Ohio Books

Bill Angel gives an entertaining narrative of his campaign to oust a local Democratic party Chairman in small-town Lima Ohio.

In the early 1980's, in a county where the Democrats are outmanned by Republicans, and saddled with an ineffective party leadership, Bill Angel is recruited by a team that believes their party can do better.

Angel and his team organize a challenge to the sitting Chairman and pull off the upset taking control of the party apparatus.

Then the tough part begins.

Running a political party that is expected to do poorly by potential donors and potential candidates makes for a challenging environment.

In this book Angel brings you there. You experience the promise of change in the organization, and the dissolution of fighting the uphill battle of electing candidates from the "wrong party".

If you have always wondered about the inside working of party politics this is a great read for you.

Or if you are a party insider who enjoys hearing political war stories, you won't be disappointed here.

I read this years ago, so I don't remember the details, but this is the best novel I've read that's set in South East Asia. It made me cry with the characters and understand Burmese culture.

I am a native of Harrison County and lived there until college. I was absolutely amazed and impressed with the Notables of Harrison County, Ohio. Many of the families are familiar to me, but I had no idea of their ancestors' accomplishment. I found it easy to read about one or two people at a sitting. I had no idea of the international impact people from such a small county could have. Two people have mountains named for them. The inventor of tire rims lived in Cadiz. There were many black people in the area as a result of the underground railroad. A small newspaper editor took on the fight for reclaimation after strip mining began. I never realized there was a town called Tappan -- what happened to it? Nor that there were once colleges in Hopedale and Scio. It was really an informative book which I enjoyed immensely.

More than 1.50 million children in the United States are adopted. These include more than 20,000 international adoptions every year. While 64% of these adoptions are girls and 36% are boys, nearly half of all international adopted children are infants, and 90% of international adoptees being less than five years old. Featuring an essay by Melissa Fay Greene, "Now We Are One: Faces of International Adoption" is a compendium of photographs by Michael Wilson with a bit of informational text by Cincinnati Post columnist David Wecker. The focus is on the stories and images of ordinary families in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fifteen families demonstrate the reality of American families adopting children from other countries and is a far cry from the circus atmosphere of some recent Hollywood celebrity foreign adoptions. Here are pictorially documented adoptions that focus on the simple, ordinary ways children from diverse (and sometimes horrific) backgrounds have become integrated as vital and beloved members of their new American families. Highly recommended, especially for anyone considering an international adoption for a family of their own.

The history of atomic development is usually discussed in terms of the Manhatten Project and the decision to drop. Here, Paul describes that there was so much more to the stop - after Heroshima. And it wasn't just concerning the US and USSR. Much of the drama took place between America and her closest ally - the United Kingdom. Paul's prose brings the history of these events to life.

Dr. Blodgett's book sets a standard for the afficianado of small town history. His ability to place in simple terms the heritage of a town through its physical development should be studied by those who wish to author anything on their own towns and villages. He captures the essence of Oberlin, that curious town in northern Ohio, which he illustrates has always been "peculiar in that which is good" since its inception. It is an invaluable primer for that college town. A+

I have a typical 10 year old son. He is very bright and intelligent, however he does NOT like to read. I have a sizeable fortune in different books that he has "suffered" through because they were reading assignements.

He picked up this book and began reading it. I mean really reading it, he didn't want to put it down. It is the FIRST time he has ever asked me to hang on a sec when asked to do something because he was READING!

there isn't a better state history program on the market than teh one the Alpha Omega Publications has put forth with its Switched-On Schoolhouse line of CD-ROM curriculum. The Ohio state history covers everything from economics to government to sports and anything inbetween in an interactive multimedia filled atmosphere suited for fun and learning!

Geographically, Ohio may be a long way from Malta but the two became forever linked through the historical events of WW2. The Ohio was a ship - at that time the largest (and fastest) Tanker ever built, and Malta a country under siege. Malta's position in the Mediterranean meant she played a vital part in the war in North Africa - with aircraft based there attacking Rommel's supply lines at every opportunity. In order to maintain those attacks, however, it was imperative she continued to be re-supplied by convoy.

By August 1942 Malta was in dire need of help. Unless substantial supplies were delivered - and soon!, Malta would have to be surrendered by 7 September at the very latest. In the meantime the German campaign in North Africa was going from strength to strength because aircraft based at Malta had no fuel to continue their campaign. They were also running out of aircraft.

Operation Pedestal comprised 14 commercial ships which departed the Clyde on 2 August 1942. By the time they entered the Mediterranean on 10 September such was the importance of this convoy that no fewer than 4 Aircraft Carriers were assigned to the overall defence. From here on those ships came in for attack after attack from air and sea and they pushed ever closer to their destination. Almost immediately the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle was lost and the next day the 8,000 ton cruisers Kenya and Nigeria were put out of action and the 4,190 ton light cruiser Cairo sunk. It was at this time the Ohio took a direct hit from a torpedo. For a long while she was stopped in the water with her crew making frantic repairs and an easy target. In spite of her extensive damage, however, the ship got under way and was soon making 15 knots. By the morning of the 14th she had caught up. In the meantime, however, the 9,400 ton cruiser HMS Manchester was lost.

The loss of so many capital ships on a single operation only served to underline the importance of this convoy. One at a time the freighters with their valuable cargoes were being reduced in number as they were attacked and lost. From now on the Ohio received greater attention - from both sides. Firstly she had become the primary target for Axis forces and secondly she was regarded as the most important ship still afloat as far as the convoy was concerned. In short, the Ohio must reach Malta at all costs. She was torpedoed, she was shot at, she was bombed with explosives and bombed with fuel in a bid to set her alight. The many near missed she suffered twisted her hull and with her cargo of fuel oil and kerosene leaking in all directions she could have simply blown apart at ant time. She was abandoned and re-boarded (twice), her steering gear was first damaged making steering impossible and then it was blown away altogether. She lost countless tows and was so badly damaged that Destroyers were loath to come alongside less they sustain damage from the ship itself.

But come alongside they did and, re-boarded yet again and - when any lesser ship would have been sunk several times over, the Ohio was finally berthed alongside Parlatorio Wharf, Malta at 0930 hrs 15th August 1942. Only four other ships from the original 14 also arrived. Incredibly, very little of the Ohio's cargo had been lost and as a direct result of this incredible feat of human endurance, the fuel carried by this one ship helped turn the war in North Africa in favour of the Allies.

This book tells the tale of a single ship. In bringing Operation Pedestal to life in a thrilling and readable style, Michael Pearson skilfully draws the reader into the events aboard other ships at key moments in the voyage. He also includes just about each and every many who played a key role at various times. All the facts and figures are there including brief technical details of every ship. For those who wish to study the many pages of bibliography, his account is also exceedingly well researched and I congratulate him on a job well done.

NM

I'm a novice birder and have really enjoyed this book. It's got lots of great info covering everything from backyard watching to venturing throughout Ohio. It's informative, easy to ready, and just full of good stuff from cover to cover.