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Texas Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Texas
Pictures 1918
Published in Paperback by Puffin (2000-04-01)
Author: Jeanette Ingold
List price: $5.99
New price: $2.99
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Pictures from 1918
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-27
I think that it was a pretty good book and I would recomand it to anyone who loves reading and photography

Pictures, 1918
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-15
Pictures, 1918 Book Review

The book I read was called Pictures, 1918. It is a wholesome book written by Jeanette Ingolds. This story's setting takes place in Dust Crossing, Texas during the first World War which occurred during the early 1900s. The main character Asia McKinna is a sixteen year old who endures a fire in her chicken house where her beloved rabbit is killed. Asia wishes that she could have taken a picture of the rabbit to have a visual remembrance of him. She also wants to have a picture of her close friend Nick Grissom who is going off to college at A&M or war. This leads her to wanting an Autographic camera that is displayed at Mr. Riley's camera shop. By babysitting and doing odd jobs for her mother and grandmother, she tries to earn money to buy the camera that she so desperately needs. Between all this Asia is dealing with problems at home. Her family is still trying to figure out who set fire to their chicken house. Asia is also terrified that Nick will get sent to Germany to fight in the war, or go to college. Asia doesn't want him to go because she will miss him and have no one else to talk to but her sister May and annoying brother Homer. Her grandmother's debilitating illness makes her and her family feel preoccupied. Asia's grandmother is suffering from Alzheimer's which wasn't known as a disease back then. Along with this Asia has to deal with Boy Blackwell, Nick's cousin who is furious with the war. I really enjoyed this book because it was so well written and interesting. I think this would be an awesome book for you to read so go and check it out.

A view from the cameras eye
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-03-18
Pictures 1918 is a Very good book, Because in the beginning it starts with this young girl Asia who is a nice quite girl who loves her Grandama, and the animals she keeps in her barn. But there is this big fire that starts in her grand fathers barn and no one knows who starts it, but in the shadows Asia sees a dark figure escaping into the dark! talk about suspense unfortunately one of her favorite pets die her jackrabbit(:( . But to make a long story short, she falls in love with this camera and dreams of becoming a photographer and so she ends up working in a camera shop and finally hers dream has come true.

Pictures, 1918
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-04-29
This is a really great book!!! It shows how you don't have to have a camera to have memories, but they also help to see how some people really are. Her grandmother, her neighbor and friend, Nick, and his cousin, Boy, teach her a lot about herself. She learns about different sides of people and a lot about photography.

Masterfully Written!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-14
The story starts on the night of a fire that destroys the chicken house of 17 year old Asia. The fire also destroys Asia's beloved baby jackrabbit Straw Bit. Afterwards she sees a camara in the window of a store and decides that one way, or another, she'll get that camara. If only she had had it before, she would have had a picture of Straw Bit, and one of the figure she saw running away from the burning building.The book explores Asia's confusion as two boys compete for her affection: Nick, the boy she has known all her life, and the other,Nick's cousin, a stranger from out of town. While she struggles express her feelings with photography,other fires rage across her small town, and she watches as the lifestyle she has known forever threatens to blow away like ashes in the wind.

Texas
Roadside Geology of Texas (Roadside Geology Series)
Published in Paperback by Mountain Pr (1979-10)
Author: Robert A. Sheldon
List price: $8.95
Used price: $6.73

Average review score:

Great Book for the Armchair Geologist
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-08
Book is interesting and informative. Gave it as a gift to my husband as he does a lot of driving around Texas and was quite interested in the different rocks and their formation along the side of the roads. He has really enjoyed his book. Wish there were more books out there of this nature.

Excellent
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-04
This book is very easy to read and understand - even by someone who knows nothing about geology! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the geological beauty of the beautiful state of Texas!

A Trusted Guide Always
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2003-05-16
As with all the books in this series, you simply cannot go wrong. On a recent trip to central Texas, we took this guide with us and were able to follow along the drive and both visually and scientifically understand what the geology was all about. A truly great geology guide for Texas.

The single best book on Texas geology
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-22
Excellence abounds in this book. The illustrations are good, but the writing is extraordinarily good for a book on a technical subject. I read it through like a fine novel. I've lived in Texas all my life and was surprised that there was so much Texas geology that I didn't know. A must-have for anyone interested in Texas history or geology.

A must for roadcut rockhounds!
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-17
This is the best book of the Roadside Geology series. Spearing explains not just the location and character of the rock formations one encounters on TX roadways, but the processes which made them. Best of all, he specifically provides the name and formative time period of almost every formation mentioned (e.g., "Triassic Trujillo sandstone") -- avoiding the overgeneralized naming (e.g., "Mesozoic sediment layer") of a few other Roadside Geology volumes. This is certainly a time saver for the rock collector who catalogs his specimens! This book is a must-get for all rock enthusiasts -- even those who have never been to Texas. Now if someone would just write a Roadside Geology of Oklahoma volume...

Texas
Scoop: A Cauley MacKinnon Novel (A Cauley Mackinnon Novel)
Published in Paperback by MIDNIGHT INK (2006-09-01)
Author: Kit Frazier
List price: $13.95
New price: $1.99
Used price: $1.99

Average review score:

Refreshing!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-30
This was a refreshing read and had me laughing out loud a few times. I had a hard time putting it down. The only think I did not like about it was that even after reading some of it over and over again, I cannot figure out Diego's connection. Not sure how he fit in the story or who he worked for.. ? At some point, there got to be so many characters involved I had to go back and read some over again to remember who they were. I plan on reading the next one. Maybe it won't be so confusing. Still enjoyable tho.

I loved this book..
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-14
I could not put it down. I can't wait to read the second in the series, Dead Copy.

scoop
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-11
This novel was a bit longer than my normal cozy fare, but I finished it in the same amount of time. The author really did keep my interest the entire time. I actually found the mystery itself to be a little boring and farfetched, but, in the end, none of that seemed to matter. The heroine was very real and likeable. I also apprecite that the heroine actually has a job, as a journalist, that is conducive to a mystery series. It's plausible that this character could actually stumble over a dead body or two.

Yowza! A Wonderful READ!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-02
Scoop has it all - a Texas twang - bad guys, funny women, and parrot - what more do you want for pure entertainment? Seriously this book is smart, really fast paced (I didn't want to put it down) and gave me one of my favorite lines from a book I've ever read (I'm going to quote it often!). Kudos Kit, now hurry and write some more!

Scoop: A Cauley Mackinnon Novel
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-18

Author is exhibiting a fresh approach and hope more books are coming.

Texas
Truth About Sparrows
Published in Library Binding by Topeka Bindery (2007-09)
Author: Marian Hale
List price: $15.80
New price: $12.32
Used price: $45.28

Average review score:

A wonderful debut novel!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-01
A well-written, well-researched, touching look at the life and struggles of a young girl during the depression era. Recommended!

A fantastic piece of Historical Fiction
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-07
This is by far my favorite read over the past year. I review books for the library at my elementary school and just happened to pick this book up. I am so glad that I did. The imagery and the writing in this book are fantastic and put the reader in the time period. I found myself thinking more about the Great Depression and I am now collecting reading material to extend this theme for my students. Young readers and Older readers will enjoy this book. I even ordered another book by this author because I enjoyed her so much.

Growing up in Aransas Pass
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-20
As a child of Depression Era parents & someone who was born & raised in Aransas Pass, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It brings into focus just how hard life was for our parents growing up in the Depression. It is also a great historical commentary on the birth of the shrimping & fishing industry of the South Texas area. I recommend it for anyone who is interested in the history of the area & the Great Depression.

Wonderful read aloud for students
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-06
You can all read the summary and the other reviews, so I don't feel obligated to restate what others have already said so well. I discovered this book at my school library, one of the GA Book Award titles, and took it home over the weekend. The story was so engaging, that I called the author. As it turns out, the story is based on the real life story of Mrs. Hale's grandparents. It was such a thrill to speak with her. Besides the engaging story, the meaningful life lessons, and the memorable characters, Mrs. Hale has an amazing skill with words. Even my students noticed the prolific use of figurative language, which helped them to visualize events from the story. I used this book in class to teach students how to recognize and utilize figurative language in their own reading and writing. The text was something my students shared, so we were always able to revisit the story and talk about it. I strongly recommend this book for any teacher who wants to teach the elements of literature using a whole class read aloud. Mrs. Hale is not only charming, but she is a talented writer as well. I look forward to reading her 2nd book. I must warn you, though, be prepared to shed a tear.

Sydney's Opinion
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-25
The Truth About Sparrows is a wonderful book. It takes place in the 1930s, which is generally the time the Great Depression occured. There is a young girl named Sadie Wynn. She originally lived in Missouri, but her father lost his job and she and her family were forced to move to Texas. Sadie wants to stay, but she has no choice. When they arrive in Texas, there family earns money by picking cotton. The Wynns meet the Gillems, a friendly family that Sadie later learns is in the same predicament as they are. Sadie has a hard time becoming good friends with Dollie Gillem, because she had made a promise to Wilma, a friend from Missouri, that the two would always be best friends. She soon begins to give in to her new surroundings and make friends. Texas is somewhat difficult for her because it's SO much different than Missouri. One day, she sees a mysterious man on the seawall, who she nicknames Mr. Sparrow. Every now and then, Sadie sort of checks up on him to make sure he's doing okay. A little while later, Sadie makes a pretty big mistake. Sadie yells at Dollie and says that she doesn't deserve to be there and how they're so much different. She says she had better in Missouri and how she wants to go back. It sort of messes up their friendship a little. Generally speaking, this book is a great book with a wonderful story line.

Texas
Ulica Zolwiego-Strumienia
Published in Paperback by Dom Ksiazki w Warszawie (1995-05-02)
Author: Aleksandra Ziolkowska
List price: $20.00
New price: $20.00

Average review score:

wzruszajaca, ciepla, madra ksiazka
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-16
Pisanie o sobie zawsze jest trudne, bo moze odslonic potwora, snoba, pustke i glupote. Ta ksiazka pokazuje osobe madra, myslaca,ciekawa swiata i ludzi, zyczliwa innym, kochajaca matke. Lubi innych ludzi, lubi zwierzeta. Wiele ciekawego o Polsce, jej srodowisku ludzi piora i nie tylko, o Stanach Zjednoczonych, ktore sa dosc trudne do jednoznacznej oceny. Za ten brak jednoznacznych, gotowych ocen i odpowiedzi - ogromnie cenie jej autorke.

wonderful, full of subtle charm and wisdom
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-18
I was taken by the positive outlook of the book, the authoree's insight - full of subtle charm and wisdom. It is like a glass of cool good mineral water on a hot day. I am happy to know enough Polish language and to enjoy it. It will be very good if the book appears in English. It shows Polish life in 1960-1980, immigrants stories, and wonderful impressions from Canada and the United States. I learned much about America from a book written by an immigrant.

Ksiazka trzyma w napieciu i uroku ludzi i autorki
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-13
Ksiazka trzyma w napieciu i wraca sie do niej jak do dobrego piwa! Uczy spojrzenia na wlasne zycie z dystansem, madroscia, cieplem. W depresyjnych czasach, jakie mamy wokol siebie, uczy jakby akceptacji ludzi i swiata, dostrzegania dobra. Ksiazka wprowadza w dobry nastroj i dobre nastawienie do siebie i innych. Moze byc terapia w zlych momentach, trudnych czy kryzysowych. Niewiele jest takich ksiazek, ktore uspokajaja, a ta przemowila do mnie swoim pieknem jezyka i spojrzenia na swiat. Za jej najwieksza zalete uwazam wlasnie pozytywne wrazenia, ktore wywyoluje.

wzruszajaca, ciepla, madra ksiazka
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-16
Pisanie o sobie zawsze jest trudne, bo moze odslonic potwora, snoba, pustke i glupote. Ta ksiazka pokazuje osobe madra, myslaca,ciekawa swiata i ludzi, zyczliwa innym, kochajaca matke. Lubi innych ludzi, lubi zwierzeta. Wiele ciekawego o Polsce, jej srodowisku ludzi piora i nie tylko, o Stanach Zjednoczonych, ktore sa dosc trudne do jednoznacznej oceny. Za ten brak jednoznacznych, gotowych ocen i odpowiedzi - ogromnie cenie jej autorke.

a wonderful book!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-14
The book is written as a part autobiography and part diary. The autobiography is a literary form, which unlike other forms, shows the "ego" ot the author. Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm "ego" is delicate and fascinating! Many interesting details about life in America are shown with tact and good understanding. The book is written with talent and keeps its focus. It is diffficult to stop reading; day after day it captures the imagination. Some fragments are almost like from a movie - dialog, description and people are very realistic.

Texas
The Windows of Heaven: A Novel of Galveston's Great Storm of 1900
Published in Paperback by Texas Review Press (2000-06)
Author: Ron Rozelle
List price: $16.95
New price: $8.99
Used price: $3.19

Average review score:

Rawness of emotion and reality of utter destruction
Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-26
Galveston, Texas is the sight of our nation's worst natural disaster in our history. Ron Rozelle summered in Galveston as a child and that began his fascination with the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. He was driven to tell the story in a manner that was true to history and striking enough to recreate the terror of those in the path of this storm. This book is a fictionalized account of the Galveston Hurricane of September 1900. While the weather events are factual. The people he portrays are a mixture of real people and those that Mr. Rozelle created to add depth and heart to his story. His research into the facts of the hurricane's ferocious assault of Galveston and the utter destruction of life and property is vividly portrayed. The characters bring a rawness of emotion, making the reality of the vast loss achingly real. This is a realistic and intense tale of Mother Nature in full fury.

An Excellent Author and Story!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-08
I've been to Galveston and took tours of the many homes the author listed in this book and knew the streets and the very railroad tracks/beach areas he spoke of, but even if I hadn't been there, the author writes in a way that will makes you *feel* like you ARE there, as the story progresses.

I have read MANY books on this storm and I can safely say THIS BOOK "The Windows of Heaven" has got to be the best researched, investigated and well written book i have ever read and come across.

It's not all statistics, and weather, he writes of survivors and their lives that led up to that fateful day so you actually feel as if you're reading an ansestors diary or as if the people actually sat down and told him the stories.

His imagination is also so realistic that you walk away believing every single word he wrote although clearly some of it [like the drowning peoples viewpoints] couldn't have came from anyone.

It's a book that has SOLD me on the author RON ROZELLE'S talents and is a book that should be carried by all Texas schools and educational systems everywhere, as mandatory reading of what that night must have been like.

It left me feeling as if I had been there and suffered along with everyone--and in spite of the heartache and despair I actually felt sorrow when the story ended, and I faced the fact that I would never be a part of these peoples lives ever again.

If you don't read this book you will never know how lacking the others are and will miss out on an excellent example of great writing--destiny will deem this a classic in due time--trust me.

Outstanding Reading
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-28
Ron Rozelle did a wonderful job writing this book. It is a well written piece of history. This storm event was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. Mr. Rozelle paid tribute to the people that died during and in the days following this storm. He also paid tribute to the survivors. There were a lot of sub plots happening during the time, an Mr. Rozelle did a good job incorporating them in just the right place. This book is well worth reading. I highly recommend it.

A skillful weaving of fact and fiction
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-28
Ron Rozelle's second book is a well-done blend of fact and fiction. He uses many actual people and events from the Storm of 1900, the worst natural disaster in the history of the US. He writes sketches of the lives of several characters in a flash-back format and then switches to the current time, describing the coming of the storm and the blase manner in which the people approached it. Weather forecasting was in its infancy, and no one on Galveston Island realized the full impact of the pending storm. Residents had ridden out many a storm and didn't look at this potent killer in any different way from the storms which had come before. Galveston's lack of preparation and failure to build a seawall resulted in terrible destruction of life and property. Rozelle uses these elements to create a story in which the reader learns to care about the characters and then watches the courage with which they faced this catastrophe. This is a very moving book and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in this subject.

And you thought the Titanic had it bad.....
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2001-04-26
The events that transpired in September, 1900 have been too long forgotten in the annals of American natural disasters. Ron Rozelle has painted a picture that very accurately describes the horror and heroism that occurred when one of the most intense hurricanes virtually destroyed Galveston and claimed upwards of 10,000 lives. I discovered this book after reading the recent release Isaac's Storm, a non-fiction telling of the storm and also highly recommended. Ron Rozelle has fleshed out the story without damaging the historical accuracy and brings to us a harrowing story of the people who watched their town literally dissapear beneath the waves. Very highy recommended!

Texas
The Wounded Buzzard on Christmas Eve
Published in Audio Cassette by Texas Monthly Pr (1989)
Author: John R. Erickson
List price:
New price: $76.11
Used price: $19.75

Average review score:

best book ever
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-20
wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hank the cowdog is a great book for the family or by yourself . john r erikson did a wonderful job on this book . you need to read it to belive it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Great Xmas Book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-14
I love all the Hank books, and this is a great one for the Christmas season. These books are hilarious and more important to the young reader, fun to read. I'd also check the rest of the series.

Author of "Hobo Finds A Home" editor "Of A Predatory Heart"

My Hank Review
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-05-14
This is one of my favriote books it is funny and exciting. It takes the perspective of a cowdog on a ranch in east texas. That thinks he is head of ranch security and goes through a lot of hillarius storys.

Kayla Pryor's review on The Wounded Buzzard on Christmas Eve
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-06
In this book a buzzard gets hurt, and he gets taken care of.Well,one day Slim,Little Alfred, Drover(the dog),and Hank(the dog)was driving to town to get Christmas presents,and a buzzard named Wallace flew into the wind shield.He got hurt pretty bad,and Little Alfred begged Slim to take him home and take care of him.Slim took him home after he went shopping,and cured him.Then Wallace flew away with his son happily ever after.

Hilarious
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-01
Hank the cowdog is "head of ranch security," and tend to act like Barney Fife. the entire seires of Hank the Cowdog stories are hilarious. The story is told from the perspective of Hank and the animal characters in this story, such as Drover, the young pup in training for ranch security, are constantly causing problems for Hank. In one story Hank gets sick after eating a frying pan full of bacon grease. He knows what he should and should not do, but always finds himself being overcome by his true nature--egotistical, gluttonous, etc.

Read this book and you will be addicted to Hank.

Texas
The Alamo
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Bantam Books (1960)
Author: John Myers Myers
List price:
Used price: $1.05
Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

A Tale Of Heroes When We Need Them Most
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-09-11
Mr. Myers wrote this book in 1948, and based it on careful research into the facts as they were known at the time. THE ALAMO is a story of heroic men, dedicated to the cause of freedom, sacrificing their lives willingly for that cause. Bowie, Crockett, Travis, and all the others with them, were the stuff of legends, and as such we should remember them. This is a story to rival THE ILLIAD in its nobility of character and cause. Sadly, later research has shown that these giants were, like the Trojans, at least partialy the product of myth, and their cause was not quite so noble. But this in no way detracts from the telling of a great tale, and, if the men of the Alamo were not quite as tall as we imagined them, they were still men deservant of our admiration. They died for what they believed in, and this is their story, from the first man who ever bothered to compile the whole thing in one place.

Good Research Stands the Test Of Time.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-28
Although written in 1948, John Myers Myers "The Alamo", proves that he did his homework well way back then. As a result, the factual conclusions he arrived at then, dovetail with those arrived at by other Alamo authors in later years, including Walter Lord. Myers writing presents the subject in a historicly accurate manor, but at the same time with the wit and insight of a newspaper editorial, which brings it to life on a human level.

Good Research Stands the Test Of Time.
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-28
Although written in 1948, John Myers Myers "The Alamo", proves that he did his homework well way back then. As a result, the factual conclusions he arrived at the time of his writing, dovetail with those arrived at in later years by other Alamo authors, including Walter Lord. Myers writing presents the subject in a historicly accurate manor, but at the same time with the wit and insight of a newspaper editorial, bringing it to life on a human level.

Still the best on the Alamo
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-30
Newer books have been written based on more recently available sources, but this book stands the test of time. It is based on solid research, it doesn't spend entire chapters digressing into, for instance, the ins and outs of the Bowies' business dealings, and it keeps speculation on the motivations of Travis, Crockett, Bowie and Santa Anna to a couple of paragraphs each. Any speculation is just the author's guesswork, and I find Myers guesses to be kept more brief - and more to my personal taste - than, say, William C. Davis' in "Three Roads to the Alamo". It has been said that a revisionist is one who, lacking the notion of honor in his/her own character, cannot understand it when encountered in others. While Myers examines the actions of the three main personalities in a journalistic manner, the enormity of their patriotic sacrifice is never deprecated as is the fashion in modern, revisionist historical writing.

This book remains not only the best single volume on the siege, it provides a great introduction to the historic and social melieu of the era for those seeking to understand the background of the Mexican-American War. -

Excellent Background, and a Strong Voice to Tell the Tale
Helpful Votes: 9 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-30
John Myers Myers, in the last sentences of his book, The Alamo, perfectly captures the essence of what this story means to America. He writes, "The Alamo isn't a structure now; it is a symbol of valor in the minds of men. It can never fall again." Though he closes with that thought, it is obvious that he wrote this history with the knowledge that this particular event is just as important as myth as it is as history, and that it presents unique challenges to the historian to distinguish between the two. In the forward, he addresses the issue of how hard it is to find solid, historical evidence about the Alamo. The combatants were killed to a man, and as for the non-combatants who survived to tell their tales, none were professional writers, and no historian bothered to interviewed any of them during their lifetimes. He explains in some detail how he decided the veracity of the various surviving source materials: letters, journals, official orders of the Mexican officers, and interviews of survivors. He then launches into the tale.
Myers divides his book into three sections. The first third is devoted to the history of the structure of the Alamo, from mission to military outpost, and to the history of the roots of the conflict between the Texians and Mexico. This is vital information to understanding what happened at Bexar during those fateful twelve days in 1836. The fact that Myers devotes so many pages to explaining this background and placing the story in its proper historical context is one of the books strongest points.
In the second third of the book, Myers introduces the principal players who history associates with the Alamo - Bowie, Travis, Crockett, and Santa Anna. A chapter is devoted to each of them, and Myers does an admirable job of placing each within the context of their own personal histories without resorting to what later became so controversial as detracting "revisionism". He notes that while Bowie and Crockett were already legends in their own time, that Travis' fame is tied exclusively to his participation in the Texian revolution. He solidly establishes who they were as flesh and blood men, rather than the demigods of myth that they became, yet does so respectfully. Likewise, he paints a balanced portrait of Santa Anna rather than simply demonizing him.
In the book's final section, Myers writes skillfully of the siege and storming of the Alamo. It is a tale that comes with its own in-built drama, which requires only an expert storyteller to assure its success, and Myers is indeed an outstanding storyteller. He has an idiosyncratic style of writing that lends itself perfectly to the telling of this particular tale. Throughout, he is generally faithful to the more traditional interpretations of what happened at Bexar, but does acknowledge some of the elements that smack more of legend than of historical fact (such as Travis' saber-drawn line in the sand).
Myers has written a fine history of an event that has become an indispensable part of our national mythology. His research is firm, his writing style captivating, and his tone respectful to both the history and the legend. I heartily recommend it.

Theo Logos

Texas
Alamo Story: From Early History to Current Conflicts
Published in Paperback by Republic of Texas (2000-02-25)
Author: J. R. Edmondson
List price: $24.95
New price: $2.00
Used price: $1.99
Collectible price: $24.95

Average review score:

A Vivid, Honest Re-telling of the Alamo Saga
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-18
Was the battle of the Alamo a stragetic blunder? Did Davy Crockett wear a coonskin cap? How did the Alamo's "Holy Trinity" really die? How many duels did famed knife-fighter James Bowie take part in?

These are only some of the questions answered in what must surely be the ultimate history of the Alamo--as a mission, a fortress and a shrine. Edmondson's writing is colorful and fact-crammed, carrying the reader forward with the breathless pace of a novel. Above all, he portrays history through the actions of the men who made it--James Bowie's quest for adventure and wealth; David Crockett's failures as a Congressman; William Travis' burning ambition for ever-lasting fame.

Edmondson has brilliantly captured the often harsh realities of life on the Texas frontier. Among these: the ineffective and lethal "treatment" for venereal disease--mercury; the support of many "freedom-loving" Texans for slavery; and the conflicts faced by Tejanos trying to remain loyal to their native Mexico while opposing the dictatorship of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

The climax of the narrative arrives in his full-length and dramatic account of the siege and fall of the mission. Edmondson presents all possible sides to every controversey, and allows the reader to reach his own conclusions. For example, on the death of James Bowie: Edmondson notes that Bowie was deathly ill at the time of the final assault, and thus highly unlikely to have piled corpses around his sickbed. Yet he also states that Bowie had proven a hard man to kill in the past--and thus makes the convincing case that if Bowie had had the strength to hold weapons, he would have used them.

Edmondson has taken a subject well-trodden by historians and novelists and re-created it for a new generation. In doing so, he has rendered scenes of stirring drama while emphasizing the shared humanity of the combatants on both sides.

the alamo story
Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-28
This book was recommended to me by Alamo historian and artist, Michael Schreck. It is a good read. J.R. Edmundson obviously knows his subject. The narrative flows smoothly and avoids the tedium so often occuring in historical works. Not only is it a spirited and accurate telling of an oft-told story, but he is not afraid to challenge the views of the revisionist historicans that are now in fashion. I highly recommend this book to both the layman and scholar.

History the way it should be told.
Helpful Votes: 16 out of 16 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-08
This book reads like a novel, but contains the facts of the historical event. Too bad Edmondson isn't writing for the school book market. History would be a favorite subject for kids.

Most people know about the battle at the Alamo, but don't know why this mission-turned-fort became the focal point of the confrontation between the Mexicans and Texians (yep, that's spelled right, read the book). Edmondson starts from the beginning to bring the reader up to the moment of siege and sacrific. The book begins as a fascinating read about Spain's early attempts to colonize the territory that would be come Texas. It moves into a fun read about favorite and familiar characters like Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis. Then the book takes the reader into the final 13 days that sealed the fate of those in the Alamo and set the course for Texas' separation from Mexico. Mark out a whole evening to read the last 212 pages, you won't be able to put it down. I sincerely hope Edmondson will be writing more history about Texas and the southwest. I for one, am waiting for his next book.

An Excellent Narrative History
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-10
J.R. Edmondson's "The Alamo Story" eclipses Walter Lord's groundbreaking "A Time to Stand" as the finest narrative history of the Alamo available.
Written in an engaging, highly accessible style, Edmondson's book is a first rate introduction to Alamo history, but provides enough detail to capture the interest of even the most knowledgable Alamo scholar.
Highly recommended.

Well Worth It
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2003-03-03
Jack Edmondson has done an exceptional job retelling the Alamo story. Students of James Bowie will be in for a real treat, since Jack devotes quite a bit to "that knife fighting adventurer" (as he was called in several movies). Edmondson never engages in "hero worship" which all-to-often clouds serious historical study.Nor does he indulge in "bashing" like Jeff Long did in "Duel of Eagles". Edmondson touches on the Crockett death controversey, but if you write about the Alamo, it's inevitable. If you are a serious researcher, Jack's book belongs on your shelf!

Texas
Antbirds and Ovenbirds: Their Lives and Homes (Corrie Herring Hooks Series)
Published in Hardcover by University of Texas Press (1996)
Author: Alexander F. Skutch
List price: $40.00
Used price: $17.50

Average review score:

The Unique Insight of Alexander Skutch
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-10
Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

The Unique Insight of Alexander Skutch
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-10
Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

The Unique Insight of Alexander Skutch
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-10
Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

The Unique Insight of Alexander Skutch
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-10
Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.

The Unique Insight of Alexander Skutch
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-10
Anybody who has enjoyed other writings by Alexander Skutch on the subject of neotropical birds will also appreciate this book. After all, where else can you find interesting and informative writing about these two large and important families of neotropical birds? Not only is there a wealth of data concerning behavior, habitat, etc - but it is all presented in Skutch's very personal style, and intermingled with intimate anecdotes that really put you right there in the forest with that Bicolored Antbird, etc. Read this book before birding in lowland rainforest in Central or South America, and you will be rewarded with a much greater understanding of what you are witnessing. If you haven't yet, also read "A Birdwatcher's Adventures in Central America", and "A Naturalist in Costa Rica", as well as "Birds Asleep" - all by Alexander Skutch.


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