Tennessee Books

wow i loved this book and could not put it down one well written book

A more suitable compilation than this will not be found. These three plays are arguably the essential core of the Williams canon, and certainly a great starting place for novices.

Sweey Bird of Youth is blessed with perhaps the finest epitaph ever in a modern drama, when the play's main character emanates Williams's legendary compassion with the concluding line, "all I ask is for the recognition of me in you, and time, the enemy, in us all." Shakespeare would have salivated.

Both the Rose Tattoo and Night of the Iguana exhibit Ibsen's impression upon Williams, as Williams incorporates brilliant metaphor's that wrap around both plays like knotted ribbons, but Williams's poetic language in each surpasses that of Ibsen by eons. Much in the vein of Ibsen's The Wild Duck or Chekov's The Seagull, Williams gives us a lesson in fate, freedom and human desire with his Iguana, tied to a post by a rope and struggling to escape, waiting to be killed as food, and he walks us through a world of intense nostalgia and heartbreak with the Rose Tattoo marking the chests of Serafina's lovers.

Even O'Neil, lauded by most as our finest American playwright, never quite matched the powerful language of the heart that saturates these three works of gritty, raw desire and nostalgia. Both of which, as Williams insists, take up plenty of space in the hearts of all.

William T. Shepherd was a soldier in the First Illinois Light Artillery during the Civil War. He fought in most of the early battles in the Western Theater including Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. Although no mention is made of college, he was quite well educated for the time and in the fall of 1862 he was made a clerk. He remained a rear area soldier for the rest of his service and survived the war.

During his time of service he wrote some 150 letters home, mostly to his mother and father, but also to other relatives. These have been carefully preserved and form the basis of this book.

His letters are unique in several ways:

First, as mentioned, he was quite well educated for the time.

Second, he served in the west. Education was much better in the eastern states, making him more unusual.

Third, he served as an enlisted man. The correspondence or memoirs of officers is much more common. But as an enlisted man he experienced the war at an entirely different level than an officer.

Finally he was a rear area soldier, especially concerned with logistics. Here is a view of supplying the army from one at a low level that again is quite rare in the literature of any war.

Thank you Chad. America should know this "awful truth". By the way, we in Appalachia are still holding the same protest signs that these brave people held up in this book 30 years ago.
Help us America.

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, "Touring The East Tennessee Backroads" by travel writer and historian Carolyn Sakowski is an illustrated compilation of driving tours through the scenic and historic landscapes comprising the eastern Tennessee country. There are twelve distinctive 'user friendly' tours laid out, ranging from 'The First Frontier' that includes the Sycamore Shoals, Elizabethton, Wilbur Lake, Watauga Dam, Siam, Gap Creek Road, happy Valley, Milligan, and Johnson City; to 'The Trail of Tears Tour' that includes the Red Clay State Historical Area, Benton, Charleston, Cleveland, Blythe Ferry, Dayton, Pikeville, Fall Creek Fals State Resort Park, Dunlap, Signal Mountain, Jasper, and Lookout Mountain. Enhanced with an appendix, a select bibliography, and an index, "Touring The East Tennessee Backroads" is especially recommended for anyone planning a visit to the East Tennessee country -- and is perfect for the armchair traveler who would like to!

"From Victorian culture in the Highland South to mountain crafts and the economics of tourism, this book is a well researched study, rich with examples of the origin of resorts and the development of destinations such as Gatlinburg."

This is a good book for anyone interested in the anthology of Alabama pottery or the identification of it. It gives in great detail the potters of the past centuries, their histories and counties they lived and worked in. Joey Brackner is a renowed folklorist in the state of Alabama and any of his works are well researched and helpful to the collector, dealer or interested party.

This is a "must" companion piece for anyone who drives the Natchez Trace, whether for 4 miles or 400. Without the book's detailed information about the Trace's history, the towns it runs through, and the many recreational opportunities along the way, the Trace would be just another road. The Summerlin's book and their subject remind us that life is indeed a journey, not a destination

For backpackers wanting to do tough trails with 12-18 mile days. Clear information, excellent photos, nice little maps too.

This is so much better than your typical Falcoln 3 mile loop hike book with scattered, inaccurate information. I used this book for the Art Loeb Trail and it was extremely helpful. I hope to do more of the trips in the book too.

I enjoy Tanya's books and this one is no exception. She's created a wonderful small town called Joyous, Tennessee. In this book, the former wild-child has come back for a visit. Treble's intentions are good -- she has agreed to stay with her half-sister, Charity, who has developed complications late in her first pregnancy.

Treble wants no trouble but unfortunately, the townspeople don't easily forget what kinds of mischief Treble created before she moved to Atlanta. Treble especially wants to make a good impression on the local doctor, a newcomer to the town. Even though she considers him "hot sex on two legs," she's determined not to get involved. But the good doctor has other plans for Treble. He's not about to let her just walk away.

I love Tanya's books. They are funny, with clever dialog and all the characters come to life immediately. There's not a dull one in the bunch. Her stories make me laugh and I know I will never be disappointed by anything she's written. With each book, she just gets better and better.