Texas Books

Book is interesting and informative. Gave it as a gift to my husband as he does a lot of driving around Texas and was quite interested in the different rocks and their formation along the side of the roads. He has really enjoyed his book. Wish there were more books out there of this nature.

This book is very easy to read and understand - even by someone who knows nothing about geology! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the geological beauty of the beautiful state of Texas!

As with all the books in this series, you simply cannot go wrong. On a recent trip to central Texas, we took this guide with us and were able to follow along the drive and both visually and scientifically understand what the geology was all about. A truly great geology guide for Texas.

Excellence abounds in this book. The illustrations are good, but the writing is extraordinarily good for a book on a technical subject. I read it through like a fine novel. I've lived in Texas all my life and was surprised that there was so much Texas geology that I didn't know. A must-have for anyone interested in Texas history or geology.

This is the best book of the Roadside Geology series. Spearing explains not just the location and character of the rock formations one encounters on TX roadways, but the processes which made them. Best of all, he specifically provides the name and formative time period of almost every formation mentioned (e.g., "Triassic Trujillo sandstone") -- avoiding the overgeneralized naming (e.g., "Mesozoic sediment layer") of a few other Roadside Geology volumes. This is certainly a time saver for the rock collector who catalogs his specimens! This book is a must-get for all rock enthusiasts -- even those who have never been to Texas. Now if someone would just write a Roadside Geology of Oklahoma volume...

I could not put it down. I can't wait to read the second in the series, Dead Copy.

This novel was a bit longer than my normal cozy fare, but I finished it in the same amount of time. The author really did keep my interest the entire time. I actually found the mystery itself to be a little boring and farfetched, but, in the end, none of that seemed to matter. The heroine was very real and likeable. I also apprecite that the heroine actually has a job, as a journalist, that is conducive to a mystery series. It's plausible that this character could actually stumble over a dead body or two.

This was a refreshing read and had me laughing out loud a few times. I had a hard time putting it down. The only think I did not like about it was that even after reading some of it over and over again, I cannot figure out Diego's connection. Not sure how he fit in the story or who he worked for.. ? At some point, there got to be so many characters involved I had to go back and read some over again to remember who they were. I plan on reading the next one. Maybe it won't be so confusing. Still enjoyable tho.

Scoop has it all - a Texas twang - bad guys, funny women, and parrot - what more do you want for pure entertainment? Seriously this book is smart, really fast paced (I didn't want to put it down) and gave me one of my favorite lines from a book I've ever read (I'm going to quote it often!). Kudos Kit, now hurry and write some more!

Author is exhibiting a fresh approach and hope more books are coming.

Eugenia Putman, "Miss Genie," is the lovable, respected, frequently honored head of Child Services, a woman with a special heart for the most damaged and hopeless children. Among her caseload are the crippled, the severely retarded, the blind, the legless, and the severely neglected. Throwaway children with little chance of improving their lot. And in grappling with their plight and their dearth of options, she talks herself into an extreme solution. One by one she kills them.

That's the plot in a nutshell, but the plot is only the beginning. Her struggles, her thought process, her elegant way of rationalizing the unthinkable, the graves in her back yard, and her ultimate downfall, make the most entertaining read I've encountered in a long time. The tale is elegantly crafted, beautifully written, gripping, and powerful. You will love these children, and you will love Miss Genie, in spite of everything.

Joallen Bradham is a talented writer with a special ear for language, for dialect, and for the nuances of feeling. To tell the truth, this book isn't for everyone--if you are squeamish about the ideas she portrays, you may not like the book. If you can detach just a bit, take it as it is, listen to the poetry--you will love it. I recommend Some Personal Papers highly. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

This novel is just as JoAllen herself said; "It's a quick read, and a long think."

The press may specialize in books about the South, but the book itself deserves the attention of readers everywhere. Those who read for significant, thought-rpvoking subject matter will find it. Those who read for artistic method will rejoice.

SOME PERSONAL PAPERS is the story of Eugenia Putman, an urban social worker, who must deal with some of the saddest stories of child abuse and neglect. Although she tries her best to remain objective, eventually her sense of duty turns her to taking matters into her own hands. With just a few days left before her conviction, she retells what she felt she had to do and why. The story is full of irony as Bradham creates a character who challenges our sense that right and wrong is always clear cut. The plot is suspenseful and the setting is key to the artistry in Bradham's prose. I taught the novel with great success over the last two years, and I highly recommend it.

Some Personal Papers, which recently garnered author, JoAllen Bradham, the Georgia Fiction Writer of the Year Award, is a must read. This exquisitely told story is about Eugenia Putman, "Miss Genie," a dedicated social worker who is forced to make choices regarding the children in her personal care that few of us could ever make. This is a case of when "doing what's best" is, without a doubt, a case of "doing what's worst," but for all of the right reasons. Although it has often been said that actions speak louder than words, Miss Genie's actions cannot even be considered without first reading her story in her own words, words that scream at you about the often painful experience that is life for many people, and particularly for children. This is a story you will not soon forget.

I hired the author years ago as a Cajun Creole consultant and learned
how knowledgeable she is. I have bought her book on that cuisine five
times over the years since it is the bible of NEW ORLEANS cooking.
I was thrilled to see she has done the same for TEXAS. Not only is the
book beautiful but it is destined to be the bible for Texas cooking.
I am using some of the recipes in my tex-mex restaurant Copabanana.
I just returned from Austin and the Hill Country and the photography
and recipes made me long to return. Bill Curry, Philadelphia.

This is a wonderful cookbook. I've made 4 recipies from it that were absolutely outstanding. One recipe in particular...the spanish rice is above and beyond. I think it's because neither me or my husband are big fans of spanish rice and I made it on a whim. It's so good that he's asked for it a couple of times since I made it.
Pictures are wonderful and because I am a Texan I am very pleased with the fact that it's written by someone who has lived here for a long time the recipies are exactly the kinds of things that we would eat.....
I've recommended the book to friends and even bought another one for a gift.

NPSBookie order # 464878 One book, TEXAS ON THE PLATE arrived in a tiemly fshion. However, the spine was broken, and prompt communications from NPSBookie offered a refund since they had no other copy for exchange. I countered with request for a discount. They agreed to a $3.00 discount, and I accepted since I could use the book personally rather than gift as I had anticipated.

The recipes are wonderful and the book itself full of gorgeous photos, drawings and, in general, just wonderfully produced. I'm buying several for Christmas gifts for out-of-state relatives and friends. I'm new to the state and this is a fabulous introduction to the food and customs.

Definitely goes "beyond bbq and chili" to wonderful fusion of the traditional and the most up-to-date. You will not be sorry you bought this.

Terry Thompson-Anderson has produced a marvelous collection of Texas recipes, beautiful photos of food and scenery from around the Lone Star state, and a wonderful contribution to the exciting new Texas cuisine that is sweeping the southwest and beyond. As a native Texan I found the book not only a delight to the eyes, but a wondrous and far-ranging assortment of recipes with ingredients and influences from all over the state. Of special note are such heady entrees as the "Slow-Smoked Quail on Savory Bread Pudding withThree-Chili Sauce" (using Scamorza Cheese from the Mozzarella Company in Dallas) and the "Grilled Medallions of Venison Backstrap with Ancho Chili and Honey Sauce" - fabulous! Throughout there are wine recommendations from the growing number of Texas wineries; definitions of cooking terms and ingredients; and a "Texas Cook's Pantry" telling where to find hard-to-get ingredients. Texas on the Plate is a delight to use and a pleasure to read.

A well-written, well-researched, touching look at the life and struggles of a young girl during the depression era. Recommended!

This is by far my favorite read over the past year. I review books for the library at my elementary school and just happened to pick this book up. I am so glad that I did. The imagery and the writing in this book are fantastic and put the reader in the time period. I found myself thinking more about the Great Depression and I am now collecting reading material to extend this theme for my students. Young readers and Older readers will enjoy this book. I even ordered another book by this author because I enjoyed her so much.

As a child of Depression Era parents & someone who was born & raised in Aransas Pass, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It brings into focus just how hard life was for our parents growing up in the Depression. It is also a great historical commentary on the birth of the shrimping & fishing industry of the South Texas area. I recommend it for anyone who is interested in the history of the area & the Great Depression.

You can all read the summary and the other reviews, so I don't feel obligated to restate what others have already said so well. I discovered this book at my school library, one of the GA Book Award titles, and took it home over the weekend. The story was so engaging, that I called the author. As it turns out, the story is based on the real life story of Mrs. Hale's grandparents. It was such a thrill to speak with her. Besides the engaging story, the meaningful life lessons, and the memorable characters, Mrs. Hale has an amazing skill with words. Even my students noticed the prolific use of figurative language, which helped them to visualize events from the story. I used this book in class to teach students how to recognize and utilize figurative language in their own reading and writing. The text was something my students shared, so we were always able to revisit the story and talk about it. I strongly recommend this book for any teacher who wants to teach the elements of literature using a whole class read aloud. Mrs. Hale is not only charming, but she is a talented writer as well. I look forward to reading her 2nd book. I must warn you, though, be prepared to shed a tear.

The Truth About Sparrows is a wonderful book. It takes place in the 1930s, which is generally the time the Great Depression occured. There is a young girl named Sadie Wynn. She originally lived in Missouri, but her father lost his job and she and her family were forced to move to Texas. Sadie wants to stay, but she has no choice. When they arrive in Texas, there family earns money by picking cotton. The Wynns meet the Gillems, a friendly family that Sadie later learns is in the same predicament as they are. Sadie has a hard time becoming good friends with Dollie Gillem, because she had made a promise to Wilma, a friend from Missouri, that the two would always be best friends. She soon begins to give in to her new surroundings and make friends. Texas is somewhat difficult for her because it's SO much different than Missouri. One day, she sees a mysterious man on the seawall, who she nicknames Mr. Sparrow. Every now and then, Sadie sort of checks up on him to make sure he's doing okay. A little while later, Sadie makes a pretty big mistake. Sadie yells at Dollie and says that she doesn't deserve to be there and how they're so much different. She says she had better in Missouri and how she wants to go back. It sort of messes up their friendship a little. Generally speaking, this book is a great book with a wonderful story line.

Pisanie o sobie zawsze jest trudne, bo moze odslonic potwora, snoba, pustke i glupote. Ta ksiazka pokazuje osobe madra, myslaca,ciekawa swiata i ludzi, zyczliwa innym, kochajaca matke. Lubi innych ludzi, lubi zwierzeta. Wiele ciekawego o Polsce, jej srodowisku ludzi piora i nie tylko, o Stanach Zjednoczonych, ktore sa dosc trudne do jednoznacznej oceny. Za ten brak jednoznacznych, gotowych ocen i odpowiedzi - ogromnie cenie jej autorke.

I was taken by the positive outlook of the book, the authoree's insight - full of subtle charm and wisdom. It is like a glass of cool good mineral water on a hot day. I am happy to know enough Polish language and to enjoy it. It will be very good if the book appears in English. It shows Polish life in 1960-1980, immigrants stories, and wonderful impressions from Canada and the United States. I learned much about America from a book written by an immigrant.

Ksiazka trzyma w napieciu i wraca sie do niej jak do dobrego piwa! Uczy spojrzenia na wlasne zycie z dystansem, madroscia, cieplem. W depresyjnych czasach, jakie mamy wokol siebie, uczy jakby akceptacji ludzi i swiata, dostrzegania dobra. Ksiazka wprowadza w dobry nastroj i dobre nastawienie do siebie i innych. Moze byc terapia w zlych momentach, trudnych czy kryzysowych. Niewiele jest takich ksiazek, ktore uspokajaja, a ta przemowila do mnie swoim pieknem jezyka i spojrzenia na swiat. Za jej najwieksza zalete uwazam wlasnie pozytywne wrazenia, ktore wywyoluje.

Pisanie o sobie zawsze jest trudne, bo moze odslonic potwora, snoba, pustke i glupote. Ta ksiazka pokazuje osobe madra, myslaca,ciekawa swiata i ludzi, zyczliwa innym, kochajaca matke. Lubi innych ludzi, lubi zwierzeta. Wiele ciekawego o Polsce, jej srodowisku ludzi piora i nie tylko, o Stanach Zjednoczonych, ktore sa dosc trudne do jednoznacznej oceny. Za ten brak jednoznacznych, gotowych ocen i odpowiedzi - ogromnie cenie jej autorke.

The book is written as a part autobiography and part diary. The autobiography is a literary form, which unlike other forms, shows the "ego" ot the author. Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm "ego" is delicate and fascinating! Many interesting details about life in America are shown with tact and good understanding. The book is written with talent and keeps its focus. It is diffficult to stop reading; day after day it captures the imagination. Some fragments are almost like from a movie - dialog, description and people are very realistic.

I FOUND THIS TO BE A BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN PIECE OF WESTERN HISTORY BY A FASCINATING AND ACCOMPLISHED MAN, WITH HEAVY EMPHASIS ON "MAN"......BY THE WAY, JOE FUSSELL WAS MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER!! JOSEPH B. "JOE" JOHNSON

Bob Fussell's treatment of his grandfather J.B. Fussell's autobiography brings to mind a word not often associated with literature: verisimilitude. What makes this account fascinating is that not only is it true, but it rings true. This book should be required reading for every 12-year-old boy and girl in America; boys need to know how to be men and girls need to know what to look for in a man later on in their lives. America could use several million J.B. Fussells about now.

Unbridled Cowboy is the autobiography of author Joseph B. Fussell, a free spirit who sought his own destiny in the wild American Southwest during the late 1800s. At the young age of fourteen, Joe Fussell took to the rails to escape the school and harsh authority that chafed him. He became a roving cowpuncher in Texas territory, rustling cattle, tilling land, working in stables, and hitting the road whenever wanderlust stirred. Unbridled Cowboy is filled cover to cover with riveting true tales of undercover work as a Texas Ranger, life on the railroads, and rough justice. A captivating true life narrative of the wild west.

Unbridled Cowboy, the autobiography of Joe Fussell, is well written and brings the reader a vivid and realistic portrait of the man and his life. His story telling ability paints a vivid and sometimes raw reality. He brings to life a period of American and western history from a personal point of view that was fraught with change and upheaval.

While reading I found myself sitting next to Joe and hearing him telling me his life story. The ease with which he wrote of his life makes this book an enjoyable journey with a fascinating man.

Here's the skinny. I've read thousands of books over the years. I keep a few; the rest I give away to friends or the library. This book is a keeper. Why? I will read this book many times and still be astonished by the history, this amazing man Joe Fussell, and how far this once great country of ours has deteriorated in a century.
The first thought that entered my mind on finishing this book was, "I wish there was more." The second thought was that a man like Joe Fussell would have made an incredible president. In TR's time, when a young man chose to ditch public school at age 14 because he had "itchy feet", he didn't get Ritalin stuffed down his throat--he left home to make his own way. Fussell was a man so full of common sense, intelligence and integrity that the USA would have been privileged to have someone of his ilk as their leader. But alas, with no "education" except life, he was destined to become a laborer. And labor he did.
The chapter on Fussell's adventures in Mexico as a youth are more riveting than anything Hollywood will ever turn out. His depiction of his railroad career reads like you were switching cars alongside him. Fussell is a storyteller akin to Twain. I am still amazed he avoided jail, but then it was a century ago. Different times--a wonderful time in our country. Get this book. Its a keeper.
Norman Woodworth, DVM

Galveston, Texas is the sight of our nation's worst natural disaster in our history. Ron Rozelle summered in Galveston as a child and that began his fascination with the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. He was driven to tell the story in a manner that was true to history and striking enough to recreate the terror of those in the path of this storm. This book is a fictionalized account of the Galveston Hurricane of September 1900. While the weather events are factual. The people he portrays are a mixture of real people and those that Mr. Rozelle created to add depth and heart to his story. His research into the facts of the hurricane's ferocious assault of Galveston and the utter destruction of life and property is vividly portrayed. The characters bring a rawness of emotion, making the reality of the vast loss achingly real. This is a realistic and intense tale of Mother Nature in full fury.

I've been to Galveston and took tours of the many homes the author listed in this book and knew the streets and the very railroad tracks/beach areas he spoke of, but even if I hadn't been there, the author writes in a way that will makes you *feel* like you ARE there, as the story progresses.

I have read MANY books on this storm and I can safely say THIS BOOK "The Windows of Heaven" has got to be the best researched, investigated and well written book i have ever read and come across.

It's not all statistics, and weather, he writes of survivors and their lives that led up to that fateful day so you actually feel as if you're reading an ansestors diary or as if the people actually sat down and told him the stories.

His imagination is also so realistic that you walk away believing every single word he wrote although clearly some of it [like the drowning peoples viewpoints] couldn't have came from anyone.

It's a book that has SOLD me on the author RON ROZELLE'S talents and is a book that should be carried by all Texas schools and educational systems everywhere, as mandatory reading of what that night must have been like.

It left me feeling as if I had been there and suffered along with everyone--and in spite of the heartache and despair I actually felt sorrow when the story ended, and I faced the fact that I would never be a part of these peoples lives ever again.

If you don't read this book you will never know how lacking the others are and will miss out on an excellent example of great writing--destiny will deem this a classic in due time--trust me.

Ron Rozelle did a wonderful job writing this book. It is a well written piece of history. This storm event was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. Mr. Rozelle paid tribute to the people that died during and in the days following this storm. He also paid tribute to the survivors. There were a lot of sub plots happening during the time, an Mr. Rozelle did a good job incorporating them in just the right place. This book is well worth reading. I highly recommend it.

The events that transpired in September, 1900 have been too long forgotten in the annals of American natural disasters. Ron Rozelle has painted a picture that very accurately describes the horror and heroism that occurred when one of the most intense hurricanes virtually destroyed Galveston and claimed upwards of 10,000 lives. I discovered this book after reading the recent release Isaac's Storm, a non-fiction telling of the storm and also highly recommended. Ron Rozelle has fleshed out the story without damaging the historical accuracy and brings to us a harrowing story of the people who watched their town literally dissapear beneath the waves. Very highy recommended!

Ron Rozelle's second book is a well-done blend of fact and fiction. He uses many actual people and events from the Storm of 1900, the worst natural disaster in the history of the US. He writes sketches of the lives of several characters in a flash-back format and then switches to the current time, describing the coming of the storm and the blase manner in which the people approached it. Weather forecasting was in its infancy, and no one on Galveston Island realized the full impact of the pending storm. Residents had ridden out many a storm and didn't look at this potent killer in any different way from the storms which had come before. Galveston's lack of preparation and failure to build a seawall resulted in terrible destruction of life and property. Rozelle uses these elements to create a story in which the reader learns to care about the characters and then watches the courage with which they faced this catastrophe. This is a very moving book and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in this subject.

wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hank the cowdog is a great book for the family or by yourself . john r erikson did a wonderful job on this book . you need to read it to belive it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

I love all the Hank books, and this is a great one for the Christmas season. These books are hilarious and more important to the young reader, fun to read. I'd also check the rest of the series.

Author of "Hobo Finds A Home" editor "Of A Predatory Heart"

This is one of my favriote books it is funny and exciting. It takes the perspective of a cowdog on a ranch in east texas. That thinks he is head of ranch security and goes through a lot of hillarius storys.

In this book a buzzard gets hurt, and he gets taken care of.Well,one day Slim,Little Alfred, Drover(the dog),and Hank(the dog)was driving to town to get Christmas presents,and a buzzard named Wallace flew into the wind shield.He got hurt pretty bad,and Little Alfred begged Slim to take him home and take care of him.Slim took him home after he went shopping,and cured him.Then Wallace flew away with his son happily ever after.

Hank the cowdog is "head of ranch security," and tend to act like Barney Fife. the entire seires of Hank the Cowdog stories are hilarious. The story is told from the perspective of Hank and the animal characters in this story, such as Drover, the young pup in training for ranch security, are constantly causing problems for Hank. In one story Hank gets sick after eating a frying pan full of bacon grease. He knows what he should and should not do, but always finds himself being overcome by his true nature--egotistical, gluttonous, etc.

Read this book and you will be addicted to Hank.

Mr. Myers wrote this book in 1948, and based it on careful research into the facts as they were known at the time. THE ALAMO is a story of heroic men, dedicated to the cause of freedom, sacrificing their lives willingly for that cause. Bowie, Crockett, Travis, and all the others with them, were the stuff of legends, and as such we should remember them. This is a story to rival THE ILLIAD in its nobility of character and cause. Sadly, later research has shown that these giants were, like the Trojans, at least partialy the product of myth, and their cause was not quite so noble. But this in no way detracts from the telling of a great tale, and, if the men of the Alamo were not quite as tall as we imagined them, they were still men deservant of our admiration. They died for what they believed in, and this is their story, from the first man who ever bothered to compile the whole thing in one place.

Although written in 1948, John Myers Myers "The Alamo", proves that he did his homework well way back then. As a result, the factual conclusions he arrived at then, dovetail with those arrived at by other Alamo authors in later years, including Walter Lord. Myers writing presents the subject in a historicly accurate manor, but at the same time with the wit and insight of a newspaper editorial, which brings it to life on a human level.

Although written in 1948, John Myers Myers "The Alamo", proves that he did his homework well way back then. As a result, the factual conclusions he arrived at the time of his writing, dovetail with those arrived at in later years by other Alamo authors, including Walter Lord. Myers writing presents the subject in a historicly accurate manor, but at the same time with the wit and insight of a newspaper editorial, bringing it to life on a human level.

Newer books have been written based on more recently available sources, but this book stands the test of time. It is based on solid research, it doesn't spend entire chapters digressing into, for instance, the ins and outs of the Bowies' business dealings, and it keeps speculation on the motivations of Travis, Crockett, Bowie and Santa Anna to a couple of paragraphs each. Any speculation is just the author's guesswork, and I find Myers guesses to be kept more brief - and more to my personal taste - than, say, William C. Davis' in "Three Roads to the Alamo". It has been said that a revisionist is one who, lacking the notion of honor in his/her own character, cannot understand it when encountered in others. While Myers examines the actions of the three main personalities in a journalistic manner, the enormity of their patriotic sacrifice is never deprecated as is the fashion in modern, revisionist historical writing.

This book remains not only the best single volume on the siege, it provides a great introduction to the historic and social melieu of the era for those seeking to understand the background of the Mexican-American War. -

John Myers Myers, in the last sentences of his book, The Alamo, perfectly captures the essence of what this story means to America. He writes, "The Alamo isn't a structure now; it is a symbol of valor in the minds of men. It can never fall again." Though he closes with that thought, it is obvious that he wrote this history with the knowledge that this particular event is just as important as myth as it is as history, and that it presents unique challenges to the historian to distinguish between the two. In the forward, he addresses the issue of how hard it is to find solid, historical evidence about the Alamo. The combatants were killed to a man, and as for the non-combatants who survived to tell their tales, none were professional writers, and no historian bothered to interviewed any of them during their lifetimes. He explains in some detail how he decided the veracity of the various surviving source materials: letters, journals, official orders of the Mexican officers, and interviews of survivors. He then launches into the tale.
Myers divides his book into three sections. The first third is devoted to the history of the structure of the Alamo, from mission to military outpost, and to the history of the roots of the conflict between the Texians and Mexico. This is vital information to understanding what happened at Bexar during those fateful twelve days in 1836. The fact that Myers devotes so many pages to explaining this background and placing the story in its proper historical context is one of the books strongest points.
In the second third of the book, Myers introduces the principal players who history associates with the Alamo - Bowie, Travis, Crockett, and Santa Anna. A chapter is devoted to each of them, and Myers does an admirable job of placing each within the context of their own personal histories without resorting to what later became so controversial as detracting "revisionism". He notes that while Bowie and Crockett were already legends in their own time, that Travis' fame is tied exclusively to his participation in the Texian revolution. He solidly establishes who they were as flesh and blood men, rather than the demigods of myth that they became, yet does so respectfully. Likewise, he paints a balanced portrait of Santa Anna rather than simply demonizing him.
In the book's final section, Myers writes skillfully of the siege and storming of the Alamo. It is a tale that comes with its own in-built drama, which requires only an expert storyteller to assure its success, and Myers is indeed an outstanding storyteller. He has an idiosyncratic style of writing that lends itself perfectly to the telling of this particular tale. Throughout, he is generally faithful to the more traditional interpretations of what happened at Bexar, but does acknowledge some of the elements that smack more of legend than of historical fact (such as Travis' saber-drawn line in the sand).
Myers has written a fine history of an event that has become an indispensable part of our national mythology. His research is firm, his writing style captivating, and his tone respectful to both the history and the legend. I heartily recommend it.

Theo Logos