Indiana Books

Being a graduate student at Purdue University, I was lucky enough to personally know many of the authors of this book. During the six years in West Lafayette, IN and participating in several annual Holocaust Remembrance programs, I heard many of the authors describe their experiences first hand. This book is written as if you were sitting there with them as they talked. In this book, their stories are not written as if they are trying to win a Pulitzer Prize, instead they are telling them in their own words to create the hoped for visual pictures in the readers' minds. Their ultimate goal is to continue the Suvivors' Creed to "Never Forget", and with this book they take a long stride in that direction.

If I have a complaint about this book, it is this: While I fully understand this is a historical recounting of Black police in America, I dearly wish the author would have spent more time on atmospheric historical verbal snapshots and anecdotes.

I first read this book last summer while doing research for my novel. I stumbled across it at a library and assumed I would just skim through it and pick out a few highlights. I ended up reading it cover-to-cover, then lamenting that it was over. For a non-fiction, non-exploitive book, this book is surprisingly enrapturing.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my girlfriend's father (who, I might add, is a Black policeman) and his eyes lit up like a child's when he saw the title. Already halfway through it, he absolutely loves it. Anyone who enjoys reading books on police history or African-American history should read this book. The complaint mentioned in my first sentence is the only thing that kept it from being a "ten".

It is amazing how recent most of these events are. Amazing and sad that it took so long for justice to begin to be carried out in this country. Some of the reasoning behind a lot of this history is so ostensibly sensible I'm surprised I never thought of it before.

Mr Dulaney, if you're reading this, please please finish the next book in this series. I guarantee you I'll buy at least three copies: one for me, one for my girlfriend's father, and the third for a detective I know.

This book is a "must" for any person who loves, or will love, Bloomington, Indiana.

Bloomington, one of the premier communities in the United States, is a place that one visits and ends up staying because of its unmatched standard of living.

Offering the finest blend of small town ambiance and big city resources, Bloomington is home to Indiana University, which makes the community an oasis of sophistication in a traditional midwestern setting.

Located in the beautiful wooded, rolling hills of southern Indiana, the city, home to 65,000 Hoosiers, many who have left the hustle of large coastal cities to seek a higher quality of living, is a crown jewel of midwest communities.

The book captures all that is wonderful about Bloomington with stunning photographs and interesting, insightful text. Included are sections on the city's history, arts, sports, entertainment, businesses, educational institutions, economy, and volunteer activities.

Bloomington - A Contemporary Portrait, presented in quality large "coffee table" format, offers the perfect gift or purchase for the thousands of people who have a special place in their heart for Bloomington.

You won't be disappointed!

This book explores film reality and the art of film-making. A book like the one, that Inez Hedges wrote, is useful in understanding movies that explore the edges of our souls. For example, the movie 'CRASH' has been described as disturbing, yet when viewed using the guides Ms Hedges develops, the disturbance is seen as a reflection of ourselves. Her book includes a bibliography. While short, only 160 pages, her ideas are expressed compactly, yet readable. Would recommend this book to any director, producer or film society. The average film goer may find this book a difficult read.

My only complaint is that the book did not explore the subjectiveness/objectiveness of films from the 1980's in depth that would intice the reader to explore those films which are more readily available as videos. While I understand Ms Hedges reasons to comment on the early masters and pioneers of film, a wider audience could have been served by detailing newer films too.

A historical novel based on the life of an orphan train child who became the governor of North Dakota.
The author also does presentations for groups or school classes about the orphan train children. She covers a part of history that is missing from history books. Through video, slides, role-play and costumes, she presents the story of the orphan trains. Between 1853 and 1928, the orphan trains took over 200,000 children from New York to different states to be "adopted" by families. Some of the children had the good fortune to be adopted in loving families, yet others were destined to be "leftovers."

I have been giving lectures based on this book in a variety of settings to clinical therapists (of very different levels of sophistication), physicians, bioethicists, and administrators. It is eminently readable, but also profoundly practical. The material covers nearly every aspect of healthcare delivery. The balance is excellent. It is never ponderous, but rather a very enjoyable book to read. I sometimes have to force myself to slog though heavy ethical papers and texts. This book was difficult to put down. Throughout, guidelines are provided for considering and arriving at decisions that will be well thought out and exquisitely balanced. While I would make this text required reading for all would-be healthcare administrators, I also unreservedly recommend it to anyone and everyone working in a healthcare setting. Even the issue of typically low pay for housekeeping staff is authoritatively addressed. Needless to say, I wholeheartedly recommend it without reservation. The only problem is that others will want to borrow it - you may have to be assertive to get it back. Therefore, be prepared to "help" others purchase their own copies.

David Robinson's BUSTER KEATON is a very good book on the silent films of Buster. Mr. Robinson states in the first chapter that "the object...is to deal exclusively with the films". He stays away from Buster's personal life, pointing readers to Rudi Blesh's book (which at the time was out for only a few years). Mr. Robinson's details up through Spite Marriage are fantastic (175 pages). However, if there is a negative, he devotes a mere 2 pages to all of Buster's post-Spite Marriage work.

Sgt. Samuel McIlvaine is a regular American who, according to letters and diary entries, felt a moral obligation to participate in this war. His diary covers about 5 months experiences, but it is enough to get a feel for the man personally, and the day to day life of a soldier in the Civil War. His detailed entries cover his surroundings, the weather, daily events, politics, and his physical condition. This diary was passed down through family, and it is surmised that other diaries were also sent home, but are among the missing. Samuel was born on April 13, 1824 in Champaign County, Ohio and died near Stevenson, Alabama around Sept. 8, 1863. His remains eventually made their way to the Chattanooga National Cemetary in Tennessee. I easily connected with Samuel through his writing. His narratives were chillingly insightful.

Daryl Jones has several books that follow this format - take a series of beautiful photos of Indiana and then get a Hoosier author to write an accompanying essay to complement the pictures.

In this case, he has worked with poet Jared Carter. Carter's essay is less rural than the other books, but it is wonderful in this difference. Thoroughly enjoyable - a book to share with Hoosiers who are proud of Indiana. If you are a fan of the Indy 500, check out what Carter has to say - he devotes a great deal of his essay to his memories of the Indy 500.

Good job gentleman! I give this one a grade of A.

Midwest detective Albert Samson, who is full of witty comments, slides into apparent crass materialism when he stages a mystery murder for a wealthy woman's guests.

Back at his office, a group of disguised women, who plant disconnected bombs for environmentalist publicity, pay him to locate a stolen bomb. No one wants anyone hurt, and Samson, not particularly macho, hates confrontation, so the plot proceeds with lots of humor.

This was a witty, sarcastic & very funny mystery. Quite enjoyable & I'd like to read more of this author's books.