Massachusetts Books

Even though this book is more than 50 years old if you're a radio comms tech, amateur radio enthusiast or a communications engineer you must read it, simple as that. This is a purely technical book that will only appeal to purely technical people.

Most people won't need the information on the exotic valves like klystrons and Travlling Wave Tubes but the sections about waveguides, transmission lines, smith charts and propagation theory are incredibly well written. The big old valves are very interesting to read about and if you think you'll never need it you never know... I've seen a system installed in the 1980s that is still using 1 kilowatt klystrons today.

This book is easier to understand than _any_ of my current Radio communications text books. I take my hat off to the boffins that managed to do this in the '50s without computers or even a pocket calculator.

Private Osborne is a powerful look at the horror of the Civil War through the eyes of a young man who was only sixteen when he joined as a member of the Massachusetts 23rd Volunteers. His letters are presented in this thoughtful account, which provides plenty of historical detail and context to the words of a Civil War battlefield survivor who penned first-hand testimony of the Burnside Expedition, Roanoke Island, and the Second Front against Richmond among his experiences. Private Osborne also follows the soldier's life after the Civil War, up to his death in 1923. A remarkable, gripping testimony, Private Osborne is a welcome and highly recommended contribution to the annals of Civil War history.

If you're fascinated by Lizzie Borden, this book -- a collection of 26 papers presented at the conference held on the 100th anniversary of the infamous murders -- will keep you glued to the page. Here you will find Lizzie, the person and Lizzie, the case considered from five perspectives: psychological/women's issues; historical; literary; legal and forensic; and bibliographical. Sample titles: "The World Owed Her: Lizzie Borden's Shoplifting," "Lizzie, You Mean and Spiteful Thing," and "Librarians in the Life and Legend of Lizzie Borden."

But what really sets the book apart is its compelling suggestion that Lizzie may have been a victim of childhood incest (three papers focus exclusively on this idea). "The evidence, often the product of modern sociological, psychological, and clinical research, is persuasive and certainly provides us with a new way of looking at the crime," writes editor Jules Ryckebusch.

Indeed, the book's biggest virtue is its total departure from the usual did-she-or-didn't-she. I really couldn't put it down, although several spelling and grammatical errors detracted from my reading pleasure.

Mitzman has brought to bear a formidable knowledge of European ideas with a creative overview of the innumerable dilemmas facing mankind today. While there are ideas here that readers find they disagree with, there is so much insight and creative thinking contained in this book that it is extremely stimulating. Very appropriate for the human condition at the present critical juncture of history. It makes one think-and respond to great challenges.

While the pudding of the title is the plum pudding I associate with Christmas, this book is set in the fall.
The war is over and Asey Mayo has come home to Cape Cod bag and baggage. He arrives to a bake sale going on at his house to raise money to repair destruction wrecked upon the Cape by a recent hurricane.
Jenny, his cousin-housekeeper, sends him off to wander in the woods dressed in the business suit he was wearing to travel. He finds the body of a well-dressed young woman who turns out to be the daughter of a former enemy. Other people are about, sorting through the debris left by the storm. He chases someone, is chased himself and gets thrown into a muddy swamp. He even becomes the primary murder suspect. Soon he's cleared and free to detect by talking to the characters that people these books, a bitter writer, a love-lorn ex-Wac, a grouchy old lady, even a chubby eleven year old girl named Mildred, who all lead to the murder's solution. Oh, and he also had to contend with a sharp-clawed Siamese named Zanies. Shorter than most Atwood Taylor books (189 pgs), it makes a fun read for an evening's entertainment.

What a wonderful glimpse into the past of such an interesting town!

This small treasure allows us to watch as a small fishing village, transforms into an artist colony then to the vibrant alternative showplace it is today!
A must for all P'town enthusiasts!

This concise guide book was a treasure and saving grace for planning the precious vacation week I had planned for Provincetown and nearby Outer Cape towns. From the events calendar to the business directory, I was able to hone in on identifying my areas of interest and must-see sites and activities in one short read of the book.

Roberto Marquez's anthology is an extremely valuable contribution, covering an enormous field with care and making it accessible with well-written introductions. This volume will be of interest to everyone who loves poetry. His translations of many Spanish-language poems into English is excellent; the book also includes many poems originally written in English by U.S.-based Puerto Rican poets. As in all anthologies, not everyone who could have been included appears; I personally felt the absence of Luz María Umpierre and Willie Perdomo. This is a great book.

Just finished this great book. Not being a history buff, I opened the cover to this book with some doubts - how wrong can you be. This story picks you up on the first page, and has you snared through the rest of the journey. The story is well told, deeply researched and written in such a way as to deliver accurate historical events to the reader, whilst pulling you along at a good pace. I tried to put the book down a couple of times over the weekend, but found my mind constantly returning to the story, and compelled to pick up the story and see it through to its conclusion. And who would have thought you could bring together pirate gold, the british treasury and Isaac Newton all within the covers of one book !
A cracking good read - try it....

This is a excellent book. Bought after recently buying a kayak. New to kayaking. The book made me want to go to the local lake right then and there. Very descriptive of ponds and lakes with maps. Wish it had a few more entrys. Although I do agree with the authors selection process.