Tennessee Books

Deb Adams is my favorite modern mystery writer, bar none. And she does not disappoint in this great book in her Jesus Creek series. Her books often have a tongue-in-cheek feeling, with an underlying stream of consciousness that reflects social standards and Deb's own irony in play. Her fascination with geneaology and Jesse James is terrifically played out in All the Dirty Cowards and I can't wait for the next book! Get writing Deb!

Having read all of Deborah's other books, I had some idea of what to expect and was NOT disappointed. The characters in the present and the past were both animated and interesting. They were funny while still being realistic. Whatever subject Deobrah is enthused about at the moment (This time it was genealogy.) always comes through in her books. When she was into endurance riding, the book was horsey. Now she traces the ancestors of Jesse James-and gives some websites to start you tracing your own family. The only criticism I have is that the plot was a little light and plagued with coincedences, but youll never notice that while you're reading it. Just go with the flow and enjoy!

The best! Obsession is the main ingredent in this thrilling play. You will never be bored. A real page turner!

One of Mr. Williams best pieces. In Battle of Angels, Mr. Williams shows revenge and obsession absorbed in each other to a distructive end. This belongs in any collection of great literature.

I really could not put this one down. The best mystery I've read in a while, possibly ever. Crawford really captures the heart of Memphis in his novel. If you are from there this is a must-read, but if you're not, he'll make you feel like you are. This book will keep you up all night, and there's another one on the way. Enjoy!

John Grisham, though clearly the most successful, was not the first writer to set his novels in a Memphis background. Peter Taylor did so several times, and others have done likewise. Now comes Charles Crawford, Memphis lawyer and writer, with his protagonist, detective John Macalister, who walks us through some of the more illegal and erotic happenings in the Bluff City. It's a fast paced and well written book that you will probably finish in 2 or 3 sittings, and there is a sequel on the way. Good stuff!

In this era of media hype and historical revisionism for political correctness it is a relief to review orginal sources for an insight to history. Our understanding of events like the Civil War is sharpened by the observations of participants. Though lacking in formal education James T. Miller of Pennsylvania joined the Union Army and through his letters the reader is thrust into the Civil War from the vantage point not of generals but the ordinary soldier caught up in the events of his time offering honest reflections of his fellow soldiers, officers, and the members of his own family. His opinions expressed in the rough hewn and stilted language of the period gives the reader an authentic taste of a time in our history often blurred in romanticism. Those who seek to understand the why and significance of events should begin with the words of its participants and there is no better place to begin this civil war journey than with the words of Private James Miller augmented by the excellent footnoting of the editors.

This amazing book puts you right into the thick of the Civil War from the standpoint of real letters written by a 31-year old Pennsylvania Union Army soldier named James T. Miller. His thoughts and strong feelings come alive as you read these letters, and you get the feeling that you are with him, listening to him tell you personally what he is experiencing and thinking.

He not only tells of his personal war experiences but also of how he felt about being away from his family and how other young men from his home town found ways to avoid serving in the Union cause.

Do keep your fingers located at the footnote explanations for each chapter, for the footnotes are almost a book in themselves. They add tremendously to the information in each letter and give the reader a complete picture of what was going on in the context of the letter.

Other Civil War books discuss strategies, tactics, weaponry, etc., but this book is about how one Union soldier gets through each day and what he is thinking about.

This is a must-read for anyone who is looking for the personal side of the Civil War. I suggest that you read this book slowly as you would read a personal letter out loud to members of your family. You won't be able to put it down.

The Birthplace of Country Music Was Not Nashville., September 10, 2006
Reviewer: Betty Burks (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews

In 1998, The U. S. Congress passed a resolution which declared Bristol, Tennessee, as making a "significant contribution to the development and commercial acceptance of country music." Actually, I had to learn from a fiction book written by Lee Smith that country music actually began in Bristol. It was a
revelation to me, even though Bristol is just north of my hometown, which is all bluegrass music. In my short amateur career as a singer here in my teens, I tried country only once, "Your Cheating Heart" on the Cas Walker t.v. show and was
not a hit. I did not look or sound like Dolly Parton. When I sang it at school dressed as a cowgirl holding my dad's guitar, the younger kids deemed me a star. I stayed with pop music on the local talent radio and t.v. shows and at teen time Saturday mornings at the Tennessee Theater, also broadcast over WROL.

Well, I did hear Tennessee Ernie Ford back in the Fifties and Dinah Shore, but this book informed me that he had been a deejay while a teenager at a Bristol radio station. Most gifted deejays start out on the air at an early age if they are blessed with a mature voice, and he was.

It was the 1927 Bristol sessions which started the world of country music. Now, how was I supposed to know that when I
wasn't alive back then? They were recording Appalachian ballads like the one about Frankie Silver. My favorite writer based most of her novels on these ballads, and I learned of the "Knoxville Girl" in her book, "If I Ever Return Again, Pretty Peggy-O." She also wrote one about Frankie Silver. My favorite ballad was She
Walks These Hills "In A Long Black Veil."

Jimmie Rodgers who sang about trains and railroads, not the Jimmie Rogers of pop music fame started in Bristol. As did many of the cross-over singers like Don Gibson (who was rude to me at the Fair where I fell hard for Lash LaRue), the Everly Brothers, Archie Campbell (Hee Haw fame) who hosted his own t.v. show in Knoxville, and the Carter family. Now, Dolly is the only star
we have left in this area. Blind Alfred Reed was a composer as well as fiddler, called the devil's instrument, and he performed at a clan meeting in Princeton for pay; he said, "they were better people then." You had to go to Bristol to record
hillbilly songs like Hank Williams' sad, sad tunes. Here in Knoxville, the black music of the 20s and 30s was recorded for a short time at one of the hotels. I did not know anything about that until a local historian mentioned it in passing in one of his weekly columns. East Tennessee is not a very progressive
place. We have no documented history until now. What I have learned about my hometown is from Jack Neely's books. This is
a well-documented account of an important contribution to society by a group of hillbilly performers from East Tennessee and Virginia.

You can tell if someone is a fan of "old time country music" if you say "Bristol Sessions" and a moment of awe and respect comes over them. (Give me my moment of hyperbole!). Everyone knows something about the session from an article here and a cd booklet there, but now we can find a number of authoratative articles in one volume. Each has something to offer, but what I found valuable was the insight given on the recording process of the day. The facts added to my enjoyment of the legend but did not take away my sense of "awe."
Anyone who has read Charles K. Wolfe's books or the books he has edited knows the high quality of scholarship found. This book is no exception. Highly recommended.

In this review in brief, I'll be taking a look at Larry J. Daniel's Cannoneers In Gray: The Field Artillery of the Army of Tennessee, 1861-1865. Daniel's book seeks to take a look at this neglected arm of a neglected army. In other words, the redlegs of the Army of Tennessee appear to be red-headed stepchildren of a red-headed stepchild. I had high hopes for this particular book, as I am a fan of the western theater, but unfortunately it fell a little short of my expectations. Daniel simply does not cover the subject in enough detail, and the lack of any maps is a bit of a disappointment. Some of the editing lapses and typos almost drove me to distraction. I would say the book has a place on everyone's bookshelf, but I believe this could have been done better.

The Army of Tennessee's artillerymen were faced with shortages of pretty much everything during the war. Almost all of the pre-war artillery militia units were sent to the Army of Northern Virginia when they reached battery strength. The Army of Tennessee had to make do with brand new units whose men had little or no artillery experience. If the Army of the Tennessee was bereft of experienced men, the types and numbers of guns was even worse. Early in the war, the western men had to make do with obsolete and nearly useless smoothbore 6-pounders, and rifled artillery was almost unheard of. Lastly, the western theater was often hilly and full of forest, poor terrain for the proper use of artillery. Daniel says these were factors which the men and leaders of the Army of Tennessee could not control. However, he also points out that the Confederate government and military also mostly failed when dealing with factors they could control. Artillery doctrine was rapidly changing in the Civil War, and men such as Bragg (ironically an old Army artillerist) did not or would not recognize this fact. For far longer than other comparable armies on both sides, the Army of Tennessee continued to use the obsolete method of grouping one battery with one infantry brigade. This made it difficult for higher level commanders to quickly gather a large number of guns in the few effective spots for artillery on western battlefields. To add insult to injury, the western battery commanders rarely saw promotions throughout the war. Time and time again, men from the east were brought in over their heads to command them. This did not do much for the already poor morale of the army. Daniel believes that the only real breakthroughs came during Joe Johnston's tenure as army commander. He attempted to group the batteries in battalions assigned to each Corps, and kept an Army reserve as well. In addition, he tried to increase morale with constant drilling. Daniel says Bragg didn't understand the role of artillery and Hood simply didn't care.

I really wanted to give this book high marks, but it simply falls short of that, in my opinion. The Army of the Tennessee's artillery deserved a more in-depth study than this. The Army of Northern Virginia received a two-volume history from Jennings Cropper Wise which totaled over 1,000 pages. Daniel, on the other hand, gives us a total of 234. To make matters worse, there are no maps which could have shown the positions of various batteries in the major battles of the army. To his credit, Daniel does have some tables showing types and numbers of guns for each artillery battalion in the army, but he could have gone further and done this for each battery where known. Likewise, he gives an artillery OOB for each major battle in an appendix at the back of the book, but he doesn't include numbers of men, or numbers and types of guns. The entire book is full of partial information like this. The chapters on major battles seem to focus on a few individual batteries and then Daniel calls it a day. Dennis Kelly (of Blue & Gray magazine) is quoted as saying "For Civil War enthusiasts who prefer the Western campaigns, for Southern partisans, academics, wargamers, or today's military personnel, this book should be must reading." This is definitely not a book that is going to help wargamers much. Those are my thoughts at least as a person who has played every Civil War computer game over the last fifteen years, and who has also dabbled in board games and miniatures.

In addition to the above problems, the book (I am reviewing the gray-covered paperback, there is a newer revised paperback out as of May, 2005) is plagued by annoying, repeated typos. Stephen Hurlbut is referred to every time as "Hulbert". This continues to happen throughout the book. Other examples include Arnold Elzey being referred to as "Elzy", Kenner Garrard as "Garrand", and in the most annoying typo of all, the town of Resaca, Georgia is referred to as "Reseca" at least 10 times (and probably more, I quit counting after awhile).

To be fair, the book does an excellent job pointing out the struggles of the western long arm throughout the war. The fact that not a single battery remained to surrender with Johnston in North Carolina is a microcosm of their story as a whole. I consider the book to be a decent addition to my collection, but I really think Daniel (or someone else) could have done a much more thorough job with this subject.

Such was the artillery of the Army of Tennessee. Larry J. Daniel is my favorite author who focuses on the Western Theater of the Civil War, and from the very first page this book draws you in and gives you a well-written and detailed history of the Army of Tennessee's field artillery. Even from the very beginning of the war, they had serious problems. Many volunteer batteries in the early 1861 South had antique field guns or none at all, giving them a serious disadvantage to the well-trained Union artillery. Those batteries that did have between 4-6 field guns often lacked the proper amount of ammunition, resulting in little use of training using ammunition. One (Confederate) battery that fought at Shiloh was firing its cannons for the first time! Thankfully, there were well-trained batteries like the Washington Artillery of New Orleans that had been militia units before the war. Because of the limited funds of the Confederate government, the best field guns the Army of Tennessee possessed were those captured from the Yankees in battle. Also, there was help from Great Britain, with the occasional Whitworth cannon finding its way into the Army of Tennessee. This book is both gripping and informative, and has some great photos of artillery units and officers. The appendix is truly awesome, giving the organization of the artillery for the battles of Shiloh, Stones River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Dalton (Georgia), Atlanta, and Nashville. The bibliography is extremely helpful for those who want to read more about this overlooked branch of the Army of Tennessee. This book belongs on every Civil War buffs bookshelf!

Mr. McDonald has put together a very readable and fun book with true stories. It was hard to put it down. I am from Lauderdale County and these stories make history come alive for me. I am so grateful for the many years of research he has done and the many books and articles he has written over the years. This book is just one example of his work.

I though I had already typed a review of this book, but apparently not, so will now say that I was pleased with this book. It covers both sides of the conflict during the Civil War and clearly shows how families suffered and were torn apart. My family was not big on leaving written records, and many of the handed down stories were incomplete by the time they got to my generation. Reading this book gave me a clearer picture of my families who were living in that area, and shed light on some branches on my family that I was not familiar with. The author didn't just tell what side a person was on, but placed most of them in their military units, often telling what the person was doing before, during and after the War.

Vernon and Doug are well-known fishing gurus, and those of us who follow them on TV, radio and in print benefit from their vast knowledge of Tennessee fish and their wily ways.

These guys know their stuff! Read it, take the day off, and bring an extra stringer!

The author covers all the major lakes of Tennessee and highlights the most popular species of each lake. They tell you exactly how to catch these species and do a fine job of it! Many species are not covered and river fishing is not covered, therefore it is not really "Compleat" (sic). For a book to cover all of that information it would have to be 2 or 3 times as big. This book does a good job of covering what it does cover (lakes and premier species) and I think I got my money's worth.

Fittingly dedicated to Fess Parker, the tall Texan and actor who led the Davy Crockett craze in the 1950s and whose image became emblematic of the historical frontiersman, this book covers Crockett "from A to Z" even in the literal sense, with a section so titled. Even in the first paragraph of the Acknowledgements, the author, with admirable and even enviable selflessness, recommends that the reader might investigate "...original works [i.e., sources] for a more comprehensive appreciation of the legendary frontiersman." This book thusly focuses as much on historical fact as on the legend and myth, and seems to reach an ideal balance between them, leaning in the direction of the former while retaining a solid link with the latter.

It's a virtual treasury of information, facts, tidbits and fascinating details that would be difficult, if not altogether impossible, to find in any other single volume. The author, an educator, discusses matters that would interest virtually anyone with even a peripheral curiosity about the American icon Davy Crockett specifically or in Western history generally. Operatively, the book covers Crockett in all his incarnations - from the historical and distinctive frontier personage to the popular cultural image. It also contains well-executed illustrations by various people, including artist Rod Timanus, author of the recently-published "On The Crockett Trail" (Pioneer Press, Union City, Tennessee). Among the most compelling illustrations is a photograph, ca.1932, picturing Crockett's last home.

One entry states that during an 1834 visit to Camden, New Jersey, Crockett was pickpocketed of nearly $200 (in purchasing power an enormous sum in those days). Considering that the state has been the occasional but unjustified subject of jibes, it seems a testament to the integrity of the book that its author freely acknowledges that the offense against Crockett was committed in the author's own home state.

It may be hard to believe that sometimes authors become jaded from experience of publication, but we're fortunate to have a book like this from someone who clearly appreciates tangible and even tactile connections with history. We needn't read between the lines to see how he felt when he himself had the opportunity to handle one of Crockett's own rifles. This enthusiasm is reflected in his book, which was evidently thoroughly researched by consultation of documents and people (including historian Bill Groneman), and is effectively a setting of historical gems about Crockett and all that goes with him.

What you'll want to know about Davy Crockett, the historic icon and the man of popular 20th-century fame, you'll find here; those who want further information will be pointed in the right direction. There are interesting references to the Crockett of prevalent imagination, such as a Frankie Avalon quote from John Wayne's film "The Alamo," and the name of the actor who portrayed Crockett in a virtually forgotten but enjoyable 1956 film, "The First Texan," which starred Joel McCrea as Sam Houston.

The book also constitutes a "Who's Who" of Alamo people. One warranting mention is Ray Herbeck, Jr., Associate Producer of the film, "Alamo . . . The Price of Freedom," and the man responsible for "Remember the Alamo! - Mexican & Texian Music of 1836," a recording of music played on period instruments, and to which this reviewer was introduced at San Jacinto (coincidentally on the eve of the 123rd anniversary of Santa Anna's death), through the kindness of Western historian J.R. Edmondson, author of "The Alamo Story: From Early History to Current Conflicts" (recently published by Wordware / Republic of Texas Press, Plano, Texas).

Chemerka's book follows the same format as his previous volume, "The Alamo Almanac & Book of Lists." That he follows it effectively is meant even literally here: the new book is indeed as effective as the former one.

Physical characteristics can be surprising. Among the most personally intriguing entries in Chemerka's book are the titillating physical descriptions of David Crockett by those who actually saw him. Since he and the other Alamo defenders all lived and died before the advent of the camera, these contemporary descriptions, though few, are of significant historical value. While photographs of Johannes Brahms show that his hands were disproportionately large (which helps explain some of the forbidding stretches and leaps in his piano compositions), a description of Crockett the man states, "...his hands & feet were particularly small for a man of his appearance and character..." The physical descriptions of him go on to say, in part, that he "...was about six feet tall and 200 pounds, no surplus flesh, broad shouldered, stood erect, of great physical strength, fine appearance, swarthy complexion, high cheek bones, long, dark hair, his cheeks mantled with a rosy hue, eyes vivacious, and in form, had no superior." It's noteworthy that in this book there are two portraits which seem in particular ways to correspond to at least some of the facial descriptions: one is a painting of Crockett on p.144 - and the other is the photograph of the author himself on the back of the book. The similarities in countenance are of course incidental but they're certainly fitting, since the features, if not altogether "matching," seem to coincide. It takes little imagination to mentally superimpose both images without conflict. Mindful of this, perhaps it's no accident that the book's author is a man whose passion for Crockett and his era is evidently manifest, and possibly even unparalleled.

The few inconsistencies in spellings (Rembrandt "Pearle" instead of Peale) are merely tpyos, clearly occurred in the typesetting and in context mean little. Nothing is "perfect" except perhaps in the mind of the poet.

For readers interested in Crockett the man, this book is superb material and is, in a phrase, highly recommended as an invaluable "at your fingertips" tool - for anyone - both as a reference work and as very enjoyable, even fascinating and, perhaps more importantly, enlightening reading. - - JEFFREY DANE

For historians and biographers, the man who became an American legend has been difficult to define. William Chemerka's The Davy Crockett Almanac And Book Of Lists showcases a wealth of information on virtually every aspect of a life of dramatic accomplishments, helping the reader to discern between the Davy Crockett of history and the Davy Crockett of popular culture. Chemerka provides the Crockett Family Tree; his basic life story, and a large number of "Crockett Lists" ranging from Top Ten Crockett Books, Davy Crockett's First Railroad Journey, and The Davy Crockett Drive-In, to Davy Crockett Comic Books, Crockett in the School Books, and Other Published Deaths of Davy Crockett. The Davy Crockett Almanac is indispensable, "must" reading for all Davy Crockett fans and students of America's frontier history and heroes.

Dr. Steven E. Woodworth is one of the best Civil War historians and author today. His writing is clean, concise, spot on, well-researched, easy to read, and he's not afraid to make his case regardless how controversial the topic is. It's hard to believe Dr. Woodworth - Professor of History at Texas Christian University - is just in his mid-40s.

This is a great intro-book for people not very familiar with the Western Theater during the Civil War. You can not go wrong with this book.

The field of Civil War history has few authors with the skill and knowledge of Steven E. Woodworth. His books are always well written, very readable, conveying an enormous amount of information in clear concise sentences. Having written extensively on the western theater, he is in an excellent choice to write an overview history. I am very happy to so that Professor Woodworth's book exceeds all of my expectations. This small book works on several levels. For a person new to the theater this is an introduction that builds a very firm foundation on which they can continue their studies. For the more experienced reader, this book will "pull it all together" placing each campaign in a complex ongoing war. For the experienced reader, this book is a very enjoyable review.

In a small book, Woodworth packs a lot of information. All the major campaigns are covered with their contribution to the Union's victory. However, the sideshow campaigns get included showing their contribution or distractions to/from the main efforts. This means that Sturgis defeat at Brice's Crossroads is an embarrassment but keeps Forrest away from Sherman's supply lines. Politics are not ignored, from Halleck intriguing against Grant, Polk and Hardee against Bragg, Johnston against Davis and Hood against Johnston, the problems are well covered with the impact on the armies.

This is one of the best small books I have found on the western theater, an enjoyable read and a valuable learning experience. The organization is logical and the grouping of events moves the story along. The treatment of both sides is uniformly fair with a concentration of military events. Very little is said about the deadlock in Virginia, except as to how it influences decisions in the area.