New Jersey Books

This is 2008; if you've ever wondered how New Jersey arrived at the state it's in via legislation, policies, and insufficient public planning to address shifting residential and economic demographics, this book is a must read.

My only wish is that the section on the media, in general, and newspapers, in particular, had been a little more detailed. Gannett Corp. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and its New Jersey headquarters are in Cherry Hill where it bought what had been the family-owned Camden Courier-Post (itself the result of a merger between two of Camden's once-proud daily newspapers).

This shift away from community reporting to the so-called corporate reporting that satisfies shareholders would have added to readers' understanding of how underserved they are by the Fourth Estate.

Helen-Chantal Pike, lecturer in media history, Rutgers Univeristy-New Brunswick; one-time reporter for the Asbury Park Press when it was family-owned, and author of "New Jersey: Crossroads of Commerce" (October/2008).

After Tony Soprano leaves HBO, I hope Steven Schirripa takes up writing for kids full time. Nicky Deuce cooks up a storm with Grandma Tutti in this sequel, even has a recipe at the end of the book to round it out (but there are lots of embedded feasts kids could try their hand at). He and his pal Tommy (a good foil) once again get into serious hot water and once again are rescued by the shadowy Uncle Frankie. Undoubtedly, this writer has found a great partner (CHarles Fleming) and a great character (Nicholas Borelli II) and the boys will love reading him. Let's hope there's no TV show in this! Maybe Schirripa can team up with a real live NIcky for a cooking show!

Lear led a harrowing life that would have undone many of lesser mettle. I found her insights powerful on the effect unloving mothers and fathers have on their children and the subsequent victimization of those children by others (and their own selves). It deals with rough topics but the journey is worthwhile.

Berger describes key events in Japan, in the decade before its disasterous decision to attack the United States. Little understood outside Japan at the time, due to the secrecy of many maneuverings and the general opaqueness of Japanese politics, even to the average Watanabe on the street.

We see a curious Japan. Already deeply enmeshed in war in China, and brutally holding down its Korean dominion. But despite the general privation, not quite yet at a full stretch of war. Various factions differed over the state's role in the domestic economy, versus the role of the large conglomerates. Arguments also raged over political reform. The Japan of this decade was a strange concoction of feudalism overlaid by a modern European economy and government. Somehow, despite all the modern trappings, echoes of medieval Japan shine through the book.

The book gives a complete history of the New Jersey & New York Railroad. The most impressive part of this book are the many rare photos of the line, especially the long abandoned portions on the north end.

This book deals with many of the problems people face in their prayer lives. It covers several important questions many ask;What's the purpose of prayer? Why hasn't God answered my prayer yet? It also tells how to get results in prayer. One of the key thoughts is if we take care of God's needs, He will take care of ours. This book also tells how to reach out to others through prayer, and make a difference in the community for God. The main thing that led me to reccomend this book to you is the inspirational stories and illustrations that accompany every chapter. Although there are a few ideas I don't agree with, I strongly reccomend this book for you to read. This book has had a powerful impact on my personal prayer life, and I'm sure that if you read it, open to the voice of the Holy Spirit, you will also be deeply blessed by it.

I was looking in the book and to my surprise i found my house. It was in the section after the strom of 1962 of the southend. I was happy to know that my house is in the book. I was also happy to find out alot of history about about ocean city.

This book is a great reference material for all Northeast divers who plan to dive the wrecks off NY and NJ. With detailed info, including backgrounds, pictures and even illustrations of some of the best wreck diving in that area. This book is a must have for all Northeast Wreck divers. You will impress your fellow divers with your knowledge of these sites and have a better understanding of the skills needed to navigate theses underwater treasures.

This is a labor of love of three New Jersey poets and editors, who have handsomely demonstrated the rich legacy of poetry in the Garden State, by compiling an anthology of poets who have called New Jersey home at some time in their lives. This list is an impressive "who's-who" of American poetry, from the Colonial era's Phlip Freneau, through Walt Whitman, Stephen Crane, William Carlos Williams, Marianne Moore, Allen Ginsberg, and yes, even Joyce Kilmer, author of "Trees". The book also includes two former Poets Laureate of the U.S. (Richard Wilbur and Robert Pinsky) and at least four Pulitzer Prize winners (C.K. Williams, Yusef Komunyakaa, Paul Muldoon, and Stephen Dunn). Other notable poets found here include Amiri Baraka, W.S. Merwin, Gerald Stern, Joyce Carol Oates, and X.J. Kennedy, as well as some "lesser-knowns" like B.J. Ward, Jean Hollander, and Lois Harrod. The poetry selections are first-rate, if sometimes familiar. The only quibble I have is with the omission of the great haiku poet and Camden native, Nicholas Virgilio, perhaps as the result of a slight "North Jersey" bias of this volume. But that aside, this is a very worthwhile volume of poetry, whether or not you are a native or "Jersey-phile".

Jimmy Boyd was a real person. Like many of his age, he was swept up in the early romanticism of the Civil War and would do anything to join the Union Army -- including lie about his age and run away from home (not an uncommon way to volunteer).

He joined the 10th New Jersey Volunteers and was off to "see the elephant" (as big adventures were idiomized at the time). Boyd drilled, trained, learned army life and saw battle in 1864 and 1865.

Like some on both sides, Boyd deserted after the horror of a wounding and the death around him became too much. He hid in a Pennsylvania outhouse, was befriended by a local girl (who he later returned to marry), caught, returned to his unit and saw the end of the war with Sheridan in the Valley and through Appomattox.

This short book is written for children of about 5th grade or so. It gives a good account of life in the Union army, the frightening reality of war and a good depiction of how a young person deals with their own failings and restoration. In addition, the years before Jimmy enlists are covered, giving the reader a window on small farm life at that time.

The book does have a glossary, which is helpful. I think it would have been a little more accessible for young readers had the terms been parenthetically described in the text, but that is a minor quibble. All in all a good book that may fuel the young person's interest in the Civil War.