Texas Books

Take this enjoyable book along while exploring some of Texas' most outstanding yet least known family fun spots. Full of humorous history and highlights about small towns, state parks, trail rides, boat excursions and swimming holes. Includes Enchanted Rock, Bandera, Lost Maples, Westcave Preserve, Fredericksburg and much more!

Gone for the Day, as it is titled, would lead one to believe that it is simply a book about day trips. Naturally, I made the same assumption, purchased the book, and found a wonderfully written,humerous,folk tale of central Texas. This is a book that should be bought for the read, and not the road.

Delightful book that gives insight into what it might have been like for a boy to travel and move to Texas back in 1850. I was able to meet the author and can tell you her enthusiasm for her book is very catching and you can see the love that she has for each of her characters. I definitely recommend the book to younger children who enjoy true-to-life or historical adventures.

This is an excellent book that can easily be considered a classic in its style. The fact that the story is derived from a true story about a member of the author's family really draws you in and makes you wonder what the next chapter will bring. This is a real page turner. I hope the author decides to write another book that will tell us more about what happened to the slave boy. A++++++

Ably edited for contemporary readers by Joshua Brown, A Good Idea Of Hell: Letters From A Chasseur A Pied presents the diary and letters of Robert Pellissier, a man who served his country of France in the infamous trench warfare of World War I. Vivid descriptions of shelling, the long inactive waits in the cold and the wet, the limited tactics, the news of the battlefields, insights on how changing technology affected the nature of war itself, and a great deal more comprise this literate and highly recommended eyewitness testimony of the unfolding military battlefield history of World War I. Of special interest is the inclusion of three letters from a Protestant army chaplain at the end, explaining just how Pellissier "heroically and selflessly" died during battle -- which resulted in his being posthumously awarded the Medaillie Militaire and the Croix de Guerre avec Palme.

These letters written to his family by a foot soldier serving in France during World War I graphically remind us that war can not only be hell, it is hell.

American raised and professionally a scholar at Stanford University Robert Pellissier nonetheless felt the pull of his native country, France. This may well have been his reason for enlisting in the French army in 1914. He was sent to the front where he fought in the Alsace mountains.

Masterfully written these documents relate in gripping detail life and death in the dank, frigid trenches where French soldiers are bombarded every day by thousands of German shells. Pellissier tells his family of the horrific sights he encounters almost hourly, and of the ill treatment of civilians by the Germans. His professorial eye misses nothing of the bravery or the cowardice.

He was wounded on August 29, 1916, and died soon after. His letters were penned from officer training school, from the front lines, and from the hospital. All are testimony to a man who loved and died for his native land.

- Gail Cooke

Although some of the love letters become repetitive, this book captures better than anything the true nature of the destroyer war in the Pacific against Japan. The commentary gets to the point of the hard work and anonymous sacrifice of the common enlisted man in the desperate fight against Japan. The final letter written by Yeoman Raines, and delivered to his wife after his death, is one of the most wrenching and moving literary expressions to come from this war.

Orvill Raines was my friend. We were together from the time the ship was commissioned 4/3/44 until he died on April 6, 1945 at Okinawa. Ray Ellen (his wife) kept these letters and when I first contacted her in 1990 she mentioned them to me and offered them to the HOWORTH VETS. We published them at our own expense. Williams McBride took the War Diary AND Letters/Memories and completed the manuscript that became Good Night Officially. After our Memorial Service aboard the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge, I escorted her around the ship and was able to answer all the questions that she had, had down thru the years. It made it possible. It made it worth while

This is an indepth look into the life and times of a woman who was immensely talented. It is written by an author who obviously takes great pride in her subject and is quite thourough in her presentation of her subject. It would be a fascinating A&E special.

A wonderfully told and illustrated life sketch of the inimitable Gordon Conway, "That Red Head Gal". Conway is a little known, but extremely talented fashion artist and designer from the early 20th century (Worked 1916-1936). Those interested in 1920's fashion and design history should consider including this fine volume in their library today.

True heroes who are also literary heroes come along only once in a generation. A few that come to mind include Henry David Thoreau (Walden), John Reed ("10 Days that Shook the World"), T.E. Lawrence ("The Seven Pillars of Wisdom"), Anne Frank ("The Diary of Anne Frank"), Ernest Hemingway ("For Whom the Bell Tolls") and Jack Kerouac ("On the Road"). Now there is another name to add to this short list of literary and real-life heroes: Bernard Gordon.
Gordon, a prolific Hollywood screenwriter ("55 Days at Peking," "The Thin Red Line," "The Day of the Triffids," "Battle of the Bulge") was blacklisted in the 1950s because of his politics. Now he has written a great and important book, "The Gordon File: A Screenwriter Recalls Twenty Five Years of FBI Surveillance," which weaves documents from his voluminous FBI file together with his remarkable life story.
Gordon, who is one of the last surviving members of the brotherhood of blacklisted writers, took a courageous stand 50 years ago when he refused to bow to the government's - and the film studios' - pressure to "name names." His brave stand cost him dearly. He had to write under phony names, and then had to leave the country to find work on films in Europe. All this is recalled with great style and remarkable wit, and is masterfully interwoven with more than two decades worth of the FBI's hilariously inaccurate reports that document their surveillance of him.
Never before has anyone shown, in such embarrassing detail, how the government wasted so many resources trying to punish dissent while the country was in real danger. As the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war in October of 1962, the FBI was still fanatically pursuing Gordon. And as Lee Harvey Oswald was preparing to shoot President Kennedy, the FBI was pursuing Gordon.
"And just what of any value did they find out during these...years of unremitting `investigative efforts?'" Gordon asks.
The answer is: nothing.
"From all this effort, any intelligence office with the least amount of intelligence should have been able to see that GORDON never knew anything that could be of any value to anyone, much less to any enemy of the United States," he writes. "It is a comment on the timid bureaucracy of the FBI that no one had the honesty, the courage, or even the common sense to say to someone in authority: `We've been following this guy for years, and it is apparent he has no knowledge of anything meaningful, and has had no contact with anyone like an enemy, so why go on? Why not drop this fruitless pursuit?'"
But this book is not just a chilling - and often very funny - story about a shameful and distant chapter of American history. It is a wake up call for America today.
Gordon reminds us that the same bungling mentality at the FBI that allowed agents to pursue him while the country was in real danger 40 years ago is still prevalent inside the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover Building today - only now they are armed with the First Amendment-crushing powers of The Patriot Act.
And unlike the FBI, Gordon asks the right questions.
"When will we demand that they spend their billions of dollars and millions of hours pursuing perpetrators of crime and true threats to our safety rather than political dissidents?" he writes.
Gordon's book is the best reminder that dissent is not only good, but also that it is patriotic; and that attempts to quash dissent are not only bad, but un-American. Everyone worried about the future of this democracy should read this book. It should be taught in every high school and university in the country.

This is a highly readable, smartly written, surprisingly entertaining, but ultimately sobering look at a very disturbing chapter in our history, the era of the blacklist and the hysteria about 'communists' in our midst. What becomes quickly clear, and what Mr. Gordon effectively shows, is that this sad story is almost certainly being repeated right now in 2004 with the FBI's newly expanded mandate from the Patriot Act and the 'War on Terror'.

Those of us on the left who have been protesting the war, who subscribe to certain progressive magazines or web sites, or who are active in liberal causes will benefit greatly from reading Mr. Gordon's reflections on his FBI files. These files, obtained through the Freedom of Information act, are fascinating and hugely revealing about how our government works. One cannot help but conclude after reading this fine book that little of substance has changed since the McCarthy era, especially with the current administration in Washington. The book makes it abundantly clear that all activist, progressive citizens remain at risk of being treated suspiciously by their own government, and of having their civil rights and rights to privacy violated.

Let's hope that this book is widely read. Mr. Gordon belongs in the company of our best liberal writers, those who are fighting for democracy, justice and human rights (Roy, Zinn, Vidal) and who are not afraid to speak truth to power.

I bought this book for my daughter who lives in Dallas, TX. However, after the book arrived, I found it so interesting that I read the entire book before sending it to her. A wonderful book full of insight into western history in the local Fort Worth, TX area. A must read for women every where. Georgia S.

We gave this book to my mom, a one-time long term Fort Worth resident now living in Colorado. She loves it. She likes skipping around and reading about the different ladies from Fort Worth history. And she greatly admires many of those who have contributed to the book. We recommend this book for your mom... or your grandmother... well, for yourself as well. We heard Katie Sherrod's interview on Public Radio and heard some really great stories.

This is an excellent story meticulously unfolded by the authors about a Texan who was obsessed with grapes. His scientific exploits are nicely chronicled in a very well illustrated book. Most books with this level of information in them are dry as dust to read, but these authors have made the life of Munson fascinating. Highly recommended!

Grape Man Of Texas is the biography of Thomas V. Munson, a Texan credited with saving the world's grape crops from the scourge of "phyloxera" more than a century ago. The collaborative work of Sherrie S. McLeRoy (former museum curator and professional author) and Roy E. Renfro (Vice President, Resource Development, Grayson County, Texas), Grape Man Of Texas chronicles the life and work of a Texas horticulturist who, working from his North Texas base, was able to develop more than three hundred new grape varieties suited for production in the climates and terrains of the Southern United States, this was in addition to his innovative grafting of "vinifera" onto certain native Texas rootstocks and thereby achieving a means of keeping the growing of grapes as a viable commercial operation in the face of the "phyloxera" epidemic of the late 1800s which almost wiped out the world's grape production. Munson was awarded numerous accolades for his achievement, including the "Chevalier du Merite Agricole" in the French Legion of Honor. This informative, recommended biography is enhanced with vintage photographs and color reproductions of Munson's life and work.

What To Expect From This Book:

This book aims to serve both experienced and inexperienced gardeners. Gardening is the #1 hobby in America today. An increasing number of homeowners are no longer satisfied with planting a flat of purple petunias and retiring to the deck with a cold beer. For some, gardening has become a competitive sport. If you are a gardener who would pursue to the ends of the earth a rare Texas native snowbell (Styrax youngae), which can only be found in the wild in a few remote sites in Mexico, I've got your source.

I'm fairly certain that the majority of people who will read this book truly enjoy their gardens, but have limited time to spend. Even homeowners who only mow the lawn to keep the neighbors from complaining should find resources within these pages. I've laced the text with timesaving ideas and, hopefully, introduce you to products to make every aspect of gardening easier and more rewarding.

Good overall design is another matter. You can consign plant mistakes to a compost pile, but a drainage problem, a misplaced patio or an ugly retaining wall won't simply go away. As a landscape architect, I promise my clients that I'll save them money in the long run by preventing costly mistakes. It only seems fair that I should share the same information with readers.

We hope you'll take the time to read the text that precedes the source lists throughout the book. In Chapter One, we've included a brief history of gardening to help you choose your "garden style". Then we discuss the physiography of Texas and divide the state into twelve distinct gardening regions. We think it is folly to attempt to garden without a complete understanding of the soils, climate and native vegetation of your region. Further, we believe that gardeners hold a large responsibility for maintaining the unique diversity of each region.

In organizing a book as comprehensive as this, the first question we asked was, "Where do we begin?" After much deliberation, we decided to begin with North and East Texas, which includes three very different garden regions: Cross Timbers & Grand Prairie (including Ft Worth); Trinity Blacklands (including Dallas); and the Piney Woods (including Tyler and Nacogdoches). Next, we work our way clockwise, along the Gulf Coast, which incorporates: Coastal Prairies & Marshes (including Houston); Coastal Bend (including Corpus Christi and Padre Island); and the Valley (from Brownsville to McAllen). Then we go back up through Central Texas: Rio Grande Plain (including San Antonio and Laredo); Central Prairies & Savannas (including Waco and Bryan/College Station); and the Hill Country (including Austin). Finally we cover West Texas: Red Rolling Plains (Wichita Falls, Abilene and San Angelo); High Plains (Amarillo, Lubbock and Midland); and the Trans-Pecos (including El Paso).

In Chapter Two, we've provided the names and addresses of places to look for design inspiration. We've also provided reading lists, as well as some other important sources of information to expand your gardening knowledge. In Chapter Three, we stress Master-Planning. Then we discuss the walls, walkways, fences and "follies", garden structures, and lighting that are as important to landscape design as plants. And, we list resources for the materials that go into the "landscape."

Before getting into plants, Chapter Four takes up sound gardening practices. We're dwelling heavily on the topic of conservation. We've shared practical ways of improving the soil, feeding plants and coping with pests in the most environmentally sensitive manner. The good news is that these techniques can result in reduced garden maintenance. The sources for plants begin in Chapter Five. Before we get into one-stop shopping at the state's great garden centers, we provide basic information about choosing the plants for your garden. For beginners and "old hands" alike, garden centers offer the widest range of products and services.

Specialty nurseries appear in Chapters Six and Eight. Chapter Six is devoted to "naturescaping", the most important new trend in gardening today. The chapter includes discussions on Texas natives, backyard wildlife habitats, wildflower meadows and drought-resistant plants. Water conservation has been a "hot" issue in environmental circles for years.

Chapter Seven addresses the more sophisticated levels of planting design and lists specialized sources for flowering shrubs, perennials, bulbs, herbs and other edible plants. Chapter Eight is all about special plants for special places. These are the water gardens, the hanging baskets, tropical plants and "living sculptures" that are used to embellish our gardens, patios and interiors. Few gardeners are aware of the small nurseries in Texas that grow specialized, sometimes rare, plant materials. Many began as backyard hobbies and remain labors of love.

Chapter Nine deals with garden furniture and Chapter Ten addresses the decorative accessories that make a garden both livable and memorable. Basically, the book is arranged in the order in which the work of a landscape architect progresses: planning; constructing and conserving; planning; and embellishing the garden.

In the appendices, you'll find a list of landscape architect firms that are known for their residential designs. Mail-order Shopping Tips contains 25 helpful hints for anyone who has ever perused a plant catalog. We've also included a Glossary that defines words you will encounter in this book and in catalogs. The Geographical Index may help you discover some nearby sources you didn't know existed. It should be especially useful on your travels through Texas.

In perusing the library for books on Texas gardening, I came across this title. I almost didn't include it in my stash. Upon flipping through the pages, there weren't any "purdy" pictures. Boy am I glad I brought it home! I started putting a sticky note on the pages I wanted to photocopy and ended up putting one on every other page--that's a lot of sticky notes! So I had to buy it! This book is not only an up to date resource list for Texas by region or city, but has an information header in each category. This is invaluable. Sounds like a "resource" book would be pretty dry--but it's not. It's fun and well written and will go with me in my car always here in San Antonio and thru out Texas. My only regret is that it is a special order with 4-6 week delivery. Don't know why since it was published in 1999.

In The Great Wounded Bird And Other Poems, David Westheimer (winner of the 2000 Texas Review Poetry Prize) presents a memorable, strongly recommended collection of poems about the experiences of men in a time and place of war. Poggio Mirteto: RAF bomber crewman are in the room next to ours/At Poggio Mirteto, the Italian quarantine prison./When we try to talk to them through the wall,/They do not trust us./We might not be what we claim./But when the sing, "That was a cute little rhyme,/sing us another one, do," and we do,/We pass their test, genuine Yanks. We sing/"Sixpence" through the wall./"I've got sixpence to last me all my life."/Our American version innocent,/The British version dirty,/So we adopt theirs.

This review first appeared in DR AHEAD, the newsletter of the Air Force Navigators Observers Association (AFNOA).

AFNOA Member Westheimer (Turner 42-04)is one of the most successful writers of America's World War II generation, most famous for VON RYAN'S EXPRESS. However, for purposes of this review, two other books by him are notable: SITTING IT OUT, his 1992 memoir about being a prisoner of war in Italy and Germany, and SONG OF THE YOUNG SENTRY, a 1968 fictionalized verson of the same experiences.

In this volume of 56 short, crisp poems written in free verse (Westheimer says that it is really prose set up to look like poetry), the author revisits his memoir. The result is a wonderfully moving reading experience. For example, here is part of the poem called "Lucky":

"Sometimes I think how lucky I was To be captured instead of killed. Out of harm's way, mostly, For two years."

Or the first lines of the first poem, "Old Man," which says why this retelling of long past events in important:

"Men are dying old That I knew young. Their tales all told, Their songs all sung." Yes, the "greatest generation" is dying, but their tales still need to be told, and Westheimer does it with power. This is a poetic history of the crew of a B-24 who go to war in 1942 via the southern route, their navigator guiding them from Florida to Natal across the Atlantic and Africa to Khartoum and Palestine. Described in "The Southern Route":

"Every hour I shoot a three-star fix - Antares, Vega, Altair, Peacock, Fomalhaut, Deneb, Alpheratz"

From Palestine, they fly combat missions against targets in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and finally, for them, Italy where, still in 1942, they are blasted out of the sky.

Most of the story is about life in prison camps and the people on both sides of the wire, first in Italy and then, after Italy switched sides, Germany. Before that we get a taste of what it was like for young Americans on leave in such places as Beirut, Damascus, and Cairo. Liberation is a special experience and then there are hints of a long lifetime of memories.

THE GREAT WOUNDED BIRD is one evening of readind, but I have gone back into it several times. It also led me into reading Westheimer's three books which are memtioned above. All provide useful and somewhat unusual insights into the expereince of being a prisoner of war. It's educational, but, just as important, good, fun reading.