Tennessee Books

This guidebook to the natural arches of the Big South Fork area is the only guidebook to these fascinating geologic features of the area. I have used it extensively, and it is a great addition to the growing list of books on the Big South Fork area. The author has taken care to give accurate and detailed instructions about how to get to AND appreciate these wonderful geologic features in the Big South Fork Country.

The book not only gives accurate and detailed information about how to get to these fascinating rock features, but it also gives a survey of the human history of the rugged Big South Fork country of Tennessee and Kentucky. The author, Arthur McDade, also fully stresses hiking and backcountry safety, and refers the reader to additional reference books about the area, including trail guides and topographical maps.

This book is a must for all folks who are interested in the Big South Fork country. Get it in addition to the other trail guides to the area, to round out your library. I recommend it wholeheartedly, as I have hiked and backpacked all over the country, and this book is one of the best I have seen about geologic features and history.

The bookshelf above my desk is filled with hiking guides, one for nearly every hiking destination in the eastern US. This guide is unlike any other on that shelf.

First, let me give some basic information about this book. Destinations described in this book are grouped into three geographic areas: Big South Fork NRRA, Pickett State Park (located in Tennessee just west of BSF), and southern Daniel Boone National Forest, located in southern Kentucky. These three adjacent areas contain more arches than just about any area in the east, so there is plenty of material for a book of this sort. Also, the book contains 29 photos of BSF arches and landforms, so even though they are not color photos, you can take a tour of BSF arches without leaving your living room by reading this book.

The book describes 25 hikes, each one leading to at least one arch. Most of the hikes are extremely short (0.5 mile or less), though a couple are longer. There are five hand-drawn maps in an appendix that cover areas of high arch concentration, but most hikes do not have maps accompanying them. Further, trail descriptions focus on the arch rather than the hike (see next paragraph). This fact combined with the lack of maps caused me to get lost a couple of times when I was hiking to these arches, but I always found myself easily since the hike was short and I am an experienced hiker.

Now back to my introductory thought, namely why this hiking guide is unique. Most hiking guides emphasize trail descriptions, with descriptions of scenery along the trail included as part of a trail description. This book is organized around arches with a secondary treatment given to the trails. Indeed, this book is only 100 pages long, and the first 22 are devoted to an introduction to arch formation and BSF geography, geology, and history. You won't find this much detailed information on landforms in most hiking guides, but it doesn't leave much room for trail descriptions as you would find in most hiking guides.

In sum, if you are looking for a good, general hiking guide to the BSF, this book is not for you. With the focus geared so heavily to arches, this book is simply not designed to serve that purpose. However, if you are looking for a book that specializes in BSF arches to supplement your collection of BSF hiking guides (or your personal knowledge of the area), this book would make an excellent addition to your library.

It seems like I had read somewhere that this was a very behind-the-scenes, coaching intensive book. While there are some copies of practice schedules and some discussion of coaching decisions, the book does more reminiscing than anything else. Practice schedules are incomplete and lack explanation. About the only thing I could infer from the schedules was that UT must do their most opponent intensive practices on Wednesdays, as Wednesday schedules are never included for conference opponents. There is an overview type discussion of game plans for most opponents, which was pretty cool.

The reminiscing is not only tolerable for non-UT fans; it is also understandable. This was a great team that played a great season. I think most people forget that the '98 Vols won on a last second field goal (Syracuse), in overtime (Florida), and by taking advantage of a late turnover (Arkansas).

The books strength is the humanization of the UT coaches and players. While it is very easy to know the personalities on your favorite team, rivals are often dehumanized. Players in a top-notch program, like UT's, can seem like machines in uniform. Coach Fulmer does a good job reminding us that college football players are young men.

'A Perfect Season' has a conversational style that lends itself to fast reading. 'Fat Face' Fulmer isn't smart enough to write a book that's hard to read, so even Alabama fans should be able to make it all the way through. Ole Miss fans might want to keep a dictionary handy.

Not only great teamwork on field, but the production of the all-Tennessee book merited major coverage by Publsihers Weekly.

Race, Power, and Political Emergence in Memphis is a thought-provoking analysis of race relations in the South. It is also one of few books which informs readers about the unique politics of Memphis. However, the book discusses politics in other urban cities as well and thus provides a framework by which Memphis politics can be analyzed in relation to politics in other U.S. cities. It is an excellent book and is very well-written.

I found the book to be an eye opening, clear view of racially segregated voting patterns. It also gave an insider's view of the difficulties minorities face when mounting competitive political campaigns. The book is a must read for anyone with political aspirations at any level. It also serves as a primer for young African-American voters. Anyone who thinks that "my vote doesn't count", will realize the importance of every vote cast. The book also proves that hard work and strong ideals, must aslo be accompanied by dogged determination. For a collegiate level text, it was a very enjoyable read.

In Pine County, Tennessee, author Mattie Carrington plans to write a cookbook, but before she can escape to her hideaway cabin, the house she shares with her sister Katie explodes. Not long after that incident in which no one was hurt, but damage to the kitchen occurred; Mattie is rushed to the hospital poisoned in what appears to have been caused by a relative as no one else had access to the writer.

County Sheriff Cas Larkin investigates the poisoning, but finds the sisters' attorney Laurence Fields in his way as the latter tries to protect the Carrington siblings and their cousins Connie and Mayne Anderson, who are the prime suspects. Still refusing to allow anyone from preventing him from doing his job, Cas keeps digging while insuring the Carrington sisters are safe because he believes a very resolute killer wants Mattie dead although the motive remains a mystery.

RECIPE FOR TROUBLE is an interesting regional cozy starring several female relatives and a male sheriff trying to keep them safe. Fans who prefer action will pass on Jackie Griffey's tale that focuses more on a deep look at the interrelationships between the four females, even for instance when the house explodes. Cas is terrific once his police procedural investigation starts but the targeted audience is more for those who appreciate a family drama with late suspense from someone trying to kill the author.

Harriet Klausner

Pine County Sheriff Cas Larkin is concerned when local celebrity Mattie Carrington's kitchen explodes several minutes after she and her sister Katie leave home. Mattie and Katie are cousins of Miss Mayme and Miss Minnie Anderson, the two sisters who run their small town's floral shop. However, Cas's instincts kick into high gear when he learns that Mattie has had several accidents in the near past and had planned to be home the day of the explosion. When Mattie leases a lakeside cabin in their county to finish a cookbook she is writing, Cas makes it a point to keep check on her. During one of his visits, he finds Mattie unconscious and takes her to the hospital, where the doctor discloses she has been poisoned. All eyes point to Miss Minnie, the last person to visit Mattie, but Cas has other suspicions.

Fans of this series will feel as if they are spending time with old friends and new readers will quickly fall under the spell of all the warm characters in this sequel to The Nelson Scandal, from Cas's wife Connie, the perpetual matchmaker, to Miss Mayme and Miss Minnie and several others. Griffey enfolds the reader in an engaging mystery that takes place in a charming locale, with spine-tingling suspense, a demented killer, and more than a few charismatic characters, including a psychic and faith healer.

Raymond Andrews's second novel in his Muskhogean County trilogy is centered on the anticipated death of the title character Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee. The character of Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee in true Homeric fashion, as are most of Andrews' characters, is as hyperbolic as her name. She wanders into the fictional southern hamlet of Appalachee and asks for the name of the richest white man in the town. After being apprised of his identity and whereabouts, she quickly enters into a relationship with him. Thus begins an intricate story of a somewhat paradoxical life-long relationship of unquestionable love, affection and mutual exploitation between this African American women and southern white gentleman which Andrews's narrative gradually unfolds as "Momma Rosielee's" many friends and family members wait for her to crossover.

As the novel crescendos toward its climax, Andrews draws upon the historical coordinates of the economic devastation of the South caused by the boll weevil followed by the Great Depression and the African American migration northward. As always, Andrews introduces a seemingly never ending cavalcade of characters, most of them larger than life in their persona, who dutifully enter and recite their lines. Some of them enter loudly with a great clamor; some of them enter almost unnoticed until it is time to reveal their presence. The true genius of Andrews's storytelling ability reveals itself in his ability to weave the threads of these disparate characters and their concomitant narratives together in a coherent tapestry.

The complex, often contradictory state of race relations in the South acts as a foil of sorts. However, Andrews never points an accusatory finger or takes a pedantic tone. Skillfully deploying a raucous, often irreverent sense of humor, he simply lets the story speak for itself. More than anything else, this is the story of the triumph of a woman who begins life with everything arrayed against her but who manages to overcome regardless and whose indomitable spirit inspires all those she comes into contact with regardless of her myriad flaws.

Extremely colorful book about a wild character, Rosiebelle Lee. Based on Andrews' grandmother's life as a woman of color whooping it up in the segregated south. Highly recommended even if you don't normally read books from this genre.

This review is written by a resident-expert on Rugby, Tennessee. My family has been connected to that town since 1939. I have read the book in question, and without a doubt it is a necessary book for anyone wanting to know Hughes's true intent for the establishment of Rugby in 1880. Its purpose was to inspire young men from England to come to what was then a rather remote region of East Tennessee, to work the land and make good for themselves. I would not recommend it for the casual visitor or tourist who comes to Rugby (several thousand per year)but only for those who have a strong attachment to the Rugby community, or to those who may be studying Thomas Hughes's life. He was an extraordinary character. He was a member of Parliament, Queen's Counsel, lawyer, judge, promoter of a movement known as Christian Socialism in the mid 1800s. This book would be of great value to someone doing detailed research on Hughes and his life. End.

Line up all of you Will Wimbles. Hughes wants save you from the new "hell" of late Victorian England. He wants to give you the chance to finally work with your hands without being stigmatized as a common labourer. He'll tell you out of one side of his mouth that you'll have to work hard, but out of the other side of his mouth, he'll tell you that Tennessee living is easy. Don't think that he's trying to pull a fast one on you, though. These are his true impressions. You can trust few literary character as much as you can Thomas Hughes. That's probably why no one reads him....

I became interested in Tennessee Williams after reading the book "Tom," which is a biography of Tennessee's life. So after reading "Tom," I ordered "The Selected Letters of Tennessee Williams, Vol 2" from Amazon and began reading it as soon as it arrived. I chose to order volume 2 before volume 1 because it contains letters to and from Tennessee during some of the most productive years of his career. It is interesting to read, in his own words, how he handled and felt about these successes.

In anticipation of the Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans this month, I suppose it is time to move on to volume 1. As always, I'll let you know what I think....

This is the second volume of correspondence of Tennessee Williams covering the most productive middle years of his life.

It includes letters to and from friends during what was his most productive time. This when he was writing some of his best works, and the letters reflect the difficulties he was having with the work in process. These letters end in 1957 when he had just had two failed plays and the ever present critics were predicting the end of his career.

The book also includes a running commentary on the letters to keep them in perspective to the actuall happenings in his life. As a result, they form a sort of autobiography of the great dramatist.

A contemporary history of the regiment in which NB Forrest was originally a private.

Lots of detail here, and quite a bit of personality. Gives a valuable picture of what Western CS cavalry did--very different from what their tasks were in the East. Interesting how, when fighting dismounted, they sometimes charged entrenchments in the best "attack and die" style.

The Seventh became part of Forrest's command around the end of '63, but the historian claims they were on picket during the battle at Fort Pillow and were not present at all. Otherwise, this offers much detail regarding Forrest's activities and leadership. Also gives partial rosters of the various regiments. Overall, an extremely useful text.

THe author writes a good portrayl of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry CSA as long as the reader wants to further research the battle names and locations provided by the author. THe book is a good starting point for research into this famous regiment from West Tennessee and Alabama.

This is definitely one of the better books in the series. The story of Stalking Horse's sister being forced out of her farm due to an upstart militia, with Toby and Stalking Horse coming to her rescue, is the focus of the book. The best books of the Wagons West series have always been ones that were more heavily focused. Even excerpts of Hank Blake at West Point are cleverly tied in, especially when Hank gets put on the same mission as Toby. Toby and Martha's relation is at its pinnacle.

If one ignore's the fact that Hank is not supposed to have graduated from West Point until 1872, yet this book and the next, Illinois, clearly happens in 1871, with Blake's graduation by then, then this may well be one's favorite book in the series.

It's wierd to say that about a historical novel--maybe author Dana Fuller Ross knew something back in the 'Eighties that most of us didn't have a clue about (or weren't paying attnention to) back then. Published in 1986, this volume of Ross's "Wagons West" series has Ross' hero Toby Holt (sort of a 19th century equivalent to Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan) dealing with (would you believe?) an anti-government militia situation. It all starts when his Oregon ranch foreman's sister is crowded off her Tennessee farm by an crooked local official so that it can be used as a paramilitary base for disgruntled Civil War vets brought together by a power-hungry Cabinet official. Ross has only recently completed another prequel trilogy to this very series--the "West Empire" trilogy--with the last book out soon. So we know he's still in business. Since "Tennessee" deals with an issue all too familiar nowadays, Ross should consider suggesting a re-release to his publisher.

In searching for potential reasons why the Southern Universities are underrepresented in the prestigeous university associations, this book provided the bulk of what I found to shed light on the period and effects of the Civil War on higher education in the South. Frost does a good job of explaining some of these reasons and the attempt by forward-thinkers in the South to remedy the situation. I only wish he would have made the book longer and provided more details of the amount of devistation that the South endured after being summarily destroyed by the Union armies.
A great read for higher education and history buffs.

The book describes the state of southern higher education after the Civil War ended--plundered campuses, schools bankrupt, faculty killed or wounded in battle. The schools hoped that former Confederates would attract students, especially veterans, to reorganized campuses. The book does a good job of explaining how the goal of the educators was to help the South, through education, become a more progressive, industrially advanced region. It eventually concludes that the former Confederates succeeded at a more modest goal of imparting the importance of education onto the next generation of students.
Such pertinent topics as vocational education, integration of the student body, funding for colleges, and education for women are discussed. Numerous former southern generals are mentioned, including Stephen D. Lee, A.P. Stewart, Robert E. Lee, and Daniel Harvey Hill. Most of these educators favored a more progressive, scientifically-themed curriculum over a traditional one that focused on the classics. The book starts out a little slowly with the history of education in the South, but becomes fully interesting once it delves into the issues and people involved in rebuilding education in the post-war South.