a piece of fiction I think it's a beautifully tragic piece of fictions. As a "true story" this novel loses all credibility and so does Mr. Tyson for any of his other work and he should be prosecuted for his slanderous words.

In reading "The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas", I found it to be a good overview of the revolution in the South where my ancestors fought. I would have found it to be much better for my needs in researching family history if the book had more maps and a much better index. I would have preferred more maps and fewer pictures of the combatants.

This is a well-written, thorough book about the Revolutionary War in the Southern colonies, primarily from 1779 - 1781. John Buchanan, a former archivist and popular historian, is able to write with depth about the conflict in the Carolinas and Georgia, but never loses sight of the changing strategies of the rebellion and the British military. In many ways, this is a story of civil war, as the book is narrowly focused on the conflict in the South.

The war in the southern American colonies is probably the least known or understood part of the American founding. The military action involved naval bombardment, amphibious assaults, and militia insurgency, traditional set piece warfare on battlefields, and strategic offensives and withdrawals. Virtually every type of 18th century warfare and some that became increasingly popular in the years to come is present.

The leaders of the opposing sides, General Greene for the Americans and General Cornwallis for the British, are the two pegs on which either side rises or falls. The American setbacks in Savannah and Charleston, leading to the surrender of the southern army, are told in brutal efficiency. The rise of Greene, and the back country insurgency, led by militia leaders like Marion, Pickens, and Sumter is told by showing how seemingly random encounters affected the grand strategy for both sides.

This is a military history, with good, plentiful maps, excellent uses of letters and primary sources and solid explanations for why armies and military conflicts happened they way they did in the Carolina back country. The highlight of the book is the description of the strategic retreat of Greene from Charlotte to the Virginia border, in the winter of 1781, and the furious chase of Cornwallis's stripped down British army. Though the book perhaps could have been slimmed down some, it is a good, solid comprehensive account of the military operations in the South.

Lexington...Yorktown...Saratoga. These are some of the most popular battles fought during the American Revolution. However, John Buchanan offers an extremely valuable account of the southern theater of operations during the war.

By the fall of 1779, the war in the north had come to a grinding halt, forcing General Sir Henry Clinton to try another approach in his war against the rebels. Based on the notion that the southern portion of America held more Tories than the north, he chose to invade Charleston in late 1779 and move north.

Buchanan documents this tactic and strategy in great detail, mainly focusing on the war in the Carolinas under the leadership of General Charles, Lord Cornwallis. The amount of research the author exhibits is obvious as Buchanan goes into excruciating detail, offering the reader ample background information and individual vignettes on the major characters. Leaders such as Charles Cornwallis, Francis Marion, Banastre Tarleton, Daniel Morgan, and Nathaniel Greene are discussed in great detail. Furthermore, their individual tactics are thoroughly written upon as well as the battles in which they fought in.

Buchanan's focus is NOT a historical survey of the entire southern war, but rather the events which took place from 1780 on. Having said that, he delivers an amazingly-concise account that illustrates the valuable contribution the southern war played in America's eventual victory.

The book has three facets that highly recommend it. First, the author has a mature intelligent voice that comes through in his writing enabling him to depict events with empathy and depth. Secondly, the work is comprehensive, describing small partisan actions that otherwise get short shrift. Third, I enjoyed his choice of assessing the command skills of the various combatants. His reasoning is sounds and buoyed well by the facts as he, admittedly, presents them. I also found his prose style engaging.
My only criticism is that he gives equal time to minor engagements and major battles. He also describes so many skirmishes that without maps or illustration they tend to dissolve into one another. Furthermore, it would have been nice if he had chosen to chronicle the remainder of the campaign. Of course, my desire for the book to be longer only demonstrates my appreciation of it.
I recommend it.

I have mixed feeling towards John Buchanan's book "The Road to Guilford Courthouse--The American Revolution in the Carolinas" because although the author seems to have a good grasp of the subject and has a relatively easy-to-read writing style, he frequently gets caught up in the myriad of less relevant battle and personnel details. This makes getting through the book a grind.

Having said that, it was definitely fun to learn about some of the characters that played significant roles during the stage of the Revolutionary War that took place in the Carolinas. This is a part of the war that doesn't get much attention even though it is where the war was won, where the tides were turned. The British make a decision to get out of Philadelphia and finish up their conquest by invading through the Loyalist populated South, and then all of a sudden wind up surrendering at Yorktown. I was missing something before reading this book.

Coming from Rhode Island and being an early American history buff, I was a little disappointed that Nathanael Greene didn't get more coverage, but it appears that most of the fighting in the Carolinas was done by others, who do get their due in the book. Particularly, with regards to unknowns getting their due, it was especially fun to learn about Daniel Morgan and Banastre Tarleton, but also Thomas Sumpter and the Battle of Kings Mountain. It was interesting to get a taste of how a war was fought in the swamps of Carolina. Buchanan does do a particularly good job of quoting frequently from primary source material--this really helped to bring the 225 year old story alive.

In the end, the book could have summarized more in some areas and delved more deeply into others. Also, note that the book ends with the battles of Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse and doesn't cover the war through Virginia and the eventual surrender at Yorktown.

Finally, one very, very important problem with the book--the maps and illustrations used are totally inadequate. This makes understanding the action very difficult. Very frustrating!!

This book has the best cornbread recipe I've ever used. It's fantastic, and makes a large batch.

I freely recognize that I'm no expert on soul food (California girl, born and raised) but tasty food is tasty food, I don't care where you come from.

I had the pleasure of dining at Sylvia's Restaurant in Harlem with my Mom about 8 years ago. Not only wee we impressed with the service but the food was incredibly delicious! So good, that I bought her cookbook at the restaurant and was lucky enough to meet her and get it autographed. What a sweet and gracious lady!

This book is filled with all the recipes used at her restaurant. Not only are they simple to follow and yummy but your family will be pleased with the results. There's no other like Sylvia!

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. I probably turn to it more than any others. Having this book is like having one of those family members nearby; you know, and Aunt, or Grandmother, that has been cooking for big families all their lives and really knows how to make some fabulous, old fashioned food. My Mother-in-law is like that - man, that woman can cook and she has a lot of good, simple recipes. This book gives you those types of recipes, and along with them, you get the stories of her family connected with the recipes. Every recipe I have cooked from this book has been good - they are simple recipes and they are some goo-oood eatin! This is true soul food, so it is not low-cal or low-fat, but you can change-up the recipes to make them healthier if need to, or just cook as-is and enjoy.

I have been searching for a tasty Red Velvet Cake recipe for a while now. I got the recipe from the Food Network website, and choose this one because I did not want to replicate Cakeman Raven's cake. I am happy with my choice (i used it to make cupcakes). The cake was soft and moist on the inside with a slighty chewy outside. I followed the advice of one of the other posters and used 2 tablespoons of the cocoa powder. When I tasted the raw batter, it had a pleasant chocolate taste, but when I tasted the final cake, it was a little more subtle. Another adjustment that I made was to increase the amount of sugar in the recipe; I added an additional 1/2 c of sugar which bought out the chocolate flavor. I did not make the frosting because I already had a recipe that my friends and family liked.
Once I tasted the cake I came on Amazon and purchased the book.

I've read her cookbook from front to back many, many times. I love the receipes, as well as her family stories that help these receipes come alive and taste great! You can't go wrong with this cookbook. A MUST for your cookbook collection. I loved this cookbook so much, that I'm going to purchase her other cookbook.

Once again I was browsing at this discount store, and they had gotten a shipment of books in that week. I bought 5 books, and The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner was one of the books I chose. I had never heard of Andrea Smith, but she is an excellent writer.

The characters were so believable. Sometimes in a group of friends, you'll have a character like Tilde, who wants to be center of attention and in charge, and on the other hand you'll have a friend like Thora, who is out spoken and her exterior seems tough, but she definitely has a heart.

It was so hard to put down. There are some twists and turns in the book, and I found myself going back and reading pages I had read before because I had missed one thing that lead up to another. I could relate to the dialect since I was born and raised in the south.

I would definitely recommend this book. Excellent!!!

I thought this book was going to be boring. I attempted to read this book 3 times and now i have finally finished. I take the NY subway and I was crying like a baby towards the end. It's a little slow pace but it has it twist and turns. I pictured the scenery very easy. I felt so sorry for Bonnie when she found out the truth of her husband. I was relating and her friend Thora is a true friend indeed. this book has a lot going on that my own emotions was a roller coaster.This is a book that I will never forget.

I really enjoyed this book, and since my spouse and I are heading down that adoption road ourselves, this was a very, very good read. In short it showed how a couple of people and then an entire community worked to solve a problem and likewise make a difference. During which, adversity and loss of other sorts came and went. Some folks were bitter, but not for too long. It did hit home for me when you come to think about some of the really bad parents that need to find a better place for themselves and an even better place for their children. Folks have been raising other folks children for years, its time that someone acknowledged that it is for the greater good. I would highly recommend this book for a summer reading list.

The book starts off slow but builds to a climax that will shock those not paying close attention to details. An especially satisfying ending that completed all the storylines (not like some books that leave you wondering and empty).

I picked this book up from our local library on a whim. It was set out with a variety of books for Black History Month. I am SO glad I got this book... the writing flows beautifully around a story that will touch anyone with a heart. A woman, Bonnie, who can't have children of her own, stands up one day and makes a statement that will change her life forever. Suddenly she finds her home a sanctuary for unwanted babies. Her husband doesn't want her to keep them, even though they haven't had any of their own children, but doesn't stop her from finding them homes. Bonnie is a wonderful character. Not far from the realm of real possibility, I find her a warm compassionate woman written with real honesty where her true emotions lie... and a role model for us all.

I look forward to reading more books by Andrea Smith. As a white woman, with a wonder bread background, I find the rich characterizations and life details of early black history intriguing and loveable. It was like reading "The Color Purple" again, for the first time.