Ohio Books

Abbott's collection of stories never drags; each piece is a gem, each begins as the action starts, and goes on to reveal the most telling facts of character in artful ways. Perhaps because of his abundant humor, Abbot has been called a "maximalist," but that is not fair, really--because that implies a man of messy technique, someone who throws words on the page willy-nilly. He is as careful with his words as is any good writer. He just has style.

Brenda McGuire's "Love, Mom" is a loving reminder of the stay-at-home mothers of the past and their priceless contribution to the welfare of their family. Helen Burgoon, her mother, never felt the need to make excuses because she was not in the work force. Pardon me--she Was in the work force devoting countless hours in the kitchen and home trying to make it a happy place for her children and husband as she continually amazed them with her culinary skills.
This book was written out of gratitude and love to her mother. It is chuck full of not only her mother's mouth- watering recipes, but wonderful anecdotes of a more simpler time in Kingston, Ohio and the memories of that time which are priceless and treasured. Needless to say, I enjoyed the book very much, and I believe other readers will too. Hopefully, this book will connect them to memories of a happy childhood as well.

THIS HANDY, DANDY POCKET BOOK WAS ORIGINALLY DISTRIBUTED TO BUILDING SUPPLY SALESPEOPLE SOME 20 YEARS AGO. IT'S STUFFED FULL OF FACTS, CHARTS AND FIGURES TO HELP GET YOUR BUILDING MATERIAL READY FOR MOST ANY PROJECT. I WISH THEY WOULD UP-DATE AND RE-ISSUE IT. I'D BUY IT FOR ALL OUR MEN AT OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

In late January I visited the new Knowlton Hall building at Ohio State and blogged my opinions about the building. At the time, I wasn't impressed with the building.

Leave it to a concise book about Knowlton Hall put out by The Ohio State University to have me reconsidering my line of thought. The book, which is part of the Source Books in Architecture Series, follows the development of the building from the sketches to the models to the numerous school reviews (I remember these from my undergrad years there) to the implementation of the design.

Source Books In Architecture 6: Knowlton Hall is perhaps the most thorough book written to date that documents the process of the building, the challenges, and the result. Editor Todd Gannon neatly compiles the interview session with Mack Scogin with the imagery of Mack Scogin Merrill Elam's models and beautifully captured drawings that are of the same caliber as those of Richard Meier, early Eisenman, or even Piranesi (that may be a stretch).

While the process is remarkable, the book also succeeds in bringing attention to Mack Scogin Merrill Elam's plight of combining multiple disciplines of the architecture school (architecture, landscape, and urban planning) with the faculty, library, and various resources in a hybrid environment which integrates each piece with another.

Lastly, while I still have my own opinions about Knowlton Hall, many of them have changed or are now refined. The building is a decent piece of modern architecture that may be considered a capstone for an architect's brilliant career (or a starting point for an inspiring phase of their work) and this book does both - Knowlton Hall and Mack Scogin Merrill Elam - justice.

Dr. Long's book about Mapp V. Ohio is an engaging and insightful look into this Supreme Court case that set precedent for many in the future.
Long's use of both primary and secondary sources contributes to a fascinating reading.
I particularly like the section of the book that focuses on the aftermath of the case. it highlights why this case was so important. If you are interested in historic court cases, interpretation of the Constitution, or the evolution of civil liberties, I strongly recommend this book.

This compact, attractive guide is very comprehensive and covers a lot of ground in a short time. The book contains over 200 old photos of Marietta past. It covers from the early Hopewell Indian mounds all the way to about 1967. Early industry, exploration, homemaking, transportation, and entertainment are included. The book has a humorous slant when it talks about whiskey stills hidden in the remote areas of Washington County, Ohio and also shows dry humor when it touches on the governments conclusion that the reoccuring flooding is "due to too much precipitation". Highly recommended inexpensive guide! 5 stars.

I love football nostaglia, and there are few books better than this. It examines the whole careers of Bobby and Jack Charlton from birth to now. Some great stories here, especially concerning Jack.
Highly recommended.

With "Mechanical Cluster," Patty Seyburn has established, without question, that she is one of the most original and exciting poets writing today. Using the Ford Motor Company's term for the automobile's grouping of warning lights and gauges on the instrument panel as her title and metaphor, Seyburn explores a Detroit childhood to a California adulthood. Growing up, confronting the sometimes confounding adult world, and then (eventually) entering that same world through love and marriage, Seyburn's language is both familiar and elusive. This is a compelling, rich book that makes you feel and think at the same time.

Every small town should have a chronicler as able and meticulous as Gloria Brown. In lesser hands "more than I wanted to know about Medina" would have been my response to anything beyond the title. But coming across the book, with time to kill and absolutely no Medina connection, I was lost in this small, self-contained world from the first pages.

Should I visit the place, or does it live a better, brighter life in Ms. Brown's telling than in reality? Probably, so I think I'll look for more of her work instead, and leave Medina to my imagination.

A lovingly written mystery that was orginally one of a set of three, this book is for those who enjoy looking back at at different time when romance and mystery were more pure. This is one of those books that will make you smile as you read it. If you're looking for a graphic novel, this is NOT your cup of tea.