Tennessee Books

I am enjoying the Thoene westerns as a real change of pace from their other work. The big historicals have required a huge amount of research and are filled with emotional impact. They have changed the way I look at life and historical events. The westerns are a great escape. Written in the first person, each book in the Wayward Wind series is like hearing some old story teller spin a tale about his life. To sum up:Winds of the Cumberland and the others are suitable for readers of every age. They do not require the brain power of the Thoene historicals, nor the deep emotional involvement with the characters. But if you like a plain good tale about American legends, these are great books to read.

If you are interested in the arts of New Mexico, specifically wood carving, than this is a book for your library. Orinally written in 1980, this is a study of the the revival of wood carving in New Mexico. The book is scholarly but yet easy to understand for the layman who is interested in wood carving. Although written by an anthropologist, and in essence is a case study of various families of wood carvers, the book is an easy read. The cultural portraits of the artists, as written by the author, is fascinating. The wood carvers covered are some of the best New Mexico has produced including a large section on Jose Dolores Lopez and his family. The Lopez family is detailed extensively, including a geneology table and various works by the different generations of wood carvers. Also included are Jose Mondragon, Patrocinio Barela, Jose Rafael Aragon and Luis Tapia, just to name a few. There are color plates that show the artists work but the majority of the plates are black and white. The book is a great reference source as it even has illustrations detailing the cuts neccesssary to achieve certain carvings. The carvings covered are bultos, polychromed retablos, chip carving, niches, sculptures and figurines used in altars and nativity scenes. The book also has information about the marketing and patrons of the artists works at the Spanish Market and other outlets like the Spanish Colonial Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Super photographs and an easy enough text to read make this a handy reference piece for anyone interested in wood carving.

If you were looking for a book on whiskey, you could stop looking after you pick this up. While the author is an Englishman, he appreciates fine spirits from around the world and writes about them gracefully. Bourbons get their due as well as Lowland Scotch whiskies and Japanese brands rarely seen outside their native land. The text is accompanied by many colr photographs; this could almost be a tourist guide. My recommendation : buy this book (don't borrow it, you'll never return it), take it to a good liquor store, buy a whiskey that Mr Jackson likes, and drink it while rereading your favorite chapter.

The philosophy within this book may be getting a bit dated, but I still find it full of beautiful truths. It's a wonderfully crafted story -- whenever I finish (I've read it about fifty times at least), I turn to the beginning and start again until life ("You're reading that book AGAIN?!") requires that I put the book down. There is a beautiful "interconnectedness of all things" that drives you through the story to the end -- how did the bride and groom meet and who are all these people to each other and can old wounds and loose ends be tied up by this strange gathering of people from the four corners of the earth to a farm in Tennessee... And where will they go from here -- youth grabbing hold of the good things of this older generation and giving some hope that those ideals will carry on into the future. You witness the characters being slowly painted in to create an intricate tapestry with lots of interwoven threads.

There is no stress to this story. There are interesting questions, but the "happy ending" is assured from the beginning, which makes it a wonderful story with which to relax and unwind. The end scenes are so beautiful, to me, that every time I wish I had been there to hear this great jazz pianist on his "limousine" piano finally discovering that even without his long-time saxophone playing partner he has a lot to say with just the piano, and have to remind myself, it's fiction, it didn't really happen.

So, maybe the various "waxing philosophical" sections won't speak to you, but the people themselves, especially 16-year-old Josh, definitely will.

My greatest sadness is that I cannot find the subsequent parts of this four-part series. I think this is a seriously overlooked book -- that perhaps the author was painted into a box labeled "Fletch" and this departure was not appreciated.

I found my copy through a used bookstore -- a library discard.

This book is NOT by John T. Scopes, who did not pen his autobiography "Center of the Storm" until after the release of the film version of "Inherit the Wind" rekindled interest in his 1925 trial in Dayton, Tennessee. This volume contains the "complete stenographic record" of the trial, which was published that same year as "The World's Most Famous Court Trial." The book is supplemented by the text of William Jennings Bryan's undelivered antievolution speech, caricatures of the various lawyers, and photographs of the proceedings. This volume should not be confused with the official trial transcript and the only point at which the absolute accuracy of the record is suspect is the end of the celebrated cross-examination of Bryan by Clarence Darrow. Several of the first person accounts of the conclusion of that infamous encounter have lawyers yelling things that are not preserved in this record, but it is not all that farfetched to imagine the bedlam at the moment and the impossibility of maintaining an accurate record. Besides, Judge Raulston ruled the exchange inadmissible when court reconvened.

I did my dissertation on the Scopes Trial and if you are interested in doing anything with the case or its still vibrant issues, this book contains your primary documentation. Do not get caught up with what people SAY about the trial, READ the transcript. Many history books confuse the "Inherit the Wind" version of what happened with the real trial (most importantly, Bryan volunteered the idea the days of Genesis were not literally twenty-four hour periods, he was not cornered into the admit ion). This trial is as fascinating today as it was 75 years ago.

"The World's Most Famous Court Trial: State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes," the "Complete stenographic report of the court test of the Tennessee Anti-Evolution Act at Dayton, July 10, to 21, 1925, Including Speeches and Arguments of Attorneys" was first published in 1925. The stenographic record of the trial was supplemented by the text of William Jennings Bryan's undelivered antievolution speech. Also included were caricatures of the various lawyers, with the defense attorney always in poses of agitation (an apparently hopping-mad Clarence Darrow, a finger-raised and hopping-mad Dudley Field Malone, and a fist-pounding John Neal) in contrast with the calm prosecution (Bryan fanning himself). There are also photographs of the proceedings including the Rhea County Courthouse, Judge John T. Raulston, and the defendant John T. Scopes, along with shots of Darrow and Bryan each addressing the court.

This volume should not be confused with the official trial transcript and the only point at which the absolute accuracy of the record is suspect is the end of the celebrated cross-examination of Bryan by Clarence Darrow. Several of the first person accounts of the conclusion of that infamous encounter (and second sources based on interviews, such as L. Sprague de Camp's "The Great Monkey Trial") have lawyers yelling things that are not preserved in this record, but it is not all that farfetched to imagine the bedlam at the moment and the impossibility of maintaining an accurate record. Besides, Judge Raulston ruled the exchange inadmissible when court reconvened.

The volume is divided into eight sections representing the eight days in court: (1) First Day, Friday, July 10: the case is called and the jury is selected; (2) Second Day, Monday, July 13: the Defense motion to quash the indictment; (3) Third Day, Tuesday, July 14: Darrow objects to prayer; (4) Fourth Day, Wednesday, July 15: Judge overrules motion to quash and the testimony of the state's witnesses; (5) Fifth Day, Thursday, July 16: battle over admission of scientific testimony; (6) Sixth Day, Friday, July 17: Judge's decision excluding expert testimony; (7) Seventh Day, Monday, July 20: Darrow cited for contempt, statements by defense and noted scientists, and Bryan on the witness stand; and (8) Eighth Day, Tuesday, July 21: Jury's decision and Scopes receives his sentence.

I did my dissertation on the Scopes Trial and if you are interested in doing anything with the case or its still vibrant issues, this book contains your primary documentation. Do not get caught up with what people SAY about the trial, READ the transcript. Many history books confuse the "Inherit the Wind" version of what happened with the real trial (most importantly, Bryan volunteered the idea the days of Genesis were not literally twenty-four hour periods, he was not cornered into the admit ion). This trial is as fascinating today as it was 75 years ago so this book is like Court TV going back in time without all the annoying talking heads.

This was one of two volumes presenting the trial transcript from the famous "Monkey" trial published that year (the other was Leslie H. Allen's edited compilation of "Bryan and Darrow at Dayton," subtitled "The Record and Documents of the 'Bible-Evolution' Trial"). Obviously, there is a preference to be hand for something professing to be a "word-for-word report" rather than anything edited.

Perhaps all authors are contradictory in their own ways. That can be an endearing quality, an infuriating one, or both, sometimes simultaneously. Ever since Richard Marius read the philosopher W. T. Stace in Freshman Composition, he never again rested easy with faith. In looking at his life from the long perspective, though, he was perhaps the better for it, since his struggle with the concept of faith seemed to have made him -- in his own way, at least -- all the more profoundly religious. In a sense, this small volume marks a series of milestones for Richard Marius, because it is a collection of sermons and meditations over the entire course of his adult life from his young days as a Baptist preacher through his tenure as university professor to his final days as a simple seeker of truth, goodness, beauty, and meaning. Just as the title of this volume indicates, through all of the pieces we can see Marius wrestling with God, almost as vividly as the account in Genesis wherein the patriarch Jacob does the same thing. No matter whether the reader is a fundamentalist, a nonbeliever, or at any point on the spectrum between; these homilies, meditations, sermons, whatever you wish to call them, will force you to stop and think. If I could pick one or two meditations over any other (and that's no easy task), I would say that anyone who dares mouth the name of "Jesus" and "God" should read and ponder over the fourth and fifth meditations, "What Shall We Do With Jesus?" and "The God Beyond God."

John Rowell (now deceased) had an ancestor in the Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry as was my own great,great grandfather. Mr. Rowell profiles this famous volunteer unit nicknamed "Lochiel Cavalry". The Ninth fought in the "western" areas from Kentucky southward into Georgia and Mr. Rowell profiles some of their travels including the battle at Chickamauga. The book will be enjoyed by descendants of the Veterans of this tragic war and other Civil war buffs. For sheer entertainment value the casual observer would be better served by reading the novel "The Horse Soldiers" or better yet to order the John Ford movie starring John Wayne on DVD. I have a Mint copy of this book sent to me by Mrs. Rowell several years ago.

This collection of stories is great like always. Sam is a modern-day Mark Twain. East and west coast busy-bodies can keep Dave Barry. The rest of us would do better with Sam.
-Hattie's Boy

Awesome! I've read other books by Ms. Files and I believe this is by far her best work. The way she was able to take us back and forth between time and events was amazing. After I got into the reading, I began to wonder how she would tie it all together, but she did a beautiful job. I would suggest this book to those who are open minded and not quick to judge. I really believe this is a wonderful tale of redemption and breaking the painful cycles of history.

Instead of turning on the TV, buy this book and read it...you will finish it in a jiffy. X-Cellent read! Nothing negative to say....it's ALL GOOD!

Sheer brilliance. Normally, it takes me forever to complete a book but I couldn't out this book down. From the first sentence I was a slave to this story; or should I say stories. The characters were real and the storytelling process was hypnotic. I think I'll pass on looking into the background of my own family, though. It has been years since a book owned me the way this book has. For months I've had several unfinished books lying around the house. I took this one to work and came straight home and read it. If I could give it more stars I would. I just finished it this minute and would love to read more by this author.

Brother-sister incest plays a big role in this story as does the drug dealing business and everything that goes along with it, including murder, violence, prostitution and perversion. The characters Hailey, Benny, Walter and Evan depict homosexuality on one level or another. There is a strong voodoo undercurrent and to a lesser degree the importance of education plays a subtle part.
Admittedly this book was a thumb turner but it was much too tragic. Many of the characters in the story ended up dead - none by natural means. For me this story needed more balance.
However I give kudos to the artistry of the author!

This book was outstanding!!! From the first chapter to the very end, I couldn't find myself putting the book down. I had to finish it once I started. I actually made my co-worker drive so I could spend the hour trip finishing the story, and I was 5 pages from done by the time we pulled up to our apartment building.

This book follows the story line of one family through at least 4 generations. The writings were so off the wall it sucked me into the story. I could literally see the characters in front of me acting out the scenes. I couldn't believe that this story engrossed me so deeply. I thank Ms. Files for writing this story. I am definitely passing this on to some friends. I just have to finish compiling my list of recently read stories. My library is steadily growing. I can't wait to add my next 70 books I have on the way.