Ohio Books

It is not often that one finds the combination of beautiful writing and a compelling story. Nature Lessons is that and more. Set against the exotic yet turbulent atmosphere of South Africa during apartheid, we meet the young Kate Jensen, who recounts her life with a mentally ill mother. Woven in with the story of young Kate, is the journey of the older Kate who returns to South Africa to search for her mother. Their stories create a tapestry rich in the lasting effects of cultural, political, and psychological dynamics on a young girl. It grips the reader from the first page and takes one on a haunting journey.

Intriguing storyline and amazing use of description. Lynette is a first-class story teller and author. This is a book you won't want to put down.

This is a great book. For those of you who loved Oprah's book club, this is much like her selections but not as grim. The story keeps you guessing, the characters are well drawn interesting people. The story is set mainly in South Africa and illustrates the effects of Aparteid on a society from a child's perspective.

Brasfield creates a fascinating mystery out of her protagonist's desire to understand a painful upbringing. She weaves together information about Kate Jensen's mother's mental illness, her country's political climate, and the oddly over-zealous attentions of her uncle, Oom Piet. Brasfield's management of a mentally ill character is particularly impressive; Kate's mother is neither simple nor predictable. If you enjoy reading about politics, South Africa, relationships between men and women, family interactions - or even if you just like a good mystery - read Nature Lessons.

This beautifully written novel highlights the dilemma of a dysfuncional mother/child relationship and the havoc it creates in the development of the child. The perspective of the daughter grown and the daughter as an adult that Brasfield takes, elevates the story to far more than a good read. It is food for thought so intense that there isn't a page that the reader will not nod and say, "Yes. I've been there. I know just how she feels."
Brasfield poses the eternal question of how to judge a child's assessment of its mother and who can define what is abuse and what is rational behavior. She also points up the dilemma of judging mental desease in the context of the times. For example, the mother in Nature Lessons is living in South Africa where many of her paranoid delusions have basis in fact. Who is to say that she is not right? Who can really know if the government is not indeed spying on her and her family. This is a book you cannot put down and when you reach the last page, you will want to reopen it and start reading this poetic prose once more. The issues presented are those that no one can forget. We all are living them and battling their effects throughout our lives.

Perhaps I'm out of touch (and it would be perfectly OK with me if that were so), but when my 13-year-old brought this home, checked out from the "Young Adult" section at the library, I'm glad I intercepted it. My daughter has high reading standards, both morally and critically, and was careful to flip through the book before checking it out, to see if she would like it. She only looked through the first half of the book, which, apart from several usages of "f**k," contained nothing too alarming. But then things "heat up."

Nuanced plot of birthmark drama and overbearing father aside, the parallel story depicts with increasing detail how an underage girl learns to have illicit sex. She begins with mutual masturbation at a teenage orgy, continues with her first intercourse with another teen boy, on to her initiating intercourse both with that boy and yet another boy, providing her (presumably pre-teen and teen) readers with details of how "full" she feels during intercourse, before ending with her description of tasting her own vaginal secretions of her boyfriend's lips after he performs cunnilingus.

I'll be surprised if Amazon allows even my review of the book to be posted. If I quoted from the book itself, my review would never be posted. And I cannot help but find it ironic that I must be over 13 to review this book, whereas any child under 13 can pick it up and read it without adult oversight.

Now, I consider myself a fairly broadminded father, and no prude. None of the sexual activities described shock me. But the question must be addressed: In what way is this a good book for teens, especially middle-schoolers? Are there limits on written depictions of the sexual practices of minors, beyond which the writing becomes "child pornography"?

I've asked these same questions of our local library. They're now looking into their processes, seeing how the library determines just what constitutes "adult fiction," versus "young adult fiction."

I was sucked into Nina Goldman's life the minute I started to read this little gem of a book from Renée Rosen. Nina was born with a strawberry birthmark that covers one of her eyes, and early on she learned that it brings both good and bad attention to her. I agonized along with Nina as she struggled to fit in socially through middle school and high school, sure that her eye was the only thing keeping her from being popular. Nina's story brought back memories from the mixed up social scene of my own school years, where everyone was trying to find who they were, and most of us were insecure about something.

Dominating Nina's life outside of school is her father, Artie, whose larger-than-life character pulls in everyone around him as they try to live up to the high expectations he creates for himself and his family. There's not much room for other memorable players in this story, but Rosen weaves other characters into the narrative seemlessly, and she makes it easy to get the dynamics between Nina and her friends, and Nina and the rest of her family.

Nina's mother is a minor character, but readers will find lots to talk about in the family dynamics at play, the times described in the book (1960s and 70s), and Nina's search to find what's really important to her.

It's hard to believe this was penned by a first-time author, but Rosen brings very complicated issues together seamlessly in a book that's hard to put down once you start it. Something to note: the frank handling of drug use and teenage experimentation with sex probably makes Every Crooked Pot most appropriate for high school readers and their moms.

In the interest of disclosure, I should say that Renee is a friend of mine. But the only thing better than having novelist friends is having novelist friends who write so beautifully that you can recommend their work with a clear conscience.

It's a coming-of-age tale, and like most of its genre, listing the specific circumstances takes away from the larger story. So let me just say that this is a lovely book, full-to-overflowing with heart, and peopled with characters as real as any I've read. If you like intimate, personal fiction that will leave you saddened and uplifted at once, then ignore the iffy cover and just buy this baby.

Though it only took me two days to read Rosen's debut novel, Every
Crooked Pot, I know that the story will stay with me for years to
come. Nina's struggles and triumphs speak volumes on what it means to
accept and love ourselves and others. This deceptively simple novel
packs a powerful punch--I look forward to Rosen's future novels and
will happily recommend her first to others.

I am stunned. I'd read the first chapter on Ms. Rosen's website, and was intrigued by the main character and her unusual father. Reading the rest of the book swept me into a new world that felt so familiar, I could have sworn I knew these people. I was spellbound by the intricate relationship between the main character and her father, who controls the entire family's feelings and sometimes their actions through his own subtle (and sometimes blatant) ways. I loved the honest way the author explored the effects a facial birthmark has on a teenager. I adored the fluid, natural writing style.

Every Crooked Pot is one of the best books of the year.

This book is a keeper and I'll probably read it several times. I have already ordered another for my daughter and am thinking of sending this book to others as well.

When I first saw this book I felt a little bit like a kid again--and that's exactly where this book took me--Every Sunday I would go into our sun filled living room and sit down and read a chapter in Julie's book--Every one of her outdoor "Nature" experiences took me back to the unencumbered days of my childhood --seeing nature through her eyes made me feel at peace while learning more and more about the things in nature that I would have liked to understand years ago--I just wish she would write another one just like this one--Have you ever read a book you wish would never end?? This was one of them--Thank you-

This is a wonderful little book. Julie Zickefoose is a writer, illustrator, and contributor to NPR. In this book, organized by the seasons of the year, she shares her experiences living on her 80-acre farm in southern Ohio. She brings a sense of wonder to seemingly mundane things such as squabbling starlings and the wreck of her vegetable garden.There are sad points, such as euthanising a little opossum caught in a steel trap, but most of the book is devoted to happier topics. I really enjoyed reading it.

Experience the seasons with Julie and her family on their wildlife sanctuary in the Appalachian foothills in southern Ohio. A gem of a book, if you love birds and other animals... very real and full of the wonder of everyday happenings - if you keep your eyes open.

I loved Ms. Zickefoose's little book. It's a publication one reads in small doses, enjoying her comments and her art. The style is like having a really good conversation with an interesting, accomplished naturalist. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys nature.

I love both of the American Patriot books and am anxiously awaiting the third. They turn the history of our country into a story of amazing heros and heroines. I am a home school mom and am considering adding both Daughter of Liberty and Native Son to our American History curriculum. The books entertain while they enlighten. The best way to learn. These are now my favorite historical fiction.

I enjoyed this book very much!! The first story was amazing and the second book picked up right where the first one left off. Elizabeth is sent by Washington to continue spying among the British. Jon on the other hand is sent into indian territory to try to convince the indians that Wasington needed them. Jon was captured and became a slave. Elizabeth has no idea if he is dead or alive. The only problem I had with this book was the fact that I now have to wait so long to find out what happens. A must read and a tender story.

Native Son is the second book in author J.M. Hochstetler's The American Patriot Series, and is every bit as magnificently composed as the first. Picking up where Daughter of Liberty left off, Native Son reprises the suspenseful setting and believable characters of book one and indelibly seals the heart of the reader to the author's work.

With Patriot's identity exposed and a huge price on his head, he is no longer of any use to the Revolutionaries as a spy--but his previous experience living with a tribe of Native Americans qualifies him for an even more dangerous assignment. Oriole, however, has not yet been exposed and therefore must remain behind to continue gathering intelligence for General Washington and his troops. The intertwining of these two stories keeps readers riveted to their seats from the first page to the last--and anxiously awaiting book three.

J. M. Hochstetler's second book in the American Patriot Series, Native Son, draws readers into the compelling first chapter. Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton meets with George Washington to discuss the patriot troops' readiness for war against trained British soldiers.

Meanwhile, doctor's assistant Elizabeth Howard ties down a wounded man and helps the doctor amputate the man's gangrenous leg to save his life. As a patriot spy working in a Tory hospital, Elizabeth faces constant danger of discovery.

Although Jonathan and Elizabeth determine to marry at the earliest opportunity, circumstances and General Washington's orders conspire to separate them. Carleton heads into Indian Territory, while Elizabeth stays behind. They believe God has inspired their commitment to the Patriot cause, but as the separation stretches to months, each struggles with how it will affect their relationship.

When Carleton's negotiations with several Indian tribes turn sour, the Mohawks take him prisoner. Elizabeth wonders at Carleton's fate as time passes with no word from him. As she continues her work, one of the men helping her discovers her true role and threatens to expose her as a spy. Faced with danger at every turn, both Elizabeth and Carleton draw strength from the God they trust. But will it be enough as the pressures they face slowly change each of them and each continues to wonder about the fate of the other?

Native Son holds as much historical detail as the first book in the series, Daughter of Liberty. However, Hochstetler's clear writing and obvious research make both books intriguing reads. The detail in the medical scenes is exquisite and gave me an eye-opening understanding of Revolutionary War-era amputation and medical care. Fascinating details also enhance the scenes in which the Mohawks hold Carleton prisoner and in later scenes when he lives with the Delaware Indians.

Although Carleton and Elizabeth spend most of the book separated by many miles and different cultures, the strength of both characters easily carries the book. For fans of historicals, this series is a must. Watch for Hochstetler's third book in the American Patriot series.

Native Son, the second book of The American Patriot Series by J.M. Hochstetler, continues the saga of Brigadier General Jonathan Carleton and the woman who has stolen his heart, Elizabeth Howard. Each has pledged allegiance to General George Washington. Elizabeth's spy mission sends her gathering information among the Loyalists, while Jonathan's orders send him deep into Indian territory. When Elizabeth learns Jonathan has been captured by the Indians, she tries desperately to gain information about the man she loves. Unable to learn of Jonathan's fate, she is forced to continue life with the uncertainty of whether or not he yet lives. Jonathan's life changes drastically when he becomes a slave to the tribe that captured him. He must make decisions that put him in battle against the people to whom he has pledged his allegiance.

Hochstetler examines a little-known aspect of the Revolution by following the hero Jon to the West. People think of the Revolution being fought in Boston and along the East Coast, but there was trouble in the West, too, with the English, the Indians, and the settlers. Hochstetler lets us see that part of the war through Jon's eyes. Again the reader finds the war-tossed couple, Brigadier General Jonathon Carleton and spy Elizabeth Howard, separated by choice for the good of the new country and your heart breaks at the sacrifices these two make for the ultimate good of many. After Jonathon is sent to Indian territory, Elizabeth ends up in Boston. With wars of all levels--spiritual, emotional, and physical-- pressing on them, we feel the anguish they must endure. Rumors circulate and both characters must pretend they care nothing for the other. The story is set in 1775, and the reader is immediately folded into the setting, riding along enjoying every bump and bruise. Even when Carleton is captured, the reader hopes all will be well, although chances are pretty much against that.

Elizabeth and Jonathan, the star crossed lovers in the previous book Daughter of Liberty, have the perfect conflict: the American patriot and the British officer. Now they are being kept apart as Elizabeth is pressed back into service as a spy for General Washington. Elizabeth is the perfect society lady, listening in on secrets in Boston, occupied by the British. Her hair-raising exploits sneaking secrets past the ruthless British blockade are the best part of the book. Jonathan, who has a price on his head, can trust no one. He goes West where he was reared and meets the Indians- not all of them friendly- he knew as a child. So wedding plans are put aside while each sets out to carry out the mission Washington has assigned them. As the months pass in silence, Beth wonders if he is even alive. Should she begin to consider a life without him? And as Jonathan is taken farther and farther away from Beth, he fears he will never see her again. How can he go back to her while the war still rages? The British want him dead, and his new life with the Indians has even made him an enemy of his own countrymen. Is their Christian faith and trust in God strong enough to see them through?

Native Son is an intensely moving story, impeccably researched and excellently written. It is an intricate look into some aspects of the birth of our nation, and the struggles and temptations faced by two unforgettable characters. J. M. Hochstetler expertly weaves a tale of historical fiction with a romance that must survive the trials and dangers of the times. Outstanding! -- Erika Osborn, Christian Book Previews.com

Rosenberg's new volume has been joyously received and devoured by this reader. Even though the length (some 700 pages) is formidable, I was not able to leave it for long since receiving it this week. I find R's account thoroughly accurate, engaging, and stimulating. The book's account of Szell's life and Cleveland tenure finally fills the void for any such account (save a scattered few articles and Robert Marsh's volume on the Cleveland Orchestra published in 1967). For this alone, Rosenberg deserves high praise, but goes so much farther in presenting and illuminating all the significant on-stage and behind-the-scenes personalities in the life of this estimable musical institution. This is essential reading for anyone who, as I, grew up in the golden era of the Cleveland Orchestra. Bravo and thank you Don Rosenberg! ...

Certainly anyone who loves the Cleveland Orchestra or George Szell's work will want to have this, although most of the famous Szell-as-heartless-martinet stories have been widely told elsewhere. I enjoyed the section on the orchestra's early years, which were much more unfamiliar; it really is amazing how an orchestra like this has survived and even thrived in a "mid-market" city like Cleveland. Great photos, too, including Artur Rodzinski with his goats. However, I felt the book ultimately depended too much on lists of tour cities, lists of works played at concerts, and endless excerpts from contemporary newspaper reviews. I would have liked less time in the archives and more time interviewing musicians (in Cleveland and elsewhere) on what Szell (and Maazel, and Dohnanyi) really did in terms of working with the orchestra, the details of what they asked for and how the "sound" evolved over time. I guess that's hard to accomplish in the same book where you need to mention every time the orchestra went to New York, but it would have made for a more interesting read. Still, anyone who enjoys orchestral biographies (as I do) will want it.

This is an enjoyable, comprehensive, and inside-out read. The Cleveland story is dramatically conveyed, the personalities come to life, from Leinsdorf's bad luck to Szell's *&^**%$ "personal" style in the pursuit of excellence. If reading something recent on classical music in the US, one is well advised to go here. More than the Bernie bios or the Solti (whom I love) memoirs. Serves well as both a continuous and a here-and-there random read. And depicts rather objectively all the intrigue, dedication, personal foibles underlying the external results through the 80+ yr history, and before. And very well documented appendices. You can believe the positive professional critics' reviews above.

I've been a fan of the Cleveland Orchestra for many years but have heard them live only once, at the Hollywood Bowl during a West Coast tour in mid-70's. It was an unforgettable experience - I had never heard an ensemble play with such clarity and precision.

Rosenberg's history nicely blends details about the musicians, managers, performances, and the music itself. Others have summarized many of the topics covered. I was particularly impressed by the sacrifices of the musicians, who did not have a full-year contract until the late 60's, despite being acknowledged as one of the 2 or 3 finest orchestras in the world. Many had to work odd jobs to keep their bills paid (still the case for most smaller market orchestras). And arrogant union leaders wouldn't allow the musicians to have a representative present during contract negotiations with management until well into the 70's.

Three separate collections of photos allow one to associate names with faces, and I find this helpful when listening to recordings. There's Myron Bloom heading up the wonderfully precise horns; and Josef Gingold playing a beautiful violin solo; and Robert Marcellus with his definitive performance of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. Most of these fabulous performances are available as digitally re-mastered CD's on Sony's budget Essential Classics series. More recent, equally outstanding performances are led by soon to retire current conductor, Christoph von Dohnanyi, who has maintained and enhanced the orchestra's reputation. There are no better values in recorded orchestral music.

Anyone who loves orchestral music should enjoy this book. I recommend it most highly.

Among serious fans and critics of classical music, the "Big Five" of Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York and Philadelphia are America's finest symphony orchestras, equal in quality to their peers in Europe. Yet only one of these is universally regarded as the equal to Europe's very best, the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic orchestras: surprisingly, the one often mentioned as among the world's top three is the Cleveland Orchestra. Having heard the Cleveland Orchestra performing live under the batons of Dohnanyi, Boulez and Welser-Most at Carnegie Hall, I must concur with this popular opinion since this orchestra may now be the world's finest, or at least, on par with the venerable Vienna Philharmonic (Under Simon Rattle's leadership, the Berlin Philharmonic seems to have slipped somewhat in quality, and I would add yet another orchestra, Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, to my list of the world's top four symphony orchestras.). I have yet to hear a disappointing Cleveland Orchestra recording or live performance; this is without question, a precision quality ensemble always capable of flawless, lovely playing.

Cleveland newspaper music critic Donald Rosenberg tells an engrossing saga of the Cleveland Orchestra's history, from its founding in 1918, through the George Szell years which ensured the orchestra's rise to prominence as a world-class symphony orchestra, and finally, the close of Christoph von Dohnanyi's successful tenure as the orchestra's music director over the span of eighteen years. This is a fascinating inside look at the inner workings of a major American symphony orchestra, pointing out how Cleveland's wealthy elite were determined to create a fine music ensemble, and noting the importance of early conductors such as Artur Rodzinski and Erich Leinsdorf in the orchestra's rise to national artistic prominence. It is a story that is in a sense, miraculous, for no one would have expected that a small Midwestern city like Cleveland would be the home of one of the world's finest orchestras, and maintain that excellence inspite of the city's waning economic fortunes over the latter half of the 20th Century. And I fervently hope that Cleveland continues to support the artistic excellence demonstrated by the Cleveland Orchestra, which recently was the first American orchestra invited as a resident guest orchestra at Vienna's Musikverein, the celebrated concert hall that is home to the Vienna Philharmonic.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that Lincoln Perry isn't a middle-aged guy who's been in the P.I. business for a long time. He demonstrates a maturity beyond his years - most of the time. It's when he doesn't do that, when he acts his chronological age, that his life gets very messy. In A WELCOME GRAVE, Perry agrees to do a favor for an old flame, the woman he was once engaged to marry. Now anyone with a grain of sense would know that this will probably not turn out well. Perry doesn't see past that all-too-human desire to put his rival in a bad light.

Alex Jefferson has been murdered, after being tortured. His wife Karen is the old flame. She asks Perry to track down Alex's son, from whom he has been estranged for quite some time. Matthew is an heir, and Alex was a very rich man. When Perry finds Matthew, not a difficult task, Matthew kills himself in front of Perry. The police, who were already interested in Perry because of the rivalry over Karen, are even more interested now.

As Perry keeps poking around, he seems to get into more and more trouble. Someone is either going out of his way to make Perry look like a truly bad guy, or his luck is incredibly bad. All of this causes some strain between Perry and Amy, a friend in the process of becoming more than that. His business partner Joe is slowly recuperating from taking a bullet in the shoulder, a bullet that saved Perry's life. So Perry's support system is a little shaky right now.

This is the third book in Koryta's Lincoln Perry series. He's good, and getting better. One can excuse some of Perry's more foolish choices; he is, after all, pretty young. He seems to grow a little more with each book. The settings are wonderful, the plotting tight. Readers of classic P.I. series, with just a bit more than a hint of noir, will relish Koryta's newest.

This book is the third in Kortya's fine series about Lincoln Perry, a Cleveland private investigator.

Once again he weaves together strong local Cleveland color as well from southern Indiana to tell a Ross MacDonald-esque story of family greed, desires, and repressed secrets.

As his writing progresses, his plots have become even more multi-layered than in his fine debut work and its follow up. The villains are darker and the violence is greater. Complicating this book is that Perry is the most likely suspect in both locales for a couple of murders, and the local law enforcement officials have no interest in his side of the story. That tension between cop and PI has been done many times before, but not recently to such good effect.

It's a wonderful thing to contemplate work this good from someone in his twenties and just how scary good he might become. Can't wait for his next work!

I've often heard Michael Koryta mention people who have influenced him or the genre. A Welcome Grave is proof that he himself is influencing this genre now, and definitely for the better!

Koryta has a gift when it comes to the English language. I have not walked away from any of his books without feeling like the characters somehow made their way inside me...inside my head, inside my soul. A Welcome Grave continues the character development of Lincoln Perry and Joe Pritchard, but it also starts to lend weight to some other characters: Amy, Thor. And the dynamics of these characters in relation to Lincoln and Joe add a lot of dimensions to the plot.

Life is never black and white in Koryta's world; I love the shades of gray that develop throughout the course of the book. They help in the suspense and definitely keep the plot from becoming predictable.

Koryta should definitely be a staple of any mystery-lover's booklist!

OK people. Let's get past the fact that the author of three outstanding novels is only twenty-three years old. Let's look at his writing and when you do that, his genius is timeless.

The thing about this novel that enthralled me is how the protagonist of the book, Lincoln Perry, kept getting drawn deeper and deeper into the murder investigations in two locations notwithstanding the fact that he was innocent of either murder or the ones that followed.

There is a murderous manipulator at work in this story and how he goes about controlling events and getting the police to chase all the wrong suspects is both frustrating to the reader and infuriating to Lincoln Perry.

Do not pass up on anything this talented young man has written. They are keepers.

I couldn't put this book down about a private eye (Lincoln Perry) who is framed for a few murders and must clear his name as the police are tightening the noose. Perry has only his partner Joe and his new girlfriend Amy behind him and everyone else against him. Add to that, the mysterious Thor is thrown into the mix and when all can't get any bleaker, Lincoln must team with Thor to maybe turn the tables on the "real" bad guys. A great thriller!

As a long time horse and mystery story lover, I'm always on the lookout for books that combine the two. I've often been disappointed in what I have found. I've read quite a few in this genre with glaring inaccuracies about horses. Or, if they get the horse stuff right, the characters are weak, the plot is convoluted, the pace is off, and the writing is painful. This author gets it right, gets it all right! She obviously knows the difference between a Quarter Horse and a Shetland Pony, the characters are engaging, the plot is interesting, and the story moves along at a decent clip. Even if you aren't a horse lover, it is a good mystery, even if you aren't a mystery lover, it's a good horse story. I'll be looking for more from this author.

A wonderful fun book. I enjoyed how the plot moved from A to B without leaps of faith. It is great to have a horse mystery where the author obviously has been around horses and the horse show scene. Can't wait for the next book.

This is a great book. I couldn't put it down once I started it. I really enjoyed it and I look forward to her next one:)

What an excellent book! It grabbed me from the very first page & ended with me wanting to read the next book! You know how authors include excerpts from a chapter of the next book in a series? Well, when I finished this book, I was dying to read an excerpt from this author's next book! The Misplaced Horse is very well-written ~ it's as good as ANY of the mystery books that are written by famous authors. It has the added bonus of being written around the horse world. It's refreshing to read such a book that's not full of mistakes about the horse "stuff". I once read a book by a VERY famous author who was talking about a big Tennessee Walker. Then the character went on to say that this big TW was 13.1hh. Nothing like that happens in The Misplaced Horse! The characters are well-developed & the storyline will grab you & hang onto you until the end. I'm going to get copies for everyone I know who likes mysteries or horse books. The Misplaced Horse is a great gift.

I loved the characters and the way the plot moved along. I especially enjoyed the wry humor combined with a mystery plot. A great read, it is a fun book. Great job and I look forward to more.
Jim Brady
Washington, DC

This really was a page turner. Easy book to read, went fast. Finished in 2 days. I would recommend it to anyone. I hope Jerry Holt writes another book.

The Killing of Strangers is a darn good mystery, chock full of references to the wild and woolly pasts of its characters, of the Kent State community, and, presumably, of many of its readers, as well. I enjoyed the mystery story, though I personally have not been that impressed with hard-drinking he-man protaganists in the past, but lead character Sam Haggard is such a wreck, I could tolerate and even empathize with him, ultimately rooting for his success. A little humility goes a long way, and Holt has no illusions he's a "literary" writer; he's just out to tell us a good tale of a time and place he knows well, with some very finely written descriptions and observations and throw-away lines to let us know he's no hack, either. I appreciated the history of the Kent State era/aura that is not widely published or known, but mostly I loved Holt's wry look at human perseverance and the power of love to reach even the jaded and weary.

This was one of the most interesting books I've read in some time. Historically based with a compelling slant. It's an easy read. After reading the book for the first time, I ordered five additional copies from Amazon to give to family and friends. Pick-up this book and read it. You'll find that you will be including this as a must gift for the special people in your world!

My Gosh! Not only does this book have you turning the pages to see what happens next, but it's full of great hardboiled detective stuff, compelling supporting characters (grumpy Vet and bookstore owner Mac and his partner Rita) AND is quotable:

"There are times -- rare ones, but times -- at which an Egg McMuffin looks like the very face of salvation."

The book is lots of fun and yes, scary. Hope to see more of Sam Haggard.

Jerry Holt's plot-driven page-turner, The Killing of Strangers (Lucky Press, 2006), is the first book I couldn't put down until I had finished it since Ann Patchett's Bel Canto. As you might expect from the first novel of a heretofore playwright, there is plenty of dialogue. But, if you are familiar with Holt's plays, Rickey, Julia, and Woody, you will not be surprised at its character development and strong sense of place (towns and cities in Ohio) and history (the Vietnam protests of the late sixties). If The Killing of Strangers suffers at all, it may be from too much dialogue, or a few sections where I felt the plot was not being advanced fast enough for my taste. However, I kept turning the pages, which makes me wonder if, perhaps, my impatience was simply that of someone devouring a suspense novel that is craftily building the reader's anticipation of the solution to the puzzle: Was the Kent State massacre part of a government conspiracy that lingers to this day? Which of the shadowy characters that fled the turmoil 25 years before is trying to kill our unwitting protagonist?

I am hopeful that this is just the first in a long line of Jerry Holt thrillers.

Virgil Hervey, Editor
Gunch Press
Yellow Springs, Ohio

Carmen Leone works magic in Rose Street. He captures the specifics of his Italian-American family's experience in Youngstown, Ohio with remarkable clarity while simultaneously tapping into themes which remain universal to the family dynamic: responsibility, authority, self-sacrifice, love. The story of his immigrant mother's daily struggles and triumphs offers us insight into the core of our humanness. Originally written as a gift for Leone's own family, Rose Street inspires us to treat ours with a little more tenderness.

A friend from Youngstown, my home town, loaned me this book and I was eager to read it and hear of the 'old town'. What I found was far more than a nostalgia trip; it is a strong testament to the great spirit of the people who settled this country and to the sanctity of life itself and the bonding strength of family ties. Its impact was strong and the reader doesn't have to be from East Youngstown (or Campbell)... or be Catholic ...to feel its power. Reading it filled me with new appreciation for my 'humble', but blessed, beginnings.

This book was so inspiring to me. I learned about it from my teacher last year who was the authors daughter. This book reminded me what it was like being italian. Some of the little things reminded me of my own italian family. This book is for anyone of any nationality. One of the best books I have ever read.

A wonderful heartfelt account of family, heritage and tradition. Also one of the finest tributes to Youngstown - the then thriving city, we too are proud to have once called our home. Relax in your home, read, close your eyes, and remember.....

Carmen Leone examined a topic close to his heart, and storytelling gifts made it a story that is now close to mine.

My own grandparents came to Ohio around 1900. "Rose Street" brought to narrative life all the stories my father, uncles and aunts have told me over the years.

I wonder if Carmen Leone realized that by telling his story, he was telling mine, too, as well as the stories of countless others. They might Italian, but they don't have to be. In fact, the soundtrack that came to my head while reading "RoseStreet" was the song "Tradition," from "Fiddler On The Roof." How can the story of an Italian immigrant couple and their American-born children have anything to do with Jewish shtetl life?

Read the book.

Ever look in the mirror and just examine your own eyes. Ever see the faces of your relatives in your own?

"Rose Street" is, too, such a mirror.

I am a big fan of Cedar Point and this book tells the history all the way back to before the amusement era. The roller coaster capitol of the world started as a small amusement park with just a water slide and this book plots it's history through the beginning, the depression, the 50's and 60's all the way up to the 90's. It's so interesting to find out the history of some of the most popular amusement parks and this one is one of the best I've ever read.

I am a big fan of Cedar Point and this book tells the history all the way back to before the amusement era. The roller coaster capitol of the world started as a small amusement park with just a water slide and this book plots it's history through the beginning, the depression, the 50's and 60's all the way up to the 90's. It's so interesting to find out the history of some of the most popular amusement parks and this one is one of the best I've ever read.

I love Cedar Point so much and I thought I knew everything about Cedar Point until I read this book, it's the best book I've ever read!!!!!!!

This is a great book! If you have any interest in Cedar Point..BUY IT NOW!! Any CP buff should not be without it! It can tide you over the long 7 months from October to May! Buy it!

If you love Cedar Point, this book will give you everything that you should know to be a first class fan of the park. Dating back to the times of the geological formation of CP, to it's present fame, "The Queen of American Watering Places" is an indepth look at the good, bad, and amazing facts of CP that most people probably never knew. There are also some things that happened at CP that may shock you, but you must read this book to find them out for yourself.