Virginia Books

The Blue Ridge Parkway, almost 450 miles long, connects Shennandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park astride the North Carolina - Tennessee border. In between it traverses some of the most beautiful mountain areas in North Carolina and Virginia. Although it provides splendid views from the road itself and from its many roadside overlooks, it is much more than a scenic drive. It is a ribbon of land administered by the National Park Service, at several places broadening into wider mini-parks. All of those parks as well as various other spots along the parkway's route have hiking trails that give visitors a closer look at the many natural wonders there. This book, as a comprehensive guide to those trails, is the one most indispensable guide to getting beyond your car and the overlooks in this remarkable National Park Service land. All of its official trails are rated in this book as to difficulty, from very easy to quite strenuous. Thus there are ample hikes for whatever level of wilderness adventure you're up for. Each hike is described in details, with points of interest described in the order you'll encounter them, with mileages to each from the trailhead. Some hikes described herein also get beyond the parkway's own lands, into National Forest lands that border the parkway in many places, as well as occasional adjacent commercial attractions such as Grandfather Mountain. Any visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway should be quite rewarding, and this book is one of the best resources for making it even more so, showing that you'll never be very far from places to park and take a walk for a more intimate view. And you definitely should sample at least some of the shorter and easier walks, if not the longer or more challenging ones, depending on what you're up to. This parkway is a natural treasure well-worth exploring, and this book may well be the quickest way to learn that there is so much more there than meets a casual eye.

for a day trip, a weekend trip, or a long vacation. We have hiked and camped in several of the places mentioned. I have lived in NC all of my life and did not realize there was such enriching trails and escapades off the parkway. I wish I had known about this book while attending WCU! Take it with you, it is very worthwhile.

Designed as a "drive awhile - stop awhile" recreational road, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited unit in the National Park Service. It has 17 million visitors a year as compared to 10 million a year for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. But the Parkway is more than a beautiful drive; it is also a good base from which to hike. Adkins describes all the ways that we can get out of the car as we explore the Parkway. From a leg-stretcher to a view of Glassmine Falls Trail to the eighteen miles of the Shut-In Trail, Adkins gives a contextual introduction to the hike as well as step-by-step directions. He rates each hike from an easy leg-stretcher to strenuous.

My only objection to the rating is that the author considers too many hikes as strenuous. For example, Adkins labels the Snooks Nose Trail, eight miles round trip and described as "not well-maintained and hard to locate" as strenuous. The two-and-a-half mile round trip hike up to Mt. Pisgah, on a clear, well-marked trail, is also rated as "strenuous". Hikers will have to decide what strenuous means to them. Ratings aside, the book is necessary to anyone looking for a variety of hikes in the area. The appendices are also a wealth of information. He lists every feature on the Parkway along with its mileage, all the inns and campgrounds as well as a roadside bloom calendar

My wife and I have just come home from a 3 week trip along the entire parkway. We started the trip with Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway, but ended up buying Walking the Blue Ridge at one of the visitor centers. While Hiking was ok, we found Walking the Blue Ridge to be the better of the two. It was very easy to use, easy to find information, and full of wonderful tidbits. The way the mileage data was set up in a vertical way made it very easy to use while we were hiking the trails, simple to always know where we were. In the Hiking book we had to wade through a lot paragraphs just to match up the descriptions with where we actually were on the trail. Also, it was obvious that the author of Walking the Blue Ridge had actually walked every one of the trails he was writing about. It was also nice knowing that it gave descriptions of every one of the trails along the parkway, even if it was just a short pathway; the other book neglected some that we found to be truly delightful. In addition, its smaller weight and size made it much easier to carry while on the hikes.
All in all, we were happy to have found Walking the Blue Ridge and will be using it often.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, almost 450 miles long, connects Shennandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park astride the North Carolina - Tennessee border. In between it traverses some of the most beautiful mountain areas in North Carolina and Virginia. Although it provides splendid views from the road itself and from its many roadside overlooks, it is much more than a scenic drive. It is a ribbon of land administered by the National Park Service, at several places broadening into wider mini-parks. All of those parks as well as various other spots along the parkway's route have hiking trails that give visitors a closer look at the many natural wonders there. This book, as a comprehensive guide to those trails, is the one most indispensable guide to getting beyond your car and the overlooks in this remarkable National Park Service land. All of its official trails are rated in this book as to difficulty, from very easy to quite strenuous. Thus there are ample hikes for whatever level of wilderness adventure you're up for. Each hike is described in details, with points of interest described in the order you'll encounter them, with mileages to each from the trailhead. Some hikes described herein also get beyond the parkway's own lands, into National Forest lands that border the parkway in many places, as well as occasional adjacent commercial attractions such as Grandfather Mountain. Any visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway should be quite rewarding, and this book is one of the best resources for making it even more so, showing that you'll never be very far from places to park and take a walk for a more intimate view. And you definitely should sample at least some of the shorter and easier walks, if not the longer or more challenging ones, depending on what you're up to. This parkway is a natural treasure well-worth exploring, and this book may well be the quickest way to learn that there is so much more there than meets a casual eye.

Any girl who loves spring time would love this book. The title of this book is Happy Birthday Felicity and the author of this book is Valerie Tripp. The main characters are Felicity and Grandfather. Grandfather is generous, and understands what is imnportant. Felicity is a spunky, spiritual colonial girl, growing up just before the American Revolution in 1774. The setting is in Willamsburg, Virgina and the problem of the story is Felicity got a guitar from her Grandfather and she wasn't allowed to take it outside. But she did, and ended up getting it wet and now she has to take it back to where she got it.


In the beginning of the story Felicity and Elizabeth,her friend, were making fun of Elizabeth's sister (Annabelle) while she was playing the guitar and singing. Next, Felicity heard soldiers talking about a plan and when she told her parents, they didn't believe her so she had to fix it herself.


The theme of this book is always obey because you may have a problem like Felicity. This book reminded me of myself because I play the guitar just like Felicity was learning to. Girls of all ages would enjoy this book.

A.F. in Annapolis

I really enjoyed reading Happy Birthday,Felicity!
I't a spring time story by Valerie Thrip,and mostly about Felicity getting a guitar and a lamb for her birthday.
It was a good book,and reccomend it to any girl who loves American Girls series!

This book is great.! It took me less than a day to read. I thought this was a great book. You should read it if you have not. I LOVED it. I think that was the best Felicity book. I give it 5 stars because the book was great, as I have said before. I don't wanna spoil the story, so all I'll say is it's Felicity's Birthday, and she gets a great present. Sometimes I wished I was Felicity. Her present was an adorable ...... I can't tell you. You'll have to see!

Happy Birthday, Felicity! is one of the best American Girl books. Felicity is turning ten years old, and Grandfather has come to visit. He gives her Grandmother's guitar, but when she is told not to take it out of the house, she disobeys her parents and Grandfather. They are so angry at her that they refuse to believe Felicity when she tells them of a message she overheard that means danger for Williamsburg! I'll let the rest be a surprise, but don't worry, the book has a happy ending.

These books are perfect for any young girl (6-10). The girls in all the books are brave, loyal, kind, helpful, and many more quailities you might want your daughter to posess. And they have enough adventure to keep any girl interested. Read them all, get a doll, and discover the world of American girl.

This is far and away the best book I have ever read. It was a real page turner. A friend suggested I read it, and I suggested my mother and my daughter both read it as well. My mother said she actually cried while reading it (something she has never done over a book). My daughter laughed and said Willa Mae was "the Forrest Gump of West Virginia". It was a rich documentation of WV history, and included several events that I did not know. I am a WV native from near Hawk's Nest State Park, and was fascinated with its pre-history. What a wonderful book!

I bought this book for my mother for Christmas and she has not been able to lay it down since she started reading it. She loves it and I am sure that I will be reading it when she gets finished. My mother lived in Page, WV during her teenage years and has been able to relate to the area that she is reading about which only made the book more interesting, I'm sure. She lived there during the great flood of 1932 and this is discussed in the book. She would like to see more by this author and I can hardly wait to get started.

What a wonderful story. Only a poet with a heart as big as our mountains, the keen insight of a storyteller and a love of family that is burned into her soul could do justice to this story in the manner of Rebecca Cale Camhi.
This book grabbed me on the first page and never turned me loose, I don't think I have ever gone through so many emotions while reading a book as I did with this one. The Characters were so real I had to keep reminding myself that it was a story. I kept hearing echoes of my Father, my Mother, my Grandma, my Grandpa, my Uncles and my Kin.
There is a unique mystique about being a West Virginian that few who have not been born and raised here understand. It is so hard to describe or explain, because it is spiritual. Rebecca has captured it and woven it throughout her book. It starts where her story starts and ends, well it don't end, it is still here in these hills and in our hearts.
If you have not read this book you are robbing yourself of one of life's good experiences.
I sure hope there is more where this came from.

"Who says, "You can't go home again"? I just relived my West Virginia childhood through "Deepwater Mountain," one of the best historical novels I've had the pleasure to read.

"Had Thomas Wolfe grown up in the Appalachian Mountains of WV, as I did, I think he'd agree with me. NC doesn't hold a candle to WV.

"A Kincaid in Kincaid, next door to Camhi's Page, I remember my parents, Todd and Minnie Kincaid, taking me to visit Great Grandpa Poley, Great Grandma Lizzie, and Creedy in their little house with the toasty warm coal fireplace. They lived "just up the road a piece" from me.

I can't recall ever reading a book faster than this one. Saying I was mesmerized is a fact. Willa May and Daniel became my family in Chapter one and I simply felt overwhelmed emotionally when I had to leave them. I do hope Camhi will continue with their family saga. I recall feeling the same when I read John Galsworthy's first novel about the Forsyte Family.

"Camhi has that wonderful knack of capturing the reader and making her feel a part of history. Her characters are realistic and she teaches WV history, obviously having done her homework. I can see "Deepwater Mountain" becoming a required reading in WV English and History classes.

"In fact, I see Willa May as John Denver's Mountain Mamma in "Country Roads," which many people say put WV on the map. Anyone wondering about WV, the most Northern of the Southern states, the most Southern of the Northern States, and the most Western of the Eastern states, and the most Eastern of the Western states, should grab the opportunity to find out about Wild, Wonderful West Virginia by reading "Deepwater Mountain."

Shirley Dawn Kincaid Walker(formerly of Kincaid, West Virginia)
6309 Alderwood Bay
Woodbury, Mn 55125

I grew up in Kincaid, West Virginia, which is right next door to Page, Robson and Deepwater Mountain, the places that Rebecca Camhi brings to life again in her book, Deepwater Mountain. I traveled through these small towns for four years while commuting to college at West Virginia Tech. Becky has brought back the memories of traveling that wicked road, dangerous to this very day.

This book brings back vivid memories of my great-grandfather Napoleon Kincaid and my Uncle Harry Cale. I can still see Napoleon, "Poley," as we called him, delivering his moonshine on Page Road just a few miles south of Deepwater Mountain. (By the way, Becky, we were always told that "Poley" never got caught by the Feds, but that he had a lot of close calls.)

I can still hear my father and grandpa Tibb talk about Poley, Lizzie and Creedy. When I make my annual visit to clean the gravesites at the Kincaid Cemetery here in Kincaid, and see the gravestones of Poley, Lizzie and Creedy, it brings back all those memories that Becky described in this wonderful novel. It is hard to explain how we West Virginians feel about our state: when we meet another West Virginian, no matter where we've traveled, it's as if both of us have come back to the hills. It's in our hearts!! Becky has truly captured this spirit throughout her entire book.

Those in my generation who were born and reared in Kincaid, WV, can relate to Becky's book because we actually lived the life of her characters from 1940 to present. And when we look back through Becky's eyes, we can see ourselves at the very beginning. Becky has truly captured the motto of West Virginia "Montani Semper Liberi" (Mountaineers are always free!)

Once you pick up this book, you won't put it down until you have finished reading the entire book. Becky Camhi is a truly remarkable author. Each chapter is a surprise, and you just can't wait for the next one.

I look forward to Becky's next book, but will be hard for her to top this one.


Douglas L. Kincaid, Sr. of Kincaid, West Virginia

This remarkable book, superb bit of local history, deals with a refreshing topic, the little-known story of Virginia's decline between the American Revolution and the Civil War, tragic decline which is related with a cold eye and clear prose; and in that process causing Virginia's stagnation, pursuant to Dunn, Jefferson and Madison were not free of blame: she concludes that "the seeds of Virginia's decline had been adroitly planted in fertile soil by the great patriarchs themselves".

The slavery's role in the decline of the South is an old story. However, the author manages to narrate insightfully how Virginia (once the wealthiest and most populous state that produced so many colonial leaders and early presidents) slipped steadily downhill in the first decades of the 19th century. All that (and much more that I do not mention in this summary) is developed in 224 pages (notes excluded).

So I could not put it down, and read it in less than a week's time (content: 4 to 5 starts; pleasure: 4 to 5). I highly recommend it.

Other books on the USA I would also recommend are the following:

A) Dealing with constitutional and political ideas:

1) "America's Constitution: A Biography" by Akhil Reed Amar;

2) Constitutional History of the American Revolution [ABRIDGED]" by John Philip Reid; and

3) "Lincoln's Constitution" by Daniel A. Farber.

B) Other books chosen with an approach historically impressionistic:

4) "The Death Penalty", by Stuart Banner;

5) "The Churching Of America, 1776-2005: Winners And Losers In Our Religious Economy" by Roger Finke and Rodney Stark;

6) "American Colonies. The settling of North America", by Alan Taylor;and

7) "Battle cry of freedom. The Civil War Era" by James M. McPherson.

There is always more to learn about the history of Virginia--and Susan Dunn impressively examines a period that we seem to have forgotten--the later years of Jefferson and Madison and the rise of industrial America (outside of Virginia). There are lessons to be learned here, and relevance for our time as well. This is an eye-opening book, that will help you think about how regions advance or stagnate--and how difficult it is to "catch up" after a period of decline. It is an excellent read.

Very nice job by Dunn describing Va.'s retreat within itself to ward off attacks on slavery and elite power monopoly. Fans of Jefferson and Madison need to read this to get a good does of the truth! Only complaint--for some reason Dunn does not go very far relating Nat Turner's rebellion to the heightened sense of alarm slave owners felt.

This is an excellent and thought-provoking book that points to the direct connection between the issues of States Rights and Slavery in the years before the Civil War. It successfully attempts to explode romantic notions about the culture and politics of Virginia during the early 1800's.

The book is also illuminating to anyone interested in Jefferson. For me, living in Jefferson's hometown, there's a bit of local history in it, too.

Ms. Dunn may infuriate some Virginians, because she paints a not so flattering portrait of Virginia's leadership, at a time when the heroes of the Revolution were passing the torch to the next generation. But to me the cultural and political points of view that were dominant at that time, and which are explored in this book, still have a visible effect here.

I found it to be a great book to read after finishing His Excellency: George Washington, by Joseph Ellis. That book raises some similar issues in regard to the cultural and economic evolution of Virginia, which hampered the state's economic development -- specifically as that evolution depended upon the commitment to a slave-based economy.

This solid volume sets out to answer a question that has puzzled many of us who have lived in Virginia: what caused the Commonwealth to decline in influence from the commanding position it held during the colonial and early national periods? Susan Dunn offers a variety of explanations for this phenomenon as she focuses primarily upon the period prior to the Civil War. Among the most important factors, in her judgment, was the "cult of the soil" mentality--that is, the Virginia prior to the Civil War was the epitome of culture, gracious living, political independence, and harmony (even including relations with slaves). The Tidewater control of Virginia, which began in colonial days, and included both economic and political dimensions, was highly resistant to giving way to more modern influences, such as broader sufferage, development of manufacturing, and expanded public education.

Individual chapters are used to spell out in detail Dunn's arguments on topics such as the impact of slavery; resistance to developing top-quality public education; the failure to develop road, canal and railroad networks; a reluctance to venture too far away from an agriculturally-based economy; a fixation on states' rights ideology; limiting the sufferage to a fraction of the white male population; and reliance upon tariffs for economic protection. Running through the entire pre-Civil War period of course is the institution of slavery and the continuing dread that the northern-industrial-free labor federal government might well decide to terminate slavery once and for all. Hence, abolitionists become primary enemies, and fighting them drained off important resources that could have been utilized to modernize Virginia. Jefferson, Madison and other Virginia national pollitical figures come in for some effective criticism by Dunn. Her analysis has an epilogue which focuses on the period from the New Deal to the present in Virginia, where such topics as the "massive resistance" movement and the leadership in opposition to Civil Rights Acts is dominated by Virginia Senators.

Well, what is one to say about this indictment, if that is what it is? Has Dunn overstated or oversimplified the issues? She certainly has done an impressive amount of research--the book contains 63 pages of very pertinent notes and references which serve as support blocks for her argument. Has she ignored other pertinent considerations? These are extremely difficult questions, and I think each reader has to judge the strength of her contentions based upon their own background, historical knowledge, and temperament. I certainly found it a worthy book to read, and it stimulated some new synapses for me. But then again, I am only a former Virginian.

Besides teaching math in a middle school, I also sponsor a math club. It can be tough finding useful, stimulating activities that are enticing to students, especially when the alternative is free time to socialize. I borrowed this book from a co-worker and found that it was a real hit---full of great ideas that are fun and easy to use. I liked it so much that I bought the book for myself, and a copy for still another teacher, too! At the end of the school year when parents start asking me what they can do with their child over the summer to strengthen math skills, you can bet that I'll be recommending this book.

I use this book to get the kids in my classroom hooked on liking math. Most of the time they end up asking "Is this math?" because they've always believed it was too hard or boring, but this book makes learning math fun because of its interactive activities. I would say it's a must have for teachers too.

I hate math. Memories of trying to understand long division in fourth grade can still make me squirm. Algebra was a lost year of my life - I had no idea what the teacher was talking about. Wouldn't you just guess I'd end up with a son who could add two digit numbers in his head before he started kindergarten? (I'm over 40 and I still can't do it very well) He even thought it was fun to do so.

You can probably guess that the normal elementary school math curriculum did not thrill him. Fortunately, early on, his kindergarten teacher lent me her copy of this book, and suggested that it might help him get started on understanding some higher math concepts, while still being age appropriate. The words "higher math" were not exactly music to the ears of a math phobe like me. But within a couple of weeks, after trying out a few games, I was hooked, and bought my own copy.

During the time he was in elementary school, I think we did at least 3/4 of the activities in the book, not because I thought he should, but because he wanted to. And, to my enormous surprise, so did I. The games and activities in this book are so intriguing that even I began to develop a sense of what it must feel like to really love math. (And, amazingly enough, I even got a little better at basic arithmetic.) Several of the games were so much fun, they became obsessions. We played them day after day.

My younger child, who recently finished kindergarten, doesn't remotely share her brother's love of numbers, but this year I dug out my old copy of the book to see if it might get her more interested. Sure enough, it worked. The games of logic and the games designed to develop rapid mental arithmetic skills that so fascinated her brother don't really interest her. In fact, most of the book is still way beyond her skill level. But I've found quite a few games that are appropriate for a child still struggling to add and subtract single digit numbers. (She says they're more fun than the math games they play at school). And there are several activities (Tangrams, and Color Designs, for instance) that take advantage of her love of art to help her understand math better. At the end of kindergarten, my daughter told me that her favorite school subject was math. I have no doubt that her exposure to Family Math games had a lot to do with that. And I have no doubt that we'll be using this book more and more over the next few years.

Fantastic! Family Math puts math and problem solving skills on the kitchen table. A far cry from homework, these games and activities involve common household materials like toothpicks and dried beans. They are easy to learn, quick to play, and cover a range of mathematical abilities and topics. Definitely enjoyable for both adults and children.
The book is organized into different math topics (like Logical Reasoning, Numbers and Operations, Probability and Statistics) and each activity clearly states the age level that it is for and its purpose.
FAMILY MATH ends with instructions for setting up a Family Math class to teach parents and teachers how to use the material.

This was recommended by our son's 1st grade teacher, we borrowed hers and then bought our own. It's a great family book that incorporates math into fun games. We have a 1st and 4th grader and it works great for both of them. The reviews and suggestions are appropriate and easy to use. The activities are age/level appropriate also, it's a great way to spend some time away from the t.v. and computer.

....there is something wrong with you. But, it WILL inspire you. {I shall say at the outset that I will leave out a lot of the names I can't pronounce}. This is the story of a family of three Lithuanian Jews, and, secondarily, of ten others, saved from the Holocaust by the courage and sacrifice of one Catholic family. They survived, and made it to America....

The tale is told from the viewpoint of Etta Ipp, who became Edna Ipson here in Richmond, VA. "Izzy's Fire" was a pet name her husband's family had for her. Some of the scenes, and stories, will make you sick. {DON'T let little kids read it}. Some will make you cry. There is great evil in the world; if you doubt that, read this book. There is also great good...never doubt that, either, for you shall meet it here.

The Ipsons lost almost all of their family to the Nazis, but they survived, and even prospered. Izzy died in 1997. Edna was still alive at the publication of the book in 2005. Jay, their young son, is now in his mid 70s, and helps run the Virginia Holocaust Museum, in Richmond. He is living history. I shall do something I never do, and recommend you not buy this from your favorite bookstore...if you purchase it from the Holocaust Museum, Jay will sign and personalize your copy; that virtually makes it a sacred relic. I assure you I treasure mine.

Izzy's Fire: Finding Humanity In The Holocaust is the triumphant true story of a holocaust survivor and members of her family escaped the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania, survived trials and successfully hid until the war's end in a hiding places granted them by a Catholic farmer. She, her husband, and other refugees dug a hole between two potato cellars, and with the unselfish aid of that selfless, risk taking Catholic family, miraculously survived the Holocaust. Afterward she and her husband emigrated to America and encountered a joyful reunion decades later. Izzy's Fire gives voice to those who survived the Holocaust in hiding, and is a welcome addition to Holocaust studies shelves.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends IZZY'S FIRE as a compelling account of how a Lithuanian Jewish couple & their son survived the Nazi occupation, & hide for 3 years in a Catholic farmer's root cellar. & then surviving the Communist "liberation" of their homeland.

Beasley draws from personal interviews, research & numerous memoirs, including those from Israel "Izzy" Ipson, who helped his family escape from Kovno Ghetto, one of the most notorious killing fields for Jews in Lithuania. The Ipps, as they were known then, relocated to Richmond following their liberation and later changed their name to Ipson. Their story has been re-created at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Virginia.

IZZY'S FIRE is Eta's answer to those who say the Holocaust never happened, & is a tribute to personal bravery & the unquenchable resources of compassion, quick-wittedness & sheer determination to live, with a lot of luck thrown in.

Complete with maps & photos, IZZY'S FIRE is a story for all time.

There are many people today that feel "entitled" due to race, relegion or the condition of the home in which they were born. This is a story about a family who's life was turned upside down by war; who lived in barns, potato holes and lived in fear of being murdered as was the fate of many of their family members. Through perserverance and a strong faith in God, they were able to get to America and lived the "american story" of pulling themselves up from poverty to owning a successful business. All young people need to read this story.

Izzy's Fire is by far one of the best books I've ever read. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering of this family in the ghetto in Lithuania. The book was extremely well written and was very hard to put down once I started it. Kudos to Ms. Beasley on a job well done! I can't wait until her next book. This is a must read.

Jamestown, founded in 1607, was the first permanent settlement established by the English in what was later to become the United States. But more attention has been given by most Americans to the 1620 founding of the Plymouth colony, partially because it is more easy to romantically mythologize the story of the Pilgrims who came seeking "religious freedom" than the largely commercial interests of the Jamestown colonists.

However, the Jamestown story has its own set of myths, the most obvious being the supposed saving of John Smith's life by Pocahontas. Horn does an effective job of demonstrating this to be a likely falsehood. Instead Smith is shown to be an arrogant leader who was despised by most of the colonists and ended up returning to England a failure. He was replaced by Sir Thomas Dale, who turned out to be a somewhat more effective leader. But it really wasn't until the discovery of tobacco as a viable cash crop that Jamestown became anything approaching a commercial success. Prior to this the colonists lived on the verge of starvation, dependent on the Indians for corn in order to survive.

But Horn also shows the high level of tension and violence that existed between the English and the Indians from the beginning. The Powahatan chief, Wahunsonacock, viewed the English with great suspicion that later grew into contempt and a desire to prevent any further incursions of English into Powahatan territory. This resulted in the Indian uprising of 1622, where hundreds of English were killed in a single day. But the English settlers continued to arrive in ever greater numbers and the colony was made permanent.

But this permanence was hardly inevitable. Spain was keeping a close eye on Jamestown as well. They sent several ships up from Florida to investigate. These were all turned back. But still the Spanish could have likely destroyed the Jamestown colony if they had made it a more significant priority. But they chose not to. The two primary reasons being that they had recently concluded a peace treaty in the Netherlands and didn't want to risk further hostilites as well as the fact that they thought it probable that Jamestown would fail on its own without any Spanish interference, an entirely reasonable scenario at the time.

Overall, Horn manages to tell the true story of Jamestown, sharing his vast knowledge in a way that brings this period of history to life and captivates the reader. I also enjoyed reading the numerous quotes he included from John Smith and other primary sources. Perhaps some more attention could have been paid to the arrival of slaves from Africa as well as the distinct class differences between the colony leaders and the workers, many of whom arrived as indentured servants. But still this is an excellent book and comes highly recommended.

As other reviewers have stated, most Americans know precious little about this early English colonial attempt in America; even fewer remember Roanoke, but many recall the Puritan landing at Plymouth Rock.

James Horn has attempted to correct this imbalance by writing this clear, lucid, and colorful history of the settlers at Jamestown - the only thing missing from his title is that this story is almost one of the colonial efforts of the Virginia Company more than just the story of Jamestown. However, the book does focus on the exploits, trials, and tribulations of the early settlers in Jamestown and surrounding plantations.

The book largely focuses on the early years of the settlement, including the exploits of Captain John Smith and the interactions with the native Americans, but runs all the way through the bankruptcy of the Virginia company and the transition from a private enterprise to a royal colony. Horn speculates as to the value of the Jamestown settlement at the conclusion of the book - although his speculation is well reasoned, it would take multiple additional volumes to bring to fruition his thoughts.

Like many people, prior to reading this book my knowledge of Jamestown and early American colonization were quite limited and could have fit in a thimble. Author James Horn has done what will soon be considered a classic and a masterpiece on this subject.
From the initial foothold onto American soil in 1607 by John Smith, Captain Christopher Newport, Bartholomew Gosnold, John Ratcliffe and a total of 144 adventurers, we develop an understanding as to the trials and tribulations of colonizing and conquest in a foreign land spanning two decades of time. Hunger, disease, Indian hostilities and moral fiber are at its tautest for establishing settlements in such a vast unexplored region.
Horn's respectable character analyses of Powhatan Chief Wahunsonacock and his brother Opechancanough, along with the great many other personalities involved on both sides, gives this rendition a profound and discerning look into how America began.
An authoritative and lively read.

I found this book to be most informative and interesting. Horn paints a picture of a dysfunctional settlement that barely endured long enough to become a colony. The conventional wisdom is that the Jamestown settlers were adventurers and younger sons of nobility who sought easy riches and refused to do the work necessary to sustain a settlement such as building and planting. In contrast, the Puritans in New England were hard working, pious, and a much better model for American colonization. I don't know whether the Puritan myth is true, but Horn seems to agree that Jamestown's myth is fairly accurate.

He seems to be ambivalent about John Smith: while he doesn't seem to like Smith much, he describes him as one of the few seeking to get the settlement self-sustaining rather than putting up with idleness and depending on the Indians for food. In this portrayal Smith is very arrogant and makes some serious mistakes, but no more than others, and he does try to establish productive relations with the Indians, which subsequent leaders failed to do.

I particularly liked the author's liberal use of quotations from source material. They made the narrative more lively and more personal. I hope Dr. Horn keeps writing.

"A Land as God Made It" tells in magnificent fashion the story of the formation of the Jamestown colony in what became Virginia, the first permanent British outpost in North America. Established in 1607 and therefore approaching its 400th anniversary, the colonists of Jamestown contended with an entirely new environment, with Native Americans, starvation, interpersonal difficulties, and a host of other challenges to succeed in creating this colony. The work narrates in an exciting and accessible fashion the dramatic actions of Captain John Smith and his troupe in Virginia. The most critical element of their early survival rested on Smith's relationships with the Powhatans, the native peoples of the region who helped the colonists through several difficult experiences. Author James Horns also tells here the story of Smith and Pocahontas, a story both more complex and intriguing than that offered in the Disney version of American history.

In search of wealth, glory, and the conversion of the natives to Christianity, the Virginia colony survived by a thread for its first decade. It survived a succession of crises until John Rolfe proved that tobacco could earn a profit, and thereby placed the colony on a path toward self-sustainment. The very success of the colony demonstrated that the British were a serious threat to the Powhatan way of life and in 1622 they rebelled in a bloody war that lasted several years before the native peoples were defeated. Although the Virginia colony survived this war, but just barely, it decimated the joint stock company that oversaw it, and in 1625 Virginia became a royal colony under the suzerainty of the King of England.

This is a very skillfully written account of the first twenty years of the Virginia colony, demonstrating very clearly how the British established a foothold in North America. It is a worthwhile and at times exciting reading experience. Enjoy!

A must-read for "feline-ophiles" and anyone who has ever wondered what really goes on inside the mind of a cat. Not to mention that it's a love story, too. The authors have perfect captured the essence of "felineness" as epitomized by those two artistes of the keyboard, Cleo and Tyrone. Their unique outlook on life is hilarious and insightful both to cats and humans too.

A charming and insightful book, filled with a hilarious feline view of the world. Everyone (not just cat-lovers) will appreciate the wit and wisdom of Cleo and Tyrone. After reading their adventures, pet owner may find themselves putting a "password-protect" on their computer before leaving the house!

I ended up reading it myself and wondering why, in all of literature, I had never before seen a chapter headed "Moving, Metamucil and Mengele." Seems like such a natural. Anywahy, I got this for a cat-loving friend, then my kids saw it, and because we have a cat that climbs on my keyboard, they assumed it was about our cat and proceeded to pick it up, smearing it with peanut butter and rendering it useless as a gift. So I started to read some of it to them as a rest between Harry Potter installments. They liked it and so did I. Though I got a lot more of the jokes than they did. works on two levels the way the old bullwinkle shows do and the way we like to think the new grinch movie does. anyway, cleo makes me laugh. it';s just a great comedy name. cleo. has "k" sound in it, you know.

This is the present you should buy for yourself and every other cat lover you know. It's funny, it's touching, and it gets inside the minds of two extraordinary felines. If you were ever wondering what your cat was thinking when you weren't around (or even when you are!), this book explains it all to you. A really must-own book, and I hope all the cat world becomes aware of it. Even ailurophobes (hope I spelled that right!) will have their fears confirmed: Cats really ARE smarter than most of us and this book proves it! I am looking forward to seeing Cleo's screenplay made into a major motion picture!

Let's get this over with I do not like cats. Dogs are much more loyal, always happy to see you and some dogs actually work. You never hear of a cat rescuing anyone from frozen terrain.

With that out of the way, lets talk about the most refreshing, humorous book to hit the bookshelves. If you ever wanted to know a "Feline's perspective on love, life and litter", this book is for you. It's one of those rare books that you can share with your children.

Cleo and Tyrone spend the days dreaming, emailing each other, plotting ways to drive their Mommies and the dog, Loopy Ole Chester, nuts. They views of the world will have you laughing out loud.

Now if only Linda Hamner and L.Virginia Browne would write another Cleo and Tyrone novel... solving mystery?

I read this book almost 20 years ago in the first grade and was immediately hooked on natural history, dinosaurs, life sciences, and the like, not to mention storytelling itself. The illustrations are entrancing and the format--the history of life as a play in several acts on a world stage--is enthralling. It's highly informative, too, for a young reader (or even an old one), and it was one of the most memorable and entertaining "educational" books I read as a child.

Now out of college, I have recently repurchased it for nostalgia and read it again. It remains a wonderful work. Being from 1961, it is slightly dated in spots. For example, it says that there is no record of life 2 billion years ago, whereas today we have found lifeforms dating back twice that far. Also, the dinosaurs' extinction is attributed to a cooling climate, because at the time the meteor theory was not widely accepted.

But this of course is nitpicking. The ultimate point of the book is that it's an introduction to the history of our planet and everything on it, including us. The central message--that our own life stories fit into the grand tapestry of life's history--remains. This is a remarkable book, and paticularly if you have a young child, I highly recommend picking up a copy.

I am so glad to see that this book is still in print. It is my favorite book from childhood and I still have my battered copy which I hope to share with my own children some day. The book is beautifully illustrated and written. The author conveys the beauty and the grandness of Earth's origins in a paen to natural history. The illustrations are what always captured me though. They are like nesting russian dolls, each layer presents its own story and suggests new meanings. It is a great introduction to the joys of exploring our world and our history.

Why don't the bookstores carry this one? In the tradition of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and Katy and the Big Snow, Life Story presents its main tale in VLB's characteristic artwork wrapped with interesting mini drawings. My children and I enjoyed this title, and I am considering buying several more copies to keep on hand as gifts. (This review was titled and written with the assistance of Sal, age 8.)

As a child this was my favorite book as well. I had it checked out of the school library so often I may as well have owned it. I was thrilled to recently find it still in print, and I ordered a copy for my kids -- and one for myself!

The artwork is incredible. There's something about the style of it that almost... psychedelic. There's a swirling flow to it, with orderly ribbons of plants and animals winding into the distance. Yet while highly stylized, the artwork at the same time offers a wonderful sense of realism. The swamps of the Carboniferous seem so dark and mysterious; the verdant forests at the opening of the Cenezoic Era are infused with the essence of life born anew. And the intricate borders around the "program" at the beginning remind one of the lovingly detailed borders one might find along the high ceiling of some Victorian-era museum.

Even after 40 years, the science behind the book holds up amazingly well. If you want to inspire a love of natural history in your children, get them this book!

If you want to introduce your children to a prevailing modern paradigm/belief system regarding the origins of life, this isn't a bad book to do it with. It is understandably written with Ms. Burton's charming illustrations. As you will see from my title, I regard it as a fairy tale which I want my children to be familiar with. I shelved it next to D'Aulaires Greek Myths.

This is a very handy book to have around very well organized and easy to use not to mention jammed full of wonderful drink ideas.

Fabulous little book!!! I bought it as a gift for a friend and almost kept it for myself. It's an essential book for mixing up great cocktails at home. I plan on buying more as hostess gifts.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my son. He's delighted with it and spent an hour perusing it's pages and finding drinks he'd never heard of before. Since his career involves a lot of entertaining, it's something he looks forward to using for many years to come. I highly recommend the book for anyone who wants to dazzle visitors with their expertise in cocktail making.

We recently had a cocktail party, and put this book on the bar so people could check it out and try something new. It was a hit with all, which included 20-somethings to 50-somethings.

I got this gift for a best friend's 21st birthday (in addition to the Little Black Book for Smoothies). Such a great book! It is hardcover spiral and has an elastic band so you can store it wherever without bending the pages. Cute cover: black book (of course) with circular green label that says the title (whereas the Smoothie book has a pink label). Very chic, cute design, something anyone would absolutely love! Had to buy another set for me!