Mississippi Books

This is a well written account of someone who was on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement. As Dr. Sellers recounts his life as a "black militant", he gives us first hand insight of not only his, but "others" involvement in this historical movement. His details caputured my soul and touch my heart. Not only did I have the opportunity to read the autobioraphy of Dr. Cleveland Seller, he was also my long time advisor and professor at The University of South Carolina. This book is as well written as his first hand accounts.

I know Cleve Sellers quite well, he's currently a history professor at the University of South Carolina and his students are fortunate to get firsthand accounts of the Civil Rights movement from a lesser-known, but NOT a lesser player in these events. Readers of his book are forutante too, for here you have verfiable firsthand accounts from a man who lived through this stuff and paid heavily for it. In about 40 years, the generation who lived through the Civil Rights movement will no longer be with us, and it is good that documents of this kind will be around to let future generations know what it was REALLY like.

However, it's worthy to note that his closing chapter, on the chaotic state of Black leadership after the Civil Rights movement, is still dead-on traget although it was written in 1973.

This is a reprint of a well-written personal account by a SNCC member and Howard University student. I am glad to see this book back in print. It will give an insight to the young and not so young who, because of the media's almost exclusive focus on Dr. King, have been lead to believe that the only important aspect of the civil rights movement was the "I Have a Dream" speech. Cleve Sellers gives us an up close and personal report on some of the key leaders of SNCC, especially the late Stokely Carmichael (known later as Kwame Ture), who later became, for a short time, the Prime Minister of the Black Panther Party and for many years the primary organizer of the All African Peoples Revolutionary Party.

Sellers shares many of the behind the scenes relationships between SNCC and other organizations and details the tactical and ideological differences which engaged the energies of the SNCC membership.

Second Age: A Recall of Things Gone By and a Bit of Now is the true-life memoir of Carl A. Franson, from growing up on the upper Mississippi to the hard times of the Great Depression, his life in a houseboat, his travels across America and to the exotic lands of the Orient, and much more. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoughtful reminiscence of a time in life meant for learning, testing, growing, and discovering adventure, after childhood but before the age of devoting oneself to raising a family and serving the community. A vivid and immersive glimpse into and tribute into the challenges and wonders of days long since gone by.

Delightful 1st person account of a young man's adventures floating down the Mississippi in the 1920s. A good read - well worth one's time!
Don and Marilyn Graham

So nice to enjoy an easy-to-read book that's about real life -- no pretensions. You're taken away into a simpler place and time as the author relates experiences he had when he was a young man, for instance traveling with a friend part way down the Mississippi, adventures they had, having to make do, and more. Felt like I was there with them.

Ronnie Blackwell is a writer who has gotten a relatively late start in life, but he's making up for lost time fast. "Serve It Cold" is a fabulous read that will keep you going til the end and then you'll wish it wasn't over. Blackwell has a real talent for narrative and building characters with tremendous depth. You'll love this one, I promise!

This warmly-written, riveting book is flush with oddball but endearing characters and Southern slice-of-life scenes that feel as honest as they are engaging. Blackwell's Jonny C is an imminently likeable fellow with a warm, quirky sense of humor and just enough brains mixed with common sense to put two and two together while still coming off like the guy next door instead of some distant, unfathomable Sherlock Holmes. The relationships he builds with his eclectic companions and associates are cornerstones of the story, each one adding their own distinct color to the tale with their quirks and quips.

The story itself moves swiftly along, the perfect balance of character development, scenery setting and action. From Catherine to the streets of New Orleans and back again, the book remains engaging the whole ride, suspense, drama and humor coming together perfectly.

The adventures of Johnny C and his band of miscreants left me smiling and hotly anticipating the sequel. Grab yourself a good cup of coffee and settle down on the porch with this one. You won't regret it.

This was an excellent book. The characters were so real and so engaging I couldn't put it down. I even went back and re-read it two more times, just so I could see were all the clues were. The author did a really excellent job. I can't wait for the next book from Mr. Blackwell.

I mostly read sci-fi and fantasy, but I love murder mysteries and detective novels too. This one really struck a chord with me. I'm sure I'll be reading it many more times over the years. It's one I just won't throw out or sell.

It's 1898 and Gwen Barlow's mother, Lillian, has just inherited her brother Eli Willoughby's showboat, the Jubilee Palace. Lillian, Gwen and Gwen's younger brother Preston, leave Ohio for the Mississippi River to live on and run the showboat. Once they arrive, they find out that many called it Eli's Folly. It is best described as a "wedding cake with a pilot house."

Marianne Dresden, Dickey Squires, Anabel Whitedove, Sir Clyde Peacock, and Jason DeVane live on the showboat and are in the show Belle of the Ozarks. Gwen is unsure of what role Travis Veazey plays in the workings of the showboat. His appearance shows he has an aversion to soap and barber shops. He also lives on the showboat. Phineas Johnson, his wife Peaches, and their daughter Danita also live on the showboat as the hired help. The Barlows quickly find out that no one has been paid for a couple of months.

After they arrive, they find out that the showboat is not allowed to leave Hickory Bend until Eli's murder is solved. They also find out that Eli left debts around town. Gwen and Preston begin meeting with his creditors but soon find out that Eli wasn't well liked.

Gwen begins looking into solving her uncle's murder to help get the showboat on its way and making money to begin paying everyone.

This is a terrific story. Usually I don't like stories set back in time, but this one is a great exception. The characters and setting are so well written. I found it difficult to put the book down. I wanted to find out who did it and why. It is a very well written story with enough twists and turns that you don't figure it out ahead of time.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to more in this series!

Stagestruck is a clever turn-of-the-century cozy mystery. Readers will enjoy details of life aboard a showboat. There are enough quirky characters among the actors and musicians to keep the reader guessing, and a second murder which was a complete surprise. I hope this continues as a series. The heroine, Gwen, is bright and practical, a woman who must step out of typical Victorian morals to get the job done and solve the crime.

In 1898 Apple Creek, Ohio, Lillian Barlow learns that her brother Eli died in a freak accident on his showboat, the Jubilee Palace. Eli's lawyer informs Lillian that she inherited the showboat. The showboat is deep in debt. Still Lillian persuades her reluctant adult children, college librarian Gwen Barlow and hard good store worker Preston, that they need to move to Hickory Bend, Missouri to manage the boat.

In Hickory Bend, Gwen ends up taking charge of the showboat as her mother cannot handle anything negative and her brother is Stagestruck with one of the performers. Gwen quickly realizes that several people had the motive to murder Eli as she agrees with the constable that a homicide occurred. Gwen wonders if one of the performers, the workers, the townsfolk, or the handsome captain she just hired to run "Eli's Folly" killed her uncle.

Readers will enjoy this engaging historical amateur sleuth tale that emphasizes the Mississippi River at the end of the nineteenth century. The who-done-it is cleverly worked to the pleasure of mystery readers. The strong characters whether the troupe or the townsfolk are a delight especially the embattled Gwen. However, STAGESTRUCK is a winner due to Cynthia Thomason making 1898 Missouri seems vividly alive.

Harriet Klausner

Simple text and colorful collages tell the "story of a storm" by children who were there...fear, sorrow, and finally acceptance and hope all in a beautifully simple format...brilliant!!!

Story of a Storm is a tender way of helping children deal with an horrific event. It demonstrates the power in healing through the expression of feelings as the events unfold through the children's art.

Story of a Storm is a truly amazing book written and illustrated by an author and children who obviously LIVED the storm. My family and I also lived it. The book captured the REAL emotions at a level anyone can relate to. This book has been a valuable tool in the healing process for my children. Sharing the book with their new friends and teachers has helped to express themselves in hopes of being better understood in our new school where Katrina was witnessed on a TV screen. Ms. Visser should be proclaimed a "hero" for creating this helpful and artistically beautiful book. All schools which have victims of Katrina should have a copy of this book for their counselors to use!

What a fun set of stories! While interwoven, each story stands out well on its own. All four heroines are unique and likable in their own ways. I enjoyed the opportunity to become a temporary member of Calista while getting to know Berta, Dottie, Sassy, and Sue Ellen. SUGAR AND GRITS is a wonderful weekend read!

Mississippi Mud: DiAnn Mills

Berta Kate Dixon, Bert to her friends, figured her luck was going downhill when she ran her bulldozer into a hill of rattlesnakes. Not exactly a fun experience. Then she met Mathew Jordan VanMichael III, and life got a lot more complicated. Bert owns Bert's Dirts, the only bulldozer owner in Calista, MIssissippi. Matt has hired her to clear the ground for his new house and she's raking in a hefty fee for doing so. She plans to use it to fulfill her dreams of becoming an opera singer. But Matt isn't exactly what he appears to be, and Bert's plans get bulldozed by romance. As usual DiAnn Mills tells an engaging story with fun characters.

Not On The Menu; Martha Rogers

Dottie Jean Weaver is a good cook, and her restaurant, The Catfish House, is the best place to eat in Calista. She's doing well financially, and life is good. One day Fletcher Cameron walks in and Dottie Jean remembers him all too well. Back in high school, he was popular and she was from the wrong side of the tracks. Fletcher sppears glad to see her and seems attracted to her, but Dottie Jean has a hard time letting go of old memories and past hurts. A tender, compassionate story about two people who have a lot to overcome on their road to happiness.

Gone Fishing: Janice Thompson

Sassy Hatchett owns Sassy's Bait Shop, is a dedicated fisherwoman who says exactly what she thinks. Her forthright manner has scared off most men in Calista, but Wendell Meeks isn't one to run. He sees past the flamboyant front Sassy puts up to the marvelous, loving woman she really is.

Sassy Hatchett isn't the usual heroine one usually finds in romance stories. She's a lot of fun, even if she is opinionated, hard headed, and well, sassy. Janice Thompson's Gone Fishing is an entertaining story with the kind of characters who grab your interest and never let go.

Falling For You: Kathleen Y'Barbo

Bud Briggs may be a deputy sheriff, but he's just plain tongue tangled around Sue Ellen Caldwell, owner of the Rhonda-Vous House of Beauty, the best beauty shop in Clista. When Sue and Bud were young they used to buy chocolate shakes from The Catfish House and go fishing. They're grown now, and she's so pretty Bud doesn't have the nerve to ask her for a date. The boys down at Gus's gas station are pushing Bud to ask her to go to the Cameron's New Year party with him. He's nervous, but he decides to just do it. After all, maybe she will say yes.

Sugar and Grits: Fou entertaining romances by four of the best writers in the business. These ladies dish up a hearty helping of fun, faith, and love. This one is a winner.

Reviewed by Ellen Hogan for Reader Views (5/07)

This charming book is four stories by four different authors. The women are friends that live in Calista, Mississippi. Two of them are older and two are younger, but despite the difference in their ages they are always there for one another.

"Mississippi Mud" by DiAnn Mills -- This is Berta's story. She owns a business called "Bert's Dirts." She works alongside the Crawford brothers and their big job is to clear land for Matthew Jordan Van Michael III. At the completion of this job Berta will have enough money to go to New York and finish her Master's in music. However, God had different plans for Berta. She learned of Matt's plan to build a home on the land she was clearing to house elderly friends of his grandmother's. The home they were in was being closed and Matt did not want them parted. Meanwhile Berta has to deal with Bubba Crawford's crush on her. She doesn't want to hurt him, but has to let him know that she only loves him like a brother. The road to happiness is paved with pitfalls and misunderstandings as Berta struggles with a decision to go to school or stay at home. Was Matt her destiny?

"Not on the Menu" by Martha Rogers -- Dottie Jean Miller grew up on the wrong side of town. Her mother used to sew for the fashionable ladies in town and would make Dottie Jean clothes with the leftover fabric. When she grew up, Dottie Jean married Hank Weaver. They moved to Calista and helped run the family business; they also opened a restaurant called "The Catfish House." After Hank's passing, Dottie and her daughter Jenny ran the restaurant together. One day Fletcher Cameron was driving through Calista and saw "The Catfish House." His son had said he stopped there and the food was good. So, Fletch decided to give it a try. Fletch was taken aback to see Dottie Jean Miller standing by the counter. She saw him too and decided to go and speak. They ate lunch together and caught up on their lives since high school when Fletch was in love with Dottie, but she didn't know it, and Dottie had a crush on Fletch and he didn't know it. Fletch invited Dottie to a fundraiser; it would be formal so Dottie would have to get a new outfit. The night of the dinner Dottie was confronted with several girls that she had known in high school. In the bathroom, with Dottie listening, they made catty remarks about her being with Fletch. Dottie was heartbroken and left to go home. Would Fletch be able to convince Dottie to take a chance on them?

"Gone Fishing" by Janice Thompson -- Wendell Meeks had it bad for Sassy Hatchett. Sassy thought of Wendell as a friend, but that would not stop him. Whenever Sassy needed anything fixed, Wendell was there. When she wasn't running the Bait and Tackle Shop, Sassy could be found on the pier fishing. It was where she could think and talk to God. One Saturday night Sassy got pulled into the river, just then Wendell had come along and fished her out. She was so embarrassed that she could not go to church the next morning. She could not face Wendell or take all the giggles that were sure to come her way. However, when she got together with her friends Dottie Jean, Berta, and Sue Ellen the next Tuesday, none of them said a word. Sassy kept waiting for the shoe to fall and finally said something herself about her fall. They told her that Wendell had not said a word to anyone. Sassy then started to look at Wendell in a different light. Could Sassy give up her grouchy ways and be happy with the mailman?

"Falling for You" by Kathleen Y'Barbo -- Sue Ellen Caldwell moved back to Calista and bought out Rhonda Vous' hair salon. She had enough of the big city and wanted to be close to her grandpa Gus. When she was growing up her best friend was Bud Briggs. Bud is now a deputy sheriff in Calista. They see each other around town and say hello but that's about all there is to that. Then Dottie Jean and Fletch Cameron decide to throw a New Year's Eve party and Bud is goaded into inviting Sue Ellen. While they are waiting for the ball to drop they get to talking. Bud tells Sue Ellen that she needs to watch what she eats and exercise. Sue Ellen tells Bud that he needs to lighten up like he was when they were younger. Bud has applied to the FBI, but before he leaves he vows to get Sue Ellen in shape. Will Bud stay in Calista or go to the FBI? In each of the stories the hero and heroine are faced with a problem. How do they overcome it? They ask God for guidance and in each case he answers. The faith these four women have shines through each story. They are uplifting stories of not only love but of devotion to God.

Each story was enjoyable in its own right. I would highly recommend "Sugar and Grits" to anyone who is a reader of inspirational fiction.

This is THE BEST book on the thoughts and ideas of the late, great epic writer James A. Michener. Larry Grobel has asked all the right questions, covering a wide variety of topics (they were friends for 17 years), and Michener is at his most candid and revealing.I only wish this book was twice as long!

Wonderfuly written. Excellent use of words. Everyone should read it.

Picking the mind of one of the greatest authors ever,read the book if you are a fan of his,a fascinating person.

This book is a realistic and poignant account of a kind-hearted boy growing up in Mississippi. The thing I liked best was the humaneness of the characters, including thier kindness and meanness. The author stands against racism without being rhetorical. In spite of suffering, goodness prevails.

I read the book a few years ago and it still stays with me. The descriptions are compelling and the story so engrossing I couldn't put it down. I would love a sequel as well.

I met Mr. McGregor while he was signing books in the Books A Million in Tupelo, Mississippi. Although his book lacked a fancy cover and had only a slight description on the back, I purchased one. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the book - the characters stay with you - their poverty, ignorance and anger. And in the midst of all that, the protagonist, a genuinely good person, who must have emerged from the first-hand experience of the author.

After living in Mississippi for the past three years, I have been amazed at the unique culture of the area - friendly, small town, good, religious people but still so much poverty, racial division and rigid thinking. I highly recommend Tall Cotton for the insight it has given me into the Deep South of sixty years ago and the origins of this culture.

This book was introduced to me about 10 years ago by a dear friend whom I was helping with her computer. She learned of my maiden name, LaMastus, and told me a book she was reading mentioned a James LaMastus from the same part of the Delta from which I come. Lo and behold, Mrs. Hamilton speaks of my great-great grandfather.

I loved the book. Mrs. Hamilton's straight-forward style allows you to experience life in the 1800's after the Civil War and in a wilderness that wasn't the west.

A great historical account of family life as the wilderness of the Mississippi Delta was slowly transformed into an agilcultural society and a place where many call home. This book takes you back to how hard life was for those who paved the way to where we are today.

As a native of Mississippi and a woman, I appreciate the historical value of this story. I loved the fact that the reader knows Mrs. Hamilton was not a professional writer (she says in the intro that she had only written letters before Helen Dick Davis asked her to write out her memoirs), but nonetheless, she eloquently and honestly told her story. Although this book is an autobiography, it reads much like fiction. It is an enthralling story and held my attention like few autobiographies or biographies do.

A must read for anyone who lives with or works with someone with depression. I have read dozens of books on the subject and this is by far the best for gaining insight into the problems. I wished that every teacher and employer (and supervisor) were required to know this information.

Have you ever suffered from depression? Or do you have a friend who is depressed? Surely you want to know how to help. Now you have the chance to read a book that is a solid resource for those who suffer from depression personally, and for those who want to understand and help them. People have always been thinking that depression is simply a transient feeling of moodiness. In her book Understanding Depression, Patricia Ainsworth examines depression from a different perspective. According to Ainsworth, depression is more than a mental illness. It is a total body illness, affecting both the cognitive ability of the human brain and the functioning of the body. Furthermore, when people are depressed, they suffer from alterations in behaviour, appetite, and sexuality (10). Many of those people cannot help themselves. The only relief is death. In order to prevent this cruel end, Ainsworth explains the nature and symptoms of depression in the different groups, children and elderly. By looking at the symptoms of depression, the question that arises is what are the causes for this illness. Exploring different theories for the causes of depression, Ainsworth begins from the ancient Greek philosophies and reaches to the ideas of the 20th century. Through this process, people get acquainted with different theories about depression, such as Freud's way of seeing mental illnesses as the cause of depression or the theory of the behaviorists who believe that depression is a result of a failure of the humans to deal with, adapt to, and react to the environment (51). By giving numerous examples and explanations like these, Ainsworth successfully proves that depression involves alterations in the brain and has to be treated aggressively. If not, the illness worsens, thus aggravating the person's mounting sense of being overwhelmed. The result could be suicide, mainly because of the inability of this human being to handle depression alone. One of the most important steps of treating depression, according to Ainsworth, is how the depressed people are perceived by the others. Often, people think of depression as something that comes and goes. On the contrary of the common misconception, Ainsworth claims that once it appears, depression brings not only alterations in behavior, but also changes in the chemical structures of the human cells which cannot disappear without external medication and professional psychological treatment. In this way Understanding Depression teaches us how to treat depression, either through the an approach as a physician and psychologist, or simply as a friend who wants to help the person beside him or her. Despite the misconception that depression is simply a transient feeling, there are other misconceptions which Ainsworth calls the "myths of depression"(105). The most popular myth is that depression is a sign of a weakness of character. Unfortunately, myths like this can only contribute the risk associated with the potentially lethal illness. Ainsworth argues against the common misconception that women, as the "weaker" part of humanity, are more likely to fall victims to depression than are men. On the contrary, she proves that everyone has an "equal opportunity" to suffer this disorder inspite of the sex, age, or religion. Ainsworth agrees that there is a difference in experiencing depression. When men are depressed, they tend to look outside themselves in order to master their environment. Depressed women, on the other hand, are prone to search within themselves for the source of their unhappiness(28). Despite the fact that depression can be suffered in a different way by men and women, an equal opportunity for both sexes exists. Depression do exempts no one and the potential outcome, suicide, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Every 17.3 minutes someone commits suicide in the United States. According to National Institute of Mental Health Statistics, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in Americans and accounts for more than 30000 deaths every year (11). In order to prevent death, Ainsworth gives answers to questions such as how can I help myself, or how can I help someone who is depressed. While the cure could be different, the first step for treating depression is the same for all people. This step is understanding depression. It is the only way of treating the illness effectively, or as Ainsworth writes: "One of the keys of regaining control of your life and your emotions is to gain a factual understanding of what has happened to you and to your body. Once you understand the beast, you have a much better chance of outmanoeuvring it"(116). Ainsworth's book is a part of the successful struggle against the beast called depression. This is a book concerning a large audience, appealing to the humanity as a whole and to the problems that could happen to all of us despite the fact that we are men or women, children or adults, black or white. Understanding Depression is one of the best ways of exploring the tragedy of depression. It is a tragedy because it has taken away the lives of millions young people and will continue to annihilate the existence of many more if not stopped. Ainsworth's book is an unique source for depression to be destroyed and extricated from one's life because of the author's use of examples from reality and personal touch with depression. These examples are explained in understandable terms appealing to the whole humanity that does not want to give up its humanness to depression. All people are obliged to do something to stop this nightmare that ruins the lives of nearly 15 to 30 percent of the depressed people every day (115). Ainsworth's Understanding Depression is an excellent step to know the enemy, in order to sever its roots and help new lives be built, without the moodiness, hopelessness and emptiness that have darkened our human existence victimized by the beast called depression.

Works Cited Ainsworth, Patricia. Understanding Depression. Jackson, University Press of Mississippi. 2000. ISBN 1-57806-169-5.

The book starts out with a quote: "I treated depression throughout my career and never really understood what it was I was treating until I suffered from depression myself."... by a psychiatrist.

I've battled severe depression for years and from experience, I've learned that talking about it to others can backfire because many see it as a mere weakness. Words like, "snap out of it" can be extremely painful. Isolation becomes inevitable which just makes the sufferer worse. Well, Patricia Ainsworth does understand this disease and reading her book was comforting...something we desperately need.

Additionally, she informs the reader on updated information from the causes of depression, to what's happening in the brain. Treatment is also discussed and all of the writing is reader-friendly. Included is a Glossary, Index, and two Appendices which lists further resources (web sites/books) and a section on medication which are extremely helpful. I recommend this book to anyone who is depressed with unanswered questions and ESPECIALLY for those who have a loved one with this painful disease. I thank you, Patricia.